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General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: SisterX on September 02, 2014, 12:33:35 PM

Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on September 02, 2014, 12:33:35 PM
I'm going to revive this challenge because my husband and I are [almost certainly] moving out of state next May.  Since life in our state encourages more of a subsistence lifestyle, we have a freezer full of fruits and veggies, a chest freezer full of moose meat and fish, cellared root veggies, and canned goods.  We do a pretty good job of eating through our stores of food each year but we've never quite gotten to the bottom of the chest freezer.  Well, we don't want to move this food (and when it comes to frozen food, how could we keep it cold through a multi-state and even multi-country--we'll have to drive through Canada--adventure?) so we need to really get to work eating it.  The good news is, it's yummy!  And healthy!  I try to tell myself that when I'm like, "Ugh, we have to eat salmon yet again."
Probably the worst part is that it's the tail end of summer so I'm still filling up our stores of food.  Still canning things, still freezing things, but always things we like to eat.  We just need to buckle down and eat them.  My plan of attack is to make at least one fish meal and 1-2 moose meals per week.  Since those always lead to leftovers, that will take up most of a week's meals right there.  We'll be forced to reduce the amount of bought meat (chicken and pork) that we bring home (monetary savings!).
I suspect that we'll find some badly freezer-burned salmon fillets in the bottom of the freezer, but those won't get wasted either.  They'll go to the dog.

Join me, or not, on this less-than-9-month culinary adventure!  I just wanted to have an external way to be accountable when I get sick of eating the same two base proteins over and over again, and to set a goal which I can update once in a while so that it stays in my mind.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 11, 2014, 04:26:25 PM
I will absolutely join you!  We have a freezer that keeps filling up (A lot of it is homebaked items or produce from the reduced rack that is about to expire and I buy it dirt cheap and turn it into a casserole or soup or other meal) and a decent pantry. I'd like to work through the inventory we have and force myself to get a bit more creative with meals.

We won't be moving in 9 months but we'll have baby #3 crawling and at that point I'd like to fill the freezer with part of a cow to save on supermarket shopping with 3 in tow....

My goal is also to limit spending to let's say $10 a week for milk and yogurt starter and some fresh produce as we have an abundance of every other staple already in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 11, 2014, 04:33:17 PM
I'm still in!  I never completed it the last time around.  We have so many random food items in our cabinets from our impulse shopping. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Wolf_Stache on September 11, 2014, 04:36:52 PM
I'm in. I never finished everything in my cupboards during the last challenge, although I can see the back of them now!

I'm still trying to figure out what to make with a bag of Quinoa and a can of Squash Bisk, for example.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fi(re) on the Farm on September 11, 2014, 04:44:23 PM
I will interestingly watch from the side lines. I'm so busy feeding the freezer and the pantry this time of year and my garden is still producing more than we can it that it would serve no purpose to start eating what I've made.  I will, however, endeavour to eat whatever I've bought that's in my pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 11, 2014, 04:47:30 PM
I'm in. I never finished everything in my cupboards during the last challenge, although I can see the back of them now!

I'm still trying to figure out what to make with a bag of Quinoa and a can of Squash Bisk, for example.
Quinoa is the best!  I use quinoa in place of rice.  It's SO good!

I would eat the squash bisque plain...or with a good roll.  I've been meaning to try this recipe for a while now: http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/04/focaccia-rolls/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LisaCO on September 11, 2014, 09:23:48 PM
Count me in.  I also never finished the last challenge.  I've got a bunch of quinoa to work through too. :-) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on September 12, 2014, 11:26:26 AM
Our anniversary derailed some of my good intentions for the first week.  :(  It was my husband's turn to make a fancy dinner and he bought a bunch of items which I didn't want to go bad, so those were the first priority.  On the plus side, we've managed to eat pretty much all of it now, so no food waste!  The last we have is a big bunch of fresh basil, so I'll turn that into pesto and freeze it.  Turns out, our baby loves pesto as much as I do.
I did pull out a salmon fillet for tonight, though, and I've figured out our meals for next week, which will include halibut (I was going to try making curried halibut--we'll see how that goes) and one meal using moose meat (stuffed red peppers).

KateH, I'm still putting up food for the winter too!  This weekend or next will probably be the last for our farmer's market so I'll be buying things it's ridiculous to buy here during the winter, such as celery, and putting it in the freezer.

Good luck everyone!  Let us know when you've made some progress.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 12, 2014, 11:49:57 AM
We're moving in a month, so I'm going to concentrate on the freezer and refrigerator.  Yesterday I used two defrosted chicken breasts, a pound of frozen corn, and three cans of black beans to make a double recipe of my favorite easy recipe (Chicken Taco Bowls from Budget Bytes).  Two days ago, I made fried rice using a spice pack from our pantry, frozen peas, canola oil, a few onions near the end of their lifespan, and rice we bought when our dog was having stomach issues.  I also recently made a smoothie with frozen strawberries, a too ripe banana, and milk. 

Last night, I was craving something sweet.  I made two chocolate chip cookies using this recipe (http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/perfect-single-serving-size-chocolate-chip-cookies.html).  I didn't have chocolate chips, so I chopped up part of a candy bar that's been in the cabinet since July. 

On my priority list of items to finish:
frozen basil cubes (http://www.dorot.co.il/_uploads/extraimg/Dorot-Basil-tray.jpg) purchased from Trader Joe's
frozen edamame
frozen chicken breasts
cheese - assorted
frozen broccoli, strawberries, and peas

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: carozy on September 12, 2014, 02:19:33 PM
I'll join in although I will still buy bananas and produce.  I have plenty of beans, rice, barley, quinoa, and pasta to get through though.  This will take a loooong time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 13, 2014, 10:45:43 PM
I will interestingly watch from the side lines. I'm so busy feeding the freezer and the pantry this time of year and my garden is still producing more than we can it that it would serve no purpose to start eating what I've made.  I will, however, endeavour to eat whatever I've bought that's in my pantry.

This is us, too.  However, I still find this exercise helpful to focus on using up those random ingredients and reducing excess stores of dry and canned goods, as well as not, say, buying fresh stuff when I have the same thing in the freezer.  It's also a decluttering project for me, and some ingredients sadly get tossed (or preferably composted or fed to the chickens) because we aren't going to eat them and they're clogging the pantry.

I've got some expired canned soups I need to eat for lunches, as well as lots of dry lentils, beans, popcorn, split peas, and yes, quinoa! 

The other day I realized that I had 3 different chile powders, plus a bunch of dried chiles, which I don't cook with as frequently as I used to, so I buzzed all the dried chiles up into powder, mixed them with the other three chile powders to get down to one container, and then stashed the remainder in the freezer, so I shouldn't need to buy any more for a year or more.  This challenge also pushed me to allow myself to run out of certain things, and then reevaluate whether I want to keep them in the house on a regular basis.  For instance, I decided I don't miss red wine vinegar, but I did miss having rice wine vinegar, so I bought some more after being out of it for about a month. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 16, 2014, 10:09:09 AM
The challenge is going well. I even invited some friends to do the same and we are having a potluck next week to share our more creative recipes 9I am hoping one man's least favorite concoction is another's favorite!).

So far we've had a lot of filling stews to use up our produce that was about to turn. Lunch today is going to be potato pancakes to use up a bit of applesauce & sour cream we have in the fridge.

I also discovered that we were using less of one or two products and I hadn't realized. So when they went on sale and I bought another 3 containers, we are now at an excess. There's more instant coffee than DH will drink in a year for example. I'm switching as soon as our beans run out and I've been adding it to some more baking for a Mocha flavoring as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on September 16, 2014, 11:25:52 AM
I'm in as well.  At a minimum I need to clean out the freezer.  I VOW to buy nothing that needs to go in there until EVERYTHING that is in there now is gone.  Not really knowing what is in there, this should be interesting.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 16, 2014, 11:53:55 AM
I'm in as well.  At a minimum I need to clean out the freezer.  I VOW to buy nothing that needs to go in there until EVERYTHING that is in there now is gone.  Not really knowing what is in there, this should be interesting.

Haha!  I had the same problem.  I'm still eating down my freezer, but it's in much better shape. 

We're moving in a few weeks, so I really need to get on this!  We're eating pasta with marinara (from the freezer) tonight. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Bob W on September 16, 2014, 12:19:23 PM
We don't have a big freezer, but every now and then we do and "eat down."   Meaning we eat and plan our meals around whatever is in the pantry of freezer until it is all gone but the sugar and flour.    Seems like it is time to do so again as I noticed last night we still had two boxes of last years Thanksgiving stuffing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 16, 2014, 08:09:42 PM
In for this round as well....still chipping away at everything - but looks like we may be moving within the next couple of months.  The bright side is we would be moving south and having a well stocked pantry and freezer is much less of an issue since we will have access to pretty much everything we may desire - including all the things we tend to buy and store :)

Today I crock-potted a couple of slightly freezer burned cornish game hens. Fried the meat up with some Korean Pepper paste and various bits of sauce from the fridge and served with some garlic fried Quinoa (yep we got lots to use up too!)

Bones from the hens are in the crock-pot for some bone stock. Pulled a chicken from the freezer for some sort of dish later in the week. Probably a cornbread topped pot pie using some of the cornmeal we have stashed away.

I made some Anzac brownies using up some of our supply of oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate bars my mom foisted upon me.

I buzzed up some three berry syrup I had canned and am using it to flavor some fizzy water made in our soda stream. Adding the leftover dribs and drabs of alcohol we have kicking around have made some great cocktails.

In anyone has some good ideas for stoneground (pretty fine) cornmeal, or pot barley I have a TON of both!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 17, 2014, 10:38:59 AM
Quote

In anyone has some good ideas for stoneground (pretty fine) cornmeal, or pot barley I have a TON of both!

I'd use it in mac & cheese/biscuits/as a texture on chicken strips or sweet potato fries,etc/ with a taco pie or some sort of dinner or even breakfast casserole.

You could try cooking it in some water and topping with cheese or egg, a bit like grits. The texture is fine but it could be tasty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 18, 2014, 07:58:13 AM
Quote

In anyone has some good ideas for stoneground (pretty fine) cornmeal, or pot barley I have a TON of both!

I'd use it in mac & cheese/biscuits/as a texture on chicken strips or sweet potato fries,etc/ with a taco pie or some sort of dinner or even breakfast casserole.

You could try cooking it in some water and topping with cheese or egg, a bit like grits. The texture is fine but it could be tasty.

Great ideas :)

I have big plans for using up staples today. I have 3 crockpots going. One with a chai tea concentrate and two for Supper. One a whole chicken and the other Pinto Beans. Dinner tonight: Chicken and Quinoa enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce and refried Pinto beans.

This will use: a chicken from the freezer, the broth from the cornish game hens I just made, tortillas from the freezer, pinto beans from the pantry, a ton of spices, quinoa, that 1/2 can of chipotles in adobo which has been sitting in my fridge forever, several bits and pieces of cheese, home dried peppers from the pantry, the last 1/2 jar of salsa - down from when I started the original challenge with 14 jars of salsa :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ascotillion on September 19, 2014, 06:54:32 PM
I'm in too! I'll be moving before the year is over, and while I don't have a huge amount of stuff, some staples and bulk purchases would be annoying to take with me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on September 20, 2014, 08:15:58 AM
I'm in.  We are not (that we know of) moving, but I was reviewing our grocery spending to date earlier this month and it really shot up this year, to about $450/month on average (from about $250/month in 2013).  Partly b/c my husband quit his job (where he got 2 meals each day) and then took up long distance backpacking (where he needed to eat 4-5000 cal/day), so our caloric needs doubled (and then some...), and of course some things have just gotten more expensive (almonds are now almost a dollar more per pound, waaaaaaah).  I made a LOT of bulk purchases of stuff like beans, rice, oatmeal, protein powder, canned tomatoes, and dried fruit, we have gone through a lot of it, but there is also lots of it still taking up space in our apartment! Since the beginning of month wake-up call, I have already been focusing more on using up what we have, and our "food and dining" expenses to date for September are under $100, phew.  I would like to see if we can get down to <$200/month for the rest of the year by shopping the pantry/freezer more aggressively.

My personal version of the challenge will be:

-not to buy new bulk foods if we still have something that is functionally equivalent available.  Like, if I want to make split pea soup but we are out of split peas, too bad, because we still have 15 lbs of pinto beans hanging out in the pantry.

-completely empty out the freezer before our next round of batch cooking.  I have actually been working on this for the past month and there is a pretty big dent already.

-Reinforce the 1 in, 1 out rule we used to have about condiments.  I would like to get some fancy different vinegars, but first I must figure out a use for the 3/4 full bottle of barbecue sauce that has been hanging out in the fridge since May!

One thing I've started doing again is estimating how much the items on my grocery list will cost before I go to the store (used to do this fanatically in grad school when I needed to, but have gotten lax), and if the number seems high, go through and figure out a few things to ax.  Like, this week I was thinking of trying out a new recipe that called for a tahini dressing, but we are out of tahini.  I decided to just make a yogurt dressing (since we already have some yogurt in the fridge), and will pick up tahini some other time (it is pretty cheap per calorie, after all!) when I don't have too many other purchases to make.  I was also thinking we might need to buy some chicken at Costco, but then I did an inventory of things and realized we have ground beef, stew beef, half a duck (????), and fish in the freezer, plus several cans of tuna and sardines: more than enough to last us for a while.  So the chicken can wait also. Then I decided there were a few too many high end vegetables on the list (i.e., ones that cost more than $1/lb), so I swapped one of the recipes in our meal plan for something that is a little more pedestrian and uses up existing supplies more.  Nothing extreme and we will still have plenty of tasty food to eat this coming week, but overall around $50 less on the grocery bill.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on September 20, 2014, 10:59:18 AM
started working through the bags of frozen fruit today.  Used up some pineapple and sliced peaches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on September 20, 2014, 12:04:57 PM
I'm in. I'd like to use up the cupboard items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 20, 2014, 01:29:48 PM
Big Score today.... I was digging through the freezer because I was knew I had a cut of pork that I wanted to make and then I discovered three bags of meals left over from the last time I did "Once a month cooking". One of the meals was my favorite and the Asian Chicken recipe really broke up the monotony of pork/beef we've been eating.

I think this afternoon I may go back in there and inventory everything. I did before the summer but clearly added a few things into the freezer but not on the inventory. It makes me feel a bit nerdy but like an organized nerd who is slowly growing the 'stash by not buying food when there is plenty to be had already.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LisaCO on September 20, 2014, 06:40:27 PM
We finally made it through all of the bags of frozen fruit - lots of yummy fruit smoothies during the warm weather.  There's still a long way to go, but we did manage to empty one bottle of salad dressing and I finished up one of three boxes of soba noodles.  Next week, I'm starting on the quinoa. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on September 20, 2014, 09:07:49 PM
Whoo!  I did what felt like a huge amount of cooking today, making good use of the freezer/pantry.  I made:

-Black bean soup (using frozen black beans and canned tomatoes)
-Vegetable frittata (using up some random ends of feta cheese from the freezer, frozen spinach, and the remains of some random olives in the fridge)
-falafel (using chickpeas from the freezer)
-a chickpea, tomato, and eggplant stew (using the rest of the huge can of tomatoes, and the remaining chickpeas in the freezer).

About half the black bean soup is going to be frozen, but overall there is a net increase of empty space in the freezer.  More to the point, grocery expenses for this month are on great track to stay under my $200/month goal (currently hanging out around $120, so I might even manage to stay under $150 as I think next week we will perhaps be able to get away with just purchasing produce--this week I got a few things like 4 dozen eggs and a container of cottage cheese, which drove the bill up a bit).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Write Thyme on September 22, 2014, 11:09:10 AM
Over the weekend I made some pancakes using gluten free flour and chocolate chips that have been hanging out for a long time.

I bought some asian barbequed pork to use up some rice and the sweet chili sauce that's been in the fridge awhile.

I also made a double batch of muffins to use up GF flour, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and peanut butter chips (not in the same muffin!). Not sure what happened because they all had an off taste. Luckily my brother took them.

I also made a box of brownies. I have other boxed mixes to use up. I found some DIY baking mixes that I'm excited to try out, but the boxed stuff needs to go first.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Write Thyme on September 22, 2014, 11:23:15 AM
Oh, and when I was making my work breakfasts for the week (parfaits) I used up a bag of frozen blueberries, and a little bit of the oatmeal that has been open for awhile. Can't wait till that and the other frozen blueberries are gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on September 22, 2014, 12:31:37 PM
It's been a good week for us, in terms of using things up.  Last week we ate one salmon fillet and one halibut fillet, which turned out to be ancient and not very tasty.  So the leftovers went to the dog, who was supremely happy about that.  (I will have to check on the fish more thoroughly as I pull it out.  Anything too old/freezer burned will be cooked for the dog, which means saving on pet food so still a win.)
We also made chili using beans from the pantry, home canned tomatoes, corn from the freezer, and a pound of ground moose from the freezer.
I also made some scones and used the last of some cherries I canned two years ago, and used some applesauce from the freezer in oatmeal for my daughter.  Planning to make a giant batch of applesauce muffins once the scones are gone, to use up some applesauce from the pantry (too chunky for my toothless baby to eat).  Makes a nice quick, filling breakfast.
Tonight for dinner, and probably spilling into tomorrow: moose roast.
Next up: another salmon fillet, then clam chowder (clams from the freezer, potatoes and carrots from our garden) and then chicken tortilla soup (found chicken in the freezer!), and moose lasagna.  It's good to know that we can eat so many delicious things with the bulk of it from our own supplies.*

*I am still purchasing a few things as needed, such as milk and veggies, because most of what we have frozen or otherwise stored is protein of one sort or another.  However, all meal planning is still revolving around what we can use up that's already in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 23, 2014, 01:16:01 PM
Quote from: WESTOFTHEHUDSON

I think this afternoon I may go back in there and inventory everything.

So glad I made the time to do this. I was able to plan our meals for the next month (and a bit longer but I don't do anymore than that at one time) using what exists in there. I left a pen on the shelf so DH or myself can mark off when we took out one pork shoulder or some frozen juice concentrate. So much better than just guessing if we're out of something or if there is a decent substitute already stored.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lyngi on September 23, 2014, 09:42:23 PM
Made a zucchini casserole from free  zucchini from a coworker, hairy carrots (sprouted roots), left over stuffing/dressing bag from thanksgiving--YUM.  Going to make frito salad--canned bean, corn, french dressing
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on September 30, 2014, 07:32:43 PM
How's everyone doing?

We did go over our weekly goal for food but the local Hutterites were selling their hormone free turkeys. With holidays approaching (we celebrate voth Canadian & American Thanksgiving in our home), we cut the 19lb'er into quarters and froze separately. With just two of us and pre-schoolers, no way we'd chew through a whole one in one go. We recently started chopping them up so that way, we can roast an amount we're more likely to eat (even after accounting for some leftovers) in one week.

It's great to see our supplies become a bit more manageable. I even found some surprise cookies and homemade sausage a friend gave us awhile back and I just assumed we'd eaten it all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on September 30, 2014, 09:49:59 PM
Progress report!

-We ate through all the food I made last weekend, except the soup that I froze. Ate some of that for lunch today and expect to make a good dent in it this week.

-Mid-week last week made a meat chili for the husband composed entirely of ingredients from the freezer/pantry.  It's almost gone now.

-Used up the two half-heads of cabbage that had been sitting in the fridge for a while (good thing cabbage keeps forever!).  Slice thin, saute in olive oil with garlic, add a handful of chopped walnuts at the end, and some kale if you want to be trendy-healthy.  Salt and pepper liberally and enjoy.

-Went through the last of my curried walnut stash at work, restocked with the last of the curried walnut stash from home.  Broke out the 3-lb bag of walnuts in the pantry and have them soaking to make another batch.  These are one of my favorite snack foods (yummy, satisfying, not inclined to overeat them).

-Roasted the half duck that was lurking in the freezer, and then used the fat for roasting vegetables.  Bones went into the freezer for making stock at a later date.

-Have been making inroads on the multiple pounds of shredded mozzarella in the freezer.

-Have gone through almost all of the frozen beans: defrost and add a handful to salads, have some beans in lieu of one of my breakfast eggs, etc.

-made some crackers to keep at work for snacks, and took a container of roasted cashew dip from the home freezer to work to eat on said crackers.

I feel like we're doing pretty well--using up a few things each week, but our pantry is still very well-stocked, so we'll be able to continue shopping it for a while.  I am kind of alarmed at how fast we are going through our stock of frozen cheese, but husband says he's okay with dropping it from our diet once it runs out, in favor of eating other items we already own.  Ditto on meat. Grocery total for this month comes to just under $170, well below my <$200/month goal.  We've been discussing switching from meal planning and grocery shopping in 1-week blocks to doing it in 2-week blocks.  We did this for a while a year or so ago, and while it did reduce expenses (and was nice to not spend as much time shopping), the end of week 2 always involved a lot of cabbage and carrots.  We will see if we can plan it better this go-round, or maybe start alternating 1 and 2 week blocks. 

Next weekend we need to start chipping away at our enormous stock of pinto beans.  Time for some veg. chili (and cornbread to finish off the cornmeal), I think!  Husband has also reminded me that we need to get our Christmas puddings started, which will make a dent in the dried fruit (and booze) supply.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on September 30, 2014, 10:22:48 PM
took a container of roasted cashew dip from the home freezer to work to eat

Recipe please? :-)

-Went through the last of my curried walnut stash at work, restocked with the last of the curried walnut stash from home.  Broke out the 3-lb bag of walnuts in the pantry and have them soaking to make another batch.  These are one of my favorite snack foods (yummy, satisfying, not inclined to overeat them).

Recipe please-please? :-) :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on September 30, 2014, 11:11:19 PM
I am joining to motivate myself to eat out of our freezer for the next 2 weeks. I have a side of beef coming! Took 2 pork loins out for tomorrow nights dinner...progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on October 01, 2014, 07:30:03 AM
Used my can of light coconut milk that we've had for two years to make delicious muffins.
Used some of the nutritional yeast that we've had for at least a year; we have a long way to go before that's used up though. Anyone have some good recipes?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 01, 2014, 11:29:40 AM
I too have some nutritional yeast to use up. I bought it because I wanted to experiment with cashew "cheese" sauce and the like. After quite a few failed attempts I got tired of wasting cashews. Nutritional yeast seems to overpower every other flavor, and not what I'm looking for in a "cheese" sauce.

I have been making lots of progress - can see the bottom of my freezer (this scares me a little)

Last night made a white bean, red lentil and smoked ham hock soup in the crockpot, all from pantry ingredients.

I have also been making this breakfast bread which is super yummy and is allowing me to use up all manner of dried fruits and nuts and seeds.

http://rhubarbandhoney.com/2014/09/09/raincoast-crisps-bread/ (http://rhubarbandhoney.com/2014/09/09/raincoast-crisps-bread/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on October 01, 2014, 05:17:14 PM
Made 2 zucchini loaves with 3 freezer bags of shredded zucchini from last year. Baking 2 pork loins for dinner.  Used up jar of Dijon mustard in the pork loin marinade. Score!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 01, 2014, 09:50:11 PM
took a container of roasted cashew dip from the home freezer to work to eat

Recipe please? :-)

-Went through the last of my curried walnut stash at work, restocked with the last of the curried walnut stash from home.  Broke out the 3-lb bag of walnuts in the pantry and have them soaking to make another batch.  These are one of my favorite snack foods (yummy, satisfying, not inclined to overeat them).

Recipe please-please? :-) :-)

Here you go, recipes for my weird snacks:

For the roasted cashew dip:  Roast 2 c. of cashews.  Place in food processor and grind into a butter.  Add in 3/4 c. nutritional yeast, then add water 1/4 c. at a time until you get a consistency you like (mine is about the consistency of a smooth nut butter, IIRC it took about 1 c water total, but the dip has been in the freezer for a while!).  Salt to taste.

For the curried walnuts, I soak 3 lbs of walnuts in water for 8 hours or overnight.  Drain off the water, then combine 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of cloves with 1-2 tsp salt.  You can also add a bit of cayenne if you want some kick.   Coat the walnuts with the spice mixture.  I then pop the nuts in the dehydrator and dry them out that way, but I imagine if you don't have a dehydrator they could also be toasted.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on October 02, 2014, 04:46:45 AM
Yum, thanks for those! I can see myself cooking those soon :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tracylayton on October 02, 2014, 07:31:47 AM
I don't have a big freezer but every time I go on vacation, I try to eat up everything that is in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. It's a great time to clean all the shelves and use up food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on October 02, 2014, 08:45:37 AM
took a container of roasted cashew dip from the home freezer to work to eat

Recipe please? :-)

-Went through the last of my curried walnut stash at work, restocked with the last of the curried walnut stash from home.  Broke out the 3-lb bag of walnuts in the pantry and have them soaking to make another batch.  These are one of my favorite snack foods (yummy, satisfying, not inclined to overeat them).

Recipe please-please? :-) :-)

Here you go, recipes for my weird snacks:

For the roasted cashew dip:  Roast 2 c. of cashews.  Place in food processor and grind into a butter.  Add in 3/4 c. nutritional yeast, then add water 1/4 c. at a time until you get a consistency you like (mine is about the consistency of a smooth nut butter, IIRC it took about 1 c water total, but the dip has been in the freezer for a while!).  Salt to taste.

For the curried walnuts, I soak 3 lbs of walnuts in water for 8 hours or overnight.  Drain off the water, then combine 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of cloves with 1-2 tsp salt.  You can also add a bit of cayenne if you want some kick.   Coat the walnuts with the spice mixture.  I then pop the nuts in the dehydrator and dry them out that way, but I imagine if you don't have a dehydrator they could also be toasted.

Deeelish! Thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 02, 2014, 01:05:14 PM
Used my can of light coconut milk that we've had for two years to make delicious muffins.
Used some of the nutritional yeast that we've had for at least a year; we have a long way to go before that's used up though. Anyone have some good recipes?

So, um, I'm currently breastfeeding and nutritional yeast + flax is supposed to be really good for that.  And it has been, I totally notice a boost when I've been eating those.*  So I've been adding them to a lot of stuff.  The best recipes so far have been adding a bit to banana bread (here's my recipe: http://sisterx83.blogspot.com/2014/03/blueberry-oatmeal-banana-bread.html -- the modified version with the nutritional yeast is at the bottom) and in this baked cranberry applesauce oatmeal (http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/10/cranberry-apple-baked-oatmeal/).  For the oatmeal, I just add a Tbsp of nutritional yeast and I'm a tiny bit generous with the applesauce and it's worked very well.  You can't taste the yeast in either of these.

*Don't worry, you won't spontaneously start lactating if you follow these recipes.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LisaCO on October 02, 2014, 06:12:11 PM
I'm making progress, slowly but surely.

I used a can of beans, some of the brown rice and spices in black bean burgers.

I work from home, so this challenge has really helped with menu planning.  One box of quinoa down and only 2 to go.  I sautéed some spinach with garlic and pepper, and then threw in the quinoa.  I put an egg cooked over easy on top.

One box or crackers and one box of green tea are also gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on October 04, 2014, 04:39:41 PM
Any suggestions on Lima beans? I have a bag of dried ones. I partially used them but didn't seem to rehydrate as well as my other dried beans. Chewy and too soft in the same bean....

Maybe in a spread or in a chili?

I'm getting excited as due to inlaws visiting (they brought a few meals) and two potlucks we were invited to t, we may be able to stretch our inventory out another week.

All we have bought at the store is milk, yogurt, a red onion and a few heads of lettuce and cat food. It took 1/3 less time than usual which was great.  I was tempted to buy some additional items but we could wait to eat them and I had only brought $10 cash with me anyways. I also checked out some new cookbooks from the library and I made a few meals using Asian ingredients I had on had always meaning to prepare. We had great fried rice, wonton soup and pad thai :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 04, 2014, 04:57:17 PM
Any suggestions on Lima beans? I have a bag of dried ones. I partially used them but didn't seem to rehydrate as well as my other dried beans. Chewy and too soft in the same bean....

I had a bag that I soaked overnight recently, and the next morning they were...oddd...the skins looked like they had split and bubbled. I ended up popping them out of their skins, throwing then in a crockpot with a smoked ham hock and made a soup. if the texture of the beans suck, buzz it up like I did :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 04, 2014, 05:30:20 PM
More progress:

-Ran out of oatmeal at work, so transferred the 5-lb bag in our pantry to the office
-Made a frittata using mushrooms and cheese from the freezer
-have some pinto beans soaking right now to make soup!  Am a little sick of black bean soup every day, so this will be good to mix things up a little.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on October 04, 2014, 05:34:12 PM
Sisterx, thanks so much for the blueberry banana bread recipe. It looks delicious!
Progress:
Used up the quinoa, and we're no t buying more (despite wanting to) until we use up the lentils and rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on October 06, 2014, 06:46:27 PM
Hubby and I are going to join you for the next 2 weeks with this challenge.  The reason we want to try this is because last week we had the batteries in our escooter ripped out and stolen while it was parked in the supermarket carpark (we live and work in China and petty theft is pretty bad here).  Replacing the batteries set us back 600RMB. 

We spend at least 400RMB per week at the supermarket so the challenge we've set ourselves is to only spend 100RMB per week for the next 2 weeks.  This will include all non-food items we buy from the supermarket as well (shouldn't be too much of a problem as we're pretty well stocked in this area at the moment).  We also have a change bowl which we will be using to buy fresh veggies, eggs etc. from the wet market.

I figure 2 weeks of this will make up for the unexpected loss of 600RMB. 

P.S.  In Australia (where hubby and I are from) there is a pantry challenge known as the "$21 challenge" which means you can only spend $21 in one week on food items at the supermarket and you find the rest of your food from your pantry/fridge/freezer etc.  I've tweaked it a bit for life in China but 100RMB plus some change from the change bowl is roughly A$21.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 07, 2014, 11:40:40 AM
Well, I looked in the freezer yesterday and actually had to dig deep to find some ground moose.  We still have plenty of moose roasts to eat up, so I guess I should start concentrating on those for weekend meals.
We also have lots and lots of salmon left, but I'd say that the chest freezer is probably about half empty.  Progress!
We also have a 50 lb. bag of flour, which I've been using to make at least 2 loaves of bread each week.
Finally, I made this baked oatmeal (http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/10/cranberry-apple-baked-oatmeal/) which used both applesauce I canned at least 2 years ago, and some of the frozen cranberries I picked a couple of years ago.  I'll have to keep making that until both of them are gone.  Thankfully, it's delicious and filling!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MayDay on October 08, 2014, 06:36:25 PM
Loving this thread!

Ideas I need to remember:
Applesauce muffins (I canned about a 3 year supply last fall oops)
Granola with oats
Frozen cranberries in oats


Things I have made lately: 
Fresh local fruit is done for the year so we dug into the dried pears
Dinner was 100% pantry today (noodles, carrot sauce, cheese my MIL gave us which no one likes plain but is ok on pasta)
Roasted 4 of my butternut squash (my garden stash is about 20 now).
Used up the last if my fresh beets

On the docket in the freezer:
More fruit from summer
A quiche that I froze, that only I like, so will eat for breakfast until it's gone
Veggie burgers
Frozen beets, ugh, I posted about them in the last pantry challenge.  I discovered they were tolerable when mixed into mashed potatoes.  Blech. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on October 08, 2014, 06:59:58 PM
Try the beets in smoothies with something stong-flavored (citrus?).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 08, 2014, 10:06:25 PM
I want to join in too. Were a family of four looking to move probably Juneish. 
I have a Lot of powdered milk, beans, noodles. 
When I checked the freezer I was surprised I found 5 packages of bacon.  And 6 ham steaks. 
Also a huge bag of steel cut oatmeal.  That my kids won't eat as oatmeal(help)

And the spaghetti sauce seams to have been multiplying in the cabinet when I wasn't looking.

What I've done:  shop at home first,  don't go to the store, get creative on kids school lunches(as much as I can and still have them eat it), eat leftovers for lunch, and instigate freezer night(a random container or containers gets pulled from the freezer and thsts dinner)

I'm learning to substitute too.  I had plain yogurt and strawberry syrup for expresso and it worked.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 10, 2014, 06:56:03 PM
I love these threads.

I'm approaching this challenge slightly differently. My kitchen is tiny, and I don't buy in bulk, so I'm not worried about using up staples like rice and flour since I only have less than a packet on hand and cycle through it pretty quickly. 

What I do want to do is get through all the random ingredients that have accumulated. You know, the saffron or bulghar or vanilla beans that you bought for a specific recipe and then just sit there because 'they'll keep' and they're not in your regular weeknight repertoire.

What I've done so far:
Leftover cranberry sauce bought for a Christmas in July party got used as jam on toast over the last few weeks.
Packet of frozen mixed vegetables (left behind by a house guest , don't really like) got thrown into a thai red curry with beef and peppers

On the agenda for today:
Lamb and spinach curry (use up 2 packs of lamb from freezer)
Coconut jelly (use up half tin coconut milk, plain gelatin my sister left here)
Chai concentrate (use up end of molasses, cinnamon sticks, english breakfast tea no one drinks)
Pasta sauce (heaps of antipasto left over from a party)

On the list for the next few weeks:
More gelatin
Rice papers for rice paper rolls
Half a pack of corn things
Gluten free flour
Bulghar
Soba noodles
Duck stock from freezer
Sausages from freezer
Fruit mince pies from freezer
Can of borlotti beans
Green tomato chutney

Ideas are definitely welcome!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 12, 2014, 12:07:43 AM
Needed a fast lunch for ds10 -- cheese quesadilla.  I still have 2 bags Costco size of tori tats to use.
Ate my spicy bean soup with corn muffin in the car.  I was late.
Dinner spaghetti with mushrooms and olives.  Yea

I figured out a sorta coffee creamer I'm ok alternating with the good stuff.  2/3 c powdered milk, 12 oz water, and expresso syrup to taste.  Makes kinda a mock latte when mixed with my coffee in the morning or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

Also needed treats for church.  Used up a can of pumpkin and made a spice pumpkin sheet cake.  Kids like it so it's good.


It's hard to think outside the box when I get pressed for time.  I need to come up with a Clifbar substitute for weekends.  Muffins?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on October 12, 2014, 12:40:05 AM
It's been a week now since hubby and I jumped on the band wagon.  We've done really well so far and have stuck to our budget of 100RMB for the week.  Some of the things we did this week were: cooked a yummy meatless meal, had a leftovers night and we've completely cut booze out. 

None of these things have been a challenge for me but my other half has struggled a bit.  He is the cook in our household while I'm the one who...um....wears the moustache?!  Haha!  That sounds really weird.  Anyway, it's been a challenge for him to break out of old habits and think differently about the food we eat.  But hey, he's trying really hard and we've met our goal this week so that's great.

In the meantime, we've had yet another financial setback involving our escooter.  I had an accident earlier this week involving another escooter and the police have confiscated both escooters until the investigation has been resolved (this is standard procedure in China).  So we've been catching taxis to and from work because there is no bus that goes close to my workplace and I sustained an injury in the accident which has prevented me from walking too much.  I was also unable to work at my weekend job because of the injury so I lost some income (1000RMB).  Depending on the outcome of the investigation I may also have to pay for some of the medical costs for the other person involved in the accident.  Not happy Jan!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akt3P8ltLM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akt3P8ltLM)

So even though I was only planning to join this challenge for 2 weeks, I may need to convince hubby to extend for a little while longer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 13, 2014, 11:24:03 AM
It's been a week now since hubby and I jumped on the band wagon.  We've done really well so far and have stuck to our budget of 100RMB for the week.  Some of the things we did this week were: cooked a yummy meatless meal, had a leftovers night and we've completely cut booze out. 

None of these things have been a challenge for me but my other half has struggled a bit.  He is the cook in our household while I'm the one who...um....wears the moustache?!  Haha!  That sounds really weird.  Anyway, it's been a challenge for him to break out of old habits and think differently about the food we eat.  But hey, he's trying really hard and we've met our goal this week so that's great.

In the meantime, we've had yet another financial setback involving our escooter.  I had an accident earlier this week involving another escooter and the police have confiscated both escooters until the investigation has been resolved (this is standard procedure in China).  So we've been catching taxis to and from work because there is no bus that goes close to my workplace and I sustained an injury in the accident which has prevented me from walking too much.  I was also unable to work at my weekend job because of the injury so I lost some income (1000RMB).  Depending on the outcome of the investigation I may also have to pay for some of the medical costs for the other person involved in the accident.  Not happy Jan!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akt3P8ltLM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akt3P8ltLM)

So even though I was only planning to join this challenge for 2 weeks, I may need to convince hubby to extend for a little while longer.

Ouch!  Hope you recover soon and that this is resolved quickly, with no more loss of income/bills.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 13, 2014, 08:30:51 PM
That sucks Staff Only, glad you're ok though.

It's all systems go here. Chai concentrate is delicious, just had some of the lamb curry for lunch, pasta sauce is in the freezer and the coconut milk jellies will be dessert tonight with some diced mango. mmmm.

I've even managed to get the man on board, and we cooked up a lovely dinner at his place last night using some wilty veggies from his fridge, sausages in danger of freezer burn and a fresh beetroot from the garden. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with some smoked salmon that needed to be eaten and that last few slices of bread from a loaf that I think had been there since January. He said it smelled like fridge water, but it toasted up ok :)

I thought I had a pretty minimalist pantry, but as I was cooking through my four dishes this weekend I kept finding other things I really should use up! So I have added to the above list: half jar butter chicken curry paste, huge jar turkish hot pepper paste, home made quince paste, a tub of cream (now in the freezer awaiting ideas) and more of those damn frozen vegetables.

My budgeting week ends tomorrow night, there is heaps left over, and I can't see myself needing to get ANYTHING at the shop before then, except perhaps 2 litres of milk for my boyfriend's place. Yay.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 13, 2014, 09:41:36 PM
That sucks Staff Only, glad you're ok though.

It's all systems go here. Chai concentrate is delicious, just had some of the lamb curry for lunch, pasta sauce is in the freezer and the coconut milk jellies will be dessert tonight with some diced mango. mmmm.

I've even managed to get the man on board, and we cooked up a lovely dinner at his place last night using some wilty veggies from his fridge, sausages in danger of freezer burn and a fresh beetroot from the garden. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with some smoked salmon that needed to be eaten and that last few slices of bread from a loaf that I think had been there since January. He said it smelled like fridge water, but it toasted up ok :)

I thought I had a pretty minimalist pantry, but as I was cooking through my four dishes this weekend I kept finding other things I really should use up! So I have added to the above list: half jar butter chicken curry paste, huge jar turkish hot pepper paste, home made quince paste, a tub of cream (now in the freezer awaiting ideas) and more of those damn frozen vegetables.

My budgeting week ends tomorrow night, there is heaps left over, and I can't see myself needing to get ANYTHING at the shop before then, except perhaps 2 litres of milk for my boyfriend's place. Yay.

great update! I use Turkish pepper paste every time I make something with tomato paste, adds a great flavour. You could also use it with the bulgar to make either traditional cig kofte http://www.turkishfoodandrecipes.com/2011/05/cig-kofte.html (http://www.turkishfoodandrecipes.com/2011/05/cig-kofte.html)
Or vegetarian: http://turkishfood.about.com/od/MezeStarters/r/Easy-Recipe-For-Imitation-meatless-Turkish-Steak-Tartar-Balls.htm (http://turkishfood.about.com/od/MezeStarters/r/Easy-Recipe-For-Imitation-meatless-Turkish-Steak-Tartar-Balls.htm)
Had a great weekend of using up leftovers. Had Thanksgiving with my aunt - only had to make Brussels and cornbread (both using pantry and freezer ingredients. Sent home with lots of leftover so had Turkey dinner last night with more cornbread, and tonight with fresh popovers. So happy to be using some cornmeal up :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on October 14, 2014, 05:14:58 AM
Thanks for the sympathy SisterX and chasingthegoodlife.  My injury is healing much fast than anticipated so I was able to combine walking and bus riding to get to and from work today.  No money was spent on taxis.  Woo!  If my healing progresses at this rate I should be able to make it to my weekend job this Saturday.  Double Woo!

Funny thing happened this morning when hubby went to make himself some breakfast.  He has a habit of eating dinner leftovers for breakfast but I asked him to reconsider this habit during our pantry challenge because leftovers are more expensive per serve than a basic breakfast of toast and tea (plus, with a bit of imagination, leftovers can be revamped into a new meal the next evening).

So hubby opens the fridge and grabs the dinner leftovers out of habit.  Then I heard him call out from the kitchen "you're in my head woman!  I was just about to eat the leftovers for breakfast but then I heard your voice in my head saying toast and tea, toast and tea, TOAST AND TEA!"  So he put the leftovers back and made himself some toast and tea.  Bahahahahaha!!  I must have some sort of mustachian-style Jedi mind trick capabilities.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MandalayVA on October 14, 2014, 10:58:19 AM
I badly need to empty out my chest freezer because it needs defrosting, and slowly but surely I'm getting there.  On Saturday I found a hambone from over two years ago.  Yikes.  But I also had chicken broth and I threw everything in the crockpot overnight.  I cooked some Costco Normandy mix veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, baby and yellow carrots) in the broth, pureed everything with my immersion blender, and added back the meat from the hambone along with a couple of diced-up small ham steaks I also found in the freezer.  Voila, faux split pea soup for lunch this week!  We've on vacation next week but when we come back the Freezer Emptying Jihad is on!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 14, 2014, 12:06:52 PM
Well, we re-filled our freezer last night, but all for the cause!  The husband and I assembly lined a bunch of burritos (using a moose roast and part of our giant bag of rice we've had for over 2 years now, plus beans from the pantry) for quick lunches and dinners for crazy days.
Still on track eating fish and haven't had to repeat a meal yet.  I didn't realize we had collected so many salmon recipes.   Even better, BabyX is learning to love salmon, and the (cooked) skins are going to the dog who is super happy about it, so we get to save a tiny bit on dog food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 14, 2014, 08:40:32 PM
Glad your feeling better and able too walk some now.  Taxis are expensive.


I made a real use it up recipe tonight and my husband actually said he liked it.  Yea! Leftover rice, leftover black beans, frozen onions, frozen peppers, frozen flour tortillas, a jar of enchilada sauce, the last of one container of taco seasoning And a pound of hamburger.  They we good enchiladas.  Leftovers for tomorrow.  And two things of frozen meat mix to go into the freezer for opps  I forgot dinner nachos.

I did well this morning too had a jar of Almond butter. The kids won't eat it. So I mixed the almond butter with a jar of peanut butter.  The kids declared it good.  So that's a win also.


But much to the children's dismay we are our of clifbars(ok they haven't found the emergency stash in the car)

I found a 7lb bag of steel cut oats.  What can I make besides oatmeal?  HELP
!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 14, 2014, 09:55:50 PM

I found a 7lb bag of steel cut oats.  What can I make besides oatmeal?  HELP
!

I toss a handful of oats in every time I make a smoothie. Anzac Brownies are one of the most amazing food ever: http://www.crew.coop/ (http://www.crew.coop/)

Oatmeal cookies, Anzac Biscuits, topping for crisps, baked apples, thrown into ground meat to stretch it when making meatballs or hamburgers, ground into flour and subbed in for some of the flour when you make bread....I Love oats!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 14, 2014, 11:33:30 PM
The Anzac Brownies call for rolled oats.  I have steel cut oats will they still work?

I've used rolled oats to stretch meat before and for topping on crisps but not steel cut oats.  Can they be substituted.  I know the cooking time it way different.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 15, 2014, 03:12:13 AM
Shropskr, I am by no means an expert but if I were you I would cook or part-cook the steel cut oats before subbing them into recipes that you think can take the extra moisture (ie meatballs or a crisp will probably be ok, but a cookie recipe might not turn out).

A google for steel cut out energy bar recipe also threw up a lot of results - could you try using them to make your own cliff bar substitutes?

Turns out I didn't need to get milk, but picked up a block of butter after work as I need to make a dessert tonight for an upcoming get together. I could have subbed oil but baked goods just aren't the same without butter, IMHO.

I'm making some cranberry almond squares that will use up the last of the almond meal, sliced almonds, dried cranberries (soaked and subbed for fresh, hope it turns out!) and continue my mission of using up the not so great vanilla essence I've nearly finished. Trying to use it in recipes that don't depend on vanilla being the star.

We had the coconut milk jellies last night with some diced mango from a jar I found in the boyfriend's cupboard, they were really good and I'll definitely make them again when I have some coconut milk to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 15, 2014, 11:41:57 AM
The Anzac Brownies call for rolled oats.  I have steel cut oats will they still work?

I've used rolled oats to stretch meat before and for topping on crisps but not steel cut oats.  Can they be substituted.  I know the cooking time it way different.

Crap, sorry in my enthusiasm, I didn't catch that they were steel cut. I'm not sure if it would work
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 15, 2014, 08:36:09 PM
Thanks chasingthegoodlife can't believe that I didn't even think to google what I wanted. I tried muffins, breads but with your suggestion I googled "mock peanut butter clif bars" and low and behold they even called for steel cut oats.  LOL :) I had all the ingredients so I made up a batch the kids like them.  Score...

While I was at it I turned some of my steel cut oats into oat flour.  That I know how to use.  Pancakes. Yum.

Thank you guys.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 17, 2014, 12:58:54 AM
Oat flour, that's a great idea. Sometimes I wish my cheap food processor wasn't so lousy.

I'm off sick today and was craving some comfort take out food but pulled out some lonely leftovers from the freezer (chinese braised beef), heated up some roast pumpkin from the fridge, made some rice, and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. It was warm and rich and didn't cost anything. Feeling virtuous now. And not all that sick anymore either.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on October 17, 2014, 08:03:05 PM

I had a bag that I soaked overnight recently, and the next morning they were...oddd...the skins looked like they had split and bubbled. I ended up popping them out of their skins, throwing then in a crockpot with a smoked ham hock and made a soup. if the texture of the beans suck, buzz it up like I did :)

Great idea. I have a ham hock in my freezer awaiting to be made into soup. Maybe I'll do that this weekend :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on October 17, 2014, 08:06:37 PM

Coconut jelly (use up half tin coconut milk, plain gelatin my sister left here)



You inspired me...that sounds amazing and I definitely have some coconut milk and gelatin in my pantry.  Thank You!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on October 17, 2014, 08:10:58 PM
 
I found a 7lb bag of steel cut oats.  What can I make besides oatmeal?  HELP[/b]!


 I add oats to every bkaed good I make (muffins, pancakes,etc). I also use them on "power balls" or basically PB (or any other kind of nut butter) rolled in oats, wheat germ, pumpkin and/or flax seeds and really anything else you have on hand. They freeze well, are portable and my kids really love them too so they hardly last more than two days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 17, 2014, 08:40:15 PM
Our "pantry diet" (as my husband dubbed it) continues.  This past week, we were traveling.  We packed a bunch of homemade dehydrated meals from our backpacking box.  At our airport layover, I asked for two cups of hot water at starbucks (which apparently they don't charge for!  I did leave a tip though, as the line behind me was quite long), and 15 minutes later we had a hot pinto bean stew to eat, instead of roaming around and spending too much on airport food.  Then, as part of our trip, we borrowed a car and camp gear from my parents and did a few days camping.  We polished off several more of our meals (black beans, split pea soup, chickpea curry, white bean and garlic soup), plus some assorted nuts and raisins from the snack box.  They were all easy to prepare (just add hot water, and some fat if you want to bump up the texture/flavor a bit), tasty, nutritious, and (best of all), CHEAP (including the electricity our average cost per meal-sized serving is just under $1).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on October 18, 2014, 06:29:16 AM
Ugh.  Now that some cool weather arrived, I was taking an inventory of my dried beans when I found that two old Tupperware canisters of beans had been invaded by a tiny insect--and I mean miniscule!  Grains and beans in glass canning jars were just fine. 

Fortunately I did not lose much but this is a good reminder to perform a steady rotation and keep a good inventory.

In the process of cleaning out the pantry, I found a packet of a mole sauce--best by Sept 30, 2014.  I'll use that tonight.

Tomorrow I am making minestrone soup with all of the miscellaneous veg that is looking less than perky at the moment.

On a happier note, a friend gave me a bag of apples.  Apple pie tonight!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 18, 2014, 06:38:23 PM
Well cake cakes turned out to be more of crab rice.  Tasted great though. Husband said we can try again.  We have two more packages of frozen imatation crab

Saw the in laws today. Yea.  They brought us a lot of fresh veg, eggplant, brusslesprouts, kale, peppers, tomatoes, chard, bochoy and more.  So I'll be working around that to.  My first thought. Italian wedding soup, get to use up that sausage, kale, frozen chicken carcasses, more noodles.  Only thing I don't have is the parmizion cheese.(sub Monterey jack?)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on October 19, 2014, 05:00:34 AM
Well, we re-filled our freezer last night, but all for the cause!  The husband and I assembly lined a bunch of burritos (using a moose roast and part of our giant bag of rice we've had for over 2 years now, plus beans from the pantry) for quick lunches and dinners for crazy days.

SisterX, what does moose meat taste like?  I'm curious.

Today marks the end of our second week of participating in this challenge.  Once again, I'm really happy with what we've achieved with sticking to our budget of 100RMB.  One of the meals we tried this week was a Thai red curry using smoked tofu as a meat substitute.  It was really yummy, super cheap and there was so much of it we're going to have it again tonight (no dishes, yay for leftovers night!).

Before moving to China, I didn't know much about tofu and never really saw it as anything but some weird vegetarian food.  My life in China has changed all that.  The Chinese do amazing things with tofu.  I particularly like smoked tofu and marinated tofu.  The smoked tofu we bought for this recipe cost 2RMB.  That's not even 50 Australian cents.  I estimate the entire dish cost about A$4 and it will easily feed us for 2 nights.  The red curry paste and coconut milk came from the pantry, as did the rice.  The veggies and tofu were purchased fresh from the wet market (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_market#Chinese_Wet_Markets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_market#Chinese_Wet_Markets)).

Update about my escooter accident:  the police decided the accident was my fault, not because I was doing anything illegal but because I was the one overtaking at the time the accident occurred.  It doesn't matter that the other escooter rider veered into me.....they have all the rights in this particular situation because they were the one being overtaken.

This means I have to pay compensatioin to the other escooter rider (who broke a bone in her shoulder by the way).  After a week of negotiations it looks like I will have to pay 40,000RMB to settle this mess.  This converts to more than A$7,000.  This is obviously not the kind of outcome I was hoping for but there's little I can do about it except grit my teeth, pay up and get on with my life. 

I see this as a temporary setback on my road to financial freedom, and if anything, plan to grow in my badassity skills so I can make the money back in no time.  This whole experience also seems to have flicked a switch in hubby's brain too which will hopefully have some serious positive long-term effects on our ability to save.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 20, 2014, 03:49:04 AM
Westofthehudson - let me know how it works out! I've got one more left in the fridge, might try it with some kiwi fruit.

I used up the half jar of butter chicken curry paste tonight with some chicken, peas, roasted cauliflower and rice. Roasted cauli with indian spices was a great success but the curry paste confirmed my existing bias that indian style curries are better with dry spices. It was kinda sweet and fakey tasting. BUT there are four more meals in the freezer for lunches/lazy nights. 

A bag of choux and some pastry cream came out of the freezer last night for dessert with some fresh pear, and I'll use the rest of the pastry cream with some raspberries tonight. Enjoyed two of the fruit mince pies for dinner on Saturday night too, and the rest are at work for midweek snacks.

However, I am ashamed to say that, despite living alone and having a smallish two drawer freezer on the bottom of my fridge which I inventoried when I started this challenge, I just found something totally new in the freezer!?! WTF. A container with nine egg whites. How did I miss that? I feel some coconut macaroons coming on. Or should i think of my waistline and go some egg white omelets instead?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GumbyPickles on October 20, 2014, 07:31:58 AM
This could be fun, and it's a good idea...I can't tell you how much crap I have sitting there for the past 2 years.  Hopefully it's not too expired....haha
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 20, 2014, 11:01:08 AM
I made two batches of limeade last night to use up a container of lime juice.

Continuing to eat down our rice (made vegetable fried rice) and pasta (made pasta twice this weekend) stores.  I used half a jar of gifted marinara sauce (usually make my own).  I'll use the rest later this week. 

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 20, 2014, 12:12:19 PM
SisterX, what does moose meat taste like?  I'm curious.


I always think it tastes very similar to beef, then I eat beef and think, "Oh yeah, they're different."  Moose is so lean that when it's ground, a bit of beef suet or pork lard (that one's good for burgers and meatloaf) is added in so that it doesn't just burn in the pan, so that accounts for a bit of the beefy taste.
A moose roast, on the other hand, has nothing added.  Depending on the age of the meat and how quickly the hunter got it to refrigeration it can be a little gamey, but nothing off-putting.  It's hard to describe a taste, you know?  But we use moose in any recipe which would normally call for beef.  It can even be made into sausage, and now on the very rare occasions when I eat beef I think it tastes a little off. 
Moose is also a tougher than beef, since the animals actually lived lives where they needed to range and whatnot, so their muscles were used.  But a long slow cook fixes that problem, at least in bigger cuts of meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on October 20, 2014, 01:47:34 PM
Husband has put a halt on spending, since we did a big stock up at Winco this week. Now its time to eat from the pantry and freezers again! Hope to get my creative juices flowing again by reading the archives on this thread! Thanks for the inspiration!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on October 20, 2014, 01:51:47 PM
This is a great thread!  I'm working on moving out right now, so this is a goal I definitely need to meet. 

My carnivorous SO is moving out in a week, so he needs to work through any meat before he goes.  I'm not moving out until the end of November, but we did a big trip at Costco last month before we knew we were moving so soon, so I have a ton of stuff to get through on my own.

Any ideas on using frozen berries?  I won't have a blender to make smoothies.  I'm thinking about pies?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 20, 2014, 02:06:10 PM
Pies are good!

I would also stew some of the berries (in a pot on the stove, with just a little water and sugar if needed) then add to oatmeal for breakfast, yogurt for a snack etc.

Good luck with your move.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Wolf_Stache on October 20, 2014, 03:25:33 PM
This is a great thread!  I'm working on moving out right now, so this is a goal I definitely need to meet. 

My carnivorous SO is moving out in a week, so he needs to work through any meat before he goes.  I'm not moving out until the end of November, but we did a big trip at Costco last month before we knew we were moving so soon, so I have a ton of stuff to get through on my own.

Any ideas on using frozen berries?  I won't have a blender to make smoothies.  I'm thinking about pies?

Put them in yogurt or oatmeal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on October 20, 2014, 07:09:23 PM
[quote author

Any ideas on using frozen berries?  I won't have a blender to make smoothies.  I'm thinking about pies?
[/quote]

 I'd second the pies or on top of oatmeal/yogurt but I would also suggest a batch of muffins/scones or waffles/pancakes with them as well. Or popsicles.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 21, 2014, 11:45:54 AM
Any ideas on using frozen berries?  I won't have a blender to make smoothies.  I'm thinking about pies?

My husband has also been mixing them into cottage cheese, and we use small frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries) in pancakes on the weekend.  I also mix frozen blueberries into banana bread (I posted the recipe somewhere upthread) and use frozen cranberries in baked oatmeal (also posted that recipe).
But, pies!  Who doesn't love pie?  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 23, 2014, 05:29:57 PM
How is everyone doing?

Got word we are moving for sure, so emptying our freezer has become my biggest priority. Yesterday was a Thai chicken coconut milk curry with frozen green beans and peas.

Tonight is broccoli cheese soup in homemade pretzel bread bowls.

Tomorrow will be the same with some sort of frozen veg on the side. Maybe some Roasted brussel sprouts.

Friday will be a lamb (freezer) Ragu and homemade pasta. with a side of...Maybe green beans from the freezer.

I have quite a few containers of apple sauce in the freezer and currently not eating sugar...maybe mixed into oatmeal for as many days in a row as I can stand?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on October 23, 2014, 06:04:34 PM
From the freezer today:

1 organic whole chicken, now in the roaster

1 package of frozen beef from last years side, now thawing (what should I make with chuck steak?)

1 bag of frozen vegetables to go with the chicken

4 cups of frozen blueberries and 2 cups of frozen raspberries (all from a local farm), becoming a crisp in the oven
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on October 23, 2014, 11:41:37 PM
Ran out of time to make dinner. Planned boc choy, shrimp stir fry with rice, but dd7 homework meltdowns made it not happen.  Tomorrow.  Emergency pancakes(oat flour and wheat flour mixed) milk that was turning sour.  Dear husband doesn't like pancakes so he got last nights spaghetti and meatball leftovers.  I swear the spaghetti sauce is multipling in the cabinets I just keep finding more. Lol

Made a double batch of mock peanut butter clif bars as the kids ate all of the last batch.  They wanted them with chocolate so I used m&m's that were left over from an event I went to earlier in the week.

Yesterday made pumpkin cupcakes, but I think I'm the one eating them all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 24, 2014, 11:22:15 AM
I have quite a few containers of apple sauce in the freezer and currently not eating sugar...maybe mixed into oatmeal for as many days in a row as I can stand?

I actually love mixing applesauce and a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg into my oatmeal.  If I have them on hand, almonds or walnuts also get added.  It's sweet but not too sweet, so I don't even miss sugar.

Doing really well.  Made mooseloaf last night, used up some pasta earlier in the week, and tonight we're having some people over for dinner so I'm making smoked salmon linguine.  It's a fancy (but easy) recipe that uses mostly what we already had on hand.  Score!
Going to a birthday party potluck tomorrow, so we'll use up some of our giant bag of chickpeas by making hummus and bring that.
We have events coming up soon (potluck baby shower for friend, my daughter's 1st birthday party, family visits) which should help us use up a lot more really quickly.  Never thought I'd be this happy to see food disappearing from our supplies so rapidly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on October 24, 2014, 01:30:30 PM
Made a crisp last night with frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

Took 2 bags of shredded zucchini out of the freezer to make a chocolate zucchini cake today for the weekend.

Took out a chunk of chuck steak left from last year's side of beef and put it in the crockpot with this marinade:

http://addapinch.com/cooking/balsamic-roast-beef-recipe/

Plan to make buns this afternoon and serve this shredded beef. I've never made chuck steak/roast before so I hope it turn out!

Edited to add: The chuck steak recipe worked out quite nicely and the kids loved it! Got 70 buns made too!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on October 26, 2014, 03:21:59 AM
SisterX, what does moose meat taste like?  I'm curious.


I always think it tastes very similar to beef, then I eat beef and think, "Oh yeah, they're different."  Moose is so lean that when it's ground, a bit of beef suet or pork lard (that one's good for burgers and meatloaf) is added in so that it doesn't just burn in the pan, so that accounts for a bit of the beefy taste.
A moose roast, on the other hand, has nothing added.  Depending on the age of the meat and how quickly the hunter got it to refrigeration it can be a little gamey, but nothing off-putting.  It's hard to describe a taste, you know?  But we use moose in any recipe which would normally call for beef.  It can even be made into sausage, and now on the very rare occasions when I eat beef I think it tastes a little off. 
Moose is also a tougher than beef, since the animals actually lived lives where they needed to range and whatnot, so their muscles were used.  But a long slow cook fixes that problem, at least in bigger cuts of meat.

Thanks for the description SisterX.  I hope I get to try it someday.

It's the end of week 3 of our pantry challenge and our cupboards are very bare indeed.  When it came to lunch yesterday I was wondering what on earth we could eat.  Then I noticed an unopened jar of basil pesto in the cupboard so I grabbed it and whipped up some toast pizzas.  I threw 4 slices of bread into the toaster, then spread basil pesto on them as a base, sliced up half a tomato I found in the fridge and arranged the slices on the toast then picked a few leaves of basil from our balcony garden and arranged them on top of the tomato and then cut up 2 slices of cheese singles and placed little squares of cheese on top of the basil leaves so they wouldn't burn.  Threw them under the grill for a few minutes et voila!  Hubby was very impressed.  Had them again for lunch today.  Yum!

We will continue with the challenge until the end of this coming week (31st of October).  We've already sat down and worked out a budget going forward which we've never really done before.  We're not big spenders normally so there's never been a real need to do so.  But now that we have this unexpected accident compensation we have to pay, I think it's time for us to analyse our situation and make some changes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on October 26, 2014, 10:08:28 AM
Wow, the ideas being presented are awesome!  I am in for Nov/Dec.  Goal is to only spend $200/month.

Motivation reasons:
- We have been spending nearly $700/mo since April for a family of 4 (not good).  Our 2015 goal is $550/mo so I need to get our mindset in place now.
- Our freezer is full of random meats, veggies, pre-made meals.  Age of some is quite unknown, and a little scary....
- Our pantry is overflowing (I am a sucker for sales, regardless if there are 10 packages of the item already in the house)
- We have a 1/4 cow coming in February, plus need freezer room for Turkey stock-up. 
- Our waistlines need to shrink.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on October 26, 2014, 11:06:53 AM
I hosted dinner for 17 last night and cooked WAY too much food (menu of fajitas), so today I'm going to take the leftover rice/beans/beef/shredded cheese and make individual burritos for the freezer.  I wrap them in wax paper and they are super convenient to grab for lunches or quick dinners.  The beef is from a local farm and I slow-cooked it all day yesterday so it's super tender and flavourful.

My freezer/pantry stockpile is getting a bit ridiculous, so I really need to maximize use of what I already have, rather than purchasing more.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 26, 2014, 04:07:47 PM
I'm making some rice with a spice packet from the cabinet.  I also tossed in half a bag of frozen peas and a handful of peanuts. 

I also made a dozen hard boiled eggs (snacks for the week). 

I found half a bottle of lime juice (another one), so I'll probably make more limeade.  I made some last week with the last of another bottle. 

We still have a lot of random spice packets, in addition to individual spices. I also have a few random cans of soup. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on October 27, 2014, 02:10:49 PM
Starting again -- just picked up a side of beef from the farm! 250lbs of beef in the freezer plus 50 chickens. Now we REALLY start to eat from the freezer ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 27, 2014, 02:24:27 PM
Wow, that's some serious beef!

Had some family over yesterday and made a dutch ginger butter cake which went down very well. They brought food too so now I have plenty of leftovers for the next few days.

Also roasted some beetroot from the garden and garlic which will mix with the greek yogurt in my fridge to make a dip. No crackers on hand so I might have to make some. I made this rosemary flatbread in the past and it was nice and easy but not as crisp as I expected (likely due to user error :)) http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/08/crisp-rosemary-flatbread/

Planning a kimchi fried rice using some more of those frozen veggies and half a tub of kim chi from the fridge. Got some miso and tofu as well so will make a little soup to go on the side.

Was telling my mum about the challenge and she is looking at doing something similar. Her cupboards and freezer are packed so I bet she could do wonders.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sunnyca on October 27, 2014, 03:50:41 PM
Picking up this challenge again.  Still working my way through several boxes of Applegate sausages and oatmeal... I like both, but after this, I'll be taking a looonnnngggg break from both.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on October 27, 2014, 05:52:06 PM
So tonight I'm going to prep this sweet potato and spinach bake for tomorrow's dinner.  I defrosted a package of frozen spinach last week and didn't end up using it, and I have some sweet potatoes that are starting to get a bit soft, so I think this will be perfect.  I'm debating serving it with a pork tenderloin (I have several in the freezer).

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1089637/sweet-potato-and-spinach-bake
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 27, 2014, 05:58:36 PM
Tonight is butter chicken from the freezer stretched with some frozen peas. I'm also going to take out a Turkey and get that thawing for later in the week.

Hubby has been making smoothies with some of our frozen fruit for breakfasts. Have to use up some of the stranger ingredients I have in my freezer. Grated casava? wonton wrappers?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on October 28, 2014, 01:13:58 PM
We love making potstickers/dumplings with wonton wrappers.  Also, tortellini or ravioli.  Those are also a good way to use up odds and ends of vegetables.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on October 28, 2014, 01:43:30 PM
Oh man, I have been doing awful on this challenge.  Routine fell by the wayside as SO was leaving, so I haven't cooked at home in days!  I even forgot to make a sandwich for lunch today and had to get one at the cafeteria.  BLEH.

I have a BUNCH of pasta to use and all the pantry staples.  I think I'll try making some pasta sauce with the canned carrots and tomatoes today and eat up the fruit that's turning.  Later in the week will be black beans and corn.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on October 28, 2014, 02:07:11 PM
@ChransStache, if you have fruit that's turning, you could always turn it into a crisp/crumble.

I posted a recipe fairly recently that used spelt flour (though any whole grain flour would work), unsweetened coconut, nuts and oats, and it was super delicious.  http://definitelynotmartha.blogspot.ca/2014/07/rustic-mixed-summer-fruit-crumble.html  (you could use coconut oil or *gag* margarine instead of butter.  The great thing about a crumble is that it's really forgiving to any substitutions you might want to make, as long as you keep ratios about the same.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on October 28, 2014, 02:29:07 PM
Dumplings! Our family make ours kind of Japanese style (google 'gyoza' for some recipes) with pork, cabbage, and a little soy, sesame oil and ginger. You could sneak a lot of other bits and pieces in too if you had stuff to use up (carrot? Zucchini?). Its a fiddly process but not too time consuming if you make a big batch at once and freeze some for later.

I used up more of the frozen veggies last night in a kim chi fried rice, had a bowl of miso soup with some ground toasted sesame seeds which was lovely.

Made a chocolate milk jelly with some leftover soy milk I bought for my mum's visit, and had some of that with fresh strawberries for dessert. Also finished making the beetroot dip which will be snacks for today and tomorrow.

Today's the last day of my budget week and I have about $50 left over. Need to maybe get a cucumber for tonight, maybe some herbs too. I could make a nice dinner with what I have on hand but I think keeping the veggie level up is more important.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sunnyca on October 28, 2014, 02:41:54 PM
Grated casava? wonton wrappers?

Cassava cake!!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cassava-cake/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on October 28, 2014, 03:15:08 PM
A friend gave me some amaranth.  Ideas for what I should do beyond making cooked breakfast cereal?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MandalayVA on October 30, 2014, 11:16:08 AM
Making progress.  I made a HUGH JASS batch of chili using three pounds of ground chicken from the chest freezer; Mr. Mandalay has been eating it for dinner.  I also made a huge batch of chicken broth from several bags of bones.  I did have to freeze about three-quarters of it (it went in the fridge freezer rather than the chest) and used the rest to make faux split pea soup for my lunches this week.  Next week's soup will be broccoli cheese and dinners will be Great Northern beans and ham because I found ANOTHER ham bone in the chest.  Also chicken salad for Mr. Mandalay's lunch sandwiches to use up chicken breasts.  I did realize something--because of this we haven't had to buy meat in a month and can probably go another month, which is drastically lowering our grocery bills.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on October 30, 2014, 11:20:39 AM
Repurposed some leftovers last night.  A few nights ago, I made marinated pork tenderloin and a sweet potato/spinach gratin.  I also bought some whole wheat pitas last week.

So last night, I took pita, spread it with pesto, topped with chopped onion, green pepper and olives, added some shredded pork and slices of sweet potato from the gratin and put a fine sprinkle of aged cheddar and parmesan on top.  A few minutes in the oven (6 minutes at 450F then 1 minute of broiling) and I had the most delicious flatbreads.

Tonight we'll be eating some of the burritos that I froze after last weekend's dinner party.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 30, 2014, 12:09:26 PM
Last night I made a huge batch of Budget Bytes Chicken Taco Bowl recipe (extra beans/corn/everything except chicken).  I shredded the chicken before work this morning.  I'll have a great dinner tonight when I get home.  I also need to segment out the majority of the crockpot into single servings for the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on October 31, 2014, 08:13:05 AM
@ChransStache, if you have fruit that's turning, you could always turn it into a crisp/crumble.

I posted a recipe fairly recently that used spelt flour (though any whole grain flour would work), unsweetened coconut, nuts and oats, and it was super delicious.  http://definitelynotmartha.blogspot.ca/2014/07/rustic-mixed-summer-fruit-crumble.html  (you could use coconut oil or *gag* margarine instead of butter.  The great thing about a crumble is that it's really forgiving to any substitutions you might want to make, as long as you keep ratios about the same.

Thanks!  I'm just down to fresh apples now, so I should be able to use them up as is.  I do have 1.5 bags of frozen berries to get through, and a crumble sounds better than a pie for an event I'm going to in a few weeks.

How much cornstarch did you use with the brown sugar?

I'm all about using real butter.  Butter and oil, y'all!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on October 31, 2014, 11:37:52 AM
About 2 Tablespoons.  Thanks for noticing that - I'll fix the recipe!

I'd skip the cornstarch if you are using apples though, because they won't lose moisture as much as the stone fruit and berries did.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MicroRN on October 31, 2014, 05:57:56 PM
I'm in. I never finished everything in my cupboards during the last challenge, although I can see the back of them now!

I'm still trying to figure out what to make with a bag of Quinoa and a can of Squash Bisk, for example.
Quinoa is the best!  I use quinoa in place of rice.  It's SO good!

I would eat the squash bisque plain...or with a good roll.  I've been meaning to try this recipe for a while now: http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/04/focaccia-rolls/

Do the Focaccia rolls.  They're fantastic and stupid-easy.  I top them with salt and fresh rosemary from my garden.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tracylayton on October 31, 2014, 06:11:38 PM
I am leaving town for 10 days and have been eating up my food supply for the past several days. I still have 1 steak and 3 salmon fillets, some grapes, half a loaf of bread, 1 can of tuna fish, some carrots, 6 eggs, half a gallon of milk, 2 cans of soup and some rice. I leave in 3 days and I might just squeak by without a trip to the grocery store! As an added bonus, I can deep clean the fridge, freezer, and pantry before I go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on October 31, 2014, 07:33:34 PM
My DH has been cooking lately and is using up leftovers nicely.  Leftover rice, beans, half an onion plus some chicken became a tasty stew with homemade chicken broth and it has lasted three meals.  I am admiring his limited shopping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 01, 2014, 11:27:49 PM
Well after being awesome at this for 6 weeks I fell off the wagon for 1.bought pizza fried chicken and pizza.  Ok I was in the er one night ick.  Neurologist made me go.  Ongoing migraines.  Go news ct says nothing wrong, labs say nothing wrong, bad news after 4 different meds they still couldn't break it and sent me home again.  Waisted day.  Oh well.  Head hurts less today.

Kids almost out of clif bars again.  I think even after this is over I'll keep making them way cheaper than store bought. 

Made enchiladas tonight.  Didn't have sauce so looked it up on allrecipies and made my own.  Go me.
Beans are cooking for sweet bean chili.  I'm really the only one that likes it.  I figure the family can eat I one night then I get like 2-3 weeks of lunches out of a batch. I rotate it in the freezer with other frozen soups.  So I don't have the same thing all the time.

I know we're making a difference because we havenot bought hardly ant groceries in 6weeks but I swear the freezer/panty is still full.

Though I am on my last package of lunch meat.  I'll have to decide if I want to replace it or get even more creative with sack lunches for the kids.

Do you think those cooked breakfast sausages(like jimmy dean links) could go in sack lunches as the protein?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Staff Only on November 02, 2014, 06:47:20 AM
Well after being awesome at this for 6 weeks I fell off the wagon for 1.bought pizza fried chicken and pizza.  Ok I was in the er one night ick.  Neurologist made me go.  Ongoing migraines.  Go news ct says nothing wrong, labs say nothing wrong, bad news after 4 different meds they still couldn't break it and sent me home again.  Waisted day.  Oh well.  Head hurts less today.

Don't beat yourself up about it Shropskr.  Your migraine situation sounds really crappy.

Hubby and I finished this challenge on Friday but strangely enough neither of us has bothered to go to the supermarket since then.  Our cupboards are almost bare but we still managed to scrape together a tasty little stir-fry of smoked tofu, garlic and peppers (from the wet market) on a bed of rice.  We have enough rice left over to cooked fried rice tomorrow night.

It occurred to us that we really did learn something doing this challenge.  In the past if our cupboards had gotten that low on groceries we would've been in a panic and may have even gone out to a restaurant (a cheap one of course, but still!!) in order to feed ourselves.  Instead, we did as the locals do.  We strolled across to the wet market, bought some cheap, fresh basics and whipped it into a tasty and nutritious meal with a few staples from the cupboard.  Winning!

Our next challenge is to start tracking our spending here in China but hey, that's a topic for another thread......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on November 02, 2014, 02:19:28 PM
Great work everyone! I don't think a few runs to the shops for essentials or take out nights when things are frantic undoes the benefits of using up what you have, if you're still getting 80% of your meals/ingredients from what you have on hand isn't that a massive saving?

I'm staying at my boyfriend's place over the long weekend and went to town on his pantry yesterday. Leftover lime marmalade and orange fruit jelly that no one was eating became these biscuits (cookies for y'all up north) http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/blogs/233237601.html and lemons and cumquats from the trees along with several ends of clumpy sugar became a fresh new marmalade for toast.

Saturday night we made pizza dough and used up odds and ends of antipasto, cheese, salami, veggies and homemade beetroot dip on some home made pizzas which got us dinner and next day's lunch for $0, then last night pulled some sausages from the freezer with roast beetroot salad from the garden (bought greens) with the last of the blue cheese, sauteed leeks from the garden, and some homemade sour dough rolls from a mix bf has had since we started dating.

Best of all (for my OCD heart), there is now only ONE open container of sugar, one open butter, one open flour. Quinoa flakes were found to have the DREAD PANTRY MOTH and binned promptly. Use it or lose it people!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 02, 2014, 04:31:36 PM
Do you think those cooked breakfast sausages(like jimmy dean links) could go in sack lunches as the protein?

My kids would be in heaven if they had "hot dog sausages" in their lunches! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 02, 2014, 05:06:40 PM
Hope you are feeling better, Shropskr!

Making progress, cooked a turkey that was in the freezer, pulled off all the meat and made stock with the bones. This has been finding it's way into most of our meals over the last few days. Curried Turkey over rice cooked in broth, chopped up turkey in scrambled eggs and leftover rice for breakfast. Lunch/dinner was chopped up turkey simmered in a bit of broth and homemade taco seasoning, served over quinoa cooked in broth and some quick re fried beans made from our supply of pinto bean flakes.

I have been making cashew nut milk out of our large supply of raw cashews - using as a base for healthy hot chocolate, smoothies etc.

While trying to clean out the pantry (possibly the worst possible time?) Hubby and I have decided to go sugar -free as much as possible. Staggering to see how many pantry foods have hidden sugar or how many different types of sugar we do have in our pantry.  Have to package and and move everything in approx 21 days, so thinking that a bunch of unopened sugary things (like jams and such) we'll probably just donate to our local food pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 03, 2014, 08:58:05 AM
So last night we had spaghetti, which used up some borderline vegetables, a package of ground beef, one of spaghetti and some tomatoes and sauce.

Tonight I've got a beef stew in the slow cooker, and I used up some of my carrots, potatoes, and a squash from the garden, and I'm serving with a five-minute focaccia, to which I added some rosemary and garlic powder.

We bought 1/3 of a cow last year and I just didn't cook as much beef I guess, so I still have quite a bit left.  We won't be getting it this year, because we are trying to eat through the current frozen stockpile of food.  :)  I'll probably do it again next year though - for what we got, the price was quite reasonable, and the quality was absolutely amazing (local, grass-fed happy cows).

I also need to work on eating through some of the dried legumes I have too - I made a tomato bean soup last night that we can have for lunches this week, and later this week I'm going to make a nice spicy black bean soup, as I've a large bag of dried black beans too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on November 03, 2014, 11:08:19 AM
I made pizza twice this weekend to use up some of the gluten I have in the pantry.  It turned out pretty bad, haha!  I've made pizza dough in the past, but I definitely didn't need this enough and ended up with a lumpy, but tasty crust.  I think I'll make vegan hot wings again to use the rest of the gluten up: http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2009/08/ultimate-vegan-hot-wingz.html

Cracked open a bag of frozen green beans.  They were a little freezer burned, so they weren't all that great texture-wise.  I really dig green bean casserole, so I might use them for that instead. 'Tis the casserole season, after all!

Went to the store to get some more produce this weekend.  I'm transitioning to buying more things out of the bulk bins even if it's not the cheapest option.  This way I can control the amount that I bring into the house as I used up the containers in the pantry and avoid food waste.  Only bought rice and a can of tuna from the inner aisles.  Accidentally bought spinach when I have more lettuce to use up.  Probably going to have some big salads this week for dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 03, 2014, 12:10:42 PM
Accidentally bought spinach when I have more lettuce to use up.  Probably going to have some big salads this week for dinner.
Spinach freezes well.  I use it in smoothies after I freeze it. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on November 03, 2014, 12:37:19 PM
Westofthehudson - let me know how it works out! I've got one more left in the fridge, might try it with some kiwi fruit.


Awesome! I even tried it using some guava paste I had (mixed it with boiling water first to liquify it more). This is has blown my mind!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on November 03, 2014, 02:31:24 PM
I fell off bandwagon for posting as a severe cold sidelined me from doing much more than basic necessities. Feel much much better now, even with "mom" being out of comission, DH kept going as he coudl easily find what's in the freezer and I used up the last of last year's cow to make a comforting beef stew.

Over the weekend, I could see the light in our freezer upstairs(the one on top of fridge), it was amazing. I did chuck a small bag of turkey insides that DH wanted to save and I didn't and they were super freezer burned. I am also excited as we'll be hosting 3 young adult men who are part of a missionary team for two weeks. I plan on using their appetites to finish off the last of the roasts from our pig and to use up some pasta/rice from the pantry (I have cut down on my personal consumption of those items).

Once their visit is over, we should be down to just a dozen items in the freezer and I have planned for our side of beef to arrive just about then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 03, 2014, 11:00:08 PM
Made Brinner, breakfast for dinner, need to add this to the weekly rotation as we at I'll have a lot of breakfast meats in the deep freeze.

Made a new batch of pb clif bars added 1/2 c sunflower seeds we'll see if the kids notice.  I hope not.  I have a huge bag of the to use up.

Made a new clif bar recipe Chocolate Brownie clif bar.  We'll see how it does.

Also made the Oregon Chai Tea recipe I found here on MMM. Yum.  Though I need to find a way to strain it.  Super nice treat for me.  I can't have the real stuff.  Allergic to honey.

Tomorrow night soup and sandwich.  We have quite an assortment of soup cans and I'd rather not move them.  Beef stew for tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 04, 2014, 06:48:48 AM
Made Brinner, breakfast for dinner, need to add this to the weekly rotation as we at I'll have a lot of breakfast meats in the deep freeze.

Also made the Oregon Chai Tea recipe I found here on MMM. Yum.  Though I need to find a way to strain it.  Super nice treat for me.  I can't have the real stuff.  Allergic to honey.

Brinner is a staple in this family.  Easy to make and everyone likes it.  For the Chai Tea, strain it thru a coffee filter.  I also use filters to strain crockpot yogurt to resemble greek yogurt. 

Starting to see the back wall in parts of the pantry.  Found a small container of espresso grounds.  The cappuccino machine is currently out of commission (plugged steam froth hose - any ideas on how to fix?) so I mixed the grounds with regular coffee.  Another container bites the dust.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 04, 2014, 07:56:25 AM
Tonight will be a leftovers night!  One thing I'm trying to make a practice of, to reduce food waste, is that when I hit a certain point, with the numbers of servings of leftovers (i.e., I have enough leftovers for dinner that night, AND for lunch the next day), then we have a leftovers night.

I have quite a few things right now, so I'm going to tell the kids that tonight is like being at a restaurant, and this is what's on the menu:
- mulligatawny chicken stew with quinoa
- beef stew
- spaghetti and meat sauce
- 9-bean tomato soup

Hopefully they will find the choices appetizing.  Whatever we don't eat will go in tomorrow's lunches, and then I start the process over again.  :)  Fridge is starting to empty out and these meals incorporated quite a few pantry items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 04, 2014, 08:35:54 AM

Also made the Oregon Chai Tea recipe I found here on MMM. Yum.  Though I need to find a way to strain it.  Super nice treat for me.  I can't have the real stuff.  Allergic to honey.

I strain right from my crockpot into a jug using a mesh strainer - easy peasy.

Feeling very bad ass because I haven't been baking as I was out of baking soda and hadn't had a chance to go to the store. Then realized thanks to the internets that I can just use baking soda and cream of tartar. Worked really well for the crackers that I made. Was able to use up some Einkorn Flour my mom had given me, as well as some sesame seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds and poppyseeds.

Mixed up some cashew pulp from making cashew milk and some quinoa pulp from making quinoa milk with some coconut oil, date paste, tahini, peanut butter, cocoa, vanilla and instant espresso powder to make some "healthy" fudge. It is actually pretty tasty.

Hubs had homemade apple sauce from the freezer with some granola I made to use up more of the nuts and seeds we have.

My breakfast will be quinoa scrambled eggs with some chopped up roast Turkey and Spinach. (I'll be honest starting to get tired of Turkey)

The plan for dinner tonight is Chicken Parm using up some chicken from the freezer and some jarred sauce and homemade bread crumbs from the pantry. Going to use up the last little bit of dried pasta we have kicking around instead of making fresh. Will also make a side of roasted brussle sprouts with apples and onion to use up the last 1/2 bag of Brussels and apples on their way out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on November 04, 2014, 11:15:16 AM
Anyone have any ideas of what to do with frozen cantaloupe?  My husband is the only one who likes it, but he's getting pretty tired of mixing it into smoothies.  Any other suggestions?  We don't have all that much left.
We're seeing parts of our upright freezer which haven't seen the light of day in many years.  I added a bit to our stockpile by chopping up, pureeing, and freezing a pumpkin over the weekend, but that will get used up very quickly.
We're having a bit of an off week--hubs and I are just so tired, so we planned a week of sandwiches.  However, we didn't have to buy nearly as much as I thought we would to make the sammiches we want, so the grocery bill was super low.  And, we are using some things we already had around the house: basil from my plants, some cheese, and I made the bread, so used some of our 50lb bag of flour.  Progress!  Other than the sandwiches, we're going to have pesto salmon, which will use up a container of pesto which someone gave to us recently, with sides of sweet potatoes and salad (using up the lettuce I bought for sandwiches and more cheese).  Should be a tasty, easy week of meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 04, 2014, 11:47:07 AM
If you're willing to potentially sacrifice it, would consider trying to make it into 'softserve?'  I know it works well with bananas, but it *might* also work with canteloupe?  I personally prefer the dark chocolate recipe - http://www.thekitchn.com/magic-one-ingredient-ice-cream-5-ways-peanut-butter-nutella-and-more-171618

You could also try making a dessert soup, or a martini (not especially frugal, hehe).  I've never used it in anything but smoothies, so I'm at a bit of a loss.  Is it tasty enough thawed that it could top a fruit tart? 

I also wonder if it could be pureed into a hot soup.....something with some sweet flavour like a sweet potato, squash or carrot soup?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on November 04, 2014, 09:15:09 PM
Time for an update--we're doing really well!  Definitely helps that my husband and I are both on board with the project.
We've been having at least 1, usually 2 legume based meals/day.  The 25 lb bag of pinto beans is now more than halfway finished, and we've made a good dent in our dehydrated meals.  I am actually starting to wonder if we will make it to the end of the year without running out of legumes.

Almost out of oatmeal!  I am debating whether or not to replenish this one.  Our rule is that we aren't buying an item if there is a functionally equivalent item available.  We do have a substantial amount of white basmati rice that we are just not going through that quickly and that could be sort of equivalent as it is also a grain.  BUT.  I do not want to eat white rice every day--I enjoy it as something to eat 1-2x/week on very high activity days, but it is not as filling as oatmeal. The other option would be to have more protein shakes and/or legumes for breakfast (right now I switch between oatmeal, a shake, or legumes).  We will probably go with the second option for the next couple of weeks but may restock on oatmeal before our next camping trip.

Also continuing to use up odds and ends in the freezer, it's starting to look decidedly less stuffed now.  Also, although they are not officially included in our "eat everything" diet, I've been making a more concerted effort to use up our herbs and spices, which has led to some experimentation and new recipes. Last weekend I made a really good tomato-vegetable soup with pinto beans and added a spoonful of fennel seeds.  Came out great--my husband kept saying how good it was (and he's usually so-so on tomato based soups).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 04, 2014, 09:46:05 PM
Minor battle in the house tonight.....DH wanted to order pizza, but I convinced him that we really didn't need to.  I had been planning to have a leftovers night (transposed to tomorrow), so we made mini pizzas with bagels and english muffins - topped them with ham, olives, onions, jalapeno, deer pepperettes, cheddar and mozzarella.  Super delicious, satisfied everyone's pizza craving and used up more stuff!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on November 05, 2014, 12:12:09 PM
Minor battle in the house tonight.....DH wanted to order pizza, but I convinced him that we really didn't need to.  I had been planning to have a leftovers night (transposed to tomorrow), so we made mini pizzas with bagels and english muffins - topped them with ham, olives, onions, jalapeno, deer pepperettes, cheddar and mozzarella.  Super delicious, satisfied everyone's pizza craving and used up more stuff!  :)

Nice!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on November 05, 2014, 03:08:57 PM
I am now doing the opposite, adding to the freezer and pantry with seasonal items in their last hurrah.  When I stopped to pick up my CSA box, I found a deal on shiitake mushrooms.  They are dehydrating as a I write.  I saved the woody stems for the stock pot.

Last week I found a deal on Asian pears.  Today I made something completely new for me:  Pickled Pears with Ginger. 

I have too many greens in the CSA box so I'll be making more pesto for the freezer.

Perhaps I am preparing for Eat All the Food in Your House--Take 3!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 05, 2014, 11:35:20 PM
Did well today made lasagna.  Husband and I agree were tired of spaghetti so lasagna was a way to use it but change it. Ya know.  Also used the 1/3 box of lasagna noodles I had, 1 egg plant mother in law had brought us, and used fettuccine noodles to finish it off.  Creative!  Not bad.  It made two 9x9 pans cooked one froze one.

Just five more jars of spaghetti sauce to go. That I know of anyway.  I swear there multipling when I'm not looking.  Lol.

My son mastered his multiplication facts. So by our rules he chooses dinner.  He says Mac and cheese.  I have 1 box left so. That's what kids get go eat. I'm so proud, it's taken him two years and he's worked hard.  He's earn it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 08, 2014, 11:09:49 PM
My chose to have his friend Simon over to celebrate with us. Simons parents came too cool.  I made chicken pot pie  with what I think was last thanksgivings turkey, a package of chicken, canned mushrooms, frozen chicken broth, and some frozen veg.  Also Simons mom was gluten/dairy free so I mimicked a pie crust with gluten free flour already owned and almond flour.

I didn't buy anything for this ended out with three pot pies.  We ate one and a bit.  Kids had our last box of Mac and cheese as promised.  It went well.

I'm happy.

Oh and the higher dose headache meds seem to be lessening the head pain.  Though the side effects.  loopiness  and studdering are annoying.  Should get less noticeable in a week or two.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 09, 2014, 12:59:12 PM
I went to Trader Joe's on Friday to pick up a few sweet treats for a tea party/lunch I'm attending today.  I also picked up a few items to help us through the week.  We're moving next Saturday. 

I'm in freezer eat down mode.  I've defrosted several single serving dinners for the next few days.  I made smoothies for the week with the remaining spinach (tossed in the freezer), frozen strawberries (still have about 0.25 pounds left), a overly ripe banana, the last of the yogurt, and milk. 

I need to hard boil some eggs to get rid of about 2 dozen eggs. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 10, 2014, 08:05:01 AM
We cleaned out our fridge this weekend and it is AMAZING how clear it looks.  We've really cut down on our stockpile of stuff and I'm super happy.

Freezers are still pretty stuffed, so I'm working on those. 

Last night, I made this chili pasta from Budget Bytes and it was awesome because it used up a slightly-freezer burned package of ground beef, some of my frozen corn (somehow, I amassed three bags), some of my frozen black beans (I cook them dried and freeze in 2 c portions), a can of tomatoes, a can of kidney beans, and a half box of fusili that had been laying around.  Everyone loved it and it made a ton of food, so I'm looking forward to the leftovers.

Tonight I have two chicken breasts thawing, and I'll stir fry them with onion, mushroom and celery and combine with a package of noodles, soy sauce and curry powder to make singapore noodles.

I think I have to cave and get groceries though.  Once the celery and mushrooms are done, I'm pretty much out of non-root vegetables, and I'm now completely out of fruit (though I did use up my last pomegranate....love them so much, but they are a ton of work and I always procrastinate on getting the arils out). 

I recently got a new (free!) cookbook, and in it is a recipe for grilled sweet potato slices topped with spiced lentils and a squash sauce.  I have everything to make it, so I think we'll have that one night for dinner.  DH is dubious of the deliciousness of this meal, so I may need to add something else to it to make him want to eat it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on November 12, 2014, 10:43:33 AM


Also made the Oregon Chai Tea recipe I found here on MMM. Yum.  Though I need to find a way to strain it.  Super nice treat for me.  I can't have the real stuff.  Allergic to honey.


Would you mind linking or reposting the recipe? Thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on November 12, 2014, 10:51:07 AM
We're still chugging along. It's been interesting to find alternatives to certain items. DH and kids like to eat potato chips at lunch as a small side to soup/sand routine. I made some from scratch using processor and oven and no one even noticed. I got more compliments and was able to add some chili powder to DH's chips but leave it plain for the pre-schoolers.

We are getting down to some of our more processed items in the pantry but we may leave a few of them there for just in case we get caught short days. After this week the freezer will be re-filled as I'll be adding my 40 frozen 'Big Cook' meals. They'll be going on the bottom so we can continue to eat the oldest items and empty pantry.

to do this big cook I'll bo going over our initial goal of not spending more than $10/week but the meals will last us well into the New Year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 12, 2014, 01:24:46 PM


Also made the Oregon Chai Tea recipe I found here on MMM. Yum.  Though I need to find a way to strain it.  Super nice treat for me.  I can't have the real stuff.  Allergic to honey.


Would you mind linking or reposting the recipe? Thanks!

My version is here: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/fire-drill!-skip-this-week%27s-grocery-shop/msg47338/#msg47338 (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/fire-drill!-skip-this-week%27s-grocery-shop/msg47338/#msg47338)

It is also in the recipe index. Someone else has a slightly different recipe as well, I can't remember where it is.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 13, 2014, 01:07:20 PM
Thx for posting chai recipe.  Ipad would NOT let me copy and paste.

We've just been coasting along here.  I've been sick.  So soup, soup soup.  I did a count 11 cans chicken noodle, 7 cans tomato, so no danger of running out anytime soon.  And that doesn't touch the freezer.  Wedding soup, black bean, sweet bean chili, onion,  I think we're still good.  Lol

Brinner last night. Sausage eggs, peppers. Yum.  And the kids do love those sausages in their lunches.  Yea.

I did break down and buy some more lunch meat, bread, and husband food.  I do need to keep the natives happy on this journey.

Tonight more fish fillets, beets(from grandma), and rice.

I also figured out that I could put that bag of frozen butternut squash we won't eat into the kids smoothies.  WIN

This challenge really does help you think creatively.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 13, 2014, 02:28:09 PM

Great progress Shropskr! How is everyone else doing?

Making progress, but cheating outrageously. Have decided that giving away food to other foodies stuck in the barren North is almost as good as eating ourselves - especially because we are moving back to where the rest of the family is, and I am sure they will let us help them eat up their bountiful pantries :)

Turned our last lamb into an amazing ragu, which also used up 1/2 an open bottle of wine we weren't crazy about, the last little bit of caramelized onion and fig jam my sister made and a bunch of other odds and ends. Froze 2 meals worth so when those hectic nights hit over the next 2 weeks we are ready to go.

I took out our last chicken which I will be crock potting. I'm sick and out of bone broth, makes me cranky!

We still have a few fish fillets, a box of frozen chicken breasts and two roasts left - I'll probably give away some of the chicken breasts and one of the roasts.

A lone package of puff pastry will be turned into an appetizer to take to a friends house tomorrow night as well.

Other then that I have been cleaning and consolidating the fridge  (lord we have a lot of condiments, we use a lot of condiments, but still!) and will be giving any that I don't think I can use up to a friend of mine. She is probably the only person in town who would know what to do with cans of sugar cane, grated cassava, quince paste and other assorted goodies.  She will also be getting my frozen herbs and hot peppers, they will make her meals so much better.

Keep on eatin' :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 13, 2014, 03:56:33 PM

Great progress Shropskr! How is everyone else doing?

We're doing OK, cheating also.  But grocery spending is only 50% of where we were last month, so good progress.  Made a master list of meals where we had at least 80% of the ingredients in-house.  There were over 30 meals on the list.  Weekly cooking list ideas come from the master list, helping to clear out random items.  Found a big skirt steak in the freezer and turned it into four different meals (beef stroganoff, Vietnamese noodle soup, beef stew w/ bulgur wheat, beef with broccoli).

One big plus was finding a large bag of spearmint in the spice section.  Been using that to make tea.  Love mint & honey tea!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Miamoo on November 15, 2014, 12:12:25 PM
Also on the opposite end as I'm still canning and freezing as certain things come up for sale dirt cheap for the holidays. 

But, as we did last year . . . starting 1 January, I won't be buying anything other than fresh produce, milk, eggs until April or May. (And then the lettuce starts) Works out well. 

I have tried freezing eggs when they're cheap - only once - wasn't happy with the results.  Has anyone else tried this? Maybe I did something wrong.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on November 15, 2014, 02:13:30 PM
Also on the opposite end as I'm still canning and freezing as certain things come up for sale dirt cheap for the holidays. 

But, as we did last year . . . starting 1 January, I won't be buying anything other than fresh produce, milk, eggs until April or May. (And then the lettuce starts) Works out well. 

I have tried freezing eggs when they're cheap - only once - wasn't happy with the results.  Has anyone else tried this? Maybe I did something wrong.

We have one more week of our fall CSA (greens intensive and roots).  I need to make Carrot Top Chimichurri and do some other creative and freezable things with greens.

Looks like either you or I will need to start Round 3 of this thread in the new year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Miamoo on November 15, 2014, 02:44:39 PM

"We have one more week of our fall CSA (greens intensive and roots).  I need to make Carrot Top Chimichurri and do some other creative and freezable things with greens."

What the heck is Chimichurri?

I just freeze the greens in zip lock bags - one pound increments - can be laid flat in the freezer.  Saves space.  Pull out a bag when a winter recipe calls for it.

I'm going to pm you cuz I have questions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on November 15, 2014, 03:03:43 PM
I'm joining late but I have a few things I need a creative inspiration boost to use.   

We have four jars of pepper jelly (gifts and wedding favors) that I don't know what to do with.  Any ideas other than crackers and cream cheese?

I have four lbs of chia seeds.   We make chia pudding once or twice a month and I use them as an egg substitute sometimes for baking.

Bread crumbs, lemon pepper and spicy breader mixes.  We don't eat a lot of meat, but it bought these to bread fish a whole ago and need to use them up or else toss them.  We don't eat meat often enough to use them that way.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on November 15, 2014, 03:30:39 PM


I have four lbs of chia seeds.   We make chia pudding once or twice a month and I use them as an egg substitute sometimes for baking.


We sprinkle chia (and hemp) on our morning oatmeal and also on yogurt with cut up fruit such as a sliced banana.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 15, 2014, 05:29:31 PM


I have four lbs of chia seeds.   We make chia pudding once or twice a month and I use them as an egg substitute sometimes for baking.


We sprinkle chia (and hemp) on our morning oatmeal and also on yogurt with cut up fruit such as a sliced banana.

I throw Chia seeds into smoothies, into muffins, into crackers, into granola, on top of oatmeal. You can also make a chia seed drink or chia seed jam as well :)

I finished off the last of my fish and shrimp on a decadent lunch with our best friend who has been helping us ferry things around in his truck while we are getting ready to move :)

I can see the bottom of my deep freeze - the last few bits and pieces are looking pretty lonely. We have purchased no groceries since the beginning of October except for milk, eggs and bananas :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on November 15, 2014, 05:36:05 PM


I can see the bottom of my deep freeze - the last few bits and pieces are looking pretty lonely. We have purchased no groceries since the beginning of October except for milk, eggs and bananas :)

@swick: You rocked this challenge! I don't remember the last time I saw the bottom of my freezer! Nice job on not buying groceries either! Wow!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 15, 2014, 06:25:33 PM
Bread crumbs, lemon pepper and spicy breader mixes.  We don't eat a lot of meat, but it bought these to bread fish a whole ago and need to use them up or else toss them.  We don't eat meat often enough to use them that way.

Here's a good recipe for the bread crumbs.  He uses a piece of bread but I've used bread crumbs successfully.

http://blogs.kqed.org/essentialpepin/2011/09/11/zucchini-and-tomato-gratin/

Otherwise, put them on top of casseroles, or toast them with some butter in a pan and put them on top of noodles. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 15, 2014, 08:04:55 PM
I had wandered off from this challenge for awhile but need to get back to it as I am now on a countdown to moving by February 1. It will be in-town, so I won't have to throw away food unless I want to, but would still like to minimize how much makes the trip. For dinner tonight, I made green beans with orange sriracha sauce that used up some fresh green beans in the fridge and some orange marmalade and a box of Asian noodles. Discovered that they were in the clearance bin because the peanut noodle mix had some kind of hoisin sauce packet instead of the peanut sauce. Oh well, tasty anyway and probably healthier than the peanut sauce. Tomorrow I am making a vegetarian chili in the crockpot that will nibble away at some bulgur I have on hand. Also, if I have the energy, a yogurt cake to use up fresh lemon juice and whole-milk yogurt. For dinner a few nights ago, made corn waffles from a mix--one more batch and the mix will be gone. Also did a smoothie to use frozen fruit and some wilting greens. Unfortunately I did not get the greens to fruit ratio quite right, but at least it was healthy...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 16, 2014, 01:09:46 AM
I'm bored of our use it up menu. I'm bored of spaghetti, nachos(hides beans/rice), Brinner, soup, fish.  Ack.  Time to start thinking.  I believe I just used my last package of hamburger yea(boo) it's so easy.

Crab anyone???
Bacon??
Spaghetti sauce?
Beans? Got black, red, great northern white


I still have tons of ingredients just not my normal go to ingredients. I have to actually cook. Yeep.
Ok. Deep breath.  I can try crap cakes again.  The crab cake/rice failure tasted good.

Beans maybe try a corn black bean side dish with my fish fillets.(I dont wanna eat anymore fish)

Need a yummy dish to look forward to orange chicken stir fry? I have the sauce.

Or maybe say screw it and just defrost for the whole week and try again later... ;)  We'll have mystery meals.  Sometimes I'm not sure what's in that Tupperware until after its defrosted. Laughs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on November 16, 2014, 09:23:21 AM
Can a newbie join? I've recently filled up our freezer doing some batch cooking, and now with an expensive month or two, it's time to eat through the reserves. Will have to conserve some for the next week or two as a friend has been buying some of the meals since she started back to work, but my eventual goal is so defrost the freezer so it would be helpful to empty it out!

Main challenge will be using up the stashed breastmilk, but I'm sure my dd will drink some of it when I go back to work in February. I'd love he space from it, but need to keep it a little longe :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 16, 2014, 12:10:58 PM
I'm bored of our use it up menu. I'm bored of spaghetti, nachos(hides beans/rice), Brinner, soup, fish.  Ack.  Time to start thinking.  I believe I just used my last package of hamburger yea(boo) it's so easy.

Crab anyone???
Bacon??
Spaghetti sauce?
Beans? Got black, red, great northern white


Do you like Boston Baked Beans?  It uses both bacon and whatever combo of beans you want.  I'm currently making it using a ham hock and a combo of pinto and cranberry beans.  But most recipes call for bacon or salt pork.  Alton Brown and Martha Stewart both have good recipes. 

As for crab, make a hot crab dip.  Here's a good recipe that gets rave reviews from friends.  I downgrade the amount of jalapenos but if you like spicy, this one is good.  You can also substitute other cheeses for Monterey jack and parm-reggio. 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/hot-jalapeno-crab-dip-recipe.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizfish on November 16, 2014, 12:30:32 PM
Inspired by this thread we are having coconut milk pana cotta tonight. It's going to use up two random things the coconut milk and gelatine as well as the tinned fruit I'm going to serve with it. Had to add fresh milk but we would have had that anyway.

We don't have an extensive freezer collection or a chest freezer so I guess eating everything in our house shouldn't be that difficult but we'd run out of actual food pretty quick and be eating branston pickle and savoury seeds for breakfast!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 16, 2014, 01:02:16 PM
Shropskr - I second a crab dip  idea :)

Also for fish, I make fish cakes they are stupid easy and offer a nice variety and can use any type of fish. I use those nothing else instant mashed potato packages from costco - it would be a little more work to use regular potatoes, just boil and mash em. I just poach the fish in the milk/water mixture you have to boil for the potatoes with whatever spices I want (usually I do a curry fish cake) take out the fish and flake it, add the potato flakes and make the mashed potatoes and add back in the fish and some frozen peas. Form into cakes and roll in panko/bread crumbs whatever you have and pan fry. Takes all of about 1o minutes and we usually serve with chutney.

For the bacon you could make a carbonara if you have pasta t use up, or fry it and crumble into some fried rice, or add it to some baked beans as suggested!

Sometimes I'll use beans and spaghetti sauce as a base for Chili - with enough spices, you can't tell.

I make a white bean dip with great Northern beans, usually I end up cooking too much and the leftovers gets made into veggie burgers :) (sorry I don't really have recipes, I kinda cook on the fly)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ascotillion on November 17, 2014, 02:50:34 AM
I had my uni exams a few weeks ago and unfortunately gave into some tempting fast foods (my main weakness!) during study nights, but now that they're over I decided to tackle my fridge and freezer. There were a lot of meals in there that I was just passing up for newer things, so I decided that I would eat EVERYTHING.

Here's what my fridge looks like now!


I'm going shopping tomorrow, with a bunch of cheap recipes that I can freeze - the cycle starts again!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 17, 2014, 08:21:37 AM
We're doing quite well!  Our family of four is at $157 for groceries so far this month, and we are eating like kings.  I'm trying the trick another poster mentioned of just going 'one more day' without groceries to try to eat up food we already have.

I was super proud of last night's dinner.  It started when my husband mentioned he wanted some rice and dal for dinner (lentil curry), but since I had time, and I had a big bag of dried chickpeas sitting in the cupboard, I decided I could also cook up the chickpeas, use some for dinner, and freeze the rest (I freeze cooked beans in 2 cup portions and then use them like canned beans).

So without getting any groceries in over a week, this is what came together:
- basmati rice pulao (done with turmeric, a cinnamon stick, carrot brunoise, cumin seeds and a touch of salt)
- fresh naan (never made it before, but it was easy and turned out surprisingly well)
- red lentil dal
- channa sag (chickpeas done with coconut milk, a block of frozen spinach, half a tomato chopped up and some spices)
- cilantro-mint chutney (was SO stoked to remember I had both these herbs)

It was a great use of some dried goods I've had sitting around for a while, and the meal was so delicious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on November 17, 2014, 09:04:41 AM
MMM sounds yummy fodder!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 17, 2014, 09:24:56 AM
MMM sounds yummy fodder!

Thanks!

Just remembered that I also made a banana cake from some frozen bananas that had been chilling out in my fridge.  I took Smitten Kitchen's crackly banana bread recipe, multiplied it by 1.5 and baked it in a bundt pan (I can't find my loaf pan for some reason).  Another good use of pantry staples - frozen bananas, whole wheat flour, coconut oil, millet, etc. :D  And we have breakfast and snacks for a few days too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on November 17, 2014, 12:14:49 PM
I can try crap cakes again.

I love this typo.  Or was it a typo?

Crab dip is good, especially if you've got holiday parties/family get-togethers coming up.  You can pawn it off on others and they'll think you're super generous for bringing something so "rich".  :)
Got two weeks of family in town.  Good in some ways (more people to help eat things!) and bad in others (my mom prefers not to eat mammals, so no moose meat).  So I bought some chicken for this week, but we'll do salmon still and the other meals I've planned all use up mostly what we already had so we'll still be eating down the freezer.
Also, my daughter's first (!!) birthday party is this weekend, so I'll be using up some stuff for that, like our giant bag of dried chickpeas (for hummus) and flour in the cake, baking chocolate, etc.  We'll do something with our smoked salmon as well.
With Thanksgiving next week, I'm planning to use up the last of our wild cranberries in sauces.  Yum!  And we're almost out of wild blueberries (boo!  we love those), and down to only 2 jars of canned applesauce. 
I also have the problem of using up some frozen breastmilk, since I don't want to stop breastfeeding yet.  Realized yesterday, though, that the musical I'm in the orchestra for started rehearsals and it's right over my daughter's bedtime, so the husband is going to be defrosting milk to give her at bedtime on nights when I'm gone over the next few months.  Perfect!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 17, 2014, 02:36:56 PM
I totally love reading about everyone's creative solutions :)

Lunch is a bag of frozen mixed Asian veggies ( I make myself) with a splash of coconut milk and a bit of thai curry paste and some leftover chicken.

Dinner will be more chicken and Spinach from the freezer probably made into a Indian style curry and served over Quinoa.

I made some freezer fudge out of cooked quinoa, the leftover cashew pulp from making cashew milk, some chia seeds, cocoa, dates, raisins, coconut oil and other bits from the pantry.

I am also experimenting to make a cashew based pie to take to our friends for dinner tomorrow as we have all recently cut way back on the sugar. We'll see how it goes over :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 17, 2014, 09:39:48 PM
Over the weekend, did a yogurt cake that used up the ends of two yogurt containers and some leftover orange juice. Since I have a cold at the moment, I suspect I will be taking the opportunity to make some smoothies and hopefully make a dent in the frozen fruit situation.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 17, 2014, 10:55:43 PM
Typo crab cakes.  But hey the other sounds good too.

Did the crab dip.  Less spicy version.  It is good.  We ate it with Ritz.  Kids had tortilla chips for dinner.  Thanks for the idea.  Will have for leftovers Wednesday. 

Had leftover enchiladas today.  I'm getting pretty good at making and rolling them.  Kids get cheese burritos first night, cheese quesadillas second night.

I was really adventurous yesterday I cooked our uncarved halloween pumpkin.  And made pumpkin spice cupcakes using some almond flour, oat flour, and normal flour.  Yum.  Extra  pumpkin is frozen in chunks for smoothies.   

Also using some expired but not bad almond milk in those smoothies.  Those poor smoothies are so far gone from what they started as.  they  truly have become use it up smoothies.  I even saved 1/2 c of cooked beets to throw into the next batch. 

My kids have smoothies for breakfast at least twice a week.  It's the best/easiest way I've found to get fruits/vegetables into them.  My youngest likes it mostly frozen calls it ice cream.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on November 17, 2014, 11:57:34 PM
A house guest made a meal for us today which included canned peas. I have always served frozen peas (well, cooked from frozen ... you know what I mean!) and the family did not like the canned peas at all!! Now I have a whole glad ware container of them in my fridge. Any suggestions of how I can use them up, well disguised? The house guest is gone, so I could just pitch them, but hate to waste food when its perfectly good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: homehandymum on November 18, 2014, 12:09:17 AM
If it's the texture they hate (and it is for me!), you could try soup?  Like pea and ham soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Primm on November 18, 2014, 04:57:38 AM
I don't think a shepherd's pie is complete without peas, so you could do something like that. The peas go mushy in the pie anyway, so the icky texture of canned peas (which I HATE, by the way) would be somewhat disguised.

Or, if you're me, you'd just throw them out...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on November 18, 2014, 07:29:23 AM
I don't think there is any saving canned peas.  They are cooked beyond the point of being edible.

I had 2/3 of a large cabbage in the fridge yesterday - I took half of it to make coleslaw, and with the other half, I'm trying to make sauerkraut for the first time.

Otherwise, dinner tonight is pulled pork, made from a pork shoulder that's been languishing in my freezer for a year (with the last of a cajun rub I had put together a while ago) and I think I might try my hand at cornbread tonight. 

Also, I made chapati to go with my leftover indian food last night - it wasn't quite as good as the naan, but it was really quick and everyone loved it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on November 18, 2014, 01:27:12 PM
Glad I'm not the only one who finds canned peas disgusting! haha! I think I will just pitch them! Funny thing is, our house guest was raving about canned peas, as in "Oh you guys should try them! You'll love them!" ACK!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on November 19, 2014, 10:07:01 AM
Our fridge is almost empty as we leave for vacation tomorrow.   The only things left are a couple smoked chicken legs, half an onion, a half gallon of milk, some yogurt the kids will eat for breakfast, one half a purple cabbage, one half a green cabbage and purple carrots (the remainders of our last CSA).   Dinner tonight?  A small batch of chicken and dumplings with carrots, onion and the leftover chicken meat.  The cabbage will likely not get eaten because we are cabbaged out (four heads in two weeks and I'm having asian cabbage salad for lunch today), so I'll either leave it until we get back or chop it up and freeze it for stir fry. 

I took a complete inventory of our freezers and fridge and will do the pantry when we get back.  Since we were leaving for vacation, I focused on the fridge and the fresh/fruit and veggies we had.   We did really well this month.   I spent only $125 for a family of four which included 10 lbs of butter that was on sale for under $2.00/lb, a price point we rarely see in MT and many boxes of cereal for $1.00, another price point we don't see often for the cereal I am ok buying for the kids.

I made some gummies using jello and gelatin we've had forever, muffins and seedy crackers for the trip.   This helped use up a lot of odds and ends in the pantry and freezer (dried dates, brown bananas, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, garbanzo bean flour) and will hopefully keep our airport food costs down.

Thanks for the tips, ideas and inspiration.  I've always been a meal planner, but this has really encouraged me to be more creative in using the odds and ends - like making gummies instead of regular jello!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 19, 2014, 10:56:10 AM
Way to go, Savedough!

I unplugged the deep freeze today! Still have quite a bit of stuff to use up thoguh, moving day is next Monday :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on November 19, 2014, 11:31:20 AM
I had to throw out some food from the freezer this weekend :(  I had meat left from my SO before he moved out to his new job.  I tried to give it away to another meat eater, but they backed out.  It's also past the printed expiration date so the food bank won't take it.  I'm bummed.

This leaves me a little bit of frozen veggies and fake meat to get through by the end of the month - should be no problem.  I'm still trying to find homes for any opened spices or baking supplies that I won't use up.  I've got some cans and unopened goods that I should be able to donate or take with me when I move out.

I cooked a bunch of food for a friends-giving last weekend and got rid of all my frozen green beans and frozen berries.  I made Fodder's berry crumble and it was a HUGE hit!  Thanks for the recipe!  The leftovers were excellent too.

I also followed 4alpaca's tip to freeze some of my spinach.  I expected it to get mushy, but it's very still very light and leafy when I checked on it.  I'll probably use it in stir fry or casserole.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on November 20, 2014, 01:06:56 PM
Doing well this week!

Made some Indian food for lunch as I needed rice for another recipe, so we had dal, curried carrots and rice. So yummy. Will do that again. Must have cost $2 for 4 portions and that's rounding up!

Tonight is stuffed peppers using pork, with tomato sauce over top and roasted acorn squash.

Tomorrow have a potluck lunch so I'm bringing egg salad sandwiches.

My goal this week was to avoid the grocery store till I needed milk. Should make it till Friday so a week with just the veggies from my Costco run last week. Usually I need to do another shop to come up with meal ideas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on November 23, 2014, 12:09:04 AM
My week turned out to be incredibly busy, but I did great anyway.

On Tues night in less than ten minutes I Fed 4 people. 2 cans chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Then I was back out the door again, sans kids and hubby they had 15 more minutes before they had to leave.

Wednesday leftover crab dip.

Thurs clif bars. Really What's a mom to do. Kids get off the bus at 4:22. And we leave at 5:00 to be back at the school for a function.  Breakfast sausage for a snack when we get home again then bed.

Friday Alfredo sauce with broccoli over noodles nice and cheesy. 

Saturday was the frozen  lasanga from the freezer.

Wow I'm tired just thinking of the past week.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: ashley on November 23, 2014, 12:28:52 PM
I've only been buying produce for the past few weeks, and my pantry is looking so much more manageable! I love it. There are still a number of things I need to get through, though. Any (vegan) ideas for using up the following?

- Full jar of roasted soy nut butter. The flavor is sort of toasty. Not bad, but not delicious enough that I want to eat it on toast. I'm really at a loss.

- 4 pounds of millet. I don't even like millet, really. I cooked a bunch of it last week with coconut milk and raisins (other pantry items, yay!), and it was edible for breakfast, but not something I'm excited to make again.

- De-germinated white cornmeal. I bought a 5lb bag of this (Martha White brand) at the dollar store several months ago, and it makes the weirdest cornbread. It doesn't behave like the yellow cornmeal I'm used to. The flavor just tastes really off to me. Is this the refined, hull-stripped version of cornmeal? That's what it seems to be, and I don't like it. I've been using little bits of it at a time to sprinkle into bread pans and under pizza dough, but I want it gone faster than that. What is this stuff supposed to be used for?

- Two packages of rice paper. Spring rolls are obvious, but I'd like to do something else with at least some of them. Has anyone ever successfully cut these into strips and cooked them as rice noodles?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: homehandymum on November 23, 2014, 01:40:10 PM
Would the soy nut butter sub for peanut butter in a satay?

And if the cornmeal is what I think it is (white, really finely powdered? Also known as cornstarch?), we use it a lot for sauce thickening - gravies, cheese sauces, that sort of thing.  Maybe have a look at coconut custards? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Miamoo on November 23, 2014, 04:30:38 PM
Oops.  Derailed again.  Beautiful broccoli crowns for .39/# (many pounds in the freezer now).  Sweet potatoes .29/#.  20#'s to can.

Just started a list of everything I have between freezer and pantry and all the meals I can make from said stash.

Pre New Years Resolution.  No more groceries.  (Except fresh produce & dairy)  Pretty much all the good sales are over with after the holidays anyway. 

Wish me luck.

Signed,

The-compulsive (?) can't-pass-up-a-bargain-food-hoarder.  (But it will be eaten - guaranteed)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: ashley on November 23, 2014, 10:07:56 PM
Would the soy nut butter sub for peanut butter in a satay?

And if the cornmeal is what I think it is (white, really finely powdered? Also known as cornstarch?), we use it a lot for sauce thickening - gravies, cheese sauces, that sort of thing.  Maybe have a look at coconut custards?
It's not cornstarch. It's somewhere between the texture of coarse cornmeal and flour. There's a picture of cornbread on the bag, so maybe I just need to try again with a different recipe. It didn't work at all in my regular go-to cornbread.

Satay might be good. Thanks for the idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on November 24, 2014, 07:40:33 AM
Pre New Years Resolution.  No more groceries.  (Except fresh produce & dairy)  Pretty much all the good sales are over with after the holidays anyway. 

The-compulsive (?) can't-pass-up-a-bargain-food-hoarder.  (But it will be eaten - guaranteed)

Same here.  Turkeys are $0.49/lb but the stores require a $25 extra purchase to get the price.  Have two turkeys so far.  Also couldn't pass on the $1.29 pineapple at Aldi. 

Some of you appear to have a flair for Indian cooking.  Is there a good recipe website/book to recommend? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Miamoo on November 24, 2014, 08:01:33 AM
Pre New Years Resolution.  No more groceries.  (Except fresh produce & dairy)  Pretty much all the good sales are over with after the holidays anyway. 

The-compulsive (?) can't-pass-up-a-bargain-food-hoarder.  (But it will be eaten - guaranteed)

Same here.  Turkeys are $0.49/lb but the stores require a $25 extra purchase to get the price.  Have two turkeys so far.  Also couldn't pass on the $1.29 pineapple at Aldi. 

Some of you appear to have a flair for Indian cooking.  Is there a good recipe website/book to recommend?

Butterballs were .89/# at Aldi here a few weeks ago, otherwise same deals here.

I've never tried Indian but you might find something here:  http://thegutsygourmet.net/#world%20recipes

(Really good Armenian & Middle Eastern recipes)

Can't wait for others suggestions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on December 02, 2014, 08:34:56 AM
Back from vacation and we came home to a very empty fridge, but full freezers and pantries so I can start to really make a dent in them.
Hoping to use blueberries, greens, sausage, shrimp, tomatoes, chicken thighs, green beans and cilantro out of the freezer this week and pasta, barley, apples, garlic, onions, spaghetti squash, artichoke hearts, chickpeas and tahini from the pantry.  I may also try to get my act together and make dog treats from oatmeal and meat/veggie scraps we save.
Menu:  Cheesy Noodles and Peas (requested by my preschooler for his first day home meal)
Spaghetti Squash with Greens and Sausage
Cheater Paella - it is not authentic, but we like it and I can adapt it to use up so many things
Authentic Falafel with Tahini Sauce and a green salad (The recipe is from my friends mom, written in Arabic, which I don't speak or read, and translated for me). 
Sweet Tea Brined Chicken and Green Beans

I will be buying groceries, because I'm trying to use what we have as the base of meals, not exclusively, and we like to have a mix of fresh produce as well.  I'm setting my budget at $30/week for Dec.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chranstronaut on December 02, 2014, 11:13:55 AM
Good job everybody!  Keep it up!

I finished the first part of my challenge -- I moved out!  I was able to eat everything in the freezer except a loaf of sourdough I made a long time ago. Much of the pantry was packed up and brought with me in boxes.  Anything that was unopened was donated to the food bank.  A lot of food in the fridge went to waste, which breaks my heart.  I did an okay job eating through the dairy and produce, but condiments and random items all got tossed.

My second half of the challenge will be to do it all again, by eating everything in my two-box "pantry" that's left over from the old house.  This should be pretty straightforward, as I have access to my roommate's pantry basics as well.  I'll plan to supplement fresh foods at ~$20 a week, but I'll be seeking to avoid waste instead of avoiding cost, so this might be a tough limit to meet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on December 03, 2014, 04:10:44 PM
I have been loving reading the great ideas here for using up food. We have identified the awkward items in our pantry and freezer and now are working through them and NOT replacing. Made some chocolate 'haystack' refrigerator cookies with some cereal crumbs and the last of the homemade crunchy peanut butter that were haunting me, and they turned out great. Used up the spice mixes, condiments, and pantry items that were given to us by family that moved out of country. Those took some research since they do not have the same food buying habits as us at all. I still have half a jar of mincemeat (spiced fruit mix) that I can't seem to finish off - any ideas?   We already made a curried chicken sauce with some of it, but it was not a family favorite.  Maybe a spoonful would add some flavor to hot oatmeal?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: homehandymum on December 04, 2014, 12:37:49 AM
Spiced fruit mix would be a nice addition to a fruit bread or a loaf cake - it would taste like hot cross buns :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on December 04, 2014, 12:10:56 PM
Spiced fruit mix would be a nice addition to a fruit bread or a loaf cake - it would taste like hot cross buns :)

Ah, you've reminded me that it's time again to make Stollen!  (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stollen)  That will use up my currants and the last of the candied fruit I bought years ago.  :)
My brother has requested that when we go visit for Christmas we bring a moose roast or two, and we'll bring some salmon in the cooler as well.  A treat for the family, and it helps us use up some more of those.
I used up half of the turkey carcass to make a giant pot of turkey noodle soup (and used a few pantry/freezer items in the process), then made a giant pot of chili and cornbread last night.  My husband said, "I think I'm just going to let you take care of dinner for the rest of the week, because you're nailing it.  Soooo good."  :)
Our top freezer is looking pretty barren and the chest freezer is only about half full.  Woo!  I can't wait until we get to the point where we can move everything from the chest freezer into the top freezer and UNPLUG.  That's going to be a glorious day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on December 04, 2014, 10:31:24 PM
Ok back to it.

Made more pb clif bars and brownie clif bars.  I'm about halfway through that faint 7lb bag of steel cut oats.  Yea.  And oh the money I'm saving on clif bars oh my......   I think I'm going to add this to my permanent cooking/mixing repertoire.

Made chicken white bean chili with some of our great northern beans.  Eh not great leftovers will be eatable but nothing great.

Bought some sausage. It was cheaper than hamburger to make red chili with next week.

I figured that at least for December my plan is.
1 day Brinner,
1 day soup,
1 day beans,
1 day fish,
1 day fun as per husbands decree
Last day will be leftovers or noodles

Well that's the plan anyway.  Not my ideal food but it's what I've got and it definitely needs eaten.

Oh and one more thing we finally finished all of the peanut butter mixed with the almond butter. Yea so no more apb and j here.  Sooo what did I do.  I go and take a brand new jar of peanut butter and the sunflower butter that nobody eats and mix them together. That's right now we have spb and j.  I feel like a chemist.  But now there eating it.   What's next the tahini? Tpb and j? :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on December 05, 2014, 07:39:39 AM
Bought some sausage. It was cheaper than hamburger to make red chili with next week.

Did similar substitution this week.  Used a pork roast in place of beef for pot roast.  DH actually liked it better, plus it was noticeably less expensive.  It's pretty common in my extended family to economically substitute pork for beef, without sacrificing flavor.

Cold weather is allowing us to use up the various loose packets of cocoa and hot apple cider.  DH is also making a good dent in the homemade salsa.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on December 05, 2014, 12:58:40 PM
Well, the Paella was a no-go.   I have a recipe using barley that is really good, so I figured I'd use up our wheat berries.  They take significantly more water so when I got home the crockpot  and wheat berries were dry toasted.  They taste awesome, but wont work in paella, so we are using them as salad toppers.  My baby calls them "crunchies" and eats them as a snack.   Not wasted, but not on the meal plan either.

We had to eat eggs, sausage, toast and apples for dinner.   So I didn't get to use up my frozen tomatoes, artichokes or red peppers.   However, I can make it this weekend, so not all is lost.  I'll just push everything back a day and have to add eggs to the grocery list sooner than anticipated.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 05, 2014, 02:29:19 PM
So when I first posted in this thread around the end of October I had no intention of moving, I just wanted to reduce waste and clear some space in the kitchen.

WELL. It seems I have tempted fate because my boyfriend and I have bought a house together and will be moving in in late February. That means all freezer items need to be gone by then, and we'll be combining two households worth of dry goods and spices so the bigger dent we can make in those beforehand the better. The apricot tree, peach tree, fig tree and veggie patch should also be delivering a generous haul over the next few months that I don't want to waste. Hopefully our families can help us out with those.

Some frozen pasta sauce and and ends of spaghetti met their match last night, along with some left over bits in the fridge. I have pulled out some duck breasts for tonight, which I'll serve with some asparagus and beetroot from the fridge, and a bag of overripe banana chunks which will become banana bread.

Next on the radar are: duck stock, frozen egg whites, rice paper roll wrappers, polenta, burghal, soba noodles, a whole frozen duck, frozen celery, the last packet of frozen vegetables, a few frozen sausages and a frozen chorizo.

Most of these things are super delicious so it will be a fun challenge :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on December 05, 2014, 05:54:37 PM
Spiced fruit mix would be a nice addition to a fruit bread or a loaf cake - it would taste like hot cross buns :)

Thanks Homehandymum  I'll have to try that with this languishing mincemeat in the fridge
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 08, 2014, 04:15:49 AM
The chorizo bit the dust today, along with the end of the pappardelle. Making a dent in the red pepper paste and bulgar, and have a few ideas for the polenta.

I actually wrote up a bit of a meal plan this morning, which is very unlike me, to make sure I get those few ingredients I need to make what I already have 'make sense'.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: RunningWithScissors on December 08, 2014, 10:18:58 AM
Loving this thread.  Hubby and I are doing the challenge, only because we bought duplicates of numerous items one day when we shopped without a list and it made us realize how much stuff we have squirreled away in cupboards and freezers.  I typically have a full freezer in the fall as I keep my garden harvest there.  Turned my tomatoes into 73 jars of salsa a couple of weeks ago, which emptied out nearly a quarter of our upright freezer. 

We've been buying mostly eggs, milk, bread and a few fresh veggies and using up all the starchy staples (beans, lentils, rice, oatmeal, pasta) and meat.  I have to review the receipts for the last month, but it's had an impact on our food costs - probably cut them by half.  With FI on the horizon, we're more and more motivated to see how low we can drop our costs.

My crockpot is certainly getting a workout.  We freeze the carcasses of roast chicken, and bones from the bulk packages of thighs (learned how to de-bone in my first job in a butcher shop!) and throw them all in with veggie trimmings/peels and spices.  Typically, I'd think nothing of throwing this stuff out, but it makes a wonderfully flavorful stock.  The results are turned into hearty soups with orzo/rice/barley and the leftover bits of meat or just broth.  The last batch of broth allowed me to repurpose the leftover meat bits, with frozen mixed veggies and leftover gravy into several chicken pot pies.  As we were eating them, we agreed that this nearly 'free' meal was one of our favorites.  Egg frittatas are also one of our 'go-to' meals with equal measures egg and veggie/meat bits, and spicy curry over rice.

I don't think we'll ever completely clear out the pantry since there's always a stash of seasonal baking ingredients.  As long as I don't have to discard usable staples, I'm happy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on December 08, 2014, 01:23:50 PM
I don't think we'll ever completely clear out the pantry since there's always a stash of seasonal baking ingredients.  As long as I don't have to discard usable staples, I'm happy.

Same here.  It's more about using all the one-time purchase items that are taking up valuable pantry and freezer space.  I found a bag of beer bread mix in a box that was shoved on the top shelf.  Beer Bread with Garlic Dip for the holidays plus more useful pantry space?  Score!

Another benefit of this thread is the really unique food ideas.  Growing up in the rural part of the Midwest, most dinners revolve around meat and potatoes.  So hearing people make all these awesome different types of food has given me the courage to attempt a vegetable curry tonight - use up some lentils.  Of course, I have ham sandwiches on stand-by for DH because there is no knowing how he is going to react.  ;-) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tomita on December 09, 2014, 07:55:58 PM

Bones from the hens are in the crock-pot for some bone stock. Pulled a chicken from the freezer for some sort of dish later in the week. Probably a cornbread topped pot pie using some of the cornmeal we have stashed away.

can you share the recipe for cornbread topped pot pie ? My family loves pot pies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 10, 2014, 03:00:18 AM
I used up some of the soba noodles today in a spicy miso broth with prawns and vegetables. It was awesome. As others have said above, I have not been suffering by the challenge to eat up all these tasty but somewhat unusual ingredients that get ignored day to day.

I also made a small thai red curry using the rest of the prawns and veggies, and adding the last packet of those blah frozen vegetables. Hurrah! They are out of my life. Curry is going straight back in the freezer and will get used up over the next few weeks for work lunches.

The move has got me thinking strategically about not acquiring more than I need. I was out of self raising flour and about to buy more when I noticed the boyfriend already had 2 bags. One of those is now living at my place, which will save us trying to find space to store 3 bags when we combine pantries. I also stopped myself replacing a few cleaning products today, which I can make do with Jif and disinfectant for the next little while.

After the next few days of Christmas parties and events is over I'm hoping to make inroads with the duck stock (+ more soba?) and the polenta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on December 10, 2014, 08:18:54 AM
I successfully made curry!  Originally was going to be veggie curry but I cheated and put some chicken in it and used chicken stock.  The visual chicken enabled DH to eat it without complaining.  Bag 1 of lentils is gone.  Bonus was that the curry tasted even better the next day - similar to how stew seems to taste better after sitting for a while.

On to researching what to do with rice noodles....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on December 10, 2014, 01:00:32 PM
Beans in the crockpot for black bean chili.  My hope is with black beans instead of kidney my husband won't hate it so bad.  We will see.

Saw the neurologist Monday for my migraines.   He said I need to lose weight, stop caffeine, no gluten, and no dairy.  So extra kinks are being added in.  Guess the kids really want noodles in their lunches.
I put all the gluten stuff left in one overflowing Costco Huggies box, except the flour and stuff in fridge/freezer.

Dec 31 is husbands last day at work, two week break then he starts looking for work in the new city. So things could start moving fast or not.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 10, 2014, 01:30:56 PM
I successfully made curry!  Originally was going to be veggie curry but I cheated and put some chicken in it and used chicken stock.  The visual chicken enabled DH to eat it without complaining.  Bag 1 of lentils is gone.  Bonus was that the curry tasted even better the next day - similar to how stew seems to taste better after sitting for a while.

On to researching what to do with rice noodles....

Way to go, GardenFun! 

Beans in the crockpot for black bean chili.  My hope is with black beans instead of kidney my husband won't hate it so bad.  We will see.

Saw the neurologist Monday for my migraines.   He said I need to lose weight, stop caffeine, no gluten, and no dairy.  So extra kinks are being added in.


I don't know if it would help you at all, but I use to get really severe migraines and the single biggest thing that helped was cutting out sugar. You naturally eat less gluten, lose weight (by making no other changes at all, I have lost 14 lbs so far since mid october) and eat far less of the chemicals/preservatives/colorants that can trigger migraines.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on December 11, 2014, 10:31:42 AM
Over the summer I made quite a large batch of gingered rhubarb marmelade.  I halved the sugar and didn't up the pectin enough so it came out sorta runny and then I never found/made the time to re-do it with more pectin.  I was wondering what to do with it all and have finally figured out that it's the perfect way to spice/sweeten up my oatmeal in the mornings.  Score!  The slightly runny consistency just means that it's easier to stir into the oatmeal.
Also, we ran out of maple syrup and I've challenged myself not to buy any more until after we move.  It's hard, I love maple syrup.  However, the marmelade also goes really well on the pancakes I like to make (zucchini pancakes-- http://www.diaryofalocavore.com/2008/08/zucchini-pancakes.html-- and barley pancakes) and the pumpkin waffles I make are plenty delicious with just butter.  Yay!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on December 11, 2014, 06:47:49 PM
Over the summer I made quite a large batch of gingered rhubarb marmelade.  I halved the sugar and didn't up the pectin enough so it came out sorta runny and then I never found/made the time to re-do it with more pectin.  I was wondering what to do with it all and have finally figured out that it's the perfect way to spice/sweeten up my oatmeal in the mornings.  Score!  The slightly runny consistency just means that it's easier to stir into the oatmeal.

Hmm, now I've learned that mincemeat and gingered rhubarb marmelade can both get used up as great oatmeal toppers. I think oatmeal may be the cure-all for pantry clean ups.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kaivalagi on December 13, 2014, 12:06:15 PM
Really enjoying this thread! We are trying to spend less in the run up to Christmas and want to use up some bits in the cupboards and freezer so will join too :) I made a HUGE batch of veggie chilli which utilised a number of tinned beans/tomatoes and it is lovely!

I have a lonely tin of mushy peas which I have no idea what to do with! I'm really not a fan... I inherited them from an American friend who was moving back to the states who apparently loved them, but not enough to eat that last can :S Perhaps I could put them into a split pea soup and hope for the best.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 13, 2014, 04:57:59 PM
In part of Australia they have something called a 'pie floater' - which is a meat pie resting on a bed of mushy peas or pea soup. It is quite nice as a novelty, and tomato sauce hides a multitude of sins.

Otherwise I say pea soup all the way. How about a pea and ham soup? That is generally quite forgiving and you could add some extra frozen peas to even out the taste and texture.

Dinner plan for next three nights is chilli and cornbread, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, and minced pork and green beans over rice with miso soup. All I will need to buy is some ground pork and veggies, the rest will come from the cupboards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizzzi on December 13, 2014, 05:02:53 PM
I saw a restaurant review for a British Columbia place that catered to Australians, so made a lot of meat pies. They had this one where they put mushy peas on top of the meat pie, and then poured gravy over the whole thing. I've never eaten anything like that, but it looked appetizing. (Full disclosure: I'm a Yank…have never eaten a mushy pea in my life.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 14, 2014, 02:08:17 PM
Meal plan changed slightly due to boyfriend requesting some sausages (from the freezer yea!) which I will serve with rosemary and parmesan polenta chips and beetroot/rocket/feta salad.

Cornbread muffins turned out only so-so, I should have put more mixture into each one but I wasn't sure how much they would rise. Taste good though, and those and the chilli will be great for lunches.

Polenta is almost used up already! I found a good looking recipe for polenta pancakes which I will probably make this week to eat with the stewed apples I prepped yesterday from the last 2 Granny Smiths that were getting a bit old.

Took the container of egg whites out this morning to make some macaroons when I'm home by myself this week.

Freezer is looking pretty empty!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on December 14, 2014, 11:01:17 PM
Husband gave notice de 31 is his last day. 

He is dissatisfied with the beans and I mean all beans :(

Easy freezer food this week I think.  Frozen Italian wedding soup leftovers, canned tomato soup(or frozen clam chowder),  frozen leftover white bean chili might make corn muffins, frozen chicken pot pie.    Think I'll take the week off.  lol
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on December 27, 2014, 02:17:07 PM
How are we all going on the Christmas leftovers?

We didn't even host Christmas here, but somehow have managed to accumulate quite the collection. Of course, since we hate waste (and love food) this must be USED UP ASAP.

So far we have managed:
2 lunches using up chicken and salads
1 dinner using up prawns, salads, and some rolls from the freezer
1 dinner using up antipasto type stuff and old cheese from the fridge with homemade pizza dough (Jamie Oliver's simple recipe, worked much better than the one I used last time).
Leftover fruit salad, chocolate, pies and biscotti for snacks.

I walked to the store yesterday and bought only milk and bacon (requested by boyfriend, bacon is an essential item in our household). I think that should last us for another day or two, as we still have plenty of bits and pieces and will be attending a family BBQ today.

The leftover alcohol will be 'decluttered' at New Years :)

I also spent a few hours making stewed apricots and apricot jam with the excess harvest from our tree, and will give some of this away to the family today.

Right now it's looking like I will be moving out of my apartment in a month. I need to schedule a dinner party to get rid of that frozen duck!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 27, 2014, 04:29:40 PM
I cooked 7 pounds of the 10 pounds of potatoes we have that are starting to sprout.  I have another 3 pounds.  My DH is loving all of the potatoes. 

I have a few pounds of chicken and beef in the freezer.  I'll defrost it next week. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on December 27, 2014, 05:04:03 PM
Hoping to feel well enough to throw it all out tomorrow (weeklong stomach flu).

ETA I mean all the leftovers from last week's early celebration - the only one we attended thanks to the flu - I don't have anything else to be thrown out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alleykat on December 27, 2014, 05:45:46 PM
I would like to join this thread. I have one more meal left from Christmas dinner and then I need to start attacking my cupboards and freezer.  I have so much stuff that I am overwhelmed.  From here on out, I will only buy essentials at the market until I use what I have.

As far as junk food, I have a ton. First up under attack will be the Christmas desserts. I am hoping I can polish them off in the coming week and then I will identify something one by one for elimination.

I need to be more mindful in the grocery store each week.  I have great intentions for what I buy, however, it never ends up the way I plan and, I shamefully admit, I end up tossing too much.  I will attempt to put a stop to this in 2015.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on December 27, 2014, 05:57:33 PM
I'm with ya, @alleykat! I need to go on a grocery store fast until we get some of these mountains of food used up! Made a turkey curry for dinner tonight. It has mashed potatoes, frozen veggies and sweet potato in it!

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/25053/christmas-leftovers-turkey-curry.aspx
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tracylayton on December 27, 2014, 05:58:33 PM
My son is visiting his dad for 8 days, so it is just me at home. I am planning not to buy anything from the grocery store until the day he gets back. I have a couple of mystery shops at restaurants (totally reimbursed) that will help.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizinbmore on December 31, 2014, 09:42:20 AM
Not quite eating everything in the house, but I declared this past December to be no-grocery month other than picking up a little fresh produce at the farmer's market each week to have fresh vegetables.  It was shockingly easy to do even including a holiday dinner party for some coworkers.  Obviously, I had a lot of food in the pantry and freezer. 

But it got me doing more scratch cooking including making homemade pasta, quiche crust, baking bread, etc.  It also helped me be more careful of foods that are going bad.  For instance, I had a lot of bread that was getting stale at one point that I might have thrown away at another time.  Instead, I made bread pudding for dessert that was excellent with homemade chocolate sauce. 

The amazing part is that there is still so much food around so I am thinking of doing this every other month for the next few months.  It started some better habits for me that I will definitely be thinking more about in the future. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on December 31, 2014, 10:41:54 AM
The amazing part is that there is still so much food around so I am thinking of doing this every other month for the next few months.  It started some better habits for me that I will definitely be thinking more about in the future.

Same here.  Thinking about doing every 3rd month as a "cleanse the pantry/freezer" month.  With the rate of food sales around our area, it can be done without missing out and having to buy items at full price.  As always, insane clearance items are an exception to the rule.  ;-)

In regards to Christmas, we received bags and bags of candy - from friends, in the kids' Christmas socks, in our socks, etc.  I want to keep it to eat throughout the year but don't want it sitting around tempting us.  Any ideas?  Freeze the extra?  It is mostly candy like tootsie rolls, skittles, gum, Mary Jane caramels, etc. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on January 01, 2015, 05:27:57 PM
Garden Fun,

I like your idea of  "doing every 3rd month as a "cleanse the pantry/freezer" month".  I am going to see how well I do with that and let you all know.

I have a lot of things that just sit and do not get eaten, it is almost as if they are invisible.  So my goal is to eat them up, including supplements.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 02, 2015, 03:57:27 AM
-Used up several cups of almond flour in a gf fruit crisp.
-Brought blueberries into kitchen freezer in ice cream pail to use for daily smoothies. Most of the berries are in the deep freeze which is far away from the kitchen.
-Found (!!) chia seeds in the back of my pantry and moved them into a jar in the fridge with the hemp seeds and ground flax for morning oatmeal.
-Found coconut flour and so need to research what I can make with it.
-Used up 4 lbs of ground beef from side of beef and took out 4 lbs of stew beef to thaw for a big stew this weekend

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailAway on January 03, 2015, 04:34:37 PM
I read this whole thread today and I'm starting tomorrow. My pantry and freezer have gotten out of control, DH teases me that I hoard food. In some ways it's good because I stockpile things when they're on sale, meaning I don't often have to buy one thing at full price (hello six cans of organic pumpkin for 25 cents per can)

But it's too much right now, I don't know what I have and stuff will expire/go to waste.

So tomorrow I'm making chili in the crockpot so I'll have time to do a little inventorying and meal planning. I will still be buying dairy, eggs and veggies. And let's be honest, bacon. But this should cut down on grocery spending. Good thing as this will be a spendy month with propane and car/homeowners insurance.


-Found coconut flour and so need to research what I can make with it.
I love coconut flour but it's supper dry and absorbent so it needs tons of liquid and eggs. I prefer it blended with almond flour for baking. You can also dust chicken in it for chicken nuggets. I can point you to my Pinterest dessert board if you are interested. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 03, 2015, 04:51:16 PM
I'm going to join in on this. It will tie in nicely with the other thread, sticking to a grocery budget for 2015.

First of all we are a family of four, two adults, DS 16 and DD 14. I am a gluten free celiac which adds a little challenge but can be done. I have quite a large garden and grow a lot of our food. We have a LOT to use up. 

We also have a little farm so we do currently have some of our own meat in the freezer we will be using up as well.

Looking for new ideas for frozen strawberries and blueberries, anything but a smoothie.

Used up a big package of flour tortillas going stale by making egg and sausage burritos for the freezer for breakfasts. Eggs are usually from my chickens but we only have chicks right now so only store bought eggs until June. 

We also used up the bottom of a container of ricotta cheese by making gluten free raviolis for the freezer. Those suckers are expensive to buy, time consuming to make but DH helped me.

Made scratch bread, regular and gf and whipped up a broccoli, potato, carrot chedder cheese soup. I had some limp veggies in the drawer.

Great to join in, read almost all the posts, inspired already.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on January 04, 2015, 02:30:24 PM
Working at getting through all the Christmas-influenced leftover groceries.

Today I made a cabbage soup using some beef bones that had been kicking around in the freezer, 1/2 head of cabbage, some sketchy celery, onions, can of tomatoes and some barley.  It's pretty tasty!

And tonight I'm making a spanish rice dish with some peppers, onions, cilantro, as well as some sausage and shrimp that have been sitting in the freezer for a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 04, 2015, 03:58:58 PM
Made a test batch of  this soup: http://definitelynotmartha.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-perfect-gift-in-jar-curried-lentil.html (http://definitelynotmartha.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-perfect-gift-in-jar-curried-lentil.html)

Will definitely be making some for Christmas gifts next year! Used up some of two kinds of lentils, curried powder, dried apples and I threw in some dried shredded zucchini my mom had sent from her garden. Turned out great!

Still have lots of stoneground cornflour so that will be the next in my list of projects. Thinking of making a skilled corn and beer bread with some Whistler brewing company chestnut ale (which is amazing) left over from Christmas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 04, 2015, 05:24:33 PM

Looking for new ideas for frozen strawberries and blueberries, anything but a smoothie.


Have you ever tried making your own jam with the frozen fruit?  Tried it last winter and was shocked how good it tasted. 

Maybe strawberry muffins?   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 05, 2015, 06:34:45 PM

Looking for new ideas for frozen strawberries and blueberries, anything but a smoothie.


Have you ever tried making your own jam with the frozen fruit?  Tried it last winter and was shocked how good it tasted. 

Maybe strawberry muffins?   

Thank you. I didn't mention, part of my "use it up stockpile" is 1 1/2 dozen jars of strawberry jelly.   I grow them and had a bumper crop last year.  I did find a gluten free strawberry bread recipe I tried that everyone loved.  DH said you couldn't even tell it was GF so I'm going to start making it for the weekends and anytime I need to take a little something somewhere.

Today I ate a couple of ever so slightly freezer burned pieces of chicken, a barely soft apple and a leftover zuke/potato pancake for lunch.

Dinner was more exciting with a pork loin I had marinated and frozen, home canned applesauce, pretzel buns for them (I have no idea when or why I even bought those) and a roasted butternut squash.

My lunch tomorrow will be dinner again.

I'm also going to get up 5 minutes earlier to make french toast for my teenagers. I have half a loaf of homemade bread to use up, some frozen pumpkin purée to toss in and no cereal left in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 06, 2015, 09:30:37 AM
I have been eating down frozen food in our freezer.  Today I'm eating sweet potatoes with cranberries (leftover from Thanksgiving).   Yesterday, I ate some chicken pieces with champagne mustard for dinner and leftover chicken taco bowl for lunch. 

My breakfast smoothies were made on Sunday.  I used up the last of my frozen spinach (buy a large bag of baby spinach and freeze it), frozen raspberries, frozen blueberries, and milk.  I still have frozen strawberries and mangoes left. 

We have a lot of condiments.  What do you do with excess jam or lemon curd? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 06, 2015, 09:52:04 AM
We have a lot of condiments.  What do you do with excess jam or lemon curd?

I have used leftover plain white rice to make a cheaters rice pudding - sprinkle some sugar or coconut sugar over leftover rice while warm, spread out into a pan to cool off. Make some whip cream and flavor as you like (usually I just do a bit of vanilla and almond extract, powdered sugar if you want it sweeter) and top with a quick fruit sauce. You could slip some jam into the sauce. I have folded in leftover lemon curd into the whip cream and it is awesome! fold the rice in. Pretend it is a fancy dessert that took all day to make.

Also I use a dollop of jam or jelly in savory dishes that call for sugar or a sweet element. It adds a whole bunch of flavor. Apricot jam goes well in tangines and Middle Eastern Dishes. Grape or apple jelly really adds to tomato dishes (especially spaghetti sauce) and helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Any fruit jam + vinegar of choice + cold pressed oil of choice + seasoning (clove of crushed garlic, salt, pepper, herbs) + squirt of Dijon or grainy mustard = awesome vinaigrette.

Basically if you consider it a form of sweetening you'll find lots of places for it :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 06, 2015, 11:00:25 AM
We have a lot of condiments.  What do you do with excess jam or lemon curd?

I have used leftover plain white rice to make a cheaters rice pudding - sprinkle some sugar or coconut sugar over leftover rice while warm, spread out into a pan to cool off. Make some whip cream and flavor as you like (usually I just do a bit of vanilla and almond extract, powdered sugar if you want it sweeter) and top with a quick fruit sauce. You could slip some jam into the sauce. I have folded in leftover lemon curd into the whip cream and it is awesome! fold the rice in. Pretend it is a fancy dessert that took all day to make.

Also I use a dollop of jam or jelly in savory dishes that call for sugar or a sweet element. It adds a whole bunch of flavor. Apricot jam goes well in tangines and Middle Eastern Dishes. Grape or apple jelly really adds to tomato dishes (especially spaghetti sauce) and helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Any fruit jam + vinegar of choice + cold pressed oil of choice + seasoning (clove of crushed garlic, salt, pepper, herbs) + squirt of Dijon or grainy mustard = awesome vinaigrette.

Basically if you consider it a form of sweetening you'll find lots of places for it :)

Thanks!  I'll try to make a vinaigrette this weekend!  I want to stop buying salad dressing, but I've been hesitant to try to make my own. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 06, 2015, 12:58:34 PM
4alpacas There are some GREAT dressing recipes online -- once you switch to homemade, you'll never go back! The taste is far superior -- and no preservatives and weird, unpronounceable ingredients!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 06, 2015, 01:18:47 PM
4alpacas There are some GREAT dressing recipes online -- once you switch to homemade, you'll never go back! The taste is far superior -- and no preservatives and weird, unpronounceable ingredients!
Awesome!  All of this encouragement is going to make me feel guilty if I don't try it out this weekend.  I regularly eat salads, so the reduction in salad dressing will carve about $3-$4/month off my grocery bill. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 06, 2015, 01:19:58 PM
Thanks!  I'll try to make a vinaigrette this weekend!  I want to stop buying salad dressing, but I've been hesitant to try to make my own.

Salad dressings are a great place to start to learn how to freestyle in the kitchen. You can experiment and make as much or as little at a time as you like. The basic ratio is 3 parts oil to 1 part acid (vinigar, lemon juice etc) I usually do enough for just a couple of servings or a serving bowl  at a time so it is always fresh and can be changed depending on what you are making.

Have fun experimenting, the ingredient cost is so minimal, if it isn't perfect, it isn't a huge loss. Keep tasting as you go, trust your tastebuds, if it needs a crack of pepper, a little more acid, a bit of salt, a  hint of sweetness. I add the ingredients and shake them up in a mason jar. It takes seconds and allows you to control your ingredients. besides being really expensive a lot of salad dressings have crap ingredients.

One of my favorites: Balsamic Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
3 parts cold pressed oil (usually olive, but any nut oils are very nice too)
1 part Balsamic Vinegar
1 squirt of grainy/dijon mustard (this primary acts as an emulsifier and makes the oil and vinegar blend into a silky dressing instead of separating like they naturally do)

To taste:
Maple syrup
Cracked black pepper
Salt (a little garlic salt is nice if you do not use fresh garlic)
Minced fresh garlic - I like the freshness a little goes a long way but makes it yummy

Shake it up, taste, adjust seasonings, taste again until you like it :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 06, 2015, 01:55:32 PM
We have a lot of condiments.  What do you do with excess jam or lemon curd?

I make crockpot yogurt and use jam and homemade granola in the individual servings.  We also put jam on pancakes or waffles in place of syrup.  One of my favorite breakfasts came from watching Mr. Food - he took two frozen waffles, put PB&J on them, put the two waffles together, then slowly toasted the combo in a skillet.  Melts the PB&J while creating a crispy outside.  My gosh I love that meal!     
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gopackgo2 on January 06, 2015, 02:47:18 PM
This is a really inspiring thread!

Today I made a big crockpot of sauerkraut from my cabinet and some frozen chicken/apple sausages.

I found a petite ham (2 lbs) in the freezer and am making it in the crock tomorrow with a sugar free apricot jam glaze.

I usually buy a two-pack of broccoli cheese soup from Costco (I do the vast majority of my shopping at Costco and Aldis) for the weekend, but I have all of the ingredients to make a roasted red pepper and tomato soup.

I also have a lone package of cream cheese, and a freezer full of grass-fed ground beef, so I'm going to make a Mexican dip this weekend (with pork rinds for dipping, we're low-carbers) to go along with the soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on January 06, 2015, 07:50:14 PM
I still have half a jar of mincemeat (spiced fruit mix) that I can't seem to finish off - any ideas?   We already made a curried chicken sauce with some of it, but it was not a family favorite.  Maybe a spoonful would add some flavor to hot oatmeal?

If you like fruitcake this is a good recipe:

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/sweet/christmas-sherry-mincemeat-cake.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gopackgo2 on January 07, 2015, 09:24:59 AM
I successfully made curry!  Originally was going to be veggie curry but I cheated and put some chicken in it and used chicken stock.  The visual chicken enabled DH to eat it without complaining.  Bag 1 of lentils is gone.  Bonus was that the curry tasted even better the next day - similar to how stew seems to taste better after sitting for a while.

On to researching what to do with rice noodles....

I just noticed your tagline - you can't even get away from us here :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gopackgo2 on January 07, 2015, 09:28:56 AM
I'm going to join in on this. It will tie in nicely with the other thread, sticking to a grocery budget for 2015.

First of all we are a family of four, two adults, DS 16 and DD 14. I am a gluten free celiac which adds a little challenge but can be done. I have quite a large garden and grow a lot of our food. We have a LOT to use up. 

We also have a little farm so we do currently have some of our own meat in the freezer we will be using up as well.

Looking for new ideas for frozen strawberries and blueberries, anything but a smoothie.

Used up a big package of flour tortillas going stale by making egg and sausage burritos for the freezer for breakfasts. Eggs are usually from my chickens but we only have chicks right now so only store bought eggs until June. 

We also used up the bottom of a container of ricotta cheese by making gluten free raviolis for the freezer. Those suckers are expensive to buy, time consuming to make but DH helped me.

Made scratch bread, regular and gf and whipped up a broccoli, potato, carrot chedder cheese soup. I had some limp veggies in the drawer.

Great to join in, read almost all the posts, inspired already.

Regarding the strawberries/blueberries:  I take them out of the freezer, pour some coconut milk over them and have them for dessert a couple of nights per week. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 07, 2015, 12:16:23 PM
Gopack2: That sounds good. Wish I could get my teenagers to eat more berries.

I had the best success today with using up. I had a smidgen of frozen pumpkin leftover and thawed in the fridge and a little bit of roasted butternut squash left over from dinner. I didn't have a full cup of squash and I wanted to make pumpkin cookies. I boiled up some partly limp carrots, puréed them and added them to the recipe. 

Voila....the best "pumpkin" cookies ever, even made them gluten free.

I had one little piece of cod in the freezer, I made three fish cakes, ate half today, half tomorrow for lunch.  Loving this game!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gopackgo2 on January 07, 2015, 12:54:41 PM
I started my small 2 pound ham in the crockpot this afternoon using a sugar free apricot jam I melted up in the microwave with some added dry mustard as a glaze.

I normally put a small amount of orange or other citrus juice in the bottom of the crock to keep the ham from drying out, but I didn't have any citrus.

I did, however, have some Harvest Tea teabags from Trader Joes that contain cinnamon, cloves and citrus, so I popped that into the slow cooker along with a smidge of water.  It smells heavenly!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on January 07, 2015, 01:06:25 PM
Back!  My comp finally died and our baby came and houseguests left. I  kept up the challenge until freezer was emptied ( except for our bread supply). It was very liberating!

We bought a lamb and half a cow and are back to eating out of our now replenished stash. I am grateful to have everything we need except for lettuce in the house, particularly in these frigid Canadian temps....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: irishbear99 on January 07, 2015, 02:28:08 PM
Hi, I'd love to join in on this challenge. I've just recently committed to actual meal planning and shopping from a list, and I think this thread will help me stay accountable. Tonight I plan to take an inventory of the pantry and then plan next week's meals around what's in there. I know we'll have to shop for fresh produce and a little meat, but I should be able to cut down on what we have to purchase.

Also, there's half a Costco-sized bag of Quaker instant oatmeal stored in the pantry that needs to be eaten. I like oatmeal just fine, but won't usually choose it if there are other breakfast options in the house. There's also about a half-dozen English mufins and some cereal left, but I'm committing to not buying more of either until the oatmeal is gone. (I do have a Costco-sized bag of frozen strawberries in the freezer that'll help with depleating the oatmeal.)

We usually do our grocery shopping on Fridays, so I'll be sure to post our menu for next week and how the shopping goes this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 07, 2015, 02:49:37 PM
I successfully made curry!  Originally was going to be veggie curry but I cheated and put some chicken in it and used chicken stock.  The visual chicken enabled DH to eat it without complaining.  Bag 1 of lentils is gone.  Bonus was that the curry tasted even better the next day - similar to how stew seems to taste better after sitting for a while.

On to researching what to do with rice noodles....

I just noticed your tagline - you can't even get away from us here :)

I know!  It's like a bad dream.  ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on January 07, 2015, 03:17:00 PM
Love this thread! With so many social obligations, return to work and getting the house ready to rent out we've eaten out a lot the last few weeks, but continue to plug away at using up. I took my own advice and made pie floaters with some frozen baby peas on Sunday and we loved them. Easy back up meal for the future. The rest of the peas and some frozen oven chips will get used up tonight in fish and chips. Also working through some preserved peaches and wheat bran in the morning oatmeal.

Am confident now that I will be moving out with an empty freezer, yay to no food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 07, 2015, 06:26:32 PM
My DD14 was giving me a hard time today.  "Please go buy cereal moooooom." Don't you love it when they say Mom that way?

No, I will not. Eat the frozen waffles, frozen pancakes, other kind of cereal you had to have, grab a homemade breakfast burrito, scramble an egg, a scoop of yogurt, fruit and granola or any one of the dozens of options here in the house. I can't stand it when she just eats dry cereal anyway, she won't even put milk on it, there is no nutrition to that. Problem solved.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on January 09, 2015, 06:52:59 AM
I have a 21 lb Hubbard squash.    Ideas?    I haven't even moved it from the garage because I have no idea what to do with it.   My son guessed the weight and won it.  He's 4 :). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 09, 2015, 08:26:18 AM
I have a 21 lb Hubbard squash.    Ideas?    I haven't even moved it from the garage because I have no idea what to do with it.   My son guessed the weight and won it.  He's 4 :).

Had to Google Hubbard squash.  Wow, those things are big!  Looks like they are best used as a pumpkin substitute. 

One of my go-to squash recipes is to peel off the rind with a knife, cut squash into 1" cubes, mix together with some olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast in oven at 400F for around 40-50min, or until they are cooked and a little brown on the outside.   

Other options include pumpkin muffins, cakes, pancakes, soups.  I've seen quite a few lentil/pumpkin/curry soups floating around a few threads. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizzzi on January 11, 2015, 06:40:14 AM
So I'm leaving to go out-of-state today…am out of everything, but didn't want to grocery shop…had some little dibs and dabs of lentils and split peas…not really enough for a recipe…combined them, added some leftover vegetables…used L.B. Jamison chicken soup base…made myself a sort of vegetable soup/stew for supper. Had enough leftover to freeze for when I get back.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alleykat on January 11, 2015, 06:54:25 AM
Bagels in the freezer gone.  Half bags of frozen vegetables gone.  Few muffins in freezer up next and a giant bag of 5lb corn up next. It will be nice to clean out the freezer. Today, I am going to organize my pantry and put things in order to use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on January 11, 2015, 08:59:23 AM
I am inspired by this thread too.  I found a hidden Excel meal planner in my computer by mistake (looking up the word MEAL) and am trying it.  I have listed what I have in the house including sauces, canned goods, frozen meals and have made a menu until the end of the month. 

I have varied it so that each frozen dish appears once a week alternating with something freshly made.  I have made three shopping lists, one for each week.  Yesterday we used up yams and fish.  To use up disparate sauces we will be having sweet and sour stir fry plus lots of curries and chinese dishes.

I will be making some veggie chill and then adding a few bits of sausage from the freezer to my DH's bowl.  We will be having dip to use up the frozen spinach, lipton's soup and mayonnaise.

Any ideas for mung beans? They are dry and in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 11, 2015, 03:42:49 PM
Any ideas for mung beans? They are dry and in the freezer.

My gosh, thought I was a well-versed cook but am starting to doubt my cooking skills.  Had to look up mung beans on google!  I'm starting to feel like Penny on BBT where she has to go home and look up words in the dictionary after conversations with Leonard. 

One interesting option was to soak them in water and sunlight, then put them in darkness for a week to get bean sprouts.  Thought that was kind of cool - but not sure it will work on dried ones.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on January 13, 2015, 02:07:41 AM
Made a chicken tagine tonight which used up some olives, preserved lemons and a good bit of the burghal, along with some wilty veg from the fridge. Didn't have the white wine the recipe called for so subbed some sherry that has been hanging round for YEARS. I think it was originally bought for a paella recipe that turned out gross anyway.

Also had some friends over for a 'free garage sale' on the weekend and offloaded some doubles of herbs, spices etc onto friends who will use them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on January 13, 2015, 07:45:11 AM
I've only ever had mung bean soup.   Soup seems to be the cure-all for how to use up ingredients.   You could use them to make a hummus type dip too, or soak, cook, grind and make cracker type snacks.

We made pizza this weekend and cinnamon rolls.  I was able to use some of a giant coconut oil container, tomato sauce from the freezer and a can of artichokes that had been around for a while.  The best part was that my little ones ate every bite on their plates and asked for more.   They are pretty adventurous - ate okra, sausage and tomatoes last night but needed some coaxing - but it is still nice to not have to ask them to eat all of their dinner, not just the fruit and peas.

I'm trying to get through my tea and hot liquid stash (we don't do coffee) while it is cold because I don't drink tea in the summer.  However, I copied down the chai concentrate recipe and think this could be a great way to use some tea during the summer to make cold chai.  I'd never thought of doing this, and I'm usually pretty creative in the kitchen.

Thanks so much for the ideas.    I still haven't cracked open that Hubbard - I have a 6 lb pie pumpkin to use as well, but after finishing up a butternut squash, several acorn squash, little pie pumpkins and one I cant remember the name of - my kids and husband are a little squashed out right now.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe for muffins or other baked goods made with squash?  I've made (incredible!) cinnamon rolls using sweet potato, so I might try that too.   I've also made potato foccacia bread, so I might play around with the recipe and make savory squash bread.   It only uses 1/2-1 cup though and I'll have a lot of cups from that 21 lb beast.     We have another baby coming in April, but it will be Christmas before I'd need baby food and I'll probably have next years crop to make baby food from.     I may just bake it and freeze it and let the ideas come later. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shropskr on January 13, 2015, 11:32:25 AM
I've been using up our Halloween pumpkin and some frozen butternut squash no on liked in the kids morning smoothies.

I do have a pumpkin muffin recipie but like you said it only calls for a can 19 oz? Of pumpkin.  I've even made gf pumpkin loaf turned out ok.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 14, 2015, 03:20:51 PM
Throwing away about 0.50 worth of food a month.  So far this month it is 3 slices canned pineapple.

I made a low carb taco bake Monday using ground turkey which was on sale last month, and used a coupon.  I utilized 1/2 can leftover chilies from DH's chili Saturday, and about 1/4 cup tomato sauce from the freezer from September 2014.  DH bought me a roll of freezer tape, and I mark Rubbermaid food containers w/ the contents and date using a Sharpie.

There is something reassuring and calming about the waste not want, not effect of using up things. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on January 14, 2015, 04:47:56 PM
I agree! Maybe it's my need for control, but there is something calming about using up all the stray bits. Having space also makes it easier to keep everything organised and visible, so it sometimes feels like MORE of a back up stockpile than when you have no idea what's in the packed freezer :) I use masking tape for my freezer labels, works really well and peels off easily.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 14, 2015, 04:52:46 PM
I agree! Maybe it's my need for control, but there is something calming about using up all the stray bits. Having space also makes it easier to keep everything organised and visible, so it sometimes feels like MORE of a back up stockpile than when you have no idea what's in the packed freezer :) I use masking tape for my freezer labels, works really well and peels off easily.

Where do you put the freezer labels? I'm in desperate need of organizing my 2 deep freezers .. ugh!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 15, 2015, 10:31:34 AM
I agree! Maybe it's my need for control, but there is something calming about using up all the stray bits. Having space also makes it easier to keep everything organised and visible, so it sometimes feels like MORE of a back up stockpile than when you have no idea what's in the packed freezer :) I use masking tape for my freezer labels, works really well and peels off easily.

Where do you put the freezer labels? I'm in desperate need of organizing my 2 deep freezers .. ugh!

Personally, I put the freezer tape either across the lid or around a side.  Either works really well.  To start, maybe keep proteins on one side of your freezer, veggies on the other, and misc in the middle?

Added:  I keep proteins in the bottom freezer drawer, veggies in the drawer above it, fish and a frozen gallon of water (to take up space) on the shelf above, and leftover containers on the shelf above that.  The door holds a small baggie of celery bits, vodka :D, chilled beer mugs, and rolls of ground meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 15, 2015, 05:15:18 PM
I've been thinking this same thing about my tea CUPBOARD.  I think there must be about 15 types of tea in there! I do love tea, and drink probably 4 large mugs a day, but really need to get a handle on this overstock!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 16, 2015, 07:10:15 AM
Had a similar tea stash with at least 8 different types of tea squirreled away.  Currently down to two types and told myself that I'm not buying more until I'm on the last container.  Feels good to get rid of the "meh, that was OK" varieties.  Soon I get to shop for the varieties I really love. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on January 16, 2015, 12:19:26 PM
If the flavor is not very strong, you can use it to brine poultry.   I got an apricot tea, I wasnt a fan of and used it in this recipe.   I've made it a dozen times and couldnt tell a difference when I used the herbal tea.

http://bakedbree.com/sweet-tea-brined-chicken

The other thing I've done with too much tea is add it in place of water to scones or other baked goods.   It's a subtle flavor difference, but somehow makes the dish seem guest worthy. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alleykat on January 16, 2015, 09:46:43 PM
Took a couple of boxes of power bars to work.  Wasn't getting to them, didn't care for them, so figured I will grin n bare it for breakfast.  I couldn't finish one because of the taste so I put them out for people.  The other flavor isn't so bad so I will eat those.  At least, they didn't go to waste.  Also, finished a package of cookies.  Will organize my pantry and begin using stuff done. Need to come up with some new recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on January 17, 2015, 01:31:19 PM
This business of eating down the pantry is quite fun.  We are having some odd mixtures of stuff but the shelves are thinning out. I also gave away some food we no longer consume and had to toss some sauce that had a rusted top (how long have we had that???)

I need help eating the boatload of miso we have, any ideas???
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 17, 2015, 02:11:13 PM
This business of eating down the pantry is quite fun.  We are having some odd mixtures of stuff but the shelves are thinning out. I also gave away some food we no longer consume and had to toss some sauce that had a rusted top (how long have we had that???)

I need help eating the boatload of miso we have, any ideas???

Quite frequently we will make an "instant" miso soup if we are feeling a little under the weather. Miso, bone broth, a little grated garlic and ginger, splash of soy sauce and sesame oil and whatever mix-ins you want (I make my own freezer packs of shredded Asian veggies) leftover rice, grains, noodles, bits of chopped up protein from the fridge - whatever needs to be used up. I'll take out hubby's portion and crack an egg into mine to soft poach - the yolk makes it slightly thicker and richer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alleykat on January 17, 2015, 04:16:42 PM
I have been dragging my feet on tossing some junk food.  I have so much in the house and really cant see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It hasnt stopped since Halloween.  I was determined to get through it because I keep bringing it in, but at this point, I am not sure it is worth it.  I need to lose  about 10 lbs and am getting nowhere fast.  So, yup, I am going to get up off my keaster and start tossing some things. I hate to be wasteful but just have so much and it is not worth consuming it all. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 19, 2015, 07:20:43 AM
I have been dragging my feet on tossing some junk food.  I have so much in the house and really cant see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It hasnt stopped since Halloween.  I was determined to get through it because I keep bringing it in, but at this point, I am not sure it is worth it.  I need to lose  about 10 lbs and am getting nowhere fast.  So, yup, I am going to get up off my keaster and start tossing some things. I hate to be wasteful but just have so much and it is not worth consuming it all.

I don't know if you have a food bank near you, but our food bank loves it when we bring candy. The director told me that they put handfuls of it into the emergency boxes they pass out.  She said it's not great nutrition but everybody loves a piece of candy and it makes folks smile. To even out the score I will take a bag full of cans of soup and leftover candy to donate.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WESTOFTHEHUDSON on January 19, 2015, 01:51:32 PM
It's been a fun creating new meals around here. I have been trying to use up all the home canned products we have. We found a bongs jar of mango chutney which was great. We thought we had used it all up.

I also did a taco bar so we could use up some produce and beans.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 19, 2015, 03:19:07 PM
Took a turkey out of the freezer to thaw from Thanksgiving when turkeys were cheap.

Cooking up 4 lb. of ground beef from freezer supply (side of beef) to use in taco salad and other meals this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 19, 2015, 05:51:30 PM
Do any of you have an alternative food item to chips?  We have all this food in the house but DH keeps buying chips!  Something salty/crunchy that I can make ahead of time so he can snack on it when he gets home from work.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 20, 2015, 10:45:37 AM
Do any of you have an alternative food item to chips?  We have all this food in the house but DH keeps buying chips!  Something salty/crunchy that I can make ahead of time so he can snack on it when he gets home from work.

I'm a low carber and instead of chips, I eat pepperoni slices, fresh veggies, fried radishes or pork rinds.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 20, 2015, 11:45:42 AM
Do any of you have an alternative food item to chips?  We have all this food in the house but DH keeps buying chips!  Something salty/crunchy that I can make ahead of time so he can snack on it when he gets home from work.
I got my DH off tortilla chips by air popping popcorn (or you could do it on the stove).  I melt a little butter and add a little bit of Parmesan cheese. Popping corn is cheap, doesn't take up much space in the pantry, and is shelf-stable.  Also, popcorn is a perfect snack. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 20, 2015, 11:11:51 PM
4alpacas Thanks for the reminder about popcorn! Doh!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 21, 2015, 03:57:01 PM
4alpacas Thanks for the reminder about popcorn! Doh!
I'm a HUGE fan of popcorn.  When I want something sweet, I'll make kettle corn.  I've put sriracha on it.  I've used cinnamon and sugar.  Old Bay is another favorite. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 21, 2015, 06:23:42 PM
4alpacas Thanks for the reminder about popcorn! Doh!
I'm a HUGE fan of popcorn.  When I want something sweet, I'll make kettle corn.  I've put sriracha on it.  I've used cinnamon and sugar.  Old Bay is another favorite.

Thank you MountainGal and 4alpacas.  Great ideas that I can try!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lyngi on January 21, 2015, 06:30:52 PM
Made navajo tacos (fry bread) with some REALLY old beignet mix.  Used a can of chili,  cans of beans, can of tomato sauce, old spices.   Used the last of left over shredded cheese.   Close to expiring sour cream. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 22, 2015, 10:27:17 AM
This weekend I'm planning to cook 4 different recipes to help use up canned goods, frozen vegetables, and panko

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/04/sriracha-chicken-strips/
http://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/09/snap-challenge-creamy-chicken-black-bean-enchiladas/
http://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/05/kung-pao-chicken-vegetables/
http://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/01/not-butter-chicken/

I have to purchase 5 pounds of chicken breasts ($1.99/pound).  We have almost everything else! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on January 22, 2015, 11:01:22 AM
We're at the point where our chest freezer is less than half full.  We're even starting to run low on fish and I've had to purchase frozen fruit, since we were almost totally out.  I even bought beans for chili, because we had none left.
I also solved the "what to do with the frozen breastmilk" dilemma because my daughter, it turns out, has a milk allergy.  Doh!  So she's going through the stash (and I'm still nursing her a bit too).

Things to do soon to clear more space:
Cook up the freezer-burned fish for the dog.
Use up some of the baking items/dried fruit/nuts.
Cook another moose roast.
Make zucchini pancakes this weekend.

The one complicating factor: my husband and I are planning a "cut" in Feb.  (Weight cut.)  So we'll be eating a bit less, but we're going to make sure it's healthy food so probably we'll be eating even more fish, more smoothies (goodbye, frozen fruits/veggies). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 22, 2015, 02:51:18 PM
New trick:  We usually end up tossing 1/2 can refried beans.  This week I added them to cooked ground beef to stretch the meat.  I made 7 burritos for the freezer.  Next up:  Breakfast burritos.  :)

Sunday we smoked a 7.5 pound pork butt bought on sale with coupons.  That night we had it by itself with sides.  Some of the meat went into fried burritos Tuesday night.  DH has been eating some for lunch.  Tonight I'll make ham steaks for supper.  The ham hock will go into the crock pot with dried beans tonight.

Monday morning I put a whole chicken in the slow cooker.  I shredded it that night for quesadillas, put some on two salads for my lunches, and DH has been eating some for lunch.  The 6 cups of broth will be used for African Soup.

Monday night I processed 6 large chicken breasts:  2 plain went into freezer bags separately, 2 packages of 2 breasts each were put into bags with spicy orange sauce for later use.

Currently I am working on using up a carton of unsweetened almond milk.

Later on this month:  Fun with Beef Roast.  Stay tuned.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 22, 2015, 04:56:14 PM

Later on this month:  Fun with Beef Roast.  Stay tuned.  :D

This is great, MountainGal! Made me smile!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 22, 2015, 05:00:24 PM

Later on this month:  Fun with Beef Roast.  Stay tuned.  :D

This is great, MountainGal! Made me smile!

Thanks, 67mama!  When I'm in the right mood, I LOVE cooking.  I just don't care for the messy aftermath, LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 23, 2015, 09:23:11 AM
Made beef stroganoff using the free meat I got with a wine purchase during Christmas (welcome to WI).  Combined with the ridiculously cheap noodles purchased on clearance and free onions from the garden stash, the whole meal cost around $2 total.  Score!

Now onto the fish....have salmon in freezer but can't work up the desire to eat it.  I know I'll probably be surprised how good it is once I cook it, but every time it is mentioned as an option, DH gets a "that doesn't sound good, we may order pizza that night" look on his face.  Which results in this face from me.... :-/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 23, 2015, 09:46:55 AM
Now onto the fish....have salmon in freezer but can't work up the desire to eat it.  I know I'll probably be surprised how good it is once I cook it, but every time it is mentioned as an option, DH gets a "that doesn't sound good, we may order pizza that night" look on his face. Which results in this face from me.... :-/

LOL, GardenFun!  We have a version of this at our house.  When I try new recipes and ask DH what he thinks, his responses:  Pretty Good, Good, Different.  If it's the latter, I know not to repeat it.  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 23, 2015, 10:15:05 AM
Now onto the fish....have salmon in freezer but can't work up the desire to eat it.  I know I'll probably be surprised how good it is once I cook it, but every time it is mentioned as an option, DH gets a "that doesn't sound good, we may order pizza that night" look on his face. Which results in this face from me.... :-/

LOL, GardenFun!  We have a version of this at our house.  When I try new recipes and ask DH what he thinks, his responses:  Pretty Good, Good, Different.  If it's the latter, I know not to repeat it.  ;)
I'm not a great cook, so I keep a frozen pizza round for my DH's "pizza look."
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 23, 2015, 01:50:55 PM
Now onto the fish....have salmon in freezer but can't work up the desire to eat it.  I know I'll probably be surprised how good it is once I cook it, but every time it is mentioned as an option, DH gets a "that doesn't sound good, we may order pizza that night" look on his face. Which results in this face from me.... :-/

LOL, GardenFun!  We have a version of this at our house.  When I try new recipes and ask DH what he thinks, his responses:  Pretty Good, Good, Different.  If it's the latter, I know not to repeat it.  ;)

I have gotten into the habit (whenever possible) of giving Hubby a taste test of whatever I am making before serving and asking him what he would change. Sometimes it is perfect, sometimes he wants more spice or more acid or whatever. He gets to feel like he is helping and his feedback is important to the finished dish, and he always eats it :)
I'm not a great cook, so I keep a frozen pizza round for my DH's "pizza look."
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 25, 2015, 11:37:34 AM
Now onto the fish....have salmon in freezer but can't work up the desire to eat it.  I know I'll probably be surprised how good it is once I cook it, but every time it is mentioned as an option, DH gets a "that doesn't sound good, we may order pizza that night" look on his face. Which results in this face from me.... :-/

LOL, GardenFun!  We have a version of this at our house.  When I try new recipes and ask DH what he thinks, his responses:  Pretty Good, Good, Different.  If it's the latter, I know not to repeat it.  ;)

I have gotten into the habit (whenever possible) of giving Hubby a taste test of whatever I am making before serving and asking him what he would change. Sometimes it is perfect, sometimes he wants more spice or more acid or whatever. He gets to feel like he is helping and his feedback is important to the finished dish, and he always eats it :)
I'm not a great cook, so I keep a frozen pizza round for my DH's "pizza look."
My DH would add cheese and salsa to everything I made. 

I spent more time than usual in the kitchen yesterday.  I planned 5 recipes that used up a lot of stuff from our kitchen.  My DH and I are in a food rut.  Last week, we went out to eat twice because we didn't like what we had in our kitchen.  4 of the 5 recipes were new.  All of the recipes used chicken breasts, so I didn't have to buy a bunch of different cuts of meat.  I bought another 5 pounds of chicken breasts for my bulk cooking this weekend, but I used the last of the chicken in the freezer too. 

This weekend I've done a great job of getting rid of canned goods that we've had for too long.  I made enchiladas with the enchilada sauce.  I used 3 cans of diced tomatoes, a can of black beans, a can of green chilies, and a few small cans of tomato sauce.

I made a huge pot of mashed potatoes because we have a huge bag of potatoes that started to sprout.  I also used an onion that has grown a green shoot.  I still have a few pounds of potatoes and two onions. 

I also brewed a large pot of iced tea with wedding favor tea bags.  I still have another five tea bags, so I will probably brew a bit more tea today. 

I've been running our rice cooker quite a bit (ours can only make 4 cups at a time).  Most of the dishes that I made are served with rice.  When I freeze individual portions, I freeze the rice in the bag with the rest of the food.  It makes "packing" my lunch a breeze.  I'm considering buying mason jars to store my single serving meals, but I think the jars will take up too much freezer space.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 26, 2015, 02:37:39 PM
Nice work, 4alpacas!

This weekend's mission was to use up the unsweetened almond milk:

DH put some in his almond flavored cereal
I made several homemade java mochas
Made cauliflower curry soup for the first time.  YUMMY!  4 servings
Made a huge mound of almond flour blueberry pancakes for the first time.  Not too bad.

All but 2 TBS or so was used up.

Saturday I made ham hocks and beans from last weekend's pork butt.  Comfort food!

I also washed Romaine for this week's lunches, boiled and processed eggs, and made Eggplant Parmesan for the first time last night.  DH liked it, but carefully cut off the skin.  SIGH.

The 6 cups of chicken broth from last week will be made into African peanut soup tomorrow.  I did toss about a cup chicken from last week because we didn't get to it in time.  It was hiding out in DH's fridge lunch drawer.  I've gotta keep an eye on that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 26, 2015, 03:41:19 PM
Using turkey stock and freezer turkey meat, along with celery flakes/carrots/onions and gnocchis to make some turkey and dumpling soup.  The gnocchis are a few years old and the celery flakes were an "oh my gosh, how old are these things!" find in the pantry.  Also found some rice pilaf hanging out with the celery flakes, so easy side dish to make in the next week or so.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 26, 2015, 11:42:56 PM
Used up 6 cups of frozen blueberries today making a triple batch of the excellent blueberry muffin recipe posted below (from tammysrecipes.com) -- only 40 pounds to go! Ugh! I bought too many blueberries 2 summers ago!

-------------------------
Soft, sweet, and bursting with blueberries: these blueberry muffins are our favorite homemade blueberry muffins, and super easy to make, too!

Yield:
12 muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk, warmed in microwave
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and oil. Add the warm milk and vanilla extract.

3. Pour wet ingredients into dry, and stir.

4. If using fresh blueberries, wash and drain them, and then stir into batter. If using frozen blueberries, place them in a colander and run hot tap water over them for about 20 seconds. Drain berries for 5-10 seconds, then stir into batter.

5. Use muffins papers or grease 12 muffin cups (can also use mini muffin pans). Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees. If making mini muffin size, bake for about 14 minutes.

Muffins are done when top springs back.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on January 27, 2015, 10:52:31 AM
Does anyone have experience using almond milk to make a white sauce?  I mentioned earlier that my daughter is allergic to milk and I'm trying to figure out how to keep making some of our favorite things with milk substitutes.  I looked it up and people have tried it but I'm curious how it actually tastes?  I don't want to ruin an entire meal by trying it and then finding out that we all think it's nasty.
I suppose I should just make a tiny test batch, huh?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: homehandymum on January 27, 2015, 12:52:28 PM
Does anyone have experience using almond milk to make a white sauce?  I mentioned earlier that my daughter is allergic to milk and I'm trying to figure out how to keep making some of our favorite things with milk substitutes.  I looked it up and people have tried it but I'm curious how it actually tastes?  I don't want to ruin an entire meal by trying it and then finding out that we all think it's nasty.
I suppose I should just make a tiny test batch, huh?

I haven't used almond milk, but I have had success with white sauces and chowders etc using rice milk - which you can make really cheaply yourself.  I wouldn't use rice milk for everything, since it's basically just white water, and the nut milks have way more nutrition, but for a sauce, the absence of any particular flavour and sweetness of its own is a big bonus.

recipe here (scroll down the post):  http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2013/09/dairy-alternative-homemade-rice-milk-2/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: JLR on January 27, 2015, 02:49:49 PM
I'm going to join in on this, as my husband's contract at work finishes next week and we are not sure what to expect over the coming weeks.

I based our shopping list off pantry items last fortnight. This week I'm going to base it off fridge items (eg. using up sauces and meal bases).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 27, 2015, 04:15:14 PM
We've started to acquire weird food items again.  We received a few gift baskets around the holidays.  Our friends also bring food over when they hang out.  I'm not sure what to do with two jars of olive bruschetta, a bag of IKEA meatballs, and a jar of lemon curd.  We also have an insane amount of meyer lemons. 

Any advice?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 27, 2015, 04:32:38 PM
We've started to acquire weird food items again.  We received a few gift baskets around the holidays.  Our friends also bring food over when they hang out.  I'm not sure what to do with two jars of olive bruschetta, a bag of IKEA meatballs, and a jar of lemon curd.  We also have an insane amount of meyer lemons. 

Any advice?

Olive Bruschetta - if you like olives (we don't) you could mound a thick layer on slices of baguette and warm them up in the oven for a few minutes. Maybe sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese??

IKEA Meatballs - you could add these to a marinara sauce. Or you could make sweet and sour meatballs (google for a sauce or I have one if you'd like?)

Jar of Lemon Curd - my kids like it on homemade biscuits. Its almost like lemon meringue pie filling. Could be good on those sweet (but expensive) Rainforest Crackers from the health food store.

I received a few odd items in gift baskets as well, so that is a good reminder to me to get them out and USE them up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 27, 2015, 04:41:51 PM
We've started to acquire weird food items again.  We received a few gift baskets around the holidays.  Our friends also bring food over when they hang out.  I'm not sure what to do with two jars of olive bruschetta, a bag of IKEA meatballs, and a jar of lemon curd.  We also have an insane amount of meyer lemons. 

Any advice?

Olive Bruschetta - if you like olives (we don't) you could mound a thick layer on slices of baguette and warm them up in the oven for a few minutes. Maybe sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese??

IKEA Meatballs - you could add these to a marinara sauce. Or you could make sweet and sour meatballs (google for a sauce or I have one if you'd like?)

Jar of Lemon Curd - my kids like it on homemade biscuits. Its almost like lemon meringue pie filling. Could be good on those sweet (but expensive) Rainforest Crackers from the health food store.

I received a few odd items in gift baskets as well, so that is a good reminder to me to get them out and USE them up!
Good ideas!  I'll have to make some biscuits this weekend.  http://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/07/basic-biscuits/

We have a few people coming over for the Superbowl on Sunday.  I think the Sweet and Sour Meatballs sound like a nice snack item (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-sweet-and-sour-meatballs/).  I will probably put out chips and salsa.  I'm thinking about making kettle corn for something sweet.  http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-and-salty-kettle-corn-rachael-ray-271419

I received a two lovely gift baskets this year, but I've struggled to eat the last bit.  I hate the idea of food going to waste, so I need to get creative!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 27, 2015, 07:17:51 PM
I have had a cooking breakthrough at my house. I was injured last week and DH and my teenagers are pitching in.

On Saturday I had them thaw some meat and on Sunday they cooked.

We made homemade granola to go with yogurt for snacks. Gluten free pumpkin waffles from scratch and popped into the freezer for breakfast. DH made two meatloafs for dinners this week and a potato augratin kind of thing.  Some sweet tea from scratch and some gluten free chocolate chip cookies.

DH said to me today, "it's so nice to have food ready to eat in the house."  Breakthrough!!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on January 28, 2015, 11:09:33 AM
We've started to acquire weird food items again.  We received a few gift baskets around the holidays.  Our friends also bring food over when they hang out.  I'm not sure what to do with two jars of olive bruschetta, a bag of IKEA meatballs, and a jar of lemon curd.  We also have an insane amount of meyer lemons. 

Any advice?

Funny the odds things that people have.  I love olives and I mix them with chicken salad, or put them on salad or make muffalettas.   
I would kill for some Meyer lemons.   We make candied lemons from them and use the cooking syrup as tea sweetener all year long.  I haven't had any since leaving CA.  You can also make a lemon cake using the peel and all.  Salad dressings, lemonade, marinade for meat, lemon green beans.    Lemons are not something I have trouble using up :)

I do, however, have a bag of Bob's Red Mill gluten free baking mix that we really don't like.   Gluten free is not for me.   Can I mix it 50-50 or 75-25 with regular flour in regular recipes?

I also finally cracked open the 21 lb Hubbard squash.  We've made enchiladas, shrimp curry, muffins and I put two gallon sized bags of diced squash in the freezer and have 6 cups of roasted puree for baked goods.   The thing took up my whole island!  We roasted the seeds and they were wonderful.  My kids ate them all in two days but only because I made them wait the first day.

I have had a cooking breakthrough at my house. I was injured last week and DH and my teenagers are pitching in.

On Saturday I had them thaw some meat and on Sunday they cooked.

We made homemade granola to go with yogurt for snacks. Gluten free pumpkin waffles from scratch and popped into the freezer for breakfast. DH made two meatloafs for dinners this week and a potato augratin kind of thing.  Some sweet tea from scratch and some gluten free chocolate chip cookies.

DH said to me today, "it's so nice to have food ready to eat in the house."  Breakthrough!!!!!

That's awesome.  Did you see a lightbulb above his head?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on January 28, 2015, 11:21:52 AM
Does anyone have experience using almond milk to make a white sauce? ...  I looked it up and people have tried it but I'm curious how it actually tastes?  I don't want to ruin an entire meal by trying it and then finding out that we all think it's nasty.
I suppose I should just make a tiny test batch, huh?


I haven't used almond milk, but I have had success with white sauces and chowders etc using rice milk - which you can make really cheaply yourself. 


I regularly make "cheesy" sauces that are vegan - I use a combination of almond milk, soaked raw cashews, nutritional yeast & other ingredients for seasoning depending on the dish. You can probably find some by googling - the cashews add a creamy texture. I like it, but I have been limiting dairy for many years, so my taste expectations may be different than yours.

This is a really good source for very tasty dairy-free recipes, by the way, by my favourite cookbook author, Isa Chandra Moskowitz - http://www.theppk.com/

Oh, and be sure to used "original unsweetened" almond milk! you don't want vanilla or sugar ;)

Thanks for the link!  I'll look through it.
And, always unsweetened almond milk.  At the very least, I don't think my 1-yr-old needs a whole bunch of added sugar in her diet.  If I want it sweetened for something I can do it myself.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on January 28, 2015, 11:25:10 AM
We've started to acquire weird food items again.  We received a few gift baskets around the holidays.  Our friends also bring food over when they hang out.  I'm not sure what to do with two jars of olive bruschetta, a bag of IKEA meatballs, and a jar of lemon curd.  We also have an insane amount of meyer lemons. 

Any advice?

Funny the odds things that people have.  I love olives and I mix them with chicken salad, or put them on salad or make muffalettas.   
I would kill for some Meyer lemons.   We make candied lemons from them and use the cooking syrup as tea sweetener all year long.  I haven't had any since leaving CA.  You can also make a lemon cake using the peel and all.  Salad dressings, lemonade, marinade for meat, lemon green beans.    Lemons are not something I have trouble using up :)

I do, however, have a bag of Bob's Red Mill gluten free baking mix that we really don't like.   Gluten free is not for me.   Can I mix it 50-50 or 75-25 with regular flour in regular recipes?

I also finally cracked open the 21 lb Hubbard squash.  We've made enchiladas, shrimp curry, muffins and I put two gallon sized bags of diced squash in the freezer and have 6 cups of roasted puree for baked goods.   The thing took up my whole island!  We roasted the seeds and they were wonderful.  My kids ate them all in two days but only because I made them wait the first day.

I have had a cooking breakthrough at my house. I was injured last week and DH and my teenagers are pitching in.

On Saturday I had them thaw some meat and on Sunday they cooked.

We made homemade granola to go with yogurt for snacks. Gluten free pumpkin waffles from scratch and popped into the freezer for breakfast. DH made two meatloafs for dinners this week and a potato augratin kind of thing.  Some sweet tea from scratch and some gluten free chocolate chip cookies.

DH said to me today, "it's so nice to have food ready to eat in the house."  Breakthrough!!!!!

That's awesome.  Did you see a lightbulb above his head?

You could see it...."ting" :)

Now about your gluten free flour.  I have celiacs so I bake a lot gluten free but I am not a fan of bob's blends. I am assuming you have flour and not a biscuit mix.  If you have the GF flour that already has xanthan gum in it so I think you would be fine to blend it in with regular flour.

The more of the gf flour you use the denser your product will be so if you're trying to hide it I would go 75/25 regular to GF.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 28, 2015, 11:55:08 AM
Making Fathead pizza for the first time tonight with my own homemade sauce.  This will use up leftover olives and tomato sauce.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nora on January 29, 2015, 04:28:52 AM
Determined to eat everything in our house. Or throw it out if we won't ever eat it!

Ate a can of plums last night which had a best before date of december 2014! Hate to think when we bought them! And a pack of frozen blueberries which have been in there for several months. Also found a pack of frozen crumpets which were frostbitten. I don't know why I store these things, they taste better newer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 29, 2015, 10:08:34 AM
Determined to eat everything in our house. Or throw it out if we won't ever eat it!

Ate a can of plums last night which had a best before date of december 2014! Hate to think when we bought them! And a pack of frozen blueberries which have been in there for several months. Also found a pack of frozen crumpets which were frostbitten. I don't know why I store these things, they taste better newer.
I am in the same boat!  I just a can of tomato sauce in a recipe that was past its best before date last weekend.  I need to keep a better eye on how long food sits. 

I've mapped out my Superbowl menu.  We're having a few people over for an informal party.  The only item I need to buy is avocados.  I'll pick them up at the small grocery store a block from my apartment.
I'm making:
*Sweet and sour meatballs with Ikea meatballs in the freezer based on this recipe http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-sweet-and-sour-meatballs/  Thanks for the tip, 1967mama
*Kettle corn (http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-and-salty-kettle-corn-rachael-ray-271419) for something sweet
*Guacamole and chips, I have to pick up two or three avocados.  I don't usually use a recipe, but this is close to what I do http://altonbrown.com/guacamole-recipe/
*Soft pretzels http://altonbrown.com/homemade-soft-pretzels-recipe/  These are my husband's favorite.  I haven't made them in about 6 months.  I'll probably make a double recipe and freeze half of them.
*lemonade.  We're still swimming in Meyer lemons.  Our tree is full even though we've given away a LOT of lemons. 

For the week,
I'm making black bean quesadillas with a little shredded chicken that I have in the freezer.  Loosely based off my favorite quesadilla recipe http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/02/hearty-black-bean-quesadillas/
I'm going to try making lemon scones http://allrecipes.com/recipe/amazing-lemon-scones/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on January 29, 2015, 03:14:38 PM
Made raisin bran muffins using an old box of cereal.  Had to remove the dust off the top prior to opening!  One old box left to go. 

Turned pulled turkey leftovers hiding in the freezer into awesome turkey pot pie.  Must remember that trick for future leftover freezer turkey.

On a sad note, threw away about 5lbs of last fall's onion harvest due to sprouting.  We store them in the basement but have to throw some away every January.  Surprisingly, a lot of the red onions were still good so salvaged 3 lbs of them.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on January 30, 2015, 09:40:24 PM
Two weeks until moving day!

My fridge is pretty much empty, freezer has a third of a small carton of vanilla icecream (finishing that will NOT be a problem!), a bag of beetroot and a carton of cream. Not a big cream user so still thinking about that one.

At my boyfriend's place this weekend and working through some of his supplies. A pork fried rice used up some leftovers from the fridge and slow cooked lamb leg on the stove will get rid of odds and ends of frozen veg tomorrow. Also made a chocolate cake, some coconut choc chip biscuits, and spiced sunflower seeds for snacks.

Next up is a chilli con carne using dried kidney beans and tomatos from the garden, and oatbran pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.

I threw out 2 half used sugar free drinking chocolates, because they were absolutely disgusting. I am willing to suffer through healthy/nutritious food to use it up, but I can't see how it makes any difference whether that cup of chemicals is in the bin or inside me.

There is still a big package of regular drinking chocolate powder that I am on the fence about. Has anyone tired subbing this for cocoa powder and sugar in recipes?




Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on February 02, 2015, 12:18:38 PM
Found a pork sirloin roast in the freezer that had a 10/24 date on it.  Thought "hmm, I don't remember purchasing this a few months ago?"  Yeah, it was from 2013 - but still delicious. 

Also used some tart cherries from 2013 to make jam.  Something about that year led to major stockpiling. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 02, 2015, 12:31:25 PM
Tossed about a cup of the cauliflower curry soup I made a week ago.  Shoulda, coulda tossed it in the freezer before it got too old.

Was able to use up a bit of celery and a cucumber found at the bottom of the produce drawer as crudites for yesterday's pre-game afternoon snack.  Used up the last of the cream cheese in Fathead pizza dough made into a calzone and for buffalo chicken dip.  One can of tomato sauce has translated into pizza topping, calzone topping, and eggplant parm.  I love it!

Fun with roast beef has begun!!  DH smoked it in the Traeger yesterday, we ate it with sides last night, he'll have some for lunches, and I'll add it to nachos Wednesday.  I'll probably freeze some, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on February 02, 2015, 01:00:20 PM
I reallllly need to take stock of my 2 chest freezers. Its time for them to be combined into 1. Probably the biggest one will fit the contents of both freezers. The we can defrost the smaller one and unplug it till fall.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on February 02, 2015, 06:39:44 PM
Dug around in the freezers a little this afternoon and pulled out 4 lb of stew beef for tomorrow's dinner, 1 bag of bread ends (and made it into a double batch of bread pudding), 1/2 a bag of mixed veggies to add to tonight's soup, 1 pound of bacon thawing for breakfast along with a bag of hash browns I found in there. Not bad for 3 minutes of work! Gosh, I have a lot of food here that needs to be used up!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on February 03, 2015, 04:31:10 PM
Dug around in the freezers a little this afternoon and pulled out 4 lb of stew beef for tomorrow's dinner, 1 bag of bread ends (and made it into a double batch of bread pudding), 1/2 a bag of mixed veggies to add to tonight's soup, 1 pound of bacon thawing for breakfast along with a bag of hash browns I found in there. Not bad for 3 minutes of work! Gosh, I have a lot of food here that needs to be used up!!!!

Digging around in the freezer is a treasure hunt for adults.  There's still a package of chicken thighs left?  Dinner is saved!   

Attempting Moo Shu Beef tomorrow.  This weekend, the final cow liver will be no more! 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Write Thyme on February 04, 2015, 12:01:45 PM
I used up a bag of frozen strawberries for two parfaits. This weekend I'm going to hopefully use up some apple juice, oldish frozen berries, and hemp protein in smoothies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on February 04, 2015, 12:54:42 PM
Found some chick peas and wraps, so that's becoming hummus and veggies and wraps for dinner! yay!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fodder on February 04, 2015, 01:17:40 PM
I had to leave town unexpectedly all of last week, and before I left, I stocked the fridge for my ILs, who were taking care of my two kids.

I got back on Thursday and haven't bought groceries since.  I've had to be a little creative, but we've eaten really well (I'm going to cave and get groceries tonight though because we've been out of milk for four days).

- carrot-white bean - ginger soup with miso
- lobster and corn chowder (brought lobster back from the east cost)
- toast with smoked salmon (brought back from the east coast), cream cheese, capers, onion, pepper and lemon juice
- jalapeno-'cheddar' biscuits (made with nutritional yeast)
- red curry chicken using the slightly wilty veggies, a little bit of chicken, coconut milk, etc.  Served with rice and cauliflowers
- sweet potato - black bean - chili soup
- slow cooker chicken tikka masala and a spinach curry with spiced basmati rice

Some freezer raiding, but a lot of pantry products in these meals.  I'm down to two oranges and one egg though, so I'm going to get some fresh produce and some dairy tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on February 05, 2015, 03:41:57 PM
I'm impressed with everyone's creativity.   We had a decent week using what we had, but I did have to throw away some lime slices, cucumber slices and almost four cups of roasted squash puree I kept putting off using.   I hate tossing food.   I was going to bake with it and then I forgot to freeze it when that didn't happen.

I'm still struggling to use frozen cabbage and I discovered we had a lot of pesto made with carrot greens.   It's not as good as regular or tarragon pesto, so the kids are not big fans.  We were able to use up green onions, some frozen carrots, one bag of cabbage and some leeks this week!

We made a pork shoulder and used that as the base for three meals which helped a ton.  Chicken is on sale so I'll do the same thing with a couple chickens this weekend and use it as the base for next weeks meals, plus make stock.    I'm feeling rather uninspired, but hopefully, the winter blahs will pass and we can get back to salad whether.   I much prefer fresh veggies over frozen and salad over soup.  My family is not a family that likes soup, so when I make it, I end up being the only one to eat the leftovers.   So I try to avoid big batches of soup.  I end up using things in stir fry or pasta dishes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on February 05, 2015, 03:55:47 PM
We are not doing so well eating down the supplements but the larder and freezer are getting quite bare.  I acquired a load of homemade miso over Christmas though which is hanging over me.  I wish I had some of those lemons, I would make marmalade to give as Christmas gifts.  Yum yum yum!

I am realising that I have some specialty foods which I am avoiding eating because I do not want to run out of them.   I have huge amounts of a few things and have had them for two years now.  The scary thought of not having them means that I do not consume them at  all, do any of you have this issue?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 05, 2015, 07:25:11 PM
We are not doing so well eating down the supplements but the larder and freezer are getting quite bare.  I acquired a load of homemade miso over Christmas though which is hanging over me.  I wish I had some of those lemons, I would make marmalade to give as Christmas gifts.  Yum yum yum!

I am realising that I have some specialty foods which I am avoiding eating because I do not want to run out of them.   I have huge amounts of a few things and have had them for two years now.  The scary thought of not having them means that I do not consume them at  all, do any of you have this issue?

Yes, I found that I save the "special" foods for "special" occasions. Unfortunately this is real life Monday through Friday, work, school, homework, chores. Saturday laundry and chores. So now I've been digging out the goodies and making a night exciting.  Today I thawed a homemade apple pie....kids loved it for desert. Happy Thursday!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on February 06, 2015, 07:52:14 AM
We are not doing so well eating down the supplements but the larder and freezer are getting quite bare.  I acquired a load of homemade miso over Christmas though which is hanging over me.  I wish I had some of those lemons, I would make marmalade to give as Christmas gifts.  Yum yum yum!

I am realising that I have some specialty foods which I am avoiding eating because I do not want to run out of them.   I have huge amounts of a few things and have had them for two years now.  The scary thought of not having them means that I do not consume them at  all, do any of you have this issue?

Yes, I found that I save the "special" foods for "special" occasions. Unfortunately this is real life Monday through Friday, work, school, homework, chores. Saturday laundry and chores. So now I've been digging out the goodies and making a night exciting.  Today I thawed a homemade apple pie....kids loved it for desert. Happy Thursday!

+1.  Have "special foods" such as lemon curd, Lyle's golden syrup and finnish coffee in the pantry that I've seem to be avoiding for some reason.  It's not like I can't get more.  But yet there it sits.  That's it - I'm forcing myself to use at least one of them in February!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 06, 2015, 12:02:22 PM
Last Sunday's beef roast went toward a dinner, several lunches, and 5 burritos.

Pork chops earlier this week was a dinner, and two lunches for me.

Ground beef a different day went onto nachos, and there's a bit extra for lunch tomorrow.

I love batch cooking.  :D  Not sure what this weekend has in store cooking wise.  We'll see.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on February 07, 2015, 06:26:42 PM

GardenFun and Juslookin


I think I will commit to consuming/using up one jar of miso this month.  I see that it is good in soups so I will get out the crockpot and give it a try, you have inspired me.


I also have some dessert goodies which will take months to use…I guess it is time to eat them up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KD on February 07, 2015, 07:11:06 PM
BUT.... I have a Tea Situation.

So. Much. Tea.


Alas, I, too, have a tea situation!  Thanks to your mentioning it, husband and I are now each enjoying a cuppa blueberry tea!  Need to make this a more steady nightly ritual here to get things back in hand.  I have a HUGE (maybe 3 gallon) crock full of various and assorted teas. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 15, 2015, 01:53:22 PM
A friend is moving this weekend, so I received five bags of food stuff.  I have a lot of items that I don't regularly use, so I'm going to have to move out of my comfort zone. 

Any advice for dried peppers (not totally sure what type) and bread crumbs?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KD on February 15, 2015, 02:02:54 PM
Rehydrate a bit of the pepper and taste it to see what you've actually got.  Might ask the giver exactly what they used it for.

On the bread crumbs, they can be used in meat loaf or meat balls and pan frying of chicken or fish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 15, 2015, 02:09:04 PM
Rehydrate a bit of the pepper and taste it to see what you've actually got.  Might ask the giver exactly what they used it for.

On the bread crumbs, they can be used in meat loaf or meat balls and pan frying of chicken or fish.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 15, 2015, 05:57:13 PM
I am getting tired of what's in my freezer. We went shopping over the weekend and I essentially bought enough to eat this week.  Even DH, who is usually pretty tolerant asked me to please make something "different".

I think we're just tired of winter and "winter food". I have to come up with some new ideas.

Tomorrow I am making fried chicken and potato salad. Trying to will spring to be here faster.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on February 15, 2015, 07:53:27 PM
I am getting tired of what's in my freezer. We went shopping over the weekend and I essentially bought enough to eat this week.  Even DH, who is usually pretty tolerant asked me to please make something "different".

I think we're just tired of winter and "winter food". I have to come up with some new ideas.

Tomorrow I am making fried chicken and potato salad. Trying to will spring to be here faster.

Haha, I have potato salad on this week's menu for the same reason.  Tuesday is Jambalaya - yum!

Our 1/2 pig purchased in May is nearly gone.  Four cuts left.  Also found some kale from 2013 that went into Vietnamese Pork Noodle soup. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PatStab on February 15, 2015, 10:15:47 PM
I need to do this also, have 2 freezers and tons of stored foods. Have not been eating or baking bread while losing weight. I have 2 buckets 50 pounds of wheat, yes I have a flour mill also.

I think tomorrow I will make black beans with sausage and rice.  Then grind popcorn to make cornbread, its the absolute best.  Do have to add a bit more liquids to keep it moist though as it sucks up more moisture.

We live in the country 12 miles from the nearest store so I try to keep a stock of absolutely everything.  I also am  bit of a prepper.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on February 16, 2015, 04:29:44 AM

Haha, I have potato salad on this week's menu for the same reason.  Tuesday is Jambalaya - yum!

Our 1/2 pig purchased in May is nearly gone.  Four cuts left.  Also found some kale from 2013 that went into Vietnamese Pork Noodle soup.

Same Fat Tuesday plan for us!

I need to work on clearing out the fruit/veg packets in the freezer from last summer and fall.  I thought I only had one bag of pumpkin left--found three. To be honest, I am not even sure what is hidden in the back of the lower shelf.

One thing that I wanted to mention as a way of getting rid of left over bits and pieces is to containerize them in pie or calzone dough.  I made a peach pie on Saturday (using fruit I canned last summer).  There was some pastry left so I made two hand pies filled with leftover mashed sweet potato and sausage--nice lunch items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on February 16, 2015, 08:48:38 AM
Finished off the steel cut oats by cooking in the slow cooker. Breakfast is done for the week. Also ate canned salmon that had been lurking in the cabinet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on February 16, 2015, 06:02:45 PM
The BF is going away for a week fairly soon, so I've been planning to use up all the odds and ends around the house and not doing any shopping until the day he gets home (because he clearly will need homemade apple crumble to celebrate his homecoming).

On the hit list are: half a tub of lentils (I'll make dahl), a couple of tins of chickpeas that have been hanging around, sushi rice and nori sheets, grilled capsicum and curry paste stashed in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KD on February 17, 2015, 07:39:54 AM
Saved the son opening a new can last night of tomato sauce used in making homemade pizza.  There was half a can's worth stored in the fridge from last weeks pizza.  My sons tend to do a lot of this 'not looking' before cooking and opening new cans/jars/pkgs. of things w/o looking to see if there is something already going.  It's a constant harangue in order to keep it down to only one jar of mustard, mayo, etc. open.  Must be E.V.E.R. vigilant! ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 17, 2015, 02:02:00 PM
Saved the son opening a new can last night of tomato sauce used in making homemade pizza.  There was half a can's worth stored in the fridge from last weeks pizza.  My sons tend to do a lot of this 'not looking' before cooking and opening new cans/jars/pkgs. of things w/o looking to see if there is something already going.  It's a constant harangue in order to keep it down to only one jar of mustard, mayo, etc. open.  Must be E.V.E.R. vigilant! ;)

Hubs is the same way, solved the problem by getting a cheap magnetic white board and sticking it to the fridge and keeping a list of what is open/needs to be used first. Then you can look at a glance and see if you can use something up. Works great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 19, 2015, 06:08:14 AM
I seriously can't catch a break at my house.  A few weeks ago I injured myself, still recovering, than yesterday a pipe in an exterior wall of my home froze and burst.  We awoke to the sound of a waterfall through our dining room floor and rain in the storage portion of my basement below. Oh my gosh.

Luckily I had a lot of items still wrapped in plastic, plates, cups, napkins. I removed the wet plastic and was able to save a lot of the items. Casualties were garlic bulbs, onions and ALL my garden seeds that I had ordered and received to begin seed starting for gardening.

More on topic, again this will all be a challenge to eating at home, making meals with what we have. It looks like a better part of my house will be torn up for a few weeks, cooking will be a challenge. It just means working a little harder still.

Sometimes it does feel like you just can't catch a break.

On the positive side, I had already thawed chicken cordon bleu for last nights dinner so that was what we had, with rice from the pantry and green salad. After spending the day in the swamp we call a basement I was pretty proud that we didn't resort to take out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 19, 2015, 06:08:58 AM
Saved the son opening a new can last night of tomato sauce used in making homemade pizza.  There was half a can's worth stored in the fridge from last weeks pizza.  My sons tend to do a lot of this 'not looking' before cooking and opening new cans/jars/pkgs. of things w/o looking to see if there is something already going.  It's a constant harangue in order to keep it down to only one jar of mustard, mayo, etc. open.  Must be E.V.E.R. vigilant! ;)

Hubs is the same way, solved the problem by getting a cheap magnetic white board and sticking it to the fridge and keeping a list of what is open/needs to be used first. Then you can look at a glance and see if you can use something up. Works great!

This is a great idea, I try to put the stuff to the front but it always gets mixed around.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shusherstache on February 19, 2015, 06:42:04 AM
Saved the son opening a new can last night of tomato sauce used in making homemade pizza.  There was half a can's worth stored in the fridge from last weeks pizza.  My sons tend to do a lot of this 'not looking' before cooking and opening new cans/jars/pkgs. of things w/o looking to see if there is something already going.  It's a constant harangue in order to keep it down to only one jar of mustard, mayo, etc. open.  Must be E.V.E.R. vigilant! ;)

Hubs is the same way, solved the problem by getting a cheap magnetic white board and sticking it to the fridge and keeping a list of what is open/needs to be used first. Then you can look at a glance and see if you can use something up. Works great!

This is a great idea, I try to put the stuff to the front but it always gets mixed around.

I solved this by having a short, squat plastic container (dishpan-sized or smaller) on the most visible shelf with a big EAT ME label.  This is the section that contains food that should be eaten/used ASAP.  It works beautifully!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 19, 2015, 07:20:12 AM
Saved the son opening a new can last night of tomato sauce used in making homemade pizza.  There was half a can's worth stored in the fridge from last weeks pizza.  My sons tend to do a lot of this 'not looking' before cooking and opening new cans/jars/pkgs. of things w/o looking to see if there is something already going.  It's a constant harangue in order to keep it down to only one jar of mustard, mayo, etc. open.  Must be E.V.E.R. vigilant! ;)

Hubs is the same way, solved the problem by getting a cheap magnetic white board and sticking it to the fridge and keeping a list of what is open/needs to be used first. Then you can look at a glance and see if you can use something up. Works great!

This is a great idea, I try to put the stuff to the front but it always gets mixed around.

I solved this by having a short, squat plastic container (dishpan-sized or smaller) on the most visible shelf with a big EAT ME label.  This is the section that contains food that should be eaten/used ASAP.  It works beautifully!

Haha, eat me is often written on food in my fridge.  I find that I have to use clear containers, if they can't see the food they don't eat the food.  Than I will put post it notes on the food. I am pushing.

"I am lasagna, eat me!"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on February 22, 2015, 06:44:07 PM
Juslookin' What a bummer.  Thank goodness you had some food ready, that is the kind of day which sends me out to a restaurant because of overwhelm.

PatStab, Is there any chance you would share your black bean, sausage and rice recipe?  It sounds delicious right now.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: JetsettingWelfareMom on February 22, 2015, 11:32:54 PM
Love it! Sometimes I make recipes out of whatever random stuff is left...yet we never suffer for it. Alaskan Salmon...yum! Maybe you need fresh eyes on your recipes...good luck with the move!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on February 23, 2015, 01:27:52 AM
Tomorrow I'm going to cook Rouladen for the first time. I received a bunch of this cut with my side of beef last fall, and found a nice recipe on http://www.tasteofhome.com Its basically thin flank steak spread with dijon mustard, rolled up with bacon and a pickle! A German dish, apparently.

ETA: It was tasty and my family quite enjoyed it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 23, 2015, 10:34:08 AM
I was a busy bee yesterday and made 1.5 pans enchiladas, a tray of eggplant Parmesan, boiled and processed eggs, rinsed and put strawberries, radish, celery with sides of cream cheese into individual containers, assembled 5 burritos for DH's lunches (put 3 in the freezer), and made a 7 layer salad.  This morning I filled the slow cooker full of gumbo ingredients.  Yummy!  I kept thinking:  I am turning groceries into meals.

I appreciated assembling the gumbo, as I was able to use up 2 cups homemade chicken broth and about 1/2 cup diced tomatoes from the freezer and frozen okra bought about 6 months ago.  I also used the 1/3 cup tomato paste from the freezer on the eggplant parm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 23, 2015, 11:18:29 AM
I was a busy bee yesterday and made 1.5 pans enchiladas, a tray of eggplant Parmesan, boiled and processed eggs, rinsed and put strawberries, radish, celery with sides of cream cheese into individual containers, assembled 5 burritos for DH's lunches (put 3 in the freezer), and made a 7 layer salad.  This morning I filled the slow cooker full of gumbo ingredients.  Yummy!  I kept thinking:  I am turning groceries into meals.

I appreciated assembling the gumbo, as I was able to use up 2 cups homemade chicken broth and about 1/2 cup diced tomatoes from the freezer and frozen okra bought about 6 months ago.  I also used the 1/3 cup tomato paste from the freezer on the eggplant parm.

I am an exhausted wreck today from cleaning up a flooded basement but you have inspired me.  Thank you. I am off to make lasagna for dinner. I have all of the ingredients, just couldn't talk myself into it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on February 23, 2015, 12:05:22 PM
I had a productive weekend!    I had used up all the meat in the freezer and did have to make a run to Costco and Sam's to stock up on a few things, but we are working through it.  I've found there are a few staples I need to keep around in order to use up some of the other stuff:  cheese, canned tomatoes, eggs, etc.  Meat is also one of those.  Even if it is an accent - a little pepperoni on a veggie filled pizza, some chicken in stir fry, ham in beans - when I run out, my husband notices.

I used a frozen pie crust, shredded carrots, cabbage, leeks and some leftover chicken to make Chinese-style empanadas.  (Not sure what to call them when they aren't Latin cuisine flavored).

I battered and fried some fish on Friday to make fish tacos and used up a jar of salsa, a leftover lime, sour cream, tortillas and lettuce.   I like them better with cabbage, but we only have frozen at the moment.

Made chia pudding for the kids, but I still have over 2 lbs of chia seeds.   I'm going to try chia crackers next.

This week we are having
I'll also do some baking and try a recipe with 25% GF flour and 75% regular flour.   I'm hoping we dont notice.  Otherwise, it is going to take years to use this GF flour mix.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on February 23, 2015, 02:00:23 PM
I am failing miserably this month.  Stores keep having insane sales so instead of eating down the pantry, I'm stocking it with more stuff!  Ugh! 

But the majority of these items were purchased because they met my "this is too awesome to pass up" threshold.  Barilla pasta for $0.39/box?  I'll grab 10.  Half ham for $0.99/lb?  In the cart you go! 

Hopefully sales will be horrible next month and I can eat down this stash.  Reading everyone else's success is still inspiring. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 24, 2015, 10:38:13 AM
I was a busy bee yesterday and made 1.5 pans enchiladas, a tray of eggplant Parmesan, boiled and processed eggs, rinsed and put strawberries, radish, celery with sides of cream cheese into individual containers, assembled 5 burritos for DH's lunches (put 3 in the freezer), and made a 7 layer salad.  This morning I filled the slow cooker full of gumbo ingredients.  Yummy!  I kept thinking:  I am turning groceries into meals.

I appreciated assembling the gumbo, as I was able to use up 2 cups homemade chicken broth and about 1/2 cup diced tomatoes from the freezer and frozen okra bought about 6 months ago.  I also used the 1/3 cup tomato paste from the freezer on the eggplant parm.

I am an exhausted wreck today from cleaning up a flooded basement but you have inspired me.  Thank you. I am off to make lasagna for dinner. I have all of the ingredients, just couldn't talk myself into it.

Sorry to hear about your basement.  And, you're welcome.  Glad I could help.  :) :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on February 25, 2015, 09:37:11 AM
I am failing miserably this month.  Stores keep having insane sales so instead of eating down the pantry, I'm stocking it with more stuff!  Ugh! 

But the majority of these items were purchased because they met my "this is too awesome to pass up" threshold.  Barilla pasta for $0.39/box?  I'll grab 10.  Half ham for $0.99/lb?  In the cart you go! 

Hopefully sales will be horrible next month and I can eat down this stash.  Reading everyone else's success is still inspiring.

There will always be good sales so I have just stopped looking at them. I figure the deals will come around again, they always do.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on March 05, 2015, 08:04:41 AM
It is time for me to focus on the food with real staying power- it just stays in the cupboard and never gets eaten.  That includes dried mung beans, nori wrappers and some irish moss.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on March 05, 2015, 08:38:18 AM
I am failing miserably this month.  Stores keep having insane sales so instead of eating down the pantry, I'm stocking it with more stuff!  Ugh! 

But the majority of these items were purchased because they met my "this is too awesome to pass up" threshold.  Barilla pasta for $0.39/box?  I'll grab 10.  Half ham for $0.99/lb?  In the cart you go! 

Hopefully sales will be horrible next month and I can eat down this stash.  Reading everyone else's success is still inspiring.

There will always be good sales so I have just stopped looking at them. I figure the deals will come around again, they always do.

Thanks, I needed to hear that.  :-)  So far March has been much more disciplined so it should make up for Jan/Feb overages.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 05, 2015, 08:47:49 AM
Well I keep going to grab stuff out of the pantry that is no longer there, so guess hubby was doing some eating out of the pantry while I was away :) I'm going to consider that a win!

I too have some Nori sheets I need to use up - I need to find some new friends who I can invite over for sushi - Hubby doesn't like it and it is a lot of work to do for one person. I did use up some rice paper spring roll wrappers that have moved with us, oh, three times.

Wintersun - what do you do with the Irish Moss? It's a thickener, isn't it?

Love hearing everyone's progress/adventures!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on March 05, 2015, 11:10:18 AM
Swick,

I have never used the irish moss but I got it for thickening things like raw parfaits.  The nori I am thinking of using to wrap hors d'ouevres. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on March 05, 2015, 04:47:08 PM
Time to check in again.  We have been doing SO WELL with this, for the most part.
Down to one box of salmon fillets in the freezer, and we've been managing to work at least one fillet into our weekly meal planning.  Still need to dig out all of the freezer-burned ones and cook those for the dog.
Almost out of moose, except for some roasts.  Those might end up moving with us, but if they do it's not a big deal.
Used a bunch of our frozen celery in the past few weeks.
Making some progress on the baking items, too, and the jars of preserved food.  Also, the only noodles we have left are half a box of lasagna noodles.
Even with all the progress we've made, I still feel like our house is full of food, which it is.  I just had to stock up on some things, like dog food and frozen peas (my daughter loves to have peas as a snack) and frozen fruit.  But I also know that they'll get used up really fast, so I'm trying to focus on all the progress we've made on things which don't get used up as quickly.
It's very odd to think that we're in the home stretch (about 3 months to go).  Doesn't really feel like it yet, with the winter blues (March sucks here--the fifth month of winter is tiring, especially knowing that spring is still about 2 months away) and mid-semester stress and whatnot.  But, we're hanging in there and things will get much easier soon.  At the very least, the return of the sun means that it's easier to get outside so we don't have cabin fever.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 06, 2015, 09:52:35 AM
Recently:

Used the rest of a 1/2 bag frozen green beans with a half jar Alfredo sauce.

Made gumbo and used up a bit of frozen tomatoes and 2 cups homemade broth.

Finished the frozen tomato paste on Eggplant Parmesan.

Next week is eat out of the freezer week since I'm closing in on my shop once a month day.  There is leftover gumbo and elk meatballs to nosh on.  Oh, and some African peanut soup.  :)

And I've been working on leftover alcohol from my BD party last month.  :D

If anyone has a recipe for spicy Italian ground sausage, I'm all ears.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cashstasherat23 on March 06, 2015, 10:38:54 AM
Recently:

Used the rest of a 1/2 bag frozen green beans with a half jar Alfredo sauce.

Made gumbo and used up a bit of frozen tomatoes and 2 cups homemade broth.

Finished the frozen tomato paste on Eggplant Parmesan.

Next week is eat out of the freezer week since I'm closing in on my shop once a month day.  There is leftover gumbo and elk meatballs to nosh on.  Oh, and some African peanut soup.  :)

And I've been working on leftover alcohol from my BD party last month.  :D

If anyone has a recipe for spicy Italian ground sausage, I'm all ears.

For spicy Italian sausage, I love this recipe! http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/

So good, and makes a ton of healthy, delicious servings. I make a tray once every couple of months and then freeze it...have a whole stack in my freezer right now, cut into individual portions, and eat them down as I go along! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 06, 2015, 12:12:33 PM
Recently:

Used the rest of a 1/2 bag frozen green beans with a half jar Alfredo sauce.

Made gumbo and used up a bit of frozen tomatoes and 2 cups homemade broth.

Finished the frozen tomato paste on Eggplant Parmesan.

Next week is eat out of the freezer week since I'm closing in on my shop once a month day.  There is leftover gumbo and elk meatballs to nosh on.  Oh, and some African peanut soup.  :)

And I've been working on leftover alcohol from my BD party last month.  :D

If anyone has a recipe for spicy Italian ground sausage, I'm all ears.

For spicy Italian sausage, I love this recipe! http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/

So good, and makes a ton of healthy, delicious servings. I make a tray once every couple of months and then freeze it...have a whole stack in my freezer right now, cut into individual portions, and eat them down as I go along!

This is perfect!  Thank you!  And I appreciate the fact it's low carb.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 07, 2015, 09:07:03 AM
Recently:

Used the rest of a 1/2 bag frozen green beans with a half jar Alfredo sauce.

Made gumbo and used up a bit of frozen tomatoes and 2 cups homemade broth.

Finished the frozen tomato paste on Eggplant Parmesan.

Next week is eat out of the freezer week since I'm closing in on my shop once a month day.  There is leftover gumbo and elk meatballs to nosh on.  Oh, and some African peanut soup.  :)

And I've been working on leftover alcohol from my BD party last month.  :D

If anyone has a recipe for spicy Italian ground sausage, I'm all ears.

For spicy Italian sausage, I love this recipe! http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/

So good, and makes a ton of healthy, delicious servings. I make a tray once every couple of months and then freeze it...have a whole stack in my freezer right now, cut into individual portions, and eat them down as I go along!

Thank you, I know what we're having for dinner now!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on March 11, 2015, 10:30:36 PM
We have actually been doing pretty well with this, but now it's time to get serious as we probably ARE moving in the next 3 months.  I feel like we don't have "much" in the way of food on hand right now but I need to do an inventory this weekend and make a plan for using up the rest of it...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 12, 2015, 12:21:33 PM
We've gone through a lot of can goods in the past month.  This week I'm attacking our freezer.  We have a lot of food from my bulk cooking (frozen as single servings)and premade Trader Joe's food from impulse purchases. 

Monday night: We had penne with a pesto sauce made from frozen basil.  I also had a small bag of pine nuts (used half the bag).
                        Made a double batch of granola bars.  We used all of our quick oats, all of our honey (used 3 different containers), and a few cups of stale Cheerios.  The granola bars will be breakfast for the week.
Tuesday night: Frozen TJ's naan.  Made hummus from a can of chickpeas.  We each had a glass of milk to finish off our half gallon. 
Last night:       We split a bag of penne arrabiatta and chicken tamales (both from Trader Joe's).  We still have 4 more tamales in the freezer. 

For lunch, I've been eating the frozen single serving meals from my bulk cooking.  Unfortunately it has been a week of my biggest cooking flops--a bland curry, meatballs, and (not) butter chicken from Budget Bytes.  I need to force myself to eat the mediocre things I cook, but it's just so hard. 

We have a lot more stuff in our freezer!  I'm going to defrost a few chicken breasts for dinner tomorrow night.  Tonight, I will have another random TJ's premade food meal.  Tamales and mashed sweet potatoes. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on March 12, 2015, 06:44:09 PM
This week is going better.  Spent $35 on dairy, eggs, fruit/veggies and a few necessary household cleaners.  Found a use for the ham hock - lentil and ham soup.  Yum!

Starting to see the back of the freezer and empty shelf space in the pantry.  Only sad part is realizing both spaces need a good cleaning.  :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on March 12, 2015, 07:41:06 PM
I'm leaving town for a week in about a week, so planning to try and avoid any sort of grocery shop this week.  There is plenty of food here to eat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 16, 2015, 01:51:02 PM
New goal is to reduce monthly spending from $300 to $200.  Spent $195.05 last Friday.

We ate last month's remaining cowboy beans from the freezer with last night's smoked ham.  Delish!  Thursday night we ate half the leftover elk meatballs from the freezer.  And there's STILL more....

Am planning on making coconut shrimp this upcoming weekend to use up the last bit of last year's dried coconut.  Wednesday I'm going to make ham hock and beans with last night's ham hock...  Now, about that last can of evaporated milk.... ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 16, 2015, 02:38:47 PM
I love hearing how everyone is doing!

I'm totally bummed that I forgot about a acorn squash in our cold room and it went moldy :(  Our wipe board on the fridge idea has saved quite a few other odds and ends from going off though.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on March 17, 2015, 10:11:18 PM
New goal is to reduce monthly spending from $300 to $200.  Spent $195.05 last Friday.

We ate last month's remaining cowboy beans from the freezer with last night's smoked ham.  Delish!  Thursday night we ate half the leftover elk meatballs from the freezer.  And there's STILL more....

Am planning on making coconut shrimp this upcoming weekend to use up the last bit of last year's dried coconut.  Wednesday I'm going to make ham hock and beans with last night's ham hock...  Now, about that last can of evaporated milk.... ;)

Here's an Australian recipe that uses evaporated milk, from the $21 dollar challenge cook book:

Carnation Pasta
300g spaghetti or pasta
1 tbsp oil
3 cups sliced vegetables (e.g. red capsicum (pepper), courgette (zucchini), mushrooms)
375ml can Carnation evaporated milk
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
3⁄4 cup grated cheese
Salt & pepper
Cook pasta to directions. Heat oil in pan, add vegetables and cook two minutes. Add combined Carnation milk, cornflour and mustard. Bring to boil, stirring. Stir in cheese and simmer for one minute. Toss through cooked pasta and season to taste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on March 18, 2015, 12:19:26 PM
I have lots of empty spaces these days, which is gratifying, and I think I may put a jug of water in the freezer to save a few pennies on electricity since it is so empty.

My problem foods are weighing on me, they are still there, untouched, waving at me from the cupboard, or are they giving me the middle finger? 

I think it is time to make a few specific food commitments or I may be staring the same things in the eye next March.
1.  All dried beans, peas cooked by April 7th
2.  All irish moss consumed by April 7th
3.  Donate the canned soups which I will never touch by this weekend
4.  Corned beef consumed by this weekend
5.  Pick three vitamin type supplements and use daily until gone, rinse, repeat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 18, 2015, 03:58:03 PM
We've been successful eating from our freezer.  We had a few random meals, and we still have quite a few items left.  We have a lot of premade meatballs (IKEA and TJ's turkey) in the freezer.  We have a few more tamales, a few frozen dinners, lots of frozen vegetables, and a little bit of frozen fruit. 

My big success last night was using a few cups of stale Honey Nut Cheerios in the granola bars I made.  Normally I would just toss the box.  I also used part of a bag of sliced almonds that have been on the shelf for a while.  The granola bars are weekday breakfasts. 

I also have two bananas that are overly ripe, so I will try to make a small loaf of banana bread tonight. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on March 20, 2015, 08:59:31 AM
I don't know how I ended up with so much cocoa powder in my house.  I was assigned to bring cookies to an event tonight and am making chocolate crinkles to use up some of that cocoa.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 20, 2015, 09:22:05 AM
I don't know how I ended up with so much cocoa powder in my house.  I was assigned to bring cookies to an event tonight and am making chocolate crinkles to use up some of that cocoa.

I know the feeling! Last year I ended up making a couple of different flavours of "Instant Hot Chocolate" mix for Christmas to use up some of my surplus. Actually, I've had requests for more so I will probably end up doing it again this year. I have some TJ freeze dried raspberries I haven't had a chance to use that would be fun.

I used up some in some chocolate cupcakes that took to a family potluck last night too. The spices and things like cocoa are really my downfall, I feel like I am using them all the time, but never enough to feel like I am putting a dent in my supply. Next up...finding a use for beet powder...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CaribbeanMustachian on March 20, 2015, 11:30:42 AM
We've done well with our Lenten abstinence from meat, alcohol and soda for the past 30 days. Today we're starting this challenge today. Thanks to all of you, for the great info on this post!

Day #1 menu - breakfast (eggs and spinach omelet), lunch/ dinner - (stewed fish with peppers and onions, rice, salad).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 20, 2015, 01:44:49 PM
New goal is to reduce monthly spending from $300 to $200.  Spent $195.05 last Friday.

We ate last month's remaining cowboy beans from the freezer with last night's smoked ham.  Delish!  Thursday night we ate half the leftover elk meatballs from the freezer.  And there's STILL more....

Am planning on making coconut shrimp this upcoming weekend to use up the last bit of last year's dried coconut.  Wednesday I'm going to make ham hock and beans with last night's ham hock...  Now, about that last can of evaporated milk.... ;)

Here's an Australian recipe that uses evaporated milk, from the $21 dollar challenge cook book:

Carnation Pasta
300g spaghetti or pasta
1 tbsp oil
3 cups sliced vegetables (e.g. red capsicum (pepper), courgette (zucchini), mushrooms)
375ml can Carnation evaporated milk
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
3⁄4 cup grated cheese
Salt & pepper
Cook pasta to directions. Heat oil in pan, add vegetables and cook two minutes. Add combined Carnation milk, cornflour and mustard. Bring to boil, stirring. Stir in cheese and simmer for one minute. Toss through cooked pasta and season to taste.

Awesome!  Thank you for taking the time to post it.  :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week was an "eat it or freeze it" week.  DH and I focused on eating all the leftovers (breakfast casserole, chicken and eggplant casserole, some baby bok choy, buffalo chicken salad in a doggy bag, etc.).  A leftover blue cheese burger patty went into the freezer.  I processed a load of fresh produce Wednesday night.  He said he felt like a vegetarian at lunch yesterday.  :D

Sunday I'm going to make coconut shrimp to use the last of some dried coconut bought last fall.  I'll serve with zoodles (zucchini noodles) since I mistakenly bought some more zucchini when we already had some.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on March 20, 2015, 06:24:21 PM
I cooked one of the dreaded cans of soup and added onions, stewed tomatoes and cabbage to make it palatable and topped it with goat cheese, scallions and bacon.  it was actually quite good and now I can check off one more box on my eating down the pantry list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Quinn on March 21, 2015, 10:33:55 PM
Any tips/recipes for using up a liter of maple syrup? I got a jug from Costco late last year, but I've decided to cut down on carbs (so no pancakes). I've been using it as a sweetener for tea, but it's going to take a while to use up a liter of it...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 22, 2015, 01:16:00 AM
Any tips/recipes for using up a liter of maple syrup? I got a jug from Costco late last year, but I've decided to cut down on carbs (so no pancakes). I've been using it as a sweetener for tea, but it's going to take a while to use up a liter of it...

I use it basically as a sugar substitute - especially tasty as a sweetener in homemade granola :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on March 23, 2015, 05:05:45 PM
Any tips/recipes for using up a liter of maple syrup? I got a jug from Costco late last year, but I've decided to cut down on carbs (so no pancakes). I've been using it as a sweetener for tea, but it's going to take a while to use up a liter of it...

I use it basically as a sugar substitute - especially tasty as a sweetener in homemade granola :)

Agree.  It is also great in baked oatmeal. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 23, 2015, 05:25:47 PM
Any tips/recipes for using up a liter of maple syrup? I got a jug from Costco late last year, but I've decided to cut down on carbs (so no pancakes). I've been using it as a sweetener for tea, but it's going to take a while to use up a liter of it...

Salad dressing or marianade (I have a lime/maple/chipotle/oil dressing that works well on almost anything, especially salmon)
sweetener for lemonade
on top of plain yogurt with some fruit
instead of palm sugar for coconut curry or Vietnamese dressings or satay or peanut sauce
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 23, 2015, 06:20:29 PM
Salad dressing or marianade (I have a lime/maple/chipotle/oil dressing that works well on almost anything, especially salmon)

Ohh, any chance you can share? I think you have a dressing that combines ALL my Hubby's favorite foods :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on March 23, 2015, 10:59:37 PM
Salad dressing or marianade (I have a lime/maple/chipotle/oil dressing that works well on almost anything, especially salmon)

Ohh, any chance you can share? I think you have a dressing that combines ALL my Hubby's favorite foods :)

haha, me too! DH drinks leftover lime juice straight, and goes through like a liter of maple syrup a month. And who doesn't love chipotle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 24, 2015, 04:56:12 AM
Salad dressing or marianade (I have a lime/maple/chipotle/oil dressing that works well on almost anything, especially salmon)
Ohh, any chance you can share? I think you have a dressing that combines ALL my Hubby's favorite foods :)

I modified & extremely simplified a couple of recipes from the Rebar cookbook (Rebar is/was a restaurant in Victoria BC), combining the dressing for the Santa Fe Pasta salad and the Painted Desert salad.

the base recipes are here, but I don't follow them, just the idea
http://seachangeseafoodsandgifts.ca/painted-desert-salad/
http://www.eatmedelicious.com/2007/08/santa-fe-pasta-salad.html

No real amounts, just a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, a tablespoon of lime juice, 1-2 tsps of maple syrup, 1-2 tsps of chipotle puree, salt.  Then adjust to taste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 24, 2015, 12:42:35 PM
[quote author=plainjane link=topic=23139.msg601121#msg601121 date=
I modified & extremely simplified a couple of recipes from the Rebar cookbook (Rebar is/was a restaurant in Victoria BC), combining the dressing for the Santa Fe Pasta salad and the Painted Desert salad.

the base recipes are here, but I don't follow them, just the idea
http://seachangeseafoodsandgifts.ca/painted-desert-salad/
http://www.eatmedelicious.com/2007/08/santa-fe-pasta-salad.html

No real amounts, just a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, a tablespoon of lime juice, 1-2 tsps of maple syrup, 1-2 tsps of chipotle puree, salt.  Then adjust to taste.
[/quote]

That is awesome, Thanks plainjane! The recipes look great, and I know my mom has their recipe book - it's one of her favorite places.  I'll have to borrow it from her :)

I used up the last of my dried apricots, left over canned tomatos and some rosemary that I was given in supper last night. I made a take on a tagine http://www.alanabread.com/chicken-apricot-ginger-rosemary-tagine/ (http://www.alanabread.com/chicken-apricot-ginger-rosemary-tagine/) it is one of my favorite recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 30, 2015, 05:52:30 AM
Hi everyone, loving this thread and all the creative ideas you come up with!

I have a jar of pumpkin pie spice languishing in the cupboard. Being a Brit I don't have much use for it, but I'm thinking it would add some nice flavour to homemade granola, or muffins, or pancakes. Yay!

I also have a question I wonder if anyone can help with. I'm going to make burritos tonight (ground beef filling), and I often hear of people freezing them for lunches etc. I'd love to try this, but I'm not sure about defrosting / reheating. Is it best to microwave straight from frozen? Or defrost first? I'm thinking the tortilla will go soggy if I defrost, but I wasn't sure about microwaving cooked frozen meat. Would I use a defrost setting, or just go 'high' from the outset? Thanks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 30, 2015, 10:45:16 AM
Hi everyone, loving this thread and all the creative ideas you come up with!

I have a jar of pumpkin pie spice languishing in the cupboard. Being a Brit I don't have much use for it, but I'm thinking it would add some nice flavour to homemade granola, or muffins, or pancakes. Yay!

I also have a question I wonder if anyone can help with. I'm going to make burritos tonight (ground beef filling), and I often hear of people freezing them for lunches etc. I'd love to try this, but I'm not sure about defrosting / reheating. Is it best to microwave straight from frozen? Or defrost first? I'm thinking the tortilla will go soggy if I defrost, but I wasn't sure about microwaving cooked frozen meat. Would I use a defrost setting, or just go 'high' from the outset? Thanks.
I usually stick with rice, beans & cheese in my frozen burritos, so beef might be different.  I just wrap a frozen burrito in a paper towel and microwave on high. 

I made cookies for a picnic with friends instead of buying cupcakes.  I had to go out and buy chocolate chips, but I used items we had in the house for the rest.  I made thumbprint cookies with lemon curd (a gift) and plum jam (a gift).  I also made flourless chocolate chip cookies (http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/04/flourless-chocolate-cookies/). 

We've been slowly eating down our freezer.  I ate a frozen pot pie for lunch last week.  We have a lot of frozen vegetables and fruit to eat now. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on March 30, 2015, 07:23:02 PM
I also have a question I wonder if anyone can help with. I'm going to make burritos tonight (ground beef filling), and I often hear of people freezing them for lunches etc. I'd love to try this, but I'm not sure about defrosting / reheating. Is it best to microwave straight from frozen? Or defrost first? I'm thinking the tortilla will go soggy if I defrost, but I wasn't sure about microwaving cooked frozen meat. Would I use a defrost setting, or just go 'high' from the outset? Thanks.

My technique is (1) defrost for 2 minutes, (2) heat for 30 seconds, (3) let cool for a few minutes (or else it can be pretty molten). This works for me - the tortilla isn't soggy at all.

I should say, usually the burrito has been in my bag for a couple of hours when I go through this process, so it's probably somewhat thawed already.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MMMdude on March 30, 2015, 08:00:13 PM
My brother is a hunter and I have a whole bunch of moose stew and sausage that has been sitting in my freezer for about a year.

I simply bbq'd the sausage and it was....OK i guess.  Have a few more packs to go and I'll BBQ again with no other alternative.  I'm thinking if i threw it in a pasta dish it might mellow the overall taste.  Any other ideas?

I have slow cooked the stew before and it was pretty decent but not a homerun.  Anyone have any moose stew recipes?

Overall we have done really well the first three months of the year.  Have spent $425 on food (two of us) on average each month to start the year.  This includes toiletries and cat/dog food.  Where we live groceries are pretty expensive so might not be outstanding for others.  This is alot lower than the $600+ we have been averaging.  If we do eat out it's either with a Groupon (whenever they have a discount deal) or at a place that has a weakly deal such as Wing Wednesdays or whatever.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 31, 2015, 02:48:33 AM
Thanks Cressida and 4alpacas for the burrito advice! I'll try some with just beans and some with meat and see which I prefer, now I have a better idea of how to reheat. This is making me hungry!

Because I had been working on emptying the freezer I was able to take advantage of a great deal when I saw it - Hereford beef nearing it's sell-by date marked down from £4.19 (for a 1/2 lb) to 99p! I bought everything they had in stock, hence the burritos! I see lots of marked down meat due to poor stock control in a local store; my plan is to always use meat from the freezer for meals and to only buy meat that I see reduced. Since we only have it a few times a week this should be very doable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 31, 2015, 10:02:01 AM
My brother is a hunter and I have a whole bunch of moose stew and sausage that has been sitting in my freezer for about a year.

I simply bbq'd the sausage and it was....OK i guess.  Have a few more packs to go and I'll BBQ again with no other alternative.  I'm thinking if i threw it in a pasta dish it might mellow the overall taste.  Any other ideas?

I have slow cooked the stew before and it was pretty decent but not a homerun.  Anyone have any moose stew recipes?

Moose can be pretty hit or miss, I would personally take the meat out of the casing for the sausages and use it in a chili, stretched ( and tamed) with some ground beef if it is really strong tasting. Also, Spices...the more spices you use with moose the better :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on March 31, 2015, 11:58:09 AM
My brother is a hunter and I have a whole bunch of moose stew and sausage that has been sitting in my freezer for about a year.

I simply bbq'd the sausage and it was....OK i guess.  Have a few more packs to go and I'll BBQ again with no other alternative.  I'm thinking if i threw it in a pasta dish it might mellow the overall taste.  Any other ideas?

I have slow cooked the stew before and it was pretty decent but not a homerun.  Anyone have any moose stew recipes?

Overall we have done really well the first three months of the year.  Have spent $425 on food (two of us) on average each month to start the year.  This includes toiletries and cat/dog food.  Where we live groceries are pretty expensive so might not be outstanding for others.  This is alot lower than the $600+ we have been averaging.  If we do eat out it's either with a Groupon (whenever they have a discount deal) or at a place that has a weakly deal such as Wing Wednesdays or whatever.

I'm not sure what the exact recipe is but my MIL said that she made moose stew recently with red wine AND Guinness as a base and it turned out really well.  I'm guessing that the strong flavors of those mellowed the moose and the acids tenderized it a lot.  Not sure what herbs and spices she used, though.  Or perhaps try a boeuf bourguignon?  It's strongly flavored and utilizes a very long, slow cook so the meat will have plenty of time to tenderize.

Most of the moose I use is ground or as a roast, sorry.

I hear you on the grocery prices.  My husband, toddler and I manage to only spend about $400/month, but we buy very little meat because we've had so much moose and fish in the freezer, and I garden/preserve during the summers.  I also do things like making our own bread to save money.  :(  Wish I could have the grocery budget a lot of people on these forums claim.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on April 01, 2015, 08:19:51 AM
Just successfully made pilau rice! Yay! That will make our occasional 'takeaways' even better - I usually buy a premade curry and rice to share from the supermarket, and then we get a real naan from the takeaway. Now I will make a huge batch and freeze in portions so it's just as easy as reheating the bought one on those no-cook night!

Recipe was easy if anyone wants it - melt a large knob of butter in a pan. Add 1 cup of basmati rice and stir until coated. Add 2tspn garam masala (not sure how authentic this recipe is, I was trying to use this up), stir to coat, and then add 1.5 cups boiling water. Cover with tight-fitting lid, simmer on lowest setting for 10-15 minutes without stirring until rice is done.

Which spice jar to tackle next...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on April 02, 2015, 02:05:12 AM
Amalgamated the contents of 2 deep freezers into 1 today --- gave me a really good idea of what we have left and will help with meal planning. Sadly, had to throw out some badly freezer burned items. *Bonus: power bill will drop until late summer/early fall when we add farm fresh berries, 50 chickens and a side of beef. **Double Bonus: single freezer now running is smaller, very full and located in the cool basement -- excellent for our power consumption!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on April 07, 2015, 01:32:34 PM
Finally ate down the freezer to the point that I only had 2 servings max of chicken, fish, beef and pork.  Ordered 1/2 pig and should be nearly out of meat when it is ready for pick-up. 

Made lentil and ham bone soup that was utterly fantastic.  No more throwing away scrumptious ham bones. 

Pantry contents have slowly been depleted, prompting DH to state "we have no food".  I pointed to all the canned and frozen vegetables, flour, rice, etc.  To which he responded "We have a bunch of items to make food, but we have no food!".  I took this as a compliment that we were eating healthy items instead of processed crap.  DH was not amused his scolding was turned into a compliment.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on April 07, 2015, 01:48:47 PM

Pantry contents have slowly been depleted, prompting DH to state "we have no food".  I pointed to all the canned and frozen vegetables, flour, rice, etc.  To which he responded "We have a bunch of items to make food, but we have no food!".

Sounds like my complaintypants teenagers: "We don't have any FOOD! We just have ingredients!"

Used up a bag of perogies from the deep freeze - fried them and some onions and added a dollop of sour cream to each plate.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on April 08, 2015, 10:53:40 AM
I tried stuffing the contents of the chest freezer into the upright freezer and it didn't work.  But the chest freezer is *dangerously* low.  Also, I did find a whole bunch more dog fish (I mean, fish only fit to cook up for the dog because it's so freezer-burned -- most of it is labeled 2010, ouch) so we're saving money on dog food and it's not only really good for her but she loves it.
Now if only I could get our ridiculously picky cat to eat it too, but he hates anything but a few flavors of wet food and his dry stuff.
I also made a meal plan for this week and most of it is, you probably guessed it, fish.  So sick of fish.
We still have about four moose roasts which need to be taken care of.  I'm thinking we'll use one or two as a duty meal and try to give the others away to friends.  Other than that our only supply of moose is four more 1-lb. packs of ground moose meat and about 12 packs of moose jerky sticks which I'm trying to get my husband to eat (I can't stand them).
Found and used one last jar of tomatoes I canned last summer, used some frozen rhubarb as a dessert for an Easter potluck, and used one of our boxes of cornstarch.  Our cupboards are looking mighty bare.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on April 08, 2015, 11:06:27 AM
It is time for me to look at the door of the fridge again and to eat up those processed condiments never to replace them.  Also, it is time to get serious about the nutritional supplements -they cost a bundle and I do not want to waste them.

My fridge, freezer and pantry got super low a few weeks back and the pantry is still very empty looking which i am enjoying.  I think I would enjoy the English method of having a tiny fridge and shopping each day for fresh food- somehow storing food makes me tired.  It is as though all the cans and boxes and bags are saying "Slacker!  You haven't eaten me yet!!!"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 08, 2015, 03:50:24 PM
Trying to clean out the freezer before the U-pick season begins.  Last night we ate raviolis with kale pesto; tonight we are having black bean enchiladas with a tomatillo sauce from last fall.  I can't quite do one of those "don't shop in April" challenges because I'd run out of basics but I am determined to clean out this freezer! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on April 09, 2015, 10:01:00 PM
Well, it turns out we are moving in three weeks!  Just across town, so moving non-perishables is not a huge deal, however....we are going to need to clean out the freezer!  This weekend I am NOT going to cook any main dishes for the week ahead, we're going to live entirely off freezer meals.  Kind of excited :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on April 10, 2015, 05:25:11 AM
Well, it turns out we are moving in three weeks!  Just across town, so moving non-perishables is not a huge deal, however....we are going to need to clean out the freezer!  This weekend I am NOT going to cook any main dishes for the week ahead, we're going to live entirely off freezer meals.  Kind of excited :)

Good luck with the move cats, and enjoy a week off cooking!

I am enjoying making lots of salad dressings, but I have a question, if anyone can answer it.

I don't like mustard, so what else can I put in dressing to 'emulsify' things? I'm just doing oil / vinegar / seasoning at present, and I'm getting some lovely flavours, but the consistency is not right. Would a pinch of cornflour work to bring everything together?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 10, 2015, 06:01:25 AM
I am enjoying making lots of salad dressings, but I have a question, if anyone can answer it.

I don't like mustard, so what else can I put in dressing to 'emulsify' things? I'm just doing oil / vinegar / seasoning at present, and I'm getting some lovely flavours, but the consistency is not right. Would a pinch of cornflour work to bring everything together?

Egg yolk can work, but consistency is generally a question of more/better whisking.  Perhaps a bit of buttermilk? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on April 10, 2015, 07:43:24 AM
I am enjoying making lots of salad dressings, but I have a question, if anyone can answer it.

I don't like mustard, so what else can I put in dressing to 'emulsify' things? I'm just doing oil / vinegar / seasoning at present, and I'm getting some lovely flavours, but the consistency is not right. Would a pinch of cornflour work to bring everything together?

Egg yolk can work, but consistency is generally a question of more/better whisking.  Perhaps a bit of buttermilk?

Also try adjusting your ratio of oil and vinegar.  3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar makes a thicker dressing.  How do you mix it?  I've had great luck with the jar shaking method. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on April 10, 2015, 08:53:21 PM
I am enjoying making lots of salad dressings, but I have a question, if anyone can answer it.

I don't like mustard, so what else can I put in dressing to 'emulsify' things? I'm just doing oil / vinegar / seasoning at present, and I'm getting some lovely flavours, but the consistency is not right. Would a pinch of cornflour work to bring everything together?

Egg yolk can work, but consistency is generally a question of more/better whisking.  Perhaps a bit of buttermilk?

Also try adjusting your ratio of oil and vinegar.  3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar makes a thicker dressing.  How do you mix it?  I've had great luck with the jar shaking method.

Corn starch won't act as a binder unless you heat it.

How do you feel about mayo? If you don't want to use straight raw egg yolk, the egg yolk in mayo is a great emulsifier. A tbsp in most dressings will hold everything together. Adds a creaminess to the mix, which can be ok - depends on the dressing I guess. I think people use chia and flax for this stuff too, but I think chia seeds have a texture like gritty boogers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on April 14, 2015, 01:41:32 AM
Thanks for the dressing suggestions everyone! I mix it in a Chefn bottle with whisk kind of built in if you know what I mean, but if that's not available I use a jar. Generally use a 2:1 ratio (just because it's marked on the bottle!) so will try upping the oil.

I'm not a massive fan of mayo - wouldn't put it on a sandwich for example, but I'm fine with it as an ingredient or in small amounts. I'm guessing it would make the dressing spoil more quickly though? I will certainly give it a try in a small batch and see how I like it, thank you.

I'm also going to expand my personal kitchen challenge a little and add in kitchen consumables that I want to use up and not replace. Already finished - those ice cube bags where you fill them with water and then freeze them, and allegedly they then break up into perfect ice cubes in a bag, but actually, in my experience you just end up with ice welded to the side of a plastic bag in ridiculous shapes. All gone. Next up, paper sandwich bags which I thought would be better for the environment than plastic but which don't work because they allow snacks to get soggy, and bread to dry out. Nice idea, but will not be replacing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 14, 2015, 12:20:28 PM
My favorite homemade salad dressing lately is a blend of mayo and sour cream with a squirt of lemon juice, dashes of onion and garlic powder (and whatever else I'm in the mood for) and a bit of sweetener (I use Splenda, but the recipe calls for sugar).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is Freezer Fixin's week!

Yesterday:  Leftover blue cheese burger patty for lunch.  Leftover elk meatballs and African peanut soup for supper.

Today:  More leftover elk meatballs for lunch.  Tonight (DH is out of town) I'll eat leftover chicken gumbo and rest of the soup.

Also found in the freezer were two homemade burritos which went into DH's lunch yesterday.  We have a bunch of homemade chicken broth, so I'll make soup next week.

So glad I started using freezer tape last year to label everything.  It takes the guess work out, LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 14, 2015, 10:14:42 PM
Yay! 

I logged in after a long long time precisely because my recent attempts to throw out less food got me started thinking about the folks around here.  I knew that there would be some kind of grocery/cooking challenge going on, but it's especially nice to see another "Eat All the Food in Your House" thread.  Gotta go look for the "Fire Drill Thread" too.

Anyway, on topic ...

Last night I cooked two batches of rice and veg to make single serve freezer meals - I made sure I used up ends and bits of veg like the last few pieces of limp celery, part of a head of cabbage that's been in the fridge for a bit, and peeled and finely chopped broccoli stalks.  And one pot used some tofu that has been in my freezer for a long time - but defrosted it and checked it out and it seemed ok, so in it went!

Also made 3 small quiches, using the tops of aforementioned broccoli, an onion (I almost never finish up a bag before they sprout) and all but 1 egg that I had in the fridge.  I saved the egg, because I also have a chocolate cake mix and some defrosted-from-the-freezer pumpkin puree, which together with the egg will make lovely muffins.  The cake mix came from my mom's place, when I helped her clean out her cupboards recently.  (As if I don't have enough stuff in my own cupboards to use up!)

Sadly, I did find bags of both couscous and quinoa in my cupboard that had been there so long that they'd gone off, based on the smell.  You'd think I'd never participated in a gauntlet challenge before ... crazy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 17, 2015, 04:59:51 AM
PJ!  How nice to see you here! I hope all goes well for you.

My goal of cleaning out the freezer before the new produce comes in has not quite gone to plan, but progress is being made.  I stopped at the farmer's market on Wednesday where I bought lettuce, arugula, some hydroponic tomatoes.  Nonetheless I put a small dent in the freezer stash.

One day I made a "Mexican" hash from a yukon gold potato, a sweet potato, onion, plus peppers, corn and chicken from the freezer.  I used up an open jar of salsa from the fridge that was of questionable age.

I still have a few sweet potatoes left from the bushel that I bought in the fall. I store them in the garage.  Because they are not washed, they keep amazingly well. But I need to use these up too before it gets too hot.

I also need to make some cookies or something with the peach jam I put up last summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on April 17, 2015, 09:29:16 AM

I also need to make some cookies or something with the peach jam I put up last summer.

How about jam tarts? You could use a mini muffin pan for the mold if you don't have tart pans.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/rainbow-jam-tarts/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2015, 09:47:42 AM
Discovered that most of my bag 10 kg of potatoes (bought 4 or so days ago) were green. Not going to work for my plan of (ironically) "green" potatoes. |

Have spent the morning making a ginormous batch of potato pancakes and some freezer packs of shredded par-boiled potatoes for hashbrowns. Reused the freezer bags too.

Fell good about not letting them to to waste...I sure didn't feel like dealing with them today as I already have a full day of cooking planned. However, crispy potato pancakes with some blistered cherry tomatoes and a poached duck egg for breakfast made it all worth it :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 17, 2015, 11:04:01 AM
PJ!  How nice to see you here! I hope all goes well for you.

Thanks!  It's nice to be seen!  I'm experiencing my semi-annual or annual urge to get myself, my house, and my finances in order, so rather than just peeking at the blog and forums every couple of months without signing in, I thought I'd better get some stuff done.  And accountability always helps!

However, crispy potato pancakes with some blistered cherry tomatoes and a poached duck egg for breakfast made it all worth it :) 

swick, that does sound good!  For me, breakfast was a piece of chocolate cake.  :-) 

I used the chocolate cake mix I brought home from mom's, a little more than a cup of fairly liquid pumpkin puree from the freezer, one egg, a "glug" of oil (technical term!).  The original instructions call for water, 2/3 cup of oil, and 3 eggs.  My way is much healthier, albeit still resulting in chocolate cake!  I understand you can use any cake mix with just 1 can of pumpkin puree, to make mini muffins that are only 1 WW point.  I got the idea for this from my sister, who used to do WW.

Oh, and I added a handful of really lovely dried cranberries.  So good!  Rich and moist, with little jewels of cranberry periodically.  I don't much like orange veggies, so this is one way I can get myself to happily eat pumpkin!

Also, last night I identified something else to use - a single serve packet of strawberry lemonade (part of a gift basket who knows how long ago!)  Having no nutritional value, I could have just thrown this out.  I don't drink a lot of juice type drinks, and don't love strawberries or lemonade.  But I decided to try to think of a way to use it ... and I did.  I've been buying plain yoghurt to add to my dog's food, but am not acclimatized to the taste yet myself.  So I added some of the drink powder to a bowl of yoghurt, let it sit for a bit, and it was lovely.  Mild taste and more lightly sweetened than buying it already flavoured.  Makes me wonder just how much sugar there is, in my usual vanilla yoghurt?!?!

Next on the "use up" hit list - a little jar of some kind of spread that I brought back from a trip a while ago - need to determine if it's still good, and if so, how to use it!

Helpful tip:  I'm finding I'm more likely to use the things I need to use up if I take them 1 at a time out of their normal spot in the cupboards, and place them all by themselves in a highly visible place.  As in: 

"Oh yeah!  I need to open that package of quinoa and see if it's still good!"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 17, 2015, 11:08:48 AM
I am enjoying making lots of salad dressings, but I have a question, if anyone can answer it.

I don't like mustard, so what else can I put in dressing to 'emulsify' things? I'm just doing oil / vinegar / seasoning at present, and I'm getting some lovely flavours, but the consistency is not right. Would a pinch of cornflour work to bring everything together? 

Sorry for the second, separate post - I had to go back a page to look for this quote ...

So, I don't make my own salad dressing, but I once heard that adding in small amount of milk helps hold together the oil and vinegar (a teaspoon or so - depending on the quantity of dressing?)

I haven't tested it, but it might be worth a try.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2015, 12:02:03 PM
I love your posts, PJ :) Always thrilled when you find your way back to posting!

Your cake sounds awesome!

Oh, to figure out how sugar is in your vanilla yougurt, 4 g = a teaspoon. So for example one of those tiny little 113 cups of Activia vanilla yogurt have 4 tsp of sugar. But of course, we mustachains never buy little tubs of yogurt. So you have to figure out your typical serving size and maths it out. Hubby use to get Astro vanilla and it has 13 g per 1/2 cup. He figures he probably has 1 1/2 cup serving for breakfast so that is almost 10 tsp JUST from his yogurt. We actually measured it out into a bowl, he as shocked. Regular yougurt with a splash of vanilla extract and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey is a good substitute - and regular yougurt is often on sale.

I'm going to bake a bag of sweet potatoes today - not sure how I will use them yet. We were going to make some dog treats - I totally forgot I burned out the motor on my dehydrator :( Sweet potatoes, if you can find em on sale make AWESOME cheap dog treats!

I have some buttermilk I need to use up today as well. Thinking about making some pancakes that  can just freeze and Hubby can pop in the toaster oven for breakfasts.

I also have a couple of bananas I have left get all soft and squishy, muffins or cookies or something tasty is on the menu :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on April 17, 2015, 01:15:56 PM
Regular yougurt with a splash of vanilla extract and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey is a good substitute - and regular yougurt is often on sale.

I buy the large tubs of plain yogurt, too, and I actually prefer to eat yogurt Indian or Middle Eastern style - with some shredded cucumber or carrot, salt, pepper, cumin, maybe a sprinkle of sumac.

I also have a couple of bananas I have left get all soft and squishy, muffins or cookies or something tasty is on the menu :)

Overripe bananas can be peeled and broken into chunks and frozen in a bag for later use in muffins or smoothies, no need to thaw.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2015, 01:28:32 PM
Regular yougurt with a splash of vanilla extract and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey is a good substitute - and regular yougurt is often on sale.

I buy the large tubs of plain yogurt, too, and I actually prefer to eat yogurt Indian or Middle Eastern style - with some shredded cucumber or carrot, salt, pepper, cumin, maybe a sprinkle of sumac.

I also have a couple of bananas I have left get all soft and squishy, muffins or cookies or something tasty is on the menu :)

Overripe bananas can be peeled and broken into chunks and frozen in a bag for later use in muffins or smoothies, no need to thaw.

Great suggestions:) I too prefer the Indian/Middle Eastern way of using yougurt - Developed a taste for it that way when I lived in Turkey. One thing I have noticed though is plain yougurt over here is more...well tangy? and usually watery...it isn't quite as appealing.

I purposely let a couple of bananas get mushy it is a great excuse to bake :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 17, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
DorothyC--thanks for the jam tart link.  My go-to jam cookie recipe is from Quaker Oats, an oatmeal bar with jam filling.  Quite delish.

Swick--you are brilliant!  It has never occurred to me to freeze potatoes for hash browns.  This seems wise on two levels i.e. to prep something that might go bad but also to have something on hand that is partially prepared.  May I ask about technique both for freezing and for cooking?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2015, 03:45:50 PM
DorothyC--thanks for the jam tart link.  My go-to jam cookie recipe is from Quaker Oats, an oatmeal bar with jam filling.  Quite delish.

Swick--you are brilliant!  It has never occurred to me to freeze potatoes for hash browns.  This seems wise on two levels i.e. to prep something that might go bad but also to have something on hand that is partially prepared.  May I ask about technique both for freezing and for cooking?

Thanks Worsted Skiens :) Umm to be honest, I totally winged it, so you might want to look on the internets for proper instructions. I just shredded the potatoes with my food processor attachments (along with an onion cuz I had it to use up) and rinsed in some cold water then par-boiled in a pot of boiling salted water till they were about 1/2 way cooked and blanched them in cold water. Wrung them out really well (Squeezed in a clean cotton dish towel) and vacuum sealed.

 I have never done it before, but if it works, I think it will be a major win. Seems like I'm always struggling to use up potatoes that go faster then I expect and I'm usually tempted (but never succumb) to those horribly expensive freezer hash browns.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 17, 2015, 06:42:02 PM

 I have never done it before, but if it works, I think it will be a major win. Seems like I'm always struggling to use up potatoes that go faster then I expect and I'm usually tempted (but never succumb) to those horribly expensive freezer hash browns.

Exactly!  As I said before, brilliant idea!  Good luck with it and I will be trying it too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tofuchampion on April 17, 2015, 08:16:47 PM
Oh, to figure out how sugar is in your vanilla yougurt, 4 g = a teaspoon. So for example one of those tiny little 113 cups of Activia vanilla yogurt have 4 tsp of sugar. But of course, we mustachains never buy little tubs of yogurt. So you have to figure out your typical serving size and maths it out. Hubby use to get Astro vanilla and it has 13 g per 1/2 cup. He figures he probably has 1 1/2 cup serving for breakfast so that is almost 10 tsp JUST from his yogurt.

That's not all added sugar, though. Some of it is naturally occuring in the milk used to make the yogurt, so even plain yogurt has some sugar (though obv much less!). I don't know if there's any way to know how much is added sugar; I suppose you could compare equal amounts of plain vs. flavored/sweetened.

Anyway, hi. I'm in on the eat-all-the-food thing. I have huge bags of quinoa, lentils, oats, and brown rice from Costco that I've had for months and barely touched. Lots of odds and ends, including some canned things that I've had since before we moved nearly a year ago. It's really not that much food, but I have a pretty tiny kitchen, so it gets cluttered fast. I think my first step is going to be to do an inventory of everything I have, then figure out what I can make with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2015, 11:07:55 PM
Oh, to figure out how sugar is in your vanilla yougurt, 4 g = a teaspoon. So for example one of those tiny little 113 cups of Activia vanilla yogurt have 4 tsp of sugar. But of course, we mustachains never buy little tubs of yogurt. So you have to figure out your typical serving size and maths it out. Hubby use to get Astro vanilla and it has 13 g per 1/2 cup. He figures he probably has 1 1/2 cup serving for breakfast so that is almost 10 tsp JUST from his yogurt.

That's not all added sugar, though. Some of it is naturally occuring in the milk used to make the yogurt, so even plain yogurt has some sugar (though obv much less!). I don't know if there's any way to know how much is added sugar; I suppose you could compare equal amounts of plain vs. flavored/sweetened.

You are right, Here in Canada they are not required to break out added sugars and naturally occurring. Our plain yougurt has 3 g per serving or for my hubby's serving size 9 g or just over 2 tsp.  It really is the added sugar that is the bad stuff, but you are right pretty much anything that ends in -ose is some type of sugar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on April 19, 2015, 10:49:45 AM
I've been half-ass attempting this challenge the last few months.  While it has cleared out some interesting items from both the pantry and freezer, the urgency to completely commit wasn't there.  But now there is a real reason to eat down the freezer.  Picked up 1/2 pig this week and found out that the 1/4 beef will be delivering in a month.  Uh oh!  Even playing freezer tetris, this is going to be a tight fit.  Time to get serious! 

First item - Rutabagas.  Currently two 1-gallons bags worth blanched in 1" cubes.  Ideas?  Can they be roasted after being in the freezer?  Maybe mashed potatoes with rutabagas mixed in?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: handsnhearts on April 19, 2015, 01:21:43 PM
I am moving in 3 weeks(EEK!)  and have been doing this all along. 

Last night, ate up the last of the frozen hamburgers.  Made coleslaw to go with it from a cabbage hanging around for a while, a older carrot, and a new apple that DD had taken 1 tiny bite of and then threw down the stairs (the joy of 2.5 years old!)  I used up the rest of the mayo I had made on Easter for the egg salad.  It sounds like the salad dressing mentioned earlier.  The recipe I based it on called for sour cream and mayo, but I don't do the dairy, so I just used the mayo, mixed with apple cider vinegar, powdered mustard, honey, sugar(which is super old and has been in its jar for months untouched), and celery seeds.  Came out delicious!  Oh and I pulled out the Vslicer/mandoline to shred everything.  It is only the 2nd time I have used it since it arrived as my christmas present.

The flour and white rice are all gone, and the oats have 1 more scoop left.  I have been steadily emptying canning jars of nuts and dried fruits.  Although I'm not sure how much this really helps the move because I'm not getting rid of them. 

I still have a jar of boring salsa to use, and a jar of millet and of quinoa.  Maybe I should throw them in the rice cooker and use them up now.  If I cook them, I might eat them...

we are going to have to go to the grocery store today though... no eggs, no milk!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 21, 2015, 09:49:45 AM
Had quite a bit of success yesterday. Had a bit of a panic to use up a bag of roasted sweet potatoes before they went bad.

Ended up making Sweet potato brownies - using up pantry ingredients

Sweet potato buttermilk cornbread - used up the last of a carton of buttermilk that has been hanging in the fridge, a good bit of the Costco size of jalapeno peppers I have been sloowly working through, some organic cornmeal that has been taking up space in my freezer forever. Must remember that Hubby really likes cornbread...I have A LOT of cornmeal to use up.

"Fridge" chilli - Used the last of several tomato products and salsa, some kidney beans, ground beef, a bunch of spices I'm trying to work through as well as some mostly limp celery - which I kept not wanting to use because it was bitter, apparently a long sit in the fridge mellows it? An onion that was starting to sprout and some roasted red peppers from the freezer.

Trying to create some freezer space for the chicken and lamb order we have coming in. The tons of cornmeal I have is taking up some serious room, anyone have any ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on April 21, 2015, 12:05:25 PM
The tons of cornmeal I have is taking up some serious room, anyone have any ideas?

I haven't tried them, but pumpkin cornmeal pancakes sound delicious.  http://www.somethingswanky.com/pumpkin-cornmeal-pancakes/

Or you could do what I did and put your cornmeal in an old oatmeal container after the cornmeal box breaks, never label the cornmeal as cornmeal, and many moons later catch your husband pulling out the box of cornmeal to put in his smoothie. 
"Hon, why are you putting cornmeal in a smoothie?" 
"What?  I'm putting oats in." 
"Uh, no.  You're not.  That's cornmeal." 
"But the box says OATS.  Why would you put cornmeal in a box that says OATS?!" 
"The other box broke.  Why wouldn't you check what it is?"
"I shouldn't have to!  It says oats, I expect there to be oats."
"It looks absolutely nothing like oats!" 
"...I thought maybe you'd ground them up somehow.  No wonder my smoothies have been gritty."

That conversation actually happened just last night.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 21, 2015, 12:32:23 PM
Or you could do what I did and put your cornmeal in an old oatmeal container after the cornmeal box breaks, never label the cornmeal as cornmeal, and many moons later catch your husband pulling out the box of cornmeal to put in his smoothie. 
"Hon, why are you putting cornmeal in a smoothie?" 
"What?  I'm putting oats in." 
"Uh, no.  You're not.  That's cornmeal." 
"But the box says OATS.  Why would you put cornmeal in a box that says OATS?!" 
"The other box broke.  Why wouldn't you check what it is?"
"I shouldn't have to!  It says oats, I expect there to be oats."
"It looks absolutely nothing like oats!" 
"...I thought maybe you'd ground them up somehow.  No wonder my smoothies have been gritty."

That conversation actually happened just last night.

Thanks for sharing, this made me giggle :) I can totally see that conversation taking place in our house!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on April 22, 2015, 08:33:37 PM
I also have a question I wonder if anyone can help with. I'm going to make burritos tonight (ground beef filling), and I often hear of people freezing them for lunches etc. I'd love to try this, but I'm not sure about defrosting / reheating. Is it best to microwave straight from frozen? Or defrost first? I'm thinking the tortilla will go soggy if I defrost, but I wasn't sure about microwaving cooked frozen meat. Would I use a defrost setting, or just go 'high' from the outset? Thanks.

My technique is (1) defrost for 2 minutes, (2) heat for 30 seconds, (3) let cool for a few minutes (or else it can be pretty molten). This works for me - the tortilla isn't soggy at all.

I should say, usually the burrito has been in my bag for a couple of hours when I go through this process, so it's probably somewhat thawed already.

Circling back on this one regarding soggy tortillas. I keep the burritos wrapped in plastic in the freezer, and I remove the plastic and wrap in a paper towel when I reheat them. Today I accidentally forgot to remove the plastic first and the result was unpleasantly slimy. So that was a good lesson.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 22, 2015, 10:19:11 PM
I love your posts, PJ :) Always thrilled when you find your way back to posting!

Your cake sounds awesome!

Oh, to figure out how sugar is in your vanilla yougurt, 4 g = a teaspoon. So for example one of those tiny little 113 cups of Activia vanilla yogurt have 4 tsp of sugar. But of course, we mustachains never buy little tubs of yogurt. So you have to figure out your typical serving size and maths it out. Hubby use to get Astro vanilla and it has 13 g per 1/2 cup. He figures he probably has 1 1/2 cup serving for breakfast so that is almost 10 tsp JUST from his yogurt. We actually measured it out into a bowl, he as shocked. Regular yougurt with a splash of vanilla extract and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey is a good substitute - and regular yougurt is often on sale.

(waves at swick) 

Thanks!  I like it when I find myself back here posting, too! 

Anyway, oh wow!  First, fascinating that it sounds like your husband and I like the same yoghurt!  (Unless he was eating the vanilla flavoured "Smooth and Fruity" one.)  This is the one that I tend to buy:

http://www.astro.ca/products/astro_original_naturally_flavoured_french_vanilla_650g_family_tub#.VThuGbl0xow (http://www.astro.ca/products/astro_original_naturally_flavoured_french_vanilla_650g_family_tub#.VThuGbl0xow)

Secondly, oh wow!  13 grams of sugar vs 3, eh?  Guess I'll have to make this a permanent switch, not just for the sake of giving the dog some plain yoghurt.  Even if I added back in half as much sugar, I'd be better off.

Anyway, on the "eating up all the food" front, I don't have much progress to report from the pantry.  Because last Friday night, I got to bring home a ton of leftovers after an event at the church, even after insisting that others take some of the stuff home.  So I've just been concentrating on trying to eat up that stuff before it goes bad.  So I'm eating all the food that I brought into my house while I was trying to eat all the food that was already in my house.  I think I only get partial credit for that!  (But the food is very good, and quite healthy stuff too, so saving me money and helping me eat well)

And on the subject of trying not to let things go to waste, I've also been supplementing the dogs' regular food with odds and ends that aren't that appetizing to me, but aren't actually "off" yet.  One of my dogs needs to be tempted to eat, the other is ravenously hungry due to a medication she's on.  So I'm adding in the occasional officially expired but not yet rotten egg (cooked), some grated wrinkly apple, ditto with potato (after cooking it - dogs shouldn't be given raw potato), leftover rice, etc.  Less food waste + less money spent on enticing dog treats = happy dogs and happy owner.  I'm careful to keep it to a small percentage of their overall food intake, and vary it so as not to imbalance their diets too much.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 23, 2015, 11:06:08 AM
(high five PJ!)

It is indeed the same brand of yougurt. I'm pretty sure it is all the sugar that makes it so darn tasty :(

I would think using up leftovers that would have been thrown out definitely counts!

I should be supplementing some of our pups food too - great idea! The problem with her is she is pretty picky. She loves cheese in all forms...to the extent that If I open the fridge door open the cheese drawer and and rustle a ziplock bag she will run in from outside wherever she is...If I do any of those steps singularly, I get no response from her. She loves carrots, but they have to have a certain crunch to them or she won't eat them. She did love some leftover roasted sweet potato.

This is the recipe I used for the cornbread, if anyone is interested. I left out the honey  and spices and added some chopped pickled  jalapeno, garlic powder and some shredded cheese. I also used the regular flour version http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2013/01/roasted-sweet-potato-and-spice-cornbread.html (http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2013/01/roasted-sweet-potato-and-spice-cornbread.html) Everyone loved it and it has stayed super moist. Going to finish it off for breakfast :)

I'm going to toodle over and revive the No grocery shopping thread...see you there?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 23, 2015, 10:05:04 PM
Hmm ... "Eat All The Food In Your House" ...

(http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=JN.5eXn9DHDQ77s6JeqZ4NGgw&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0)

That means I get to eat the whole box, right?  Or, even, both of the boxes my mom bought for me?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FrugalKube on April 24, 2015, 01:19:03 AM
I think Im going to have to jump on this and look through my cupboards and freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: handsnhearts on April 24, 2015, 07:43:25 AM
Ok.
Ate up spaghetti and can of tomato sauce and used last pack of ground beef from freezer.

I might do a freezer chili with the leftover beef and the other fridge stuff, but I don't think DD will eat it, so maybe not.

The thing I am struggling with is pickles. I have pickled green tomatoes, pickled peppers, and piccalilli relish but they are starting to be a few years old and we are not eating them. There are 2 open jars of bread and butter pickles in the fridge, but the texture is soft, so we are not really eating them. No one else wants them. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on April 24, 2015, 07:44:27 AM
Trying to create some freezer space for the chicken and lamb order we have coming in. The tons of cornmeal I have is taking up some serious room, anyone have any ideas?

Tamale Casserole (cornmeal topping)
cornmeal muffins with raspberry jam filling
cornmeal pancakes
polenta (google Italian polenta recipes)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: handsnhearts on April 24, 2015, 07:53:01 AM
Trying to create some freezer space for the chicken and lamb order we have coming in. The tons of cornmeal I have is taking up some serious room, anyone have any ideas?

Tamale Casserole (cornmeal topping)
cornmeal muffins with raspberry jam filling
cornmeal pancakes
polenta (google Italian polenta recipes)

Cornmeal pizza crusts with extra cornmeal underneath to allow the pizza to slide into the oven or grill.
I loved cornmeal mush for breakfast when I was a kid. You can use the leftovers,it's like smooth polenta, and then shape it into a load or log while still warm. Chill, then slice and fry fro lunches, dinners, snacks. Can freeze for toasting, (but then it doesn't help with the freezer space issue).
Cornbread stuffing for a chicken or turkey
Corn crackers?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CaribbeanMustachian on April 24, 2015, 07:57:52 AM
We're 36 days into this challenge and happy to report we can see what’s in our freezer.

The first two weeks were full of guessing what’s for dinner. The system was freezer find (main dish) and pantry (sides). Would pull out a mystery package and prepare a meal based on the contents. This proved easier than planning meals because I like the cooking gauntlet feeling.

Some of the creations included: curried chicken with roti (naan), geera pork with rice and peas, jerk snapper with carrots, corn and okra, pork carnitas with yellow rice or tacos, steamed fish with ginger and chives.
 
Yesterday we went to lunch at one of our favorite spots. The owner thought we had moved. Was nice to hear, we had her pack most of it to go. Sharing the meal around our dining table was the best feeling ever. Thanks to everyone on this post for giving us encouragement and recipe ideas!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CaribbeanMustachian on April 24, 2015, 11:28:37 AM
Here's a Jamaican recipe that uses cornmeal. It's called "Festival".

4 oz. Cornmeal, 4 oz. Flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp Salt, 2  tbsp Sugar, 4 oz. Water, Oil for frying. Mix all ingredients in a bowl excluding water. Slowly add water, kneading to form soft dough. Divide into 8-12 small balls. Roll each ball between your palms to form long, slender "fingers" or "spinners" as they say. Heat oil and fry dough until golden brown. Remove the festival and lay on a paper towel to drain. Serve by itself, with fish or chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 25, 2015, 05:30:35 AM
Happy to report that the freezer supply of last year's veg from local farms has been consumed with the exception of one packet of pumpkin and a bit of kale.

I used the last of the strawberry jam in some oatmeal cookie bars.

Next up:  working on dried beans to restock the fairly empty fridge with some grab and go dishes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nora on April 25, 2015, 05:50:22 AM
Today I cracked this hugebag of macadamia nuts that we have had in our pantry for ages. I have to admit to throwing out a small handful at the end that looked too small to be worth the effort. It took over an hour with a metal plate, a hammer and a pair of vicegrips. And tonight we ate half of them on icecream with chocolate sauce. Nyum nyum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on April 26, 2015, 09:18:24 PM
Pantry was getting unmanageable so today I cleared it out pretty ruthlessly. Why did I have items expiring in 2013? ugh, so bleeping wasteful.

Anyway, I have 5 5.5-oz cans of tomato juice with "best by" dates of 2/26/15. Apparently this is an item that I don't utilize regularly. (I kind of wonder what I used the sixth can for, back in 2012 or whenever.) I figure they're probably still OK, but I'd like to use them soon. If anyone has any thoughts regarding this somewhat pedestrian ingredient, I'd be happy to hear them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 26, 2015, 11:00:51 PM
Pantry was getting unmanageable so today I cleared it out pretty ruthlessly. Why did I have items expiring in 2013? ugh, so bleeping wasteful.

Anyway, I have 5 5.5-oz cans of tomato juice with "best by" dates of 2/26/15. Apparently this is an item that I don't utilize regularly. (I kind of wonder what I used the sixth can for, back in 2012 or whenever.) I figure they're probably still OK, but I'd like to use them soon. If anyone has any thoughts regarding this somewhat pedestrian ingredient, I'd be happy to hear them.

I've used tomato/vegetable juice as part of a soup base, and I've also used it to cook a kind of "Spanish rice" dish with added veggies.  Dilute according to what else you're adding!  Can also use it to stretch a small quantity of tomato sauce when making lasagna, and because it makes the sauce pretty runny, you can skip pre-cooking the noodles (although when I do that, I don't put a top layer of noodles on). 

Basically, think of things you use tomato sauce for and go from there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on April 26, 2015, 11:50:40 PM
Pantry was getting unmanageable so today I cleared it out pretty ruthlessly. Why did I have items expiring in 2013? ugh, so bleeping wasteful.

Anyway, I have 5 5.5-oz cans of tomato juice with "best by" dates of 2/26/15. Apparently this is an item that I don't utilize regularly. (I kind of wonder what I used the sixth can for, back in 2012 or whenever.) I figure they're probably still OK, but I'd like to use them soon. If anyone has any thoughts regarding this somewhat pedestrian ingredient, I'd be happy to hear them.

I've used tomato/vegetable juice as part of a soup base, and I've also used it to cook a kind of "Spanish rice" dish with added veggies.  Dilute according to what else you're adding!  Can also use it to stretch a small quantity of tomato sauce when making lasagna, and because it makes the sauce pretty runny, you can skip pre-cooking the noodles (although when I do that, I don't put a top layer of noodles on). 

Basically, think of things you use tomato sauce for and go from there.

Oh, that's a good idea, rice cooking liquid. I can see soup base too, if I give it some thought (I tend to be a recipe-based cook, but I do make substitutions). thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 27, 2015, 09:10:20 AM
The last of the freezer kale will go into the chick pea/tomato stew that is simmering on the stove.  I'll serve that for dinner over whole wheat couscous.

My freezer had been looking pretty pitiful given my desire to use up last year's harvest.  After receiving inspiration from this thread, I have added some bags of future hashbrowns.  This morning I cooked a large pot of chick peas some of which we are eating for dinner. The rest are now frozen in one or two cup containers for future meals.

Yesterday I made burger buns, some of which made their way to the freezer. My husband made ground turkey/lemon/scallion/feta burgers.  One each for dinner, one for his lunch today and two for the freezer. 

I am happy to do a thoughtful restocking.  The key thing for me is not to bury the older pantry/freezer stuff with newer, losing those items that are already there.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on April 27, 2015, 06:54:47 PM
Help: gram flour! (As in, flour made from chickpeas). What can I do with this? Could I use it in place of wheat flour to make tortillas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 27, 2015, 07:14:02 PM
Help: gram flour! (As in, flour made from chickpeas). What can I do with this? Could I use it in place of wheat flour to make tortillas?

You can make hummus starting from gram flour. I haven't done it myself but remember someone talking about it somewhere on the forums.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: handsnhearts on April 28, 2015, 01:10:07 AM
Help: gram flour! (As in, flour made from chickpeas). What can I do with this? Could I use it in place of wheat flour to make tortillas?

Make a socca or farinata flatbread. So good!  And easy quick.

Sister is visiting from out of town. Made dinner at home from ingredients at home, rather than out to eat. She said it was tastier and healthier than going out!  I made zucchini noodles sauted in olive oil and salt. Tomato sauce with the precooked ground beef, and leftover fresh parsley, rest of garlic. Baked carrots in olive oil and dill. Heated up harder sourdough baguette, after moistening. Was edible then instead of trash. Used up 14 oz can of diced tomatoes and can of tomato sauce. Pantry is looking more empty all the time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 28, 2015, 07:28:08 AM
Last night before bed, had the last of one container of yoghurt.  I'm really bad for losing interest in it and throwing out the last 1/4 - 1/3 of the container.  I bought a new container of yoghurt on Sunday though, so I know I need to keep eating it! 

Added to the yoghurt was the last serving of some tinned mandarin orange segments that was quite far past expiry.  Still fine, though I didn't bother to save the juice this time to try to find a way to cook with it.  I bought several of these plastic bottles of fruit a while back, thinking that they would be good for eating when I was out of fresh fruit and in between shopping trips.  Surprisingly (not!) I don't think to look in my cupboard for fruit!  So I keep forgetting to use them.  I'm down to one bottle left of peach segments.  It's on the list to be used up too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on April 28, 2015, 01:47:00 PM
Biggest recent win: my MIL was visiting and bought one of the giant packs of fresh basil, rather than the small one like I asked for.  Then she left.  Instead of letting all that extra basil go bad I turned it into pesto, then combined it with homemade hummus (using up more of that giant bag of dried chickpeas!).  The only bad part was that I made way, way too much and my toddler, apparently, does not like it.  (Pesto, ok.  Hummus, ok.  Pesto hummus, nose wrinkled in disgust and food spat out.  Ah, toddlers!)  So I gave some to my landlady when I saw her yesterday, and will try to give some to our babysitter and our good friend/neighbor today, in addition to eating quite a bit of it for lunch.  Spreading goodwill.  :)

I think I've finally pulled out our last pack of ground moose meat for tonight's dinner.  There might be one more lurking somewhere, but I'm pretty sure this is the last.  Need to get back on my game and remember to cook up more of those awful fish fillets for the dog. 

Have used up dates and raisins, and got through a small portion of our stash of nuts, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and coconut.  I made German chocolate energy bites with all that and it's been my sweet treat all week.  Knowing that I don't have the stuff to make more has helped me portion them out really well, since I didn't want to run out.

Will be making yummy peanut butter maple cookies next weekend using the last of my barley flour, from a recipe found on the sack of said barley flour.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 28, 2015, 01:56:54 PM
 

Have used up dates and raisins, and got through a small portion of our stash of nuts, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and coconut.  I made German chocolate energy bites with all that and it's been my sweet treat all week.  Knowing that I don't have the stuff to make more has helped me portion them out really well, since I didn't want to run out.

Will be making yummy peanut butter maple cookies next weekend using the last of my barley flour, from a recipe found on the sack of said barley flour.  Yum!

ohh don't suppose you could share both those recipes? I make a batch of energy bites every week and am always looking for new recipes. And barley flour...well I dont have any of that...but i have a belndtec and about 25 lbs of barley (something I will never buy in bulk again!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on April 28, 2015, 03:26:54 PM
 

Have used up dates and raisins, and got through a small portion of our stash of nuts, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and coconut.  I made German chocolate energy bites with all that and it's been my sweet treat all week.  Knowing that I don't have the stuff to make more has helped me portion them out really well, since I didn't want to run out.

Will be making yummy peanut butter maple cookies next weekend using the last of my barley flour, from a recipe found on the sack of said barley flour.  Yum!

ohh don't suppose you could share both those recipes? I make a batch of energy bites every week and am always looking for new recipes. And barley flour...well I dont have any of that...but i have a belndtec and about 25 lbs of barley (something I will never buy in bulk again!)

Here are the energy bites:  http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/02/08/german-chocolate-fudge-bites/.  If you're wondering about my use of raisins, it's because I had about a tablespoon of raisins left in the container and tossed those into the mix in addition to the dates.

For the cookies, I'll actually have to look at it when I get home and type it up, since the recipe is actually just found on the bag.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on April 29, 2015, 05:33:37 AM
Speaking of barley...

I can't imagine having 25 pounds of it on hand!  I usually just buy a smaller quantity in the fall for soup season.  I have about a cup leftover though and this week it is going into a tweaked version of this Budget Bytes recipe:

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/09/baked-barley-mushrooms/

I have some shiitake mushrooms in the pantry that I dehydrated last fall. I plan on adding some of these to the dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on April 29, 2015, 07:12:35 AM
One bag of rutabagas gone!  Roasted them the same way as potatoes.  Next time I'll cut back on the pepper because they already have a peppery flavor to them. 

Made it through 1st communion weekend without taking everyone out to eat.  That was a big win.  Cleared out a flank steak, ground pork, ground beef, chicken thighs, cheese and the big 5lb ham from the freezer. 

On schedule for this week - turkey dinner. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on April 30, 2015, 11:12:01 PM
Came home starving today!

Quite a long time ago, someone gave me some packages of instant oatmeal.  I don't know how old they were at the time, but I'm still working my way through them.  They smell fine, they taste fine - it's basically just oatmeal, sugar and spices, so am not too worried.  But I would like to use them up.  They're too sweet on their own, so I mix half a packet with some regular oatmeal. 

Some oatmeal, with half a banana from the freezer mushed in - filled me right up!  And only a couple of packets of the oatmeal left.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 01, 2015, 07:45:36 AM
^Great idea to mix the oatmeal to cut down sweetness. 

Turkey is cooked.  Family will gnaw on it for a few days, then it will become stock.  Next on the list:  two ham bones for lentil and ham soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tofuchampion on May 01, 2015, 08:12:47 PM
My fridge & freezer are empty! Well, they were, before I went grocery shopping. ;) Now to attack the cupboards. I'm going to make a big batch of something involving rice, lentils, and tomatoes, and eat it all week. I think I might donate some of the canned goods. I am never going to eat canned green beans and am not really sure why I bought them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lyngi on May 02, 2015, 07:52:41 PM
I can see the back of one of my cupboards.  Ate a carton of roasted red pepper and tomato soup--expired in 2013.  It was kind of thick, but I'm not sick or dead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on May 02, 2015, 08:29:59 PM
I have a little jar of ... I don't know exactly how to describe it ... sort of a vegetable based pate/spread?  I bought it a few years ago while away on a trip in France, but decided it didn't look appetizing after all, and it has been sitting in my cupboard all this time.  It expired within the last year.  Couple of days ago, I brought home some melba toast from my desk drawer stash, determined to open it and see if it was still worth eating. 

It doesn't smell bad, or taste spoiled.  I had a little bit a couple of hours ago and no ill effects (so far!)  But it is just ... unappetizing.  It has potato in it, along with other veg, so I might try cooking up a couple of potatoes and seeing how it goes mixed in with them. 

In other news, having re-stocked my freezer with a variety of rice dishes over the last few months (making a pot with various veg and sauces and legumes periodically, and freezing in portion controlled containers) I have been enjoying eating different types of rice for dinner, or grabbing a container to take to work. 

Some are definitely better than others.

Today was broccoli cheddar.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on May 05, 2015, 12:35:23 PM
Here's the recipe for the barley peanut butter cookies.  They're really good!  Made a batch last night and brought most of them in to work today, after we snitched a few.  :)

Barley flour down.  Found a stash of homebrew that I've been using to make beer bread, so slowly working through that too.

And of course, more fish.  Always more fish.  Tonight it's fried clams.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 05, 2015, 01:09:31 PM
Awesome, thanks for the recipe!

I have a bunch of bones simmering in the crockpot to make Ramen broth - chicken, duck, oxtail, pork = several bags out of the freezer :)

In my other crockpot I have some beef stew going that used up the last of a bunch of different root veggies and will be extra tasty with some cornmeal "something" to use up a bit more of my cornmeal supply.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on May 05, 2015, 02:46:16 PM
I have a little jar of ... I don't know exactly how to describe it ... sort of a vegetable based pate/spread?  I bought it a few years ago while away on a trip in France, but decided it didn't look appetizing after all, and it has been sitting in my cupboard all this time.  It expired within the last year.  Couple of days ago, I brought home some melba toast from my desk drawer stash, determined to open it and see if it was still worth eating. 

It doesn't smell bad, or taste spoiled.  I had a little bit a couple of hours ago and no ill effects (so far!)  But it is just ... unappetizing.  It has potato in it, along with other veg, so I might try cooking up a couple of potatoes and seeing how it goes mixed in with them. 

In other news, having re-stocked my freezer with a variety of rice dishes over the last few months (making a pot with various veg and sauces and legumes periodically, and freezing in portion controlled containers) I have been enjoying eating different types of rice for dinner, or grabbing a container to take to work. 

Some are definitely better than others.

Today was broccoli cheddar.  :-)

Last night was garbage night.  I was gathering up stuff for the "green bin" and looking in the fridge for anything that might have gone off since last week.  Stared at the little jar of vegetable pate.  Debated whether or not I really was going to eat any more of it.  Decided that it was unlikely, and reminded myself that it was a sunk cost - whether I ate it or not was not going to get back the money I'd spent on it.  Ditched it.

In other news, the rice with veggies container I pulled from the freezer to bring with me today was not as lovely as the broccoli cheddar I had a couple of days ago.  Too bad.  I ate it anyway.

Since it's been a couple days since I posted, also want to report that after eating quite a lot of rice lately, I've been working on getting some more variety back in my diet.  I did cook some potatoes, and ate some with my rice lunch.  (Yeah, a bit carb heavy but it was a smallish container of rice, and potato is technically a vegetable, so that makes it healthy, right?)  Also made pasta the other day, and added some sundried tomato (have had part of a jar sitting in the fridge for quite a while now) and also some roasted red peppers that I prepped in the fall and froze, then never got around to eating over the winter.  I also added my first harvest from this year's garden ... but that's for the gardening thread!  Added some spices that I have trouble using up, a little balsamic and some grated parmesan.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 05, 2015, 04:13:13 PM
Made lemon cheesecake bars from a box of mix that has been in the pantry forever.  Hopefully they are still ok.  I don't really smell lemon coming from the pan so there may be a small initial taste test to determine if it is edible - kind of like being the royal food taster for the family....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 07, 2015, 04:36:12 AM
Defrosted some bass fillets last night to discover there were 3 in the pack, and we only needed 2. I cooked the other one up anyway, and will make fishcakes to stretch it for a meal for 2. It was actually my husbands idea - despite cooking fishcakes regularly in the past it didn't come to mind at all. I was staring at it, wondering how I would make it feed two of us. Bingo!

Roast chicken sandwich for lunch, that will be the sixth (and final) meal from that small chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: handsnhearts on May 08, 2015, 02:47:35 PM
mail carriers are doing a food collection tomorrow.  I put a bag of non-organic spaghetti that I will probably never eat as we have 2 organic ones still uneaten.  A can of fava beans, a single serving soymilk (too much sugar, they don't taste good to me anymore), a sardines with harrissa I thought looked interesting but I won't eat it because of the red peppers, a box of butternut squash soup, a jar of baby food, and a box of organic shells and cheese that always looks gross and DD never eats.  I have been eating the pantry down good, so I know we will never eat these.  Better it go to someone else who may appreciate it. 

Last night made pasta salad and finished up bag of pasta fusili, marinated mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, green olives, and almost finished the sun-dried tomatoes. 

Last week I finished up the scraps of 2 almond butter and 1 peanut butter jar with peanut noodle sauce.  pantry, freezer and fridge are dwindling, but moving day is in 1 week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tomita on May 08, 2015, 03:26:55 PM
used the paleo crock pot cabbage +meat balls recipe
and as a side dish made rice in the rice-cooker with our home made stock, yum..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on May 19, 2015, 04:14:32 PM
Already posted in another thread about using up the last of the cabbage that I had in the fridge last night, making a couple of pots of bean/cabbage/potato stew with different flavour profiles.  Took some of the chickpea curry one to work for lunch today. 

Just came home a little while ago, and had a nice big bowl of homemade ice cream (made by someone else and given to me) along with some canned peaches.  I have now officially opened the last jar of fruit that is past its expiry date.  Still delicious, and went very well with the soursop ice cream.  I'm going out to a movie with my sister tonight, and I'm planning to sneak some snacks in with me (shh, don't tell!).  I've got some cans of pop that've been in the fridge for more than a year, and some cheese straws that I got at the same time as I got the ice cream.  Salty snacks, for the win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on May 20, 2015, 04:12:12 AM
Well it is a good thing that I had a lot of empty freezer space.  Dear neighbors moved.  They had a stand alone freezer and needed to get rid of a surplus of shrimp and flounder.  What a gift!  Five pounds of shrimp and six fish fillets.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on May 20, 2015, 02:57:54 PM
Sorry you lost such good neighbours worstedskeins, but how nice of them to leave some friends behind in your freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jooles on May 21, 2015, 10:08:42 AM
What a goal!  I do something I call "eat down the house", but it is just a 1 week goal to make every meal from food we have on hand and buy as little supplementing food as possible.  The spirit of this challenge has led me to seeing foods in new ways and being much more open to eating "creatively".  Ultimately it has meant spending much less $$ on food.

We're scheduled to move in July and we've been working to eat down the house so that when we list our property for sale and potential purchases are lloking things over all the cupboards, fridge and freezer look spacious (are not full of stuff).

It's fun and useful.  Great to have like-minded folks here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Worsted Skeins on May 21, 2015, 03:01:10 PM
Sorry you lost such good neighbours worstedskeins, but how nice of them to leave some friends behind in your freezer!

I am bummed that they moved.  Obviously they were not reading this thread in the months leading up to their departure! Actually what happened was sort of interesting.  Their house was on the market for only a few weeks when a buyer offered cash and said he wanted to move in immediately.  So that was that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 22, 2015, 03:06:40 AM
Just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the ideas in this thread. My average grocery shopping is £215 / month, and so far in May it has been £59! And we have been eating very well (we were away for a few days. But honestly, we are most months).

The best thing is that with space in the freezer whenever I see 'Ooops' meat I can jump on it. Haven't paid full price for meat since I found this thread.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on May 23, 2015, 06:06:38 PM
I forgot to update when this happened, but a few weeks ago I managed to stuff everything from the chest freezer into the fridge freezer and UNPLUG!!!  I danced around the kitchen and my husband laughed at me.  Then he got irritated for a few days when things jumped out of the freezer at him every time he opened it.  :)  But we ate some more down so that problem has been solved.  In fact, it's now only about half full.
To get rid of our halibut, and as an excuse to see friends here before we leave (next week already!), we threw a little party and cooked up some beer battered halibut.  Best part: it used homebrew, halibut, and some of our flour and spices.  Didn't have to buy anything except some vegetables for a side and lard to fry in.  Husband told me it was some of the best halibut he'd ever had.  We also gave away two more giant salmon fillets to a friend.
We've been cooking up so much freezer-burned salmon for the dog that she actually walked away from her bowl the other morning, all droopy-eared and sad, like, "Oh, it's salmon again."  She got about four steps away, then perked up again and rushed back to the bowl.  I could practically hear her thinking, "Wait, what am I talking about?  It's salmon!!!"
We still have a bunch of chicken broth to use up, but it's far too hot to make soup.  (Upper 80s in Fairbanks in May?  Holy hell.)  Also have some frozen peas to use up, but that should be easy enough. 
Even if we don't use it all up, what we've got frozen should be easy enough to take with us, at least as far as my in-laws' house.
Wheee!!  I still can't believe how much progress we made on this, and a lot of it is due to the support and inspiration I found in this thread.  Thank you all!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on May 24, 2015, 02:18:55 PM
I put some dried red beans in the crockpot.  They should be ready tomorrow morning.  I hope the amounts are right.  I used one bag of beans and then filled the medium crockpot to the top and put it on low.  It is an experiment.  If it works then we shall be eating a lot more beans in the future.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on May 24, 2015, 04:23:06 PM
I forgot to update when this happened, but a few weeks ago I managed to stuff everything from the chest freezer into the fridge freezer and UNPLUG!!!  I danced around the kitchen and my husband laughed at me.  Then he got irritated for a few days when things jumped out of the freezer at him every time he opened it.  :)  But we ate some more down so that problem has been solved.  In fact, it's now only about half full.
...

Even if we don't use it all up, what we've got frozen should be easy enough to take with us, at least as far as my in-laws' house.
Wheee!!  I still can't believe how much progress we made on this, and a lot of it is due to the support and inspiration I found in this thread.  Thank you all!

Yay for making sure you don't have to waste much, if anything when you move!

I put some dried red beans in the crockpot.  They should be ready tomorrow morning.  I hope the amounts are right.  I used one bag of beans and then filled the medium crockpot to the top and put it on low.  It is an experiment.  If it works then we shall be eating a lot more beans in the future.

Beans soak up a lot of water while they cook, so depending on the size of your crockpot, and the size of the bag of beans, you may need to divide into two batches to cook, in order to get enough water in there.  Try to keep an eye on it the first few hours to see how it seems to be doing.  You can always take some out, stash them in the fridge, and restart with them tomorrow night.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on May 25, 2015, 01:32:56 AM
I put some dried red beans in the crockpot.  They should be ready tomorrow morning.  I hope the amounts are right.  I used one bag of beans and then filled the medium crockpot to the top and put it on low.  It is an experiment.  If it works then we shall be eating a lot more beans in the future.

Did you soak the beans first?  I always do that.  They soak up a lot of water in that time (usually overnight, for me) and then the next morning it's much easier to judge how much water they actually need to cook because they won't plump up quite as much during the cooking phase.

Coincidentally, also have red beans in the CrockPot tonight.  :)  HusbandX is having some friends over to play a game tomorrow night so I'm making a giant batch of red beans and rice.  It will use up our last onion, a spare bell pepper my husband accidentally bought (thought we needed more for a recipe than we did), and some of our giant surplus of both red beans and rice.  Total win.
Going to the grocery store tomorrow for the last time before we move.  Have about four things on the list to see us through the few days before we leave.  I'll be buying dates so that I can make more energy bites, which will use up some of our nuts, and we'll have them for road snacks on the trip.
Have begun packing kitchen items up.  Shit's gettin' real.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on May 26, 2015, 12:29:06 AM
@wintersun, Did the beans turn out ok?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 27, 2015, 04:43:31 PM
Husband back on his diet so all he wants is salad and chicken breast for dinner.  Enables me to go through all the single serving containers of meals squirreled away in the freezer.  Lunch was ham and lentil soup.  Dinner is jambalaya. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: somecobwebs on May 28, 2015, 12:57:58 AM
Replying to subscribe to this cool thread! Will read more later :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: benjenn on May 28, 2015, 05:23:25 AM
Since we'll be moving the end of July (when we RE!), I'm now inspired to go through our pantry and fridge today to see what I can either use or get rid of so we don't end up moving boxes and boxes of food stuff.  :)  I used to have a bad habit of picking up something that looked interesting at the store and then just never getting around to using it.  We might have some interesting meals ahead of us.  Thanks to everyone on this post for the inspiration!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LiveLean on May 28, 2015, 11:26:46 AM
I'm the declutterer in our house. I was going to go to the store to grab a cake mix -- as I usually do -- for Mother's Day when the wife told me to just grab one from the pantry, along with some icing.

An hour later, I served cake to wife and sons, who pronounced it awful. Wife asked if I forgot an ingredient.

It's cake. Not difficult to make.

I checked the best-by date on the box -- February 2013. The icing was even older.

I went through the pantry and pulled out everything. Tossed out dozens of expired items. Set dozens of unexpired items aside for local food pantry. We've since been eating through the freezer. Found some good fish we had frozen a few months back.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 29, 2015, 04:31:02 AM
I used to have a bad habit of picking up something that looked interesting at the store and then just never getting around to using it.  We might have some interesting meals ahead of us.  Thanks to everyone on this post for the inspiration!

Along these lines I used up a box of tiny pasta grains (looked almost like squashed rice) that was languishing in the back of the cupboard. DH asked with horror, "are they LENTILS?" to which I replied, "It's tiny pasta, but you're always welcome to make something for yourself if you don't want it". Obviously he lapped it up and had seconds. And I've got leftovers for lunch. Only a tiny box out, but it feels like a larger weight has lifted, as I wasn't sure what to do with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on May 29, 2015, 04:54:01 AM
The random "I've never seen THAT before, let me buy it"-items is my challenge, too. I curently have a box of vacuumpacked chestnuts. No idea what one makes with chestnuts, but I'll have to figure it out.

On the note of using up food I've boiled all the dried lentils, beans and so on languishing in the back of my cupboards (there may or may not have been duplicates of several of them...) and put them in the frezer. Luckily I rediscovered how good lentils and beans are in the prossess, so they'll be eaten soon.

I also found a bag of sesame-seeds gone out on date that still taste good and have been putting them randomly in all from oatmeal (not a hit) to baked goods (bagels with sesame seeds is a winner) and vegies (am now adicted to brocoli with sesame seeds). Randomness often leads to good food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 29, 2015, 05:04:30 AM
The random "I've never seen THAT before, let me buy it"-items is my challenge, too. I curently have a box of vacuumpacked chestnuts. No idea what one makes with chestnuts, but I'll have to figure it out.

On the note of using up food I've boiled all the dried lentils, beans and so on languishing in the back of my cupboards (there may or may not have been duplicates of several of them...) and put them in the frezer. Luckily I rediscovered how good lentils and beans are in the prossess, so they'll be eaten soon.

I also found a bag of sesame-seeds gone out on date that still taste good and have been putting them randomly in all from oatmeal (not a hit) to baked goods (bagels with sesame seeds is a winner) and vegies (am now adicted to brocoli with sesame seeds). Randomness often leads to good food.

So there are a few of us then! I find Aldi (my favourite supermarket) particularly dangerous for the 'ooooh, new to me!' phenomenon, because of the specials, especially ones that focus on different cuisines. I've decided if I don't have an exact recipe / meal in mind, I don't buy it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nikki on May 29, 2015, 06:13:17 AM
Yay I love these challenges! Mostly because I like reading all your posts and trying to imagine what your pantries, freezers, and fridges can possibly look like. Are they like the TARDIS, bigger on the inside?

I'm not sure I can fully participate in this one because it might not really be much of a challenge. I've been challenging myself to spend only 20,000w (~$18 USD) each week on food, which has resulted in an almost-empty fridge and freezer by every Saturday! The real fun is making a shopping list that results in three meals a day for seven days from almost nothing.

What I would like to work on is using up spices I don't usually use, like mustard seed, marjoram, sage, fennel seed, and celery salt. There's also some cream of tartar and poppy seeds in the "baking spice" section to deal with. And I have far too much rosemary...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 29, 2015, 10:28:40 AM
What I would like to work on is using up spices I don't usually use, like mustard seed, marjoram, sage, fennel seed, and celery salt. There's also some cream of tartar and poppy seeds in the "baking spice" section to deal with. And I have far too much rosemary...

Add a 14oz can of stewed or diced tomatoes to 3-4 cups cooked noodles (elbows or shells work great).  Top with 1 Tbsp olive oil, cap of red wine vinegar, black pepper and celery salt to taste.  Voila - light main meal or great side dish. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nikki on May 29, 2015, 06:51:00 PM
What I would like to work on is using up spices I don't usually use, like mustard seed, marjoram, sage, fennel seed, and celery salt. There's also some cream of tartar and poppy seeds in the "baking spice" section to deal with. And I have far too much rosemary...

Add a 14oz can of stewed or diced tomatoes to 3-4 cups cooked noodles (elbows or shells work great).  Top with 1 Tbsp olive oil, cap of red wine vinegar, black pepper and celery salt to taste.  Voila - light main meal or great side dish.

That sounds good, but diced tomatoes are about $4 a can in Korea, so I avoid those. Fresh tomatoes are maybe $1 each--also not the on the top of my shopping list.

I forgot to mention that I don't have access to the same ingredients! Red wine vinegar? Hah! :-p

I think that's another reason I like this thread. I read about all these strange ingredients people have accumulated elsewhere! I suppose I could do the same thing with Korean ingredients, but I tend to stick to what I know I can cook with for Korean foods.

I sprinkled some celery salt in spinach pancakes I made last night. I didn't really notice a different taste, though, so it was probably too masked. I guess I'll just dump little bits of things into dishes and see what happens.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: somecobwebs on May 29, 2015, 09:47:58 PM
Trying to eat down on the following pantry items:

Easy to Use:
pancake mix, technically a few months expired
tons of boba mix and tapioca balls
stale cinnamon cookies
mole sauce
jam
apple butter
stir fry sauce
mustard

Need Help:
dried coconut strips (need to be cooked somehow; I can't eat them raw)
molasses, technically expired
muffins that nobody liked
pumpkin puree
tamarind chutney

Any ideas? I've been mashing the stale cookies into pie crusts. Right now I am thinking of mixing the pancake mix with the pumpkin puree to make a.... pumpkin pancake thing?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on May 30, 2015, 01:05:36 PM
Ooh, this is a great thread! I've been meaning to make a list of the things I need to use up in my pantry. My husband and I are hoping to move out in a couple of months (currently we live in a house with roommates and hate it, or at least I hate it) so it would be great to have our stuff cleared out of the pantry. I know I have arborio rice that I haven't even opened, dried mushrooms to go in that risotto, some noodles, tons of chia seeds...

somecobwebs, pumpkin pancakes are awesome! And I don't think molasses really expires--it's basically sugar. Make gingerbread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 30, 2015, 01:46:01 PM
Ooh, this is a great thread! I've been meaning to make a list of the things I need to use up in my pantry. My husband and I are hoping to move out in a couple of months (currently we live in a house with roommates and hate it, or at least I hate it) so it would be great to have our stuff cleared out of the pantry. I know I have arborio rice that I haven't even opened, dried mushrooms to go in that risotto, some noodles, tons of chia seeds...

somecobwebs, pumpkin pancakes are awesome! And I don't think molasses really expires--it's basically sugar. Make gingerbread!

Molasses is good in homemade granola/bars.  Flavor is strong but use 1/4 cup and it won't overpower. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Villanelle on May 31, 2015, 01:47:20 PM
Three months out from an international move, I'm about 6 weeks into some version of this challenge.  My goal for now it just to have 2-3 meals a week where at least the main ingredient is something from the back of the cabinet.  Unfortunately, this means we are eating a lot more processed food than I'd like. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on May 31, 2015, 08:42:20 PM
Used frozen turnips from 2013 in a roasted mix of cubed turnips, sweet potatoes and russet potatoes.  The peppery flavor of the turnips balanced the sweetness of the potatoes.  Even DH ate it and deemed it worthy of repeat cooking - and he is definitely not a sweet potato fan. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on May 31, 2015, 10:46:17 PM
Today I ran out of rice! (Background: I buy rice by the 50 pound bag(s)). Huge eat-down-the-larder win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dudde_devaru on May 31, 2015, 11:27:35 PM
Today I ran out of rice! (Background: I buy rice by the 50 pound bag(s)). Huge eat-down-the-larder win.
How much was the 50lb bag and where? I pay $15 for srilanka/Indian 20lb bag
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 01, 2015, 04:28:52 PM
Today I ran out of rice! (Background: I buy rice by the 50 pound bag(s)). Huge eat-down-the-larder win.
How much was the 50lb bag and where? I pay $15 for srilanka/Indian 20lb bag
Almost certainly Costco - probably the business Costco - but possibly Cash and Carry. One of the restaurant supply places around here. Looking online I see Calrose is currently $30 for 50 pounds and Jasmine is $37.64. There isn't a 50# bag of Basmati/Indian rice, but the Jasmine is pretty much the same on a price per pound basis. The 20# of Kirkland Sig Basmati is $29.40, so that's twice what you are paying!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dudde_devaru on June 01, 2015, 04:50:53 PM
Today I ran out of rice! (Background: I buy rice by the 50 pound bag(s)). Huge eat-down-the-larder win.
How much was the 50lb bag and where? I pay $15 for srilanka/Indian 20lb bag
Almost certainly Costco - probably the business Costco - but possibly Cash and Carry. One of the restaurant supply places around here. Looking online I see Calrose is currently $30 for 50 pounds and Jasmine is $37.64. There isn't a 50# bag of Basmati/Indian rice, but the Jasmine is pretty much the same on a price per pound basis. The 20# of Kirkland Sig Basmati is $29.40, so that's twice what you are paying!
Thanks for the update! I will drop by some small restaurant and ask them for the source of their rice. For sure, they won't pay MSRP like the consumers
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on June 02, 2015, 04:32:47 AM
Peeled some sweet potatoes for a recipe and then baked the skins for some yummy chips the next day. Used up some brown sugar with a "best" by date of 2014 (obv. those dates are not regulated/do not mean expired) in some cookies for my husband. Also used up the last of my frozen garbanzo beans, so now I have to buy some more dry beans to cook/freeze.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on June 02, 2015, 07:10:54 AM
Need Help:
dried coconut strips (need to be cooked somehow; I can't eat them raw)
molasses, technically expired
muffins that nobody liked
pumpkin puree
tamarind chutney

Any ideas? I've been mashing the stale cookies into pie crusts. Right now I am thinking of mixing the pancake mix with the pumpkin puree to make a.... pumpkin pancake thing?
http://www.donalskehan.com/2011/10/roast-pumpkin-coconut-and-chilli-soup/
I recomend this. Trust me, you will wish there was more pumpkin puree to be used up.
Possibly you could also toast/cook the coconut strips and eat on/with it?

Re the muffins: Depending on where in the world you live (the definition of muffins varies greatly) you could make breadcrumbs for meatballs and the like?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on June 02, 2015, 11:12:48 PM
Well, we've started our move.  Currently visiting family before leaving the state, but we're already 500 miles away from where we'd been living.  Anyway, the final tally for food: one small to medium box (depending on your definition) of spices and baking items.  One small-ish cooler filled with frozen foods, most of which my MIL tossed as soon as we got here because it wasn't worth taking up freezer space with seriously old fish.  One medium box filled with canned food, mostly home-canned salmon which we hadn't even realized was in the cabinet above the refrigerator.  (When I opened it up my husband slowly closed it while whispering, "Shhh...just pretend it never happened.")  The final box we brought down was a cooler, mostly filled with condiments (still good, will be used by my in-laws) and a few items like cheeses.  So, not bad, all things considered!  I'm quite proud of us.
My part in this challenge is officially over.  Thank you guys for help and inspiration!  I'll still read along as I have time, and offer suggestions if I have any.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on June 03, 2015, 04:33:30 AM
Well done, SisterX! That's inspiring!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on June 03, 2015, 07:51:39 AM
One medium box filled with canned food, mostly home-canned salmon which we hadn't even realized was in the cabinet above the refrigerator.  (When I opened it up my husband slowly closed it while whispering, "Shhh...just pretend it never happened.") 

I am still laughing 5 minutes later about this!  That's awesome....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 03, 2015, 08:30:32 AM
One medium box filled with canned food, mostly home-canned salmon which we hadn't even realized was in the cabinet above the refrigerator.  (When I opened it up my husband slowly closed it while whispering, "Shhh...just pretend it never happened.") 

I am still laughing 5 minutes later about this!  That's awesome....

This happens at our house quite a bit :) Great job at getting it all sorted out!

I'm still plugging away, really we have as much new food coming into the house as going out, but at least it is getting rotated through. I opened an old jar of Avjar that has been giving me the stink eye from the pantry. I have used it as a soup base - white beans, chicken stock, avjar, some frozen spinach and a cut up sausage. Was very tasty! Also added some along with Mexican spices to the crockpot of chicken thighs I have going. The plan is shredded chicken flautas with crockpot refried beans for supper.

I also used some of the white beans I cooked up to make a white bean dip with fried capers. Yes, Fried capers are a thing and they are easy, and delicious! Mind blown! You basically just drain em, dry them real good and fry them in a bit of olive oil until they are toasted and crunchy. I forsee my stock pile of capers (yes I stock pile weird things) being used up quick!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 05, 2015, 12:20:03 PM
Help! I have a bunch of Almond Flour (meal) and Coconut Flour I need to do....something....with.

Anyone have any awesome ideas/recipes? We are complete omnivores, so I can mix and match these flours with grain-based flours or whatever, but am totally fine with GF/Paleo/Etc recipes if they taste awesome.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 05, 2015, 01:50:29 PM
Help! I have a bunch of Almond Flour (meal) and Coconut Flour I need to do....something....with.

Anyone have any awesome ideas/recipes? We are complete omnivores, so I can mix and match these flours with grain-based flours or whatever, but am totally fine with GF/Paleo/Etc recipes if they taste awesome.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

I make a cheese cake crust from almond flour.  Either flour can be used to make cheddar biscuits.  Almond cookies are good with the almond flour, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on June 05, 2015, 07:36:16 PM
Somecobwebs, i also have three large cans of pumpkin puree, bought when I was doing more baking (low fat) and before my mom grew some in her garden.  I made a pumpkin custard with one can but wished I had only made half, basically pumpkin pie filling.  Good, but too much.  Pumpkin gnocchi, pancakes, muffins, bread pudding.  I'd been looking for a spicy soup so I'm going to try that recipe, but maybe start with just half and add sausage. I think you could throw it in a brownie mix instead of fat, too.  What about pumpkin ice cream?

Tamarind chutney is fabulous, I use it as the back taste in peanut sauce, along with Lemon/lime juice.  I also mix it with coriander/mint chutney and put it on potatoes, hard boiled eggs, bread.  You could do small amounts of hot sauce if you don't have green sauce, its kind of cloying for me to eat plain.  On top of yogurt, with salt/cumin/pepper.  Its basically brown ketchup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on June 07, 2015, 08:20:32 AM
Yesterday I made two different dishes that between them used five items from my list to use up! I only actually finished one of them, but hey, it's progress, and I'm definitely going to be making them again. The first was a stir-fry with broccoli, cashews, and shirataki noodles--and I discovered that I love shirataki and will probably be making it a lot in the future. At $2 for a bag that makes two meals, it's definitely less expensive than my other favorite noodles, and it's really easy to prepare. The second was risotto, which is fun to make and also delicious. I'll have to make it a lot in order to use up my arborio rice before we move, but I think I can do that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on June 07, 2015, 07:41:44 PM
This project was on hold while I moved (just across town, so the food came along) but the accumulating of ingredients always seems to run ahead of the cooking. Latest project was a batch of Nutella brownies, which took care of two partial jars of Nutella, the end of a bag of chocolate chips, and a small jar of "gourmet" cocoa powder someone had given me as a gift.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 08, 2015, 09:22:43 AM
Almond meal: makes really excellent shortbread. Same as standard wheat flour shortbread, pretty much. Butter, sugar, almond meal, a bit of salt, almond extract. Portion and bake until lightly golden. Tasty kids lunch snack, and more filling than a standard cookie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Penny Lane on June 08, 2015, 12:39:59 PM
I add pumpkin puree to my chili when I have it-- you can't pick out the exact flavor, but makes it taste richer; also avoids having to use sugar etc to make a baked item.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 08, 2015, 01:51:59 PM
I Like Erica's idea of Almond shortbread! I have been contemplating doing the same thing with my overflow of corn meal - but we are trying to cut down on Sugar which makes pretty much everything with Cornmeal seem not as tasty.

I did make some savory cornmeal muffins using the last of my jar ajvar which turned out pretty tasty. Also made a huckleberry honey corncake. Hubs and I are suffering through some seasonal allergies after moving and apparently having local raw honey is a good way to get your body use to some of the pollens and plants in an area...I think it is a good enough excuse :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 08, 2015, 02:05:11 PM
How do you feel about fat? I mean, if you are ok with something that's fatty/fattening and are just avoiding sugar, here's a thing I did recently that was AWESOME - a dough of about 4 parts masa harina to 1 part cornmeal. Salt to taste, water to make a thick dough. Roll it out about 1/4" thick, slice into strips that are, let's say, the rough size of a Frito. Deep fry. Additional salt on top. ZOMG good. Here's a photo. I can find an exact recipe if'n ya want.

(https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/11355942_673859552758367_1602946838_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 08, 2015, 02:17:34 PM
How do you feel about fat? I mean, if you are ok with something that's fatty/fattening and are just avoiding sugar, here's a thing I did recently that was AWESOME - a dough of about 4 parts masa harina to 1 part cornmeal. Salt to taste, water to make a thick dough. Roll it out about 1/4" thick, slice into strips that are, let's say, the rough size of a Frito. Deep fry. Additional salt on top. ZOMG good. Here's a photo. I can find an exact recipe if'n ya want.

(https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/11355942_673859552758367_1602946838_n.jpg)

Ohhh those look amazing! I would love the recipe! I have come to the sad realization that my body does better when it is sugar free :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on June 08, 2015, 03:59:11 PM
I made a spice cake/bread using up plain yoghurt and old prunes that really needed to go,  perfect for work snack with my mid morning coffee. We have an excess of self raising flour at the moment so have been trying to sub that into recipes that call for plain/baking powder.

The items we need to use up now are: canned sardines, canned mussels, icing sugar, bread mix, palm sugar, kale from our garden, and rationalise all the half used jars of tomato relish and chilli sauce. Will need the boyfriend on board for the last part, he loves trying these but always returns to the same few.




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Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 08, 2015, 04:29:30 PM
and rationalise all the half used jars of tomato relish and chilli sauce. Will need the boyfriend on board for the last part, he loves trying these but always returns to the same few.
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Sounds a lot like Mr. Swick. I have been using up the random jars of tomato based products and chili sauces in savory things. Added to chicken stock makes a tasty soup base - base for crock potted meat - savory muffins  - I have been using this recipe and subbing the salsa for whatever needs to be used: http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2014/03/spicy-salsa-muffins.html (http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2014/03/spicy-salsa-muffins.html)

Hot sauces - I have found a really good dead simple pantry meal that tastes great hot or cold - Peanut noodles: http://dinnerthendessert.com/5-ingredient-asian-peanut-noodles/ (http://dinnerthendessert.com/5-ingredient-asian-peanut-noodles/)

I usually add some herbs from the garden or leftover bits of shredded meat or whatever we happen to have. It is surprisingly filling so one pot served Hubs and myself for several days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on June 08, 2015, 04:33:49 PM
I would love the recipe! I have come to the sad realization that my body does better when it is sugar free :(
Mine too. But I love all the foodz so much. But I love fitting in my pants, too. Damn these tradeoffs.

Recipe:

1.5 c Masa
.5 c cornmeal
1.25 c VERY HOT water, or a bit more if needed
Salt. Be generous.
2 tbsp oil (I used olive oil)

Some large qty. of fat for frying. I used mostly lard. This is totally up to you but make it high heat.

Mix all ingredients together, and knead the dough a bit. Dough should be like play doh almost. If it's crumbly, add a bit more water.

Plop the dough on a sheet of parchment and top with another sheet of parchment. Roll dough out betwnen the parchment until it's a big circle about 3/8" thick (or a bit thinner if you want more like chips and less like cornmeal fries).

Slice the dough into strips maybe 1/2 inch wide, and 2 or 3 inches long. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Heat up some oil or lard or whatever to about 375, or until a tester corn strip bubbles when you drop it in. Fry the strips in batches until they are golden brown and delicious, about 4 minutes???

Use a big slotted spoon to transfer the strips to a cooling rack to drain, and sprinkle with a bit more salt as they come out of the hot fat.

Eat warm, with guacamole if possible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 09, 2015, 02:35:40 AM
Used up some expensive chocolate chips that I bought for a very specific recipe that have been hanging around for far too long. Made brownies, they aren't amazing (I kind of 'adapted' the recipe to what I had on hand, it was a bit of a throw it all in and see job), but they are pretty tasty. So glad that container is gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: celticmyst08 on June 09, 2015, 11:22:21 AM
I need to get in on this! We made our quarterly Costco run the other day and while putting food away, I kept discovering things in the cupboards that have been sitting there for ages. So I think our goal for the next couple weeks is to only buy produce from the grocery store to supplement what's stocked up in the pantry.

Also, our balcony garden is absolutely exploding, too, so I have more mint, parsley, rosemary, and thyme than I know what to do with. Pretty soon I'll have a bunch of basil too (we got a late start on growing it from seed, so the plants are only a couple inches tall now). Any ideas? I've made a lot of roast chicken/potatoes/veggies using the rosemary and thyme (SO GOOD), we've put parsley/mint in salads, mint in mojitos, etc. (Can I just say, I will never pay for a mojito in a restaurant again after learning to make them myself!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: somecobwebs on June 10, 2015, 11:40:14 PM
Update:


dried coconut strips - tried to soften with water, but results were pretty mixed. oh well.
pumpkin puree + pancake mix - Alas, came out poorly! Used too much of the puree, and it was just... overwhelming.



http://www.donalskehan.com/2011/10/roast-pumpkin-coconut-and-chilli-soup/
I recomend this. Trust me, you will wish there was more pumpkin puree to be used up.
Possibly you could also toast/cook the coconut strips and eat on/with it?

Re the muffins: Depending on where in the world you live (the definition of muffins varies greatly) you could make breadcrumbs for meatballs and the like?

Somecobwebs, i also have three large cans of pumpkin puree, bought when I was doing more baking (low fat) and before my mom grew some in her garden.  I made a pumpkin custard with one can but wished I had only made half, basically pumpkin pie filling.  Good, but too much.  Pumpkin gnocchi, pancakes, muffins, bread pudding.  I'd been looking for a spicy soup so I'm going to try that recipe, but maybe start with just half and add sausage. I think you could throw it in a brownie mix instead of fat, too.  What about pumpkin ice cream?

Tamarind chutney is fabulous, I use it as the back taste in peanut sauce, along with Lemon/lime juice.  I also mix it with coriander/mint chutney and put it on potatoes, hard boiled eggs, bread.  You could do small amounts of hot sauce if you don't have green sauce, its kind of cloying for me to eat plain.  On top of yogurt, with salt/cumin/pepper.  Its basically brown ketchup.

I add pumpkin puree to my chili when I have it-- you can't pick out the exact flavor, but makes it taste richer; also avoids having to use sugar etc to make a baked item.

Hooray, thank you all! Those sound like much better pumpkin puree options for the rest of my jar.  And that's a great tip for tamarind chutney! I'll experiment with mixes and proportions until I find something that I like.

Crumbs in meatballs, hm? It's worth a try, I suppose! Would they be good in hamburger too, I wonder?

Also, SisterX - congratulations on your truly momentous accomplishment!

I have more mint, parsley, rosemary, and thyme than I know what to do with. Pretty soon I'll have a bunch of basil too (we got a late start on growing it from seed, so the plants are only a couple inches tall now). Any ideas?

You can freeze fresh herbs in stock or water in ice cubes to use for later :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on June 15, 2015, 11:47:46 PM
Also, SisterX - congratulations on your truly momentous accomplishment!


Thank you!  We arrived at our destination late last week and now we're trying to settle in, which is even harder because we're staying with my folks until we get on our feet/get jobs sorted out and figure out what would be the best place to live in relation to the jobs.  So we're getting settled, but it's not really our space so we also can't settle in as we would if it was our own space.  We're trying to make my old bedroom seem homey and usable for two adults, not the easiest task.  I should start posting more on the decluttering thread, since I'm getting rid of a LOT of junk that was in my old room!  And then I'm going to help my parents declutter, which they're excited about.  It will be an interesting summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on June 17, 2015, 05:19:05 PM
I am joining in again.  I have wasted so much food lately, it is awful.  So I have made a list of what I have now and am cutting down on shopping unless it is necessary in order to consume an existing food.  Pots are boiling as I write!  What do you all do with corn in large quantities?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: somecobwebs on June 18, 2015, 02:07:35 AM
I am joining in again.  I have wasted so much food lately, it is awful.  So I have made a list of what I have now and am cutting down on shopping unless it is necessary in order to consume an existing food.  Pots are boiling as I write!  What do you all do with corn in large quantities?

Chili! I've also made spiced corn soup, which came out really well :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on June 18, 2015, 07:49:23 AM
I am joining in again.  I have wasted so much food lately, it is awful.  So I have made a list of what I have now and am cutting down on shopping unless it is necessary in order to consume an existing food.  Pots are boiling as I write!  What do you all do with corn in large quantities?

Chili! I've also made spiced corn soup, which came out really well :)

Potato/Corn soup
Texas Caviar
Corn Salad
Corn and butter - family favorite.  ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on June 19, 2015, 06:38:01 PM
somecobwebs, would you be willing to share the recipe for spicy corn soup? 

I am really enjoying doing this this time. It is like a game this week.  I have been throwing strange things in pots together and enjoying the results.  It feels like playtime in the kitchen!  I have my list on the table and when I finsih a meal I check off what I have eaten to reduce the list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ascotillion on June 21, 2015, 03:36:12 AM
In my family I have a reputation for being a spice connoisseur (despite not having a huge tolerance for it) so I have a lot of hot sauce gifts from Christmases and birthdays here and there. With that in mind, I'm tackling a bag of dried kidney beans and digging through my giant bag of brown rice for lunches this week - spicy burrito bowls! I can use a different sauce each day!

I also used up an old bag of almond meal, some desiccated coconut and half a bar of cooking chocolate and made some pretty nice muffins, and I'm planning a big batch of oatmeal cookies during the week. My housemate doesn't cook at all so the idea of making food from scratch is a miracle to him, and I think he's about to start praying to my altar :P
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 22, 2015, 04:53:39 AM
My housemate doesn't cook at all so the idea of making food from scratch is a miracle to him, and I think he's about to start praying to my altar :P

I once offered a guest pouring cream, or whipped cream with a dessert. When he selected whipped cream, and then watched me pour the cream into a bowl and start whipping, his head about exploded.

When I asked what he thought 'whipped' cream meant, he was like, 'Er, I dunno! I never knew you could do that! I just thought it only came in a can!'. OMG.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Villanelle on June 22, 2015, 09:01:47 AM
We've been doing Happy Hour for Dinner more frequently.  We have lots of cheeses and lots of wine.  I supplement it with bread and some meats, and maybe a cheese spread of some kind (made with spices I already have, of course).  We can easily make a meal of that, and it is using up some of the stuff that is less obviously a meal, as well as our nice wines which we can't ship when we move. 

I've also been hitting the liquor cabinet.  No, not like that!  Any time I make something that needs a liquid, I add a spash of vermouth or even vodka or rum. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: celticmyst08 on June 22, 2015, 09:32:08 AM
We've been doing Happy Hour for Dinner more frequently.  We have lots of cheeses and lots of wine.  I supplement it with bread and some meats, and maybe a cheese spread of some kind (made with spices I already have, of course).  We can easily make a meal of that, and it is using up some of the stuff that is less obviously a meal, as well as our nice wines which we can't ship when we move. 

Bread and cheese is always a favorite! The grocery store across the street has fresh baguettes for $0.99 that we pick up and then eat with whatever leftover veggies, cheese, deli meat, etc we have sitting around. Easy and seems a lot fancier than it is. ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 22, 2015, 12:50:49 PM
We have been doing the antipasta platter dinner too, it has been to darn hot to cook and is always a favorite.

In an effort to reset ( and hopefully figure out what I'm allergic to) Hubs and I are planning on doing a whole 30 in September. Our reasoning being that we will have our lamb in and garden ready to harvest so it should be easier :)

So we are trying to eat up our stores of stuff that isn't whole 30 complaint for the next couple of months and save the money to spend on whatever we may buy to supplement that, and restock our stores for the winter.

I have used up our stock of various Asian noodles. I love how easy they are to use, Going to have to switch to something a little more thought/prep intensive - perhaps some of that Quinoa.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on June 22, 2015, 02:57:50 PM
We have been doing the antipasta platter dinner too, it has been to darn hot to cook and is always a favorite.

In an effort to reset ( and hopefully figure out what I'm allergic to) Hubs and I are planning on doing a whole 30 in September. Our reasoning being that we will have our lamb in and garden ready to harvest so it should be easier :)

So we are trying to eat up our stores of stuff that isn't whole 30 complaint for the next couple of months and save the money to spend on whatever we may buy to supplement that, and restock our stores for the winter.

I have used up our stock of various Asian noodles. I love how easy they are to use, Going to have to switch to something a little more thought/prep intensive - perhaps some of that Quinoa.
I'm impatient when it comes to cooking, so I cook quinoa or rice in bulk every few days.  I only have to heat it up in the microwave to accompany dinner, which would be less time than cooking most Asian noodles. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 22, 2015, 03:17:29 PM
Good point 4alpacas, we don't have a microwave though...we didn't use the one in our last house much and it was a built in so since moving, we really haven't missed it, except for the odd thing like that.  Usually bulk grains go with hubby for lunch, since he has a micro at work :)

Does make you get creative though, for example, I "roast" veggies in my panini press all the time. Last night was some fresh garlic scapes, lightly oiled salt and peppered and on to the press, so easy and tasty!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on June 22, 2015, 03:37:37 PM
Good point 4alpacas, we don't have a microwave though...we didn't use the one in our last house much and it was a built in so since moving, we really haven't missed it, except for the odd thing like that.  Usually bulk grains go with hubby for lunch, since he has a micro at work :)
During the week, our microwave is our most used appliance.  I eat a lot of brown rice and quinoa, and they both take such a long time to cook. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on June 22, 2015, 06:16:25 PM
Things are still going well although I need to eat that cauliflower.  I am thinking cauliflower cheese?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on June 23, 2015, 02:50:27 AM
My personal favourite for cauliflower is cutting it into big bouquets, salt, pepper and oil and pop it in the oven on 400 degrees until ever so lightly charred on the edges. Then a drizzle of parmesan and back in a few min. Sans parmesan this is the preparation for cauliflower soup, but to be honest: the cauliflower rarely last long enough to become soup...

This week marks the transition from spring to summer. I always struggle with these times of year: my fridge still has vegies that will need frying or baking but I simply want to eat things like sandwishes or salads. Oh, well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on June 23, 2015, 07:28:24 AM
We struggle with spring to summer cooking too.  Those first few salads are great, then when the weather is nice and toasty, DH asks for pot roast. 

Found a lost bag of pinto beans in the pantry.  I soaked them overnight and am cooking them on the stove.  This is the second time I've tried cooking beans.  Hopefully this batch turns out creamier than the first attempt.  Are there any secrets/additives I should put in there?  So far the beans are cooking in the water used to soak them, no salt or other additives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 23, 2015, 08:00:56 AM
We struggle with spring to summer cooking too.  Those first few salads are great, then when the weather is nice and toasty, DH asks for pot roast. 

Found a lost bag of pinto beans in the pantry.  I soaked them overnight and am cooking them on the stove.  This is the second time I've tried cooking beans.  Hopefully this batch turns out creamier than the first attempt.  Are there any secrets/additives I should put in there?  So far the beans are cooking in the water used to soak them, no salt or other additives.

This is the recipe I use for refried beans which are awesome! http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2013/01/08/crockpot-refried-beans/ (http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2013/01/08/crockpot-refried-beans/) It is a crock pot recipe - but you could throw in some bullion (I use better than bullion) and the onion and follow the rest of the steps afterwards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on June 23, 2015, 11:59:33 AM
We struggle with spring to summer cooking too.  Those first few salads are great, then when the weather is nice and toasty, DH asks for pot roast. 

Found a lost bag of pinto beans in the pantry.  I soaked them overnight and am cooking them on the stove.  This is the second time I've tried cooking beans.  Hopefully this batch turns out creamier than the first attempt.  Are there any secrets/additives I should put in there?  So far the beans are cooking in the water used to soak them, no salt or other additives.

This is the recipe I use for refried beans which are awesome! http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2013/01/08/crockpot-refried-beans/ (http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2013/01/08/crockpot-refried-beans/) It is a crock pot recipe - but you could throw in some bullion (I use better than bullion) and the onion and follow the rest of the steps afterwards.

Thanks for the recipe!  Never thought about putting milk in them. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 23, 2015, 03:06:13 PM
I'm pretty sure that is the secret to the  "creamy" re-fried beans you get at restaurants. Makes a good dip/sandwich spread if you have leftovers - ohhh and makes a great quesadilla filling!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on June 24, 2015, 04:47:04 PM
We are eating some odd things lately but boy are they tasty.  Today: bacon wrapped dates stuffed with cheese.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of lentils…any ideas?  I have kale and chicken as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sunnyca on June 24, 2015, 06:10:12 PM
We are eating some odd things lately but boy are they tasty.  Today: bacon wrapped dates stuffed with cheese.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of lentils…any ideas?  I have kale and chicken as well.

Made this the other night and everyone raved- including little kids that *hate* lentils and beans.  I'd just replace the spinach with kale and sausage for chicken (I used chicken sausage in mine).

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/10/lentil-sausage-stew/

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on June 24, 2015, 08:24:12 PM
I'm going to attack this with some gusto, now, as it looks like I'll be moving house in approximately six weeks and I don't want to move too much from the pantry. Fridge (with built-in freezer) is generally okay as we only have such a small one that we can't stock up too much, but I bet there'll be a few things there that need using up.

First items on the list: wine frozen in cup-size servings, small portion of pearl barley, arborio rice (no prizes for guessing what we'll do with that!), wheat flour both plain and self-raising, and caster sugar. I don't eat much sugar or wheat but I have a work morning tea next week for which I can use up plenty of both in making some melting moments. Flour can also be used in Irish Soda Bread which the BF has discovered he loves and which I love baking. I think I'll do a pantry audit on the weekend so we can plan around the bits and bobs we need to use up before we move.

A while back I posted about chickpea flour and what I could do with that - well, in the end I made up a pizza dough recipe using chickpea flour and yoghurt as the two main ingredients. Worked brilliantly!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 25, 2015, 02:39:58 AM
We are eating some odd things lately but boy are they tasty.  Today: bacon wrapped dates stuffed with cheese.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of lentils…any ideas?  I have kale and chicken as well.

I cook lentils in stock and then chuck in roasted veggies (peppers, onions, courgettes, carrots) for work lunches. Can add cubes of feta cheese / roast chicken etc, or a can of chickpeas for more protein and variety.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 25, 2015, 06:54:16 PM

A while back I posted about chickpea flour and what I could do with that - well, in the end I made up a pizza dough recipe using chickpea flour and yoghurt as the two main ingredients. Worked brilliantly!

wha???? I don't know what to think, my brain does not commute...but I want to try! Recipe please?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on June 25, 2015, 07:23:09 PM

A while back I posted about chickpea flour and what I could do with that - well, in the end I made up a pizza dough recipe using chickpea flour and yoghurt as the two main ingredients. Worked brilliantly!

wha???? I don't know what to think, my brain does not commute...but I want to try! Recipe please?

Roughly: 300g chickpea flour, 300g yoghurt (the thick, greek-style stuff), 3 teaspoons baking powder, 2 teaspoons salt, and any other herbs / flavourings you like (I added a lot of dried basil).

Mix well, wrap in plastic and rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Then I just pressed the mixture into two small-medium sized pizza trays. Needed quite a bit of flour on my hands for the stickiness factor. Baked them for about ten minutes to crisp them slightly before adding toppings and cooking as per normal. They definitely go soggy if you don't bake them before topping!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 25, 2015, 09:08:37 PM
Thanks, HappierAtHome :) going to have to try this out!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ascotillion on June 29, 2015, 02:35:13 AM
He Who Does Not Cook (my housemate) takes up half of the small freezer we have with a lot of pizzas and curries and other pre-made meals. Since we split it neatly by shelf I tend to ignore all of his stuff, until he said to me last week "can you put your stuff back on your shelf? I need more room." Lo and behold, there was a 1kg each of icy beef and pork mince I must have dumped there after going to the market! I whipped up a double batch of these meatballs (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/meatball-nirvana/detail.aspx) with half of it and made a lasagne with the other half. Lunches (and some dinners) for this week sorted, plus a huge amount of meatballs in the freezer for easy meals later on down the track. My housemate even got a slice of lasagne, which he raved about - that will never stop feeling nice!

I was on a roll so I thought I'd look in the cupboard to see what I could use, but I'm stuck on a lot of my baking/vegan cooking supplies. Anybody have ideas for agar-agar flakes or glucose syrup? Hah.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on July 05, 2015, 04:22:45 PM
Recipe:

1.5 c Masa
.5 c cornmeal
1.25 c VERY HOT water, or a bit more if needed
Salt. Be generous.
2 tbsp oil (I used olive oil)


Thank you Erica!   My six year old gave these ten thumbs up :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mrs.LC on July 05, 2015, 08:55:03 PM
One of our goals for the second half of this year is completely revamp the pantry. We find that we still have been buying and storing food based on a family of four but two of the household members have long grown up and moved away. Now that I'm not working every day I have more time to cook and  am no longer using pantry items that I used to. Time to get organizing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on July 06, 2015, 03:44:21 AM
Had an impromptu BBQ on Saturday, so I smothered the ribs with some BBQ sauce DH had taken from a restaurant and not used. Glad to be rid of it!

I have also been able to reduce the number of tupperwares in my cupboards by using stuff up and then not replacing it. My days of buying things because they look 'interesting' and not because I have a specific meal in mind are over! Thanks in no small part to this thread :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 06, 2015, 10:24:40 AM
Welcome, FliXFantatier!

Great job, theadvicist! I am probably always going to be a magpie when it comes to interesting ingredients, but I am slowly getting better :)

We have had quite a few wins the last couple of days. My mom's garden, and the flower beds...and anywhere she sprinkled compost... is exploding with spicy Asian lettuce. It's too strong to eat as a salad green, so I have sauteeing it with some garlic and using it in everything! I made a quinoa, lentil, greens stirfry with some veggie sausage that had been languishing in our fridge, which will feed us lunches for the rest of the week. Happy to use up some quinoa and lentils!

We got some broccoli in our CSA which was amazing but the stalks were long and spindly and rather tough. I boiled them in the water as I steamed the tops and buzzed it up and strained it. Used as a base for some "green" mashed potatoes using potato flakes from our pantry.

Made some Kimchi (my first attempt) with some napa cabbage and green onions from our CSA and a bunch of spices from my never-ending supply. It is really tasty and goes well with all of the above.

I have a bunch of bags of Vietnamese coffee in my pantry.  I love, love, love to make traditional Vietnamese coffee but can't handle the sugar load anymore. I have been cold-brewing it and using it for iced lattes and finding interesting places to use it up.

I found a "Ethiopian Coffee pancakes" and used my concentrate, they were delish! Then I made a chia seed pudding out of the coffee substitute and milk (yay! for using up chia seeds) and we have been having it for breakfast over some cherries from the freezer.

Still working on the cornmeal :) Made another batch of cornbread a couple of days ago, might make some more this week.

How is everyone else doing?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on July 07, 2015, 07:53:42 AM
I've been reading a lot about food waste lately (David Evans, Food Waste; National Resources Defense Council, Wasted; etc.), and it's really gotten me fired up to avoid wasting any food. So I'm back for this challenge.

I cracked open the fridge yesterday intent on making brassica chips, when lo and behold, I find the ingredients for cucumber garbanzo bean salad completely forgotten by me and on the turn. Undeterred, I made the salad with the barely squishy cuke (still crispy with a few bits of squish near the end, which I ate) and yellowed parsley, and it was utterly delicious. Best I've ever made and with no ill effects.

I have a lot of food projects going, and I don't have enough time to get to them all. I think I'm a bit too ambitious with how I schedule my time. How do you handle it? One food project a night or a few on one weekend day? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on July 07, 2015, 09:50:23 AM
I have a lot of food projects going, and I don't have enough time to get to them all. I think I'm a bit too ambitious with how I schedule my time. How do you handle it? One food project a night or a few on one weekend day? 
I don't overschedule myself in the kitchen.  I plan to make 1-2 recipes/weekend.  I have the groceries delivered the day before (delivery on Saturday, cook on Sunday). 

I assume that I won't cook on a weeknight. 

I'm lazy.  I've come to terms with that, so it helps a lot with food waste.  I now focus on foods that I can eat without any processing (e.g. berries instead of watermelon). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 07, 2015, 10:38:12 AM
Quote from: Nancy link=topic=23139.msg721569#msg721569 date=1436277222
[b
I have a lot of food projects going, and I don't have enough time to get to them all.[/b] I think I'm a bit too ambitious with how I schedule my time. How do you handle it? One food project a night or a few on one weekend day? 

Good job on the salad!

I work from home, so that gives me more flexibility. Usually a lot of my meals/projects don't take a huge amount of actual hands-on time, so it is easier to fit in. My biggest issue is to remember to do the prep for a lot of things the night before - pop the coffee grounds in water for cold brew, mix the dough for a no-knead bread, soak the beans...

In the winter it is a lot of braises and crockpots and set it and forget it type of meals.

In the summer it's a lot of make the staples ahead of time and just combine in creative ways with whatever needs to be used up, or do the prep so raw stuff gets eaten.

I'm pretty luck that Mr. Swick likes cooking and helping me in the kitchen so the extra pair of hands helps gets more done on weekends. He also knows I am more likely to make tasty food if I have a clean kitchen to start with so he'll occasionally get up earlier then me and give the kitchen a quick clean before I start - or help with dishes along the way to make clean up easier.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on July 07, 2015, 04:10:45 PM
Things have slowed down a bit here as we get the pantry into good shape and house projects take centre stage. Used up the last of the sardine stockpile last night - we have really enjoyed the recipes (sardine arrabiata pasta and fritters with warm salad) so will buy more eventually. Still have a tin of smoked mussels that may become pasta.

Other items on the agenda are self raising flour, icing sugar, jasmine tea, and still the 5 million bottles of chilli sauce. Luckily, we like all of those things. Have been experimenting with subbing icing sugar for regular in baking when I don't think it will make much of a difference and so far it has work out ok. New rule introduced to never buy any more icing 'mixture' cut with flour as it makes gluten free baking too complicated trying to remember which is which.

Anyone have a good recipe for using up some home made apricot jam that cooked a little too long and isn't quite right?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on July 07, 2015, 04:16:25 PM
Anyone have a good recipe for using up some home made apricot jam that cooked a little too long and isn't quite right?
I use weird jam-ish things in thumb print cookies.  Similar to this recipe. (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/thumbprint-cookies-i/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 07, 2015, 04:24:47 PM

Anyone have a good recipe for using up some home made apricot jam that cooked a little too long and isn't quite right?

Use it in a savory application? This apricot, rosemary, ginger chicken tajine is one of our favorite recipes. You could use less/no honey and substitute the jam. I usually just use whole chicken thighs and shred the meat once it is done, much easier.

http://www.alanabread.com/chicken-apricot-ginger-rosemary-tagine/ (http://www.alanabread.com/chicken-apricot-ginger-rosemary-tagine/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on July 07, 2015, 04:29:11 PM
Love both ideas, will try soon!


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Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on July 09, 2015, 12:28:13 AM
I would like to join!

My husband and I moved out of Alaska for the first time several years ago and now live on the "Wet Coast," where winter rain and wind storms mean lots of downed trees and branches and occasional power outages. I worry about my frozen goods during these outages, so I think eating down my frozen stores to a reasonable amount is a good idea. I have more than enough shelf stable goods for emergency stores.

In particular, I have a chest freezer full of salmon I have been working away at for a month or so now. Both my parents and in-laws send it down from time to time, and until recently I mostly ignored it since my husband never asks for it. The hubby and I grew up in Alaska, so we've eaten a lot of salmon over the years and it's not really exciting food anymore, however healthy. Some of it is smoked, but unfortunately their recipe is a little strong for my taste. We've given some away and traded some for grass fed beef, which was awesome. I found a few freezer burned regular fillets, so I baked those and my dogs feasted on them for several meals.

I'm not terribly fond of most salmon recipes, but I discovered I like salmon salad as well as I like tuna salad. My husband loves it, and he typically likes salmon even less than I do. So needless to say, it has been a non-stop salmon salad bonanza at the Mo household. I've also found that I can "cut" the smoked fillets with canned salmon, unsmoked filets, or even canned tuna and it balances the flavor nicely.

Cheers!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on July 09, 2015, 01:08:46 AM
How is everyone else doing?

Getting there... about a month now until I move house, so I've been using up some dried beans and dahl as well as canned goods.

The real issue is that without batch cooking waiting for me in the fridge and freezer, I'll turn to takeaway, so I still want a reasonable amount of ready-made (by me) meals on hand throughout the move.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on July 09, 2015, 05:02:58 AM
Welcome, J Mo! Now I want salmon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 09, 2015, 07:40:55 AM
Welcome, J Mo! I wish I had your salmon problem :)

I totally get the desire to have some ready made meals Happier, it makes it a lot easier!

I thought I was doing better - then I discovered two more ice cream pails of staples that got lost in our move and I only have JUST gotten around to unpacking (we moved in Dec) On the bright side they were filled with some Turkish Gum my Hubby loves and was all sad because we were out of, and some vacuum packed loose leaf tea.

But it was also full of tea bags (we are trying to get away from) and I thought I was doing good on using up. Oh well Guess we will have a variety for ice tea for the rest of the summer.

Just formally met our new neighbour across the ally, he came over to ask if he could borrow our smoker in the fall. I wasn't sure if it was usable, it is home built, came with the house, is probably 50 years old and needs some serious repair work. I said he's welcome to take a look. Turns out he is pretty confident he can fix it up and show us how to use it. Got to talking all about foodie projects - hunting, gardening, raising ducks and such. Sounds like he'll be a great resource to help us learn, and someone who I can share some of my pantry goodies with :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jrubin on July 09, 2015, 12:00:33 PM
I'm not sure why I have so much food storage (regular fridge/freezer, additional full-size freezer, two additional fridge/freezers, and a fairly large pantry) - we just tend to add things constantly, it's a bit insane. Thus I am also on the forum for decluttering! Using the same ideas - I've decided I need to 'declutter' the food in addition to everything else in the house. I've had one of the extra fridge/freezer unplugged since right after New Year's (we have a big party and I needed the space for food/drinks), so that's a plus. Unfortunately we have a LOT of processed food - and I'm trying to get the family to move away from them. Not wanting to be wasteful - we'll be trying to portion them out and eat them in the next few weeks. And... I'm not such a good cook - and not very inventive. Many of the things mentioned here I haven't even heard of :)   I'm excited to join in the fun, reduce our food bill each month, and work our way through the processed foods. I'm interested in trying some of the recipes here too - such creative cooking on a routine basis seems so foreign to me! You guys are all very inspiring!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 09, 2015, 12:33:45 PM
I'm not sure why I have so much food storage (regular fridge/freezer, additional full-size freezer, two additional fridge/freezers, and a fairly large pantry) - we just tend to add things constantly, it's a bit insane. Thus I am also on the forum for decluttering! Using the same ideas - I've decided I need to 'declutter' the food in addition to everything else in the house. I've had one of the extra fridge/freezer unplugged since right after New Year's (we have a big party and I needed the space for food/drinks), so that's a plus. Unfortunately we have a LOT of processed food - and I'm trying to get the family to move away from them. Not wanting to be wasteful - we'll be trying to portion them out and eat them in the next few weeks. And... I'm not such a good cook - and not very inventive. Many of the things mentioned here I haven't even heard of :)   I'm excited to join in the fun, reduce our food bill each month, and work our way through the processed foods. I'm interested in trying some of the recipes here too - such creative cooking on a routine basis seems so foreign to me! You guys are all very inspiring!

Welcome, jrubin! Awesome that you have decided to join us, it can be a little overwhelming at first - that's why this is such a great thread!

I know this might run counter to some mustachian ideals - but if you have "that much" processed food in your house, and you don't want your family eating it, you might be better off donating it or even throwing it out. The money you have spent is a sunk cost and while you are saving $ in the short term by eating it, it is doing NO GOOD for your family's health. Continuing to eat it is basically just extending dependency and feeding addiction.

There are some great documentaries on you tube about sugar and processed foods and how they affect your health, if you are interested.

Once that stuff is out of your life, you can start lighter, freer, healthier and having some fun in the kitchen! The best place to start is being inspired by those processed foods. What does your family like? What do they eat a lot of? Can you make a healthier, homemade version?

Start with baby-steps and there are loads of members on this thread and others across the forum that would be happy to give you tips and advice and cheer you on!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 09, 2015, 01:15:11 PM
Recipe:

1.5 c Masa
.5 c cornmeal
1.25 c VERY HOT water, or a bit more if needed
Salt. Be generous.
2 tbsp oil (I used olive oil)


Thank you Erica!   My six year old gave these ten thumbs up :)

Oh, good! :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 09, 2015, 01:23:11 PM
I'm not sure why I have so much food storage (regular fridge/freezer, additional full-size freezer, two additional fridge/freezers, and a fairly large pantry) - we just tend to add things constantly, it's a bit insane. Thus I am also on the forum for decluttering! Using the same ideas - I've decided I need to 'declutter' the food in addition to everything else in the house. I've had one of the extra fridge/freezer unplugged since right after New Year's (we have a big party and I needed the space for food/drinks), so that's a plus. Unfortunately we have a LOT of processed food - and I'm trying to get the family to move away from them. Not wanting to be wasteful - we'll be trying to portion them out and eat them in the next few weeks. And... I'm not such a good cook - and not very inventive. Many of the things mentioned here I haven't even heard of :)   I'm excited to join in the fun, reduce our food bill each month, and work our way through the processed foods. I'm interested in trying some of the recipes here too - such creative cooking on a routine basis seems so foreign to me! You guys are all very inspiring!

Welcome, jrubin! Awesome that you have decided to join us, it can be a little overwhelming at first - that's why this is such a great thread!

I know this might run counter to some mustachian ideals - but if you have "that much" processed food in your house, and you don't want your family eating it, you might be better off donating it or even throwing it out. The money you have spent is a sunk cost and while you are saving $ in the short term by eating it, it is doing NO GOOD for your family's health. Continuing to eat it is basically just extending dependency and feeding addiction.

There are some great documentaries on you tube about sugar and processed foods and how they affect your health, if you are interested.

Once that stuff is out of your life, you can start lighter, freer, healthier and having some fun in the kitchen! The best place to start is being inspired by those processed foods. What does your family like? What do they eat a lot of? Can you make a healthier, homemade version?

Start with baby-steps and there are loads of members on this thread and others across the forum that would be happy to give you tips and advice and cheer you on!

I feel ya, jrubin. I store a lot of food too. After a massive decluttering I was able to ditch one of my two big full freezers. So now just down to one. Most of the food I have is very unprocessed, but it was still starting to feel less like bounty and more like burden.

Awesome Swick is totally right - welcome and please feel free to ask questions! Lots of us love cooking and are happy to suggest ideas and recipes. I love the point about donating the processed food you'd rather not feed your family, too!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jrubin on July 10, 2015, 07:33:16 AM
I'm not sure why I have so much food storage (regular fridge/freezer, additional full-size freezer, two additional fridge/freezers, and a fairly large pantry) - we just tend to add things constantly, it's a bit insane. Thus I am also on the forum for decluttering! Using the same ideas - I've decided I need to 'declutter' the food in addition to everything else in the house. I've had one of the extra fridge/freezer unplugged since right after New Year's (we have a big party and I needed the space for food/drinks), so that's a plus. Unfortunately we have a LOT of processed food - and I'm trying to get the family to move away from them. Not wanting to be wasteful - we'll be trying to portion them out and eat them in the next few weeks. And... I'm not such a good cook - and not very inventive. Many of the things mentioned here I haven't even heard of :)   I'm excited to join in the fun, reduce our food bill each month, and work our way through the processed foods. I'm interested in trying some of the recipes here too - such creative cooking on a routine basis seems so foreign to me! You guys are all very inspiring!



Welcome, jrubin! Awesome that you have decided to join us, it can be a little overwhelming at first - that's why this is such a great thread!

I know this might run counter to some mustachian ideals - but if you have "that much" processed food in your house, and you don't want your family eating it, you might be better off donating it or even throwing it out. The money you have spent is a sunk cost and while you are saving $ in the short term by eating it, it is doing NO GOOD for your family's health. Continuing to eat it is basically just extending dependency and feeding addiction.

There are some great documentaries on you tube about sugar and processed foods and how they affect your health, if you are interested.

Once that stuff is out of your life, you can start lighter, freer, healthier and having some fun in the kitchen! The best place to start is being inspired by those processed foods. What does your family like? What do they eat a lot of? Can you make a healthier, homemade version?

Start with baby-steps and there are loads of members on this thread and others across the forum that would be happy to give you tips and advice and cheer you on!

I feel ya, jrubin. I store a lot of food too. After a massive decluttering I was able to ditch one of my two big full freezers. So now just down to one. Most of the food I have is very unprocessed, but it was still starting to feel less like bounty and more like burden.

Awesome Swick is totally right - welcome and please feel free to ask questions! Lots of us love cooking and are happy to suggest ideas and recipes. I love the point about donating the processed food you'd rather not feed your family, too!

Thank you Swick and Erica!! Looking forward to this - started ASAP - went home and warned the family that "it's ON". Defrosted some ground turkey and made taco's for dinner - one of the few things everyone in the house enjoys. Used up some near-wilty lettuce and shredded cheese and emptied a bottle of taco sauce (which made my DS12 nervous - he loves that stuff). Packed my work lunch today with some things there is only a small amount left of from the pantry - the last handful of cashews, the last cup of diced peaches, etc. We'll get there!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 10, 2015, 07:59:08 AM
Goodstuff, jrubin!

This is the recipe I have been using for years for taco seasoning, it is awesome! Easy to customize to fit your family's heat tolerance. http://www.perrysplate.com/2008/11/perrys-plate-taco-seasoning.html (http://www.perrysplate.com/2008/11/perrys-plate-taco-seasoning.html)

While I haven't made it (although now I want to try!) This taco sauce recipe looks good, and really easy. Might be a fun way to get your son excited about the chances and into the kitchen helping you:)

http://www.food.com/recipe/taco-bell-taco-sauce-60254 (http://www.food.com/recipe/taco-bell-taco-sauce-60254)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on July 10, 2015, 11:56:22 AM
Used up a bag of frozen fruit in my vegan ice cream. It was delicious. I also ate a piece of frozen salmon that had been left over from a dinner some time ago (thank you past self!) and some lettuce that appeared to be on the turn, but was perfectly good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cashstasherat23 on July 10, 2015, 12:24:50 PM
Oh boy...was standing in my kitchen yesterday looking around at my refrigerator and pantry, and was overwhelmed with how much food I seem to have accumulated in the last couple of months!! Seriously, I don't know where it all came from, but I am making it a mission to start eating down my stores.

I actually have a great situation in that the job I just started provides breakfast and pays for lunch every day, so that is eliminating a large need to go grocery shopping/have a lot of food at home. I also travel a great deal for work, so it doesn't make sense to go shopping that often when I am only home a few days a week, so I am going to try to go for at least the rest of the summer without grocery shopping. Will keep you all updated on my progress-I expect some interesting dinner combinations!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Erica/NWEdible on July 10, 2015, 03:10:20 PM
Yesterday made a chicken stirfry for dinner with garden veg and a huge handful of peanuts. This used up the last of my peanuts and when I added a ton of Sriracha and it was like Kung Pao Chicken.

Looking in the cupboards I think it's time to make granola. I have end bits of coconut flakes and raisins. Just scrubbed the kitchen so I'm torn: revel in how nice it is to cook in a very clean kitchen or hold off on a big cook so I don't make a mess. What nice problems to have!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on July 11, 2015, 03:58:47 PM
J Mo - The last few months working through our freezer, when neither my husband nor I wanted to even look at another salmon fillet, I made these salmon burgers a few times: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/naked-salmon-burgers-with-sriracha-mayo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%2Bweightwatcherspointsrecipes%2B(Skinnytaste) (http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/naked-salmon-burgers-with-sriracha-mayo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%2Bweightwatcherspointsrecipes%2B(Skinnytaste))

The sriracha mayo sauce cuts through the salmon-y taste quite well, and it was bearable.  The avocado really adds something as well, and makes the texture smoother.
If you want more salmon recipes to try, let me know.  I've accumulated a ridiculous number of them over the past few years, to deal with the same problem you've got right now.  :)  Good luck!

I'm finding myself on the other end of things right now: trying to fill up our freezer and pantry supplies (slowly) so that we've got stuff next winter.  We're loving the prices in our new area, though.  $15 for a flat of organic blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries?  I'll take it!  That would have cost us at least $30-$45 in Fairbanks, in season, and half of it would have been moldy within the first 10 hours of getting it home.  This is heaven.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on July 11, 2015, 09:19:41 PM
J Mo - The last few months working through our freezer, when neither my husband nor I wanted to even look at another salmon fillet, I made these salmon burgers a few times: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/naked-salmon-burgers-with-sriracha-mayo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%2Bweightwatcherspointsrecipes%2B(Skinnytaste) (http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/naked-salmon-burgers-with-sriracha-mayo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%2Bweightwatcherspointsrecipes%2B(Skinnytaste))
That looks tasty! I will definitely try that, thanks! :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nickels Dimes Quarters on July 12, 2015, 04:33:03 PM
I'm working on the pantry and freezer (just small above refrigerator) because I tend to buy extras and freeze -- then forget about an ingredient her or there that gets tucked away. I did organize it mid-week and there are several protein options, including chicken, bacon and burgers. My pantry is getting better, we're getting through the soups and canned vegetables. There are some boxed meals that I know we won't eat, so I will get them donated before they expire.

Saving money is mostly about planning...thinking ahead and defrosting something shouldn't feel like rocket science. Yet, many days it does.

NDQ
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 12, 2015, 06:09:11 PM
Having a dinner party on Tuesday night and am planning on making everything from the freezer/pantry except for salad greens which will come in our CSA.

Oxtail Ragu - Oxtails from the freezer, tomatoes, 1/2 bottle of opened wine, tomato paste, bullion from the pantry.

Fresh Pasta - Semolina, fresh herbs from the garden.

Ranch salad dressing - fresh and dried herbs.

Something for dessert made from pantry staples
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jrubin on July 12, 2015, 06:43:56 PM
Cleaned out the pantry and spice cabinets over the weekend. Now at least I know what is there. And tossed some old, circa 2001 expiry spices, OMG. Defrosted and ate some steaks for dinner. Also defrosted a pork roast for tomorrow. Used up leftover taco meat, chips and  cheese for the DS12's lunch today. Bought two gallons of milk and three green peppers so far. Much smaller grocery bill than the usual $160. Feeling good about the coming weeks :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on July 15, 2015, 06:56:44 AM
Made Mark Bittman's curried greens with crushed tomato and garbanzo beans last night. I used up 1.5lbs of collard, kale, and broccoli greens from my garden. Phew! I feel relieved. Also used up the dry garbanzos that I had cooked/frozen, a can of crushed tomatoes, and the rest of a red onion. It made a lot of food, so I froze it. Future me will be very thankful.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Villanelle on July 15, 2015, 07:25:54 AM
Jar of salsa, canned black beans, plus fresh cilantro, onion, and lots of lime juice.  And a handful of chicken for DH.  Not especially inspired, but it got rid of half a jar of salsa, 2 cans of beans, lime juice from my freezer, and some rice. 

Tonight it will be pancakes, which will hopefully use up the bisquick and syrup. 

Two months until we move out. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DeltaBond on July 15, 2015, 08:31:55 AM
I'm gonna try this, this sounds really helpful.  Every time I go to the grocery store I feel like a chump.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on July 15, 2015, 06:52:23 PM
Tossed a small freezer containerful of leftover fried peppers, onions, and potatoes into tonight's curry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MoustacheKnittah on July 16, 2015, 12:20:54 PM
Looking in the cupboards I think it's time to make granola. I have end bits of coconut flakes and raisins. Just scrubbed the kitchen so I'm torn: revel in how nice it is to cook in a very clean kitchen or hold off on a big cook so I don't make a mess. What nice problems to have!

LOL! Granola is the worst, especially if you have a gas stove and it scatters everywhere under the grates when you stir the pans. Ha.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on July 16, 2015, 12:26:38 PM
Looking in the cupboards I think it's time to make granola. I have end bits of coconut flakes and raisins. Just scrubbed the kitchen so I'm torn: revel in how nice it is to cook in a very clean kitchen or hold off on a big cook so I don't make a mess. What nice problems to have!

LOL! Granola is the worst, especially if you have a gas stove and it scatters everywhere under the grates when you stir the pans. Ha.

No Granola mess EVER again! Your welcome :)
http://www.bojongourmet.com/2010/06/stolen-granola.html (http://www.bojongourmet.com/2010/06/stolen-granola.html)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 28, 2015, 01:17:52 PM
The challenge continues in our home.  The freezer is getting full again!

Used up approximately 2 cups frozen fresh strawberries and a cup of almond milk to make "milkshakes" last night.

I'll make a low carb pie this week and use up some ground almonds, a can of evap milk and a can of pumpkin.

I took out leftover nacho sausage soup from the freezer last night.  I'll warm it up tomorrow night and serve it with homemade low carb tortilla chips.

I cleaned out the pantry last week and reorganized it to fit a Sam's Club haul.  Ended up tossing two envelopes of expired Crystal Light, some reallllly old tea, and about 2 TBS rock hard brown sugar.  Not too bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on July 29, 2015, 05:57:13 PM
I don't hav very much food in the house, but hav decided to eat it up anyway . made lentils/quinoa/spinach together with cayenne pepper, Himalayan salt, and apple cider vinegar. Delicious ( and really healthy ).
Giving a big box of green tea and some chamomile tea to my fiancé ( we live apart ) & a bag of peanuts.
Drinking up my coffee with cinnamon and soymilk. And my huge box of black tea.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: bsmith on July 29, 2015, 07:57:36 PM
We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on July 29, 2015, 08:18:39 PM
We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.

If you eat it all up, what will you do to avoid scurvy during apocalypse?? ;) Time for some canned fruit recipes I suppose. There's some sort of jello/creme dessert with canned fruit that's quite delicious. Don't know the details.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on July 29, 2015, 08:39:01 PM
We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.

If you eat it all up, what will you do to avoid scurvy during apocalypse?? ;) Time for some canned fruit recipes I suppose. There's some sort of jello/creme dessert with canned fruit that's quite delicious. Don't know the details.


If you make a cobbler with canned fruit, no one can tell the difference (don't tell).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Faraday on July 29, 2015, 08:42:44 PM
I'm going to revive this challenge ... "Ugh, we have to eat salmon yet again."
...
Join me, or not, on this less-than-9-month culinary adventure!  I just wanted to have an external way to be accountable when I get sick of eating the same two base proteins over and over again, and to set a goal which I can update once in a while so that it stays in my mind.

God, if I could have the problem of "Ugh, we have to eat salmon yet again...." *envy!*
I'd LOVE IT if I were able to trade you some awesome duck eggs for salmon!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on July 30, 2015, 03:08:45 AM
God, if I could have the problem of "Ugh, we have to eat salmon yet again...." *envy!*
I'd LOVE IT if I were able to trade you some awesome duck eggs for salmon!!!

I would trade you! I don't think I've ever tried a duck egg.

I made two baked salmon filets today. The freezer burned one went to the dogs. Happy, happy dogs.

I also made "garbage soup" today. Basically any slightly sad looking veggies gets thrown into the Instant Pot with a little meat and lots of spices. Tonight it included carrots, celery, onions, cabbage, zucchini, potatoes, and corn with a frozen pork chop and some frozen lima beans that were a little too hard steamed. The Instant Pot worked its magic yet again! It turned out great and I can snack on it for days.

I need to keep cleaning out the freezer because my hubby bought half a pig from a coworker, which will be, erm, processed in September. Tonight's pork came from the same farm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on July 30, 2015, 04:53:26 AM
Lots of space in our freezer now, I'm very pleased!

I'm also working on using up ground coffee which has been received as gifts. Can't wait for all the little jars and tins to be gone.

I have noticed I'm running out of a few things, but I've always seemed to find something to work as a substitute.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenFun on July 30, 2015, 08:17:03 AM
Lamb shank hiding in the freezer for a year has been consumed, along with the  nearly empty box of couscous. 
All canned tomatoes from last year's harvest have been consumed. 
Big clearance box of Grape Nuts is gone - made into a batch of cheater granola for morning yogurt. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: bsmith on July 31, 2015, 07:35:04 AM
Quote
Quote from: riverffashion on July 29, 2015, 08:18:39 PM

    Quote from: bsmith on July 29, 2015, 07:57:36 PM

        We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.


    If you eat it all up, what will you do to avoid scurvy during apocalypse?? ;) Time for some canned fruit recipes I suppose. There's some sort of jello/creme dessert with canned fruit that's quite delicious. Don't know the details.



If you make a cobbler with canned fruit, no one can tell the difference (don't tell).

Spouse loves peaches, so I guess we could make a peach cobbler. I'm probably the only person in Texas who doesn't like peaches, though. Other fruit in there is stuff like pears and pineapple - not your traditional cobbler fruits, but it might be good. I do like pears.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on July 31, 2015, 06:25:56 PM
Quote
Quote from: riverffashion on July 29, 2015, 08:18:39 PM

    Quote from: bsmith on July 29, 2015, 07:57:36 PM

        We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.


    If you eat it all up, what will you do to avoid scurvy during apocalypse?? ;) Time for some canned fruit recipes I suppose. There's some sort of jello/creme dessert with canned fruit that's quite delicious. Don't know the details.



If you make a cobbler with canned fruit, no one can tell the difference (don't tell).

Spouse loves peaches, so I guess we could make a peach cobbler. I'm probably the only person in Texas who doesn't like peaches, though. Other fruit in there is stuff like pears and pineapple - not your traditional cobbler fruits, but it might be good. I do like pears.


If you do the pears, add lots of cinnamon and/or lemon or lime juice to bump up the flavor. I'd make a crisp with pears, personally, rather than a cobbler. I'd think the biscuity part of a cobbler might overwhelm them.

Pineapple is great cooked with ham. Here's a quick lazy meal: cook 1cup couscous, dice up 1/2 to 1cup ham (or spam if you're really into pantry cooking), add a big can of chunked or crushed pineapple (or cut rings up into bite-sized pieces), heat through. If it seems bland, add plain yellow mustard to taste (I usually do 2-4 tablespoons), and serve.
Bonus points if you remember to use the pinapple juice as part of the cooking liquid for the couscous, but just drain the can if you don't.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on July 31, 2015, 07:14:22 PM
Quote
Quote from: riverffashion on July 29, 2015, 08:18:39 PM

    Quote from: bsmith on July 29, 2015, 07:57:36 PM

        We really need to do this. There's a crapton of canned fruit in there. In case of apocalypse, we won't get scurvy.


    If you eat it all up, what will you do to avoid scurvy during apocalypse?? ;) Time for some canned fruit recipes I suppose. There's some sort of jello/creme dessert with canned fruit that's quite delicious. Don't know the details.



If you make a cobbler with canned fruit, no one can tell the difference (don't tell).

Spouse loves peaches, so I guess we could make a peach cobbler. I'm probably the only person in Texas who doesn't like peaches, though. Other fruit in there is stuff like pears and pineapple - not your traditional cobbler fruits, but it might be good. I do like pears.


If you do the pears, add lots of cinnamon and/or lemon or lime juice to bump up the flavor. I'd make a crisp with pears, personally, rather than a cobbler. I'd think the biscuity part of a cobbler might overwhelm them.

Pineapple is great cooked with ham. Here's a quick lazy meal: cook 1cup couscous, dice up 1/2 to 1cup ham (or spam if you're really into pantry cooking), add a big can of chunked or crushed pineapple (or cut rings up into bite-sized pieces), heat through. If it seems bland, add plain yellow mustard to taste (I usually do 2-4 tablespoons), and serve.
Bonus points if you remember to use the pinapple juice as part of the cooking liquid for the couscous, but just drain the can if you don't.



Pineapple is also excellent on the grill ,  or juiced, or blended into a smoothie for the sweetening effect, or in a fuit salad. Pineapple upsidedown cake is good, but I've never made it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 03, 2015, 06:59:34 AM
End of summer is always "eat all the old stuff" time in my house. Time to make room for all the goodies of fall. 

Yesterday made soup from 3 packs of frozen pumpkin, some stockcubes and an onion that had started to go off. Had to buy a can of coconut milk, but that was it.
Today will make Cassoulet from stock, beans, chicken and sausage, all from the freezer. Need tomatoes to make it happen, but all in all I feel the project is starting off with a pang. Also will make milkshake from a banana I froze before going on holiday. As a snack I'll eat some of the pistachioes I found in my kitchen. For some reason I have left them there for 4-5 months, even though I love pistashioes.

Next I will make several portions of "emergency oatmeals" to stack in my desk at work. A container of ready mixed quick oat, salt, sugar, spices, nuts and dried fruit. Will stay good for weeks (or months) and so handy for those days I forget to bring lunch, or get peckish in the afternoon. Add hot water, let sit - eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 03, 2015, 08:07:43 AM
End of summer is always "eat all the old stuff" time in my house. Time to make room for all the goodies of fall. 

Yesterday made soup from 3 packs of frozen pumpkin, some stockcubes and an onion that had started to go off. Had to buy a can of coconut milk, but that was it.
Today will make Cassoulet from stock, beans, chicken and sausage, all from the freezer. Need tomatoes to make it happen, but all in all I feel the project is starting off with a pang. Also will make milkshake from a banana I froze before going on holiday. As a snack I'll eat some of the pistachioes I found in my kitchen. For some reason I have left them there for 4-5 months, even though I love pistashioes.

Next I will make several portions of "emergency oatmeals" to stack in my desk at work. A container of ready mixed quick oat, salt, sugar, spices, nuts and dried fruit. Will stay good for weeks (or months) and so handy for those days I forget to bring lunch, or get peckish in the afternoon. Add hot water, let sit - eat.

Fantastic use of your stock!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 03, 2015, 08:14:29 AM
My fiancé and I are going camping for a couple days at the beach nearby and I am cooking up the remaining lentils and quinoa to bring . also the remaining coffee. A baggie of salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Two apples from work and tons of chopped veggies from my parents house the other day :) . filled a gallon bottle I have with water.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 03, 2015, 10:11:28 AM
Saturday I made a pumpkin pie to bring to a BBQ and used up the can of evaporated milk with a Best Buy date of next week and a can of pumpkin.

Last night we ate the leftover soup put in the freezer last October.  I also served the last of some fresh strawberries and sliced cucumber.  The last of the lime went into my ice water.  :D

Tonight's slow cooker ribs used up the rest of a bottle of BBQ sauce as well as a bit of Worcestershire.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 03, 2015, 01:18:53 PM
I am working on using up all of that random that ends up in the door of the frig.

Last night I took some of the CSA veggies. Garlic, onion and green beans Chopped them all up and added them to a pan with a bit of sesame oil cooked them up and took some soy sauce, and miso paste mixed with a bit of water to make a sauce and poured over the top of the veggies and cooked it down for a bit and served with rice and kimchi...it was so damn good. I ate the leftovers for lunch.

I still have tons of miso and curry paste to use up. And tons of mustard. So much mustard. But slowly I will get though it all. It took us nearly 2 years to get though our hot sauce hoard.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Villanelle on August 04, 2015, 06:09:29 AM
One month until the pack out move that can send pantry items, and 6 weeks from the day everything else gets given away. 

My goal is to only buy produce, milk, and bread, and as little as possible of both.  I had a hamburger for breakfast, which shows that while I have plenty of food, I need to push myself a bit to resist the urge to buy the "right" food.  No cereal when I have pasta and canned sauce, and frozen homemade soup in the freezer.  Hot soup when it is 98 with no A/C isn't ideal, but it works my badassity muscles a bit.   

We'll definitely be tossing a lot of half used condiments, but I don't see any other option.  I'll use up mayo on a couple pastas salads (which will dispatch some frozen veggies as well), but most of the rest of it will sadly go to waste. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on August 04, 2015, 07:22:50 AM
No cereal when I have pasta and canned sauce, and frozen homemade soup in the freezer.  Hot soup when it is 98 with no A/C isn't ideal, but it works my badassity muscles a bit.   

For the soups, some pureed veggie soups are actually quite good a bit chilled. For thinner broth soups, it's similar to the Japanese standard of miso soup in the morning - surprisingly yummy once you get over the cultural bias.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 04, 2015, 04:11:58 PM
Fantastic use of your stock!
Thank you.

Tomorrow I'll make black bean soup. Had to buy beans, but get to use even more stock from the freezer,  a pepper that's been sitting in the fridge since before I left for holiday and some canned tomatoes.

Then it's on to pasta. I have quite a lot of pasta and rice...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 06, 2015, 08:29:36 AM
Had some quinoa and roasted veg for lunch with had been languishing in the freezer for months. Texture wasn't great, but oh, well, food is food.

Bought a large loaf of bread early in the week and haven't eaten much, so planning bacon sandwiches for dinner to use it up! Yum yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 06, 2015, 12:50:02 PM
Last night I made a ground turkey meatloaf which took care of the last tiny bit of Dijon mustard hanging out in the fridge door.  It also used a leftover half bag of plain pork rinds as a binder.  Twice baked cauliflower (think twice baked potatoes only with cauliflower) used up the last of the bacon (Wah, LOL) and cheddar.

I also made bread which used the rest of last year's zucchini harvest, and 2 sad bananas tossed in the freezer in the spring.

I love this thread.  :D

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FIRE Artist on August 06, 2015, 07:21:06 PM
I didn't officially join this thread, but I have been semi following along and also eating down my food since the spring when I discovered MMM.  I am SINK, so there is no one to blame but me for the stockpiling of food.  Well, I do blame the temptations that Costco fills their aisles with, but still my fault. 

My fridge is now bare bones for at least a month, and as if by magic, I haven't wasted a bit of food due to only putting into it what I know I can reasonably eat.  I am now comfortable letting staples run out, no milk and eggs for a week?  No biggie, I will just eat something else.  I used to throw out spoiled milk, yogourt, eggs etc. on a regular  basis. 

One epiphany that I have had is that my issues lies with the fact that although I love cooking, I hate cooking on weeknights.  My deep freezer is finally getting bare, but I have visions of filling it back up again in the fall with MEALS, instead of INGREDIENTS.  So, I have rounded up a ton of slow cooker and once a month cooking recipes and I will start later on this month putting this plan in place.  I already do this with lasagne, so the concept should work out for me.  Silly really that I haven't done this in the past. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 07, 2015, 02:27:22 AM
Several portions of black bean soup in freezer. I ate it with quesedillas made with cheese about to go off, tortillas from the pantry and some frosen pre-cooked chicken. Also have started eating jam. From last fall. Need to eat before I can make more, and the homemade stuff is really good.

I struggle with homemade food and quantities. A small pot of jam is as much work as a big pot of jam. But I still need to work on making less of everything so that I'm not stuck with provisions for over a year when I know full well that berries ripen every 12 months. Ah, well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on August 07, 2015, 05:44:42 AM
Several portions of black bean soup in freezer. I ate it with quesedillas made with cheese about to go off, tortillas from the pantry and some frosen pre-cooked chicken. Also have started eating jam. From last fall. Need to eat before I can make more, and the homemade stuff is really good.

I struggle with homemade food and quantities. A small pot of jam is as much work as a big pot of jam. But I still need to work on making less of everything so that I'm not stuck with provisions for over a year when I know full well that berries ripen every 12 months. Ah, well.


You could always make jam only every two years; unopened jam keeps that long easily. If you have free berries the year in between, freeze for baking, smoothies, sauces, etc. Though all my frozen strawberries seem to be going into yogurt....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 07, 2015, 08:45:00 AM
Several portions of black bean soup in freezer. I ate it with quesedillas made with cheese about to go off, tortillas from the pantry and some frosen pre-cooked chicken. Also have started eating jam. From last fall. Need to eat before I can make more, and the homemade stuff is really good.

I struggle with homemade food and quantities. A small pot of jam is as much work as a big pot of jam. But I still need to work on making less of everything so that I'm not stuck with provisions for over a year when I know full well that berries ripen every 12 months. Ah, well.

Jam is an excellent gift. For just about any occasion
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on August 07, 2015, 07:48:42 PM
Made zucchini muffins (a friend gave me the zukes from his farm share) that used up date puree, frozen apple sauce, 2 eggs, and some of the whole wheat flour. Breakfast is set for a while. Yum!

My husband made slow cooker chicken and root vegetable stew with rutabaga from the garden, and the rest of the celery, tomato paste, potatoes, onion, chicken stock, and free farm share carrots. Phew!

Edit: I also finished eating the curried greens with garbanzos that I made/froze in July. It was just as delightful.  Made some space in the freezer for the stew!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on August 07, 2015, 08:39:55 PM
Using up some pinto beans and onion I had chopped and stashed in the freezer, by making baked beans for the first time ever.

Savoury muffins to use up self raising flour and fetta.

Managed to use up all our almonds and cashews in a batch of protein balls.

Trying very hard to clear as much as possible out before we move house - four days to eat it all! Well, realistically, much of what I'm doing is converting non- shelf stable ingredients into shelf stable meals and snacks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 07, 2015, 08:49:23 PM
Using up some pinto beans and onion I had chopped and stashed in the freezer, by making baked beans for the first time ever.

Savoury muffins to use up self raising flour and fetta.

Managed to use up all our almonds and cashews in a batch of protein balls.

Trying very hard to clear as much as possible out before we move house - four days to eat it all! Well, realistically, much of what I'm doing is converting non- shelf stable ingredients into shelf stable meals and snacks.

Moving is always great motivation:)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 07, 2015, 08:54:06 PM
I'm actually just about everything I had- except I'm still going thru the tea and cinnamon ( which I love together ) & the cayenne. Other than that I'm done. So I purchased a 1lb. Each of quinoa & lentils, some spinach & a bag of carrots and cooked some of them all together, with a little cayenne & plan to eat this until I'm out. I don't mind eating the same healthy foods for a few days at all. When I'm out, I get something a little different ( different vegetables mostly ) .
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Villanelle on August 09, 2015, 08:58:04 AM
Used up both the peanut better and jelly today. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 09, 2015, 10:58:04 AM
I would like to join!

My husband and I moved out of Alaska for the first time several years ago and now live on the "Wet Coast," where winter rain and wind storms mean lots of downed trees and branches and occasional power outages. I worry about my frozen goods during these outages, so I think eating down my frozen stores to a reasonable amount is a good idea. I have more than enough shelf stable goods for emergency stores.

In particular, I have a chest freezer full of salmon I have been working away at for a month or so now. Both my parents and in-laws send it down from time to time, and until recently I mostly ignored it since my husband never asks for it. The hubby and I grew up in Alaska, so we've eaten a lot of salmon over the years and it's not really exciting food anymore, however healthy. Some of it is smoked, but unfortunately their recipe is a little strong for my taste. We've given some away and traded some for grass fed beef, which was awesome. I found a few freezer burned regular fillets, so I baked those and my dogs feasted on them for several meals.

I'm not terribly fond of most salmon recipes, but I discovered I like salmon salad as well as I like tuna salad. My husband loves it, and he typically likes salmon even less than I do. So needless to say, it has been a non-stop salmon salad bonanza at the Mo household. I've also found that I can "cut" the smoked fillets with canned salmon, unsmoked filets, or even canned tuna and it balances the flavor nicely.

Cheers!

If you haven't used all of the smoked salmon yet, it is very tasty with a creamy sauce and pasta. There are loads of different recipes out there, but I usually just bring cream to boiling, add lemon juice and some seasoning, maybe some vegs, add salmon (smoked or unsmoked), stir and serve. The cream and cooking remove the strongest smoke flavour.


We have recently moved, but with the stash we brought, what we have bought, and gifts recieved, there is enough to last for a long time. I want to make room for the good deals on mutton that will come in october, so we should be eating from the stash. To keep it simple, we have made a dinner list of simple meals that we know we will cook and eat:
-pancakes
-reindeer lasagna
-tortellinis
-deer tacos
-pizzas with different leftovers
-ham and maccaroni casserole
-wok with pork
-springrolls
-nuggets
-schnitzels
-chili con moose
-porridge (rice, oatmeal...)
-fish filets with creamy sauce
-pytt-i-panne (hash)
-tuna pasta
-cauliflower soup
-tomato soup
-reindeer stew

My biggest challenge is a pound of frozen whale meat. I want to make some sort of stew, to be sure to cover any taste of cod liver oil. But maybe a wok with plenty of chili could be an idea? If it was fresh, I would have just boiled it with plenty of salt and blubber, but this has been frozen for some months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 09, 2015, 11:16:30 AM
I would like to join!

My husband and I moved out of Alaska for the first time several years ago and now live on the "Wet Coast," where winter rain and wind storms mean lots of downed trees and branches and occasional power outages. I worry about my frozen goods during these outages, so I think eating down my frozen stores to a reasonable amount is a good idea. I have more than enough shelf stable goods for emergency stores.

In particular, I have a chest freezer full of salmon I have been working away at for a month or so now. Both my parents and in-laws send it down from time to time, and until recently I mostly ignored it since my husband never asks for it. The hubby and I grew up in Alaska, so we've eaten a lot of salmon over the years and it's not really exciting food anymore, however healthy. Some of it is smoked, but unfortunately their recipe is a little strong for my taste. We've given some away and traded some for grass fed beef, which was awesome. I found a few freezer burned regular fillets, so I baked those and my dogs feasted on them for several meals.

I'm not terribly fond of most salmon recipes, but I discovered I like salmon salad as well as I like tuna salad. My husband loves it, and he typically likes salmon even less than I do. So needless to say, it has been a non-stop salmon salad bonanza at the Mo household. I've also found that I can "cut" the smoked fillets with canned salmon, unsmoked filets, or even canned tuna and it balances the flavor nicely.

Cheers!

If you haven't used all of the smoked salmon yet, it is very tasty with a creamy sauce and pasta. There are loads of different recipes out there, but I usually just bring cream to boiling, add lemon juice and some seasoning, maybe some vegs, add salmon (smoked or unsmoked), stir and serve. The cream and cooking remove the strongest smoke flavour.


We have recently moved, but with the stash we brought, what we have bought, and gifts recieved, there is enough to last for a long time. I want to make room for the good deals on mutton that will come in october, so we should be eating from the stash. To keep it simple, we have made a dinner list of simple meals that we know we will cook and eat:
-pancakes
-reindeer lasagna
-tortellinis
-deer tacos
-pizzas with different leftovers
-ham and maccaroni casserole
-wok with pork
-springrolls
-nuggets
-schnitzels
-chili con moose
-porridge (rice, oatmeal...)
-fish filets with creamy sauce
-pytt-i-panne (hash)
-tuna pasta
-cauliflower soup
-tomato soup
-reindeer stew

My biggest challenge is a pound of frozen whale meat. I want to make some sort of stew, to be sure to cover any taste of cod liver oil. But maybe a wok with plenty of chili could be an idea? If it was fresh, I would have just boiled it with plenty of salt and blubber, but this has been frozen for some months.

Hav to ask: what is reindeer lasagna?
Also, whale meat? That's a new one . where do you live, or how/why?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 09, 2015, 11:40:40 AM
I would like to join!

My husband and I moved out of Alaska for the first time several years ago and now live on the "Wet Coast," where winter rain and wind storms mean lots of downed trees and branches and occasional power outages. I worry about my frozen goods during these outages, so I think eating down my frozen stores to a reasonable amount is a good idea. I have more than enough shelf stable goods for emergency stores.

In particular, I have a chest freezer full of salmon I have been working away at for a month or so now. Both my parents and in-laws send it down from time to time, and until recently I mostly ignored it since my husband never asks for it. The hubby and I grew up in Alaska, so we've eaten a lot of salmon over the years and it's not really exciting food anymore, however healthy. Some of it is smoked, but unfortunately their recipe is a little strong for my taste. We've given some away and traded some for grass fed beef, which was awesome. I found a few freezer burned regular fillets, so I baked those and my dogs feasted on them for several meals.

I'm not terribly fond of most salmon recipes, but I discovered I like salmon salad as well as I like tuna salad. My husband loves it, and he typically likes salmon even less than I do. So needless to say, it has been a non-stop salmon salad bonanza at the Mo household. I've also found that I can "cut" the smoked fillets with canned salmon, unsmoked filets, or even canned tuna and it balances the flavor nicely.

Cheers!

If you haven't used all of the smoked salmon yet, it is very tasty with a creamy sauce and pasta. There are loads of different recipes out there, but I usually just bring cream to boiling, add lemon juice and some seasoning, maybe some vegs, add salmon (smoked or unsmoked), stir and serve. The cream and cooking remove the strongest smoke flavour.


We have recently moved, but with the stash we brought, what we have bought, and gifts recieved, there is enough to last for a long time. I want to make room for the good deals on mutton that will come in october, so we should be eating from the stash. To keep it simple, we have made a dinner list of simple meals that we know we will cook and eat:
-pancakes
-reindeer lasagna
-tortellinis
-deer tacos
-pizzas with different leftovers
-ham and maccaroni casserole
-wok with pork
-springrolls
-nuggets
-schnitzels
-chili con moose
-porridge (rice, oatmeal...)
-fish filets with creamy sauce
-pytt-i-panne (hash)
-tuna pasta
-cauliflower soup
-tomato soup
-reindeer stew

My biggest challenge is a pound of frozen whale meat. I want to make some sort of stew, to be sure to cover any taste of cod liver oil. But maybe a wok with plenty of chili could be an idea? If it was fresh, I would have just boiled it with plenty of salt and blubber, but this has been frozen for some months.

Hav to ask: what is reindeer lasagna?
Also, whale meat? That's a new one . where do you live, or how/why?

The why is because we prefer using wild animals when cooking meat. We believe that puts less pressure on the environment (feeding animals with food humans could eat, vs. animals making use of stuff we can't eat), and that the wild animals live better lives than the ones on mega farms. My father hunts reindeer, deer and moose, and fishes. I get whale meat from family in the Faroes and Norway, both places it is hunted as humanly as possible, from sustainable populations (pilot and minke whale, respectively). http://www.whaling.fo/ http://www.fisheries.no/ecosystems-and-stocks/marine_stocks/mammals/whales/whaling/#.VceP1fk0PVo

We also prefer modern cooking to the old (very bland) recipes. Reindeer lasagna is normal lasagna, with reindeer meat instead of beef.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 09, 2015, 01:46:28 PM
I would like to join!

My husband and I moved out of Alaska for the first time several years ago and now live on the "Wet Coast," where winter rain and wind storms mean lots of downed trees and branches and occasional power outages. I worry about my frozen goods during these outages, so I think eating down my frozen stores to a reasonable amount is a good idea. I have more than enough shelf stable goods for emergency stores.

In particular, I have a chest freezer full of salmon I have been working away at for a month or so now. Both my parents and in-laws send it down from time to time, and until recently I mostly ignored it since my husband never asks for it. The hubby and I grew up in Alaska, so we've eaten a lot of salmon over the years and it's not really exciting food anymore, however healthy. Some of it is smoked, but unfortunately their recipe is a little strong for my taste. We've given some away and traded some for grass fed beef, which was awesome. I found a few freezer burned regular fillets, so I baked those and my dogs feasted on them for several meals.

I'm not terribly fond of most salmon recipes, but I discovered I like salmon salad as well as I like tuna salad. My husband loves it, and he typically likes salmon even less than I do. So needless to say, it has been a non-stop salmon salad bonanza at the Mo household. I've also found that I can "cut" the smoked fillets with canned salmon, unsmoked filets, or even canned tuna and it balances the flavor nicely.

Cheers!

If you haven't used all of the smoked salmon yet, it is very tasty with a creamy sauce and pasta. There are loads of different recipes out there, but I usually just bring cream to boiling, add lemon juice and some seasoning, maybe some vegs, add salmon (smoked or unsmoked), stir and serve. The cream and cooking remove the strongest smoke flavour.


We have recently moved, but with the stash we brought, what we have bought, and gifts recieved, there is enough to last for a long time. I want to make room for the good deals on mutton that will come in october, so we should be eating from the stash. To keep it simple, we have made a dinner list of simple meals that we know we will cook and eat:
-pancakes
-reindeer lasagna
-tortellinis
-deer tacos
-pizzas with different leftovers
-ham and maccaroni casserole
-wok with pork
-springrolls
-nuggets
-schnitzels
-chili con moose
-porridge (rice, oatmeal...)
-fish filets with creamy sauce
-pytt-i-panne (hash)
-tuna pasta
-cauliflower soup
-tomato soup
-reindeer stew

My biggest challenge is a pound of frozen whale meat. I want to make some sort of stew, to be sure to cover any taste of cod liver oil. But maybe a wok with plenty of chili could be an idea? If it was fresh, I would have just boiled it with plenty of salt and blubber, but this has been frozen for some months.

Hav to ask: what is reindeer lasagna?
Also, whale meat? That's a new one . where do you live, or how/why?

The why is because we prefer using wild animals when cooking meat. We believe that puts less pressure on the environment (feeding animals with food humans could eat, vs. animals making use of stuff we can't eat), and that the wild animals live better lives than the ones on mega farms. My father hunts reindeer, deer and moose, and fishes. I get whale meat from family in the Faroes and Norway, both places it is hunted as humanly as possible, from sustainable populations (pilot and minke whale, respectively). http://www.whaling.fo/ http://www.fisheries.no/ecosystems-and-stocks/marine_stocks/mammals/whales/whaling/#.VceP1fk0PVo

We also prefer modern cooking to the old (very bland) recipes. Reindeer lasagna is normal lasagna, with reindeer meat instead of beef.

Got it. Excellent. When I was a baby and we lived in the mountains, my dad would hunt. And so we ate bear, deer, snake, etc.
And now he's been living in Alaska for around 30 yrs. and his friends always give him their catches (any sea find) or hunts- specifically parts they wouldn't be interested in, like the head, etc. So he got a moose head, and he got very creative with dishes and it fed him for quite a while . dads the one who got me into Mustachianism :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 09, 2015, 02:08:26 PM
Where I live whale is considered to be best-tasting where seared quickly on high heat. So I'd recomend slicing it thinly (easiest done when the meat is semi-frozen), marinating in flavour of your choice and then made into a sort of stir-fry. I also imagine seared ginger-marinated whale to be excelent topping on nigiri - but that I haven't yet tried.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 10, 2015, 08:50:36 AM
Got it. Excellent. When I was a baby and we lived in the mountains, my dad would hunt. And so we ate bear, deer, snake, etc.
And now he's been living in Alaska for around 30 yrs. and his friends always give him their catches (any sea find) or hunts- specifically parts they wouldn't be interested in, like the head, etc. So he got a moose head, and he got very creative with dishes and it fed him for quite a while . dads the one who got me into Mustachianism :)

My parents like sheep heads, but I'm sure they haven't tried moose head. I guess it would be difficult to prepare them the same way, there is no way that giant head would fit in a normal pot. But there must be plenty of good meat in the cheeks and tongue, so it is strange that we don't use more of it.

Where I live whale is considered to be best-tasting where seared quickly on high heat. So I'd recomend slicing it thinly (easiest done when the meat is semi-frozen), marinating in flavour of your choice and then made into a sort of stir-fry. I also imagine seared ginger-marinated whale to be excelent topping on nigiri - but that I haven't yet tried.
Thank you, that sounds like a good idea. Thin slices, marinade, and some nice vegetables. Maybe some noodles. Doesn't take to long to prepare, either.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on August 11, 2015, 02:18:02 PM
Ate the frozen leftovers from an office party and garden broccoli leftovers from a dinner. It was delish, free, and made space in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SisterX on August 11, 2015, 11:38:43 PM
Where I live whale is considered to be best-tasting where seared quickly on high heat. So I'd recomend slicing it thinly (easiest done when the meat is semi-frozen), marinating in flavour of your choice and then made into a sort of stir-fry. I also imagine seared ginger-marinated whale to be excelent topping on nigiri - but that I haven't yet tried.
Thank you, that sounds like a good idea. Thin slices, marinade, and some nice vegetables. Maybe some noodles. Doesn't take to long to prepare, either.

I've never tasted whale so this is a shot in the dark, but could you do some sort of sushi?  My husband and I sear tuna for sushi.  Or you could maybe do a fried sushi, to cook it?

If that sounds gross, I Googled it out of curiosity and came up with this list of ways to cook whale meat:
http://herrickreport.com/whalerecipes.html?hc_location=ufi
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 13, 2015, 06:35:48 AM
I have been so good at using up fresh foods or freezing stuff that won't last, that my freezer, is, once again, approaching full.

Lots of nice things in there, and loads of fun spices in the cupboard, so it's time to start menu planning!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on August 13, 2015, 07:30:36 AM
Nice job, advicist! Same here. I just blanched/froze a bunch of basil. Once I finish decluttering, I'm going to buy a small deep freezer for all the lovely large batch meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on August 14, 2015, 08:25:24 PM
What to do with a container of sour cream?

We had to toss out a few bagels today.  I did use 5 over ripe bananas for banana bread yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 14, 2015, 08:49:17 PM
What to do with a container of sour cream?

We had to toss out a few bagels today.  I did use 5 over ripe bananas for banana bread yesterday.


Sour cream is a nice light dessert with sliced strawberries mixed in (add sugar optional).
Or add sweetener to sour cream for dessert topping (similar to cool whip).
BTW, super ripe bananas are excellent when frozen- just peel and place in a bag , and into the freezer. It turns into a ice cream like treat (and healthy). also excellent addition to smoothies in summertime to cool you down.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 15, 2015, 03:20:03 AM
There are many recipes online for things like sour cream coffeecake, and in other baked goods. Here's a few suggestions too:

http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/7-ways-with/ways-to-cook-with-sour-cream#more

http://www.thekitchn.com/help-what-to-do-with-leftover-81406
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 15, 2015, 09:41:39 AM
I don't know if your sour cream is the same as our, I think bacterial cultures and fat content varies, but we use a lot of sour cream in sauces and casseroles. One of my father's favorite left over dishes go something like: Sliced sausages or other types of left over meat, onions, boiled potates, carrots and swedes, fry lightly in a large pan, add a box of sour cream, cook for 2-3 minutes, serve. I like to add a dollop of chilli paste or some spices, to get a bit fresher taste.

Waffles with sour cream get really crunchy, and you can use it in porridge instead of milk or water. All baking (breads, buns...) get better with sour cream.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 15, 2015, 09:49:49 AM
Brown rice cooked up with kidney beans. Mmm. I will hav a side of raw veggies to complete the meal or a veg smoothie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 15, 2015, 10:10:24 AM
We cooked up a large portion of lasagna yesterday, from food in the pantries. Got rid of some old cheese, meat from the freezer, and pasta. One portion went back into the freezer, the rest was eaten for lunch, dinner and breakfast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ox05 on August 16, 2015, 08:46:02 PM
Finally worked through some Bulgar wheat (delicious, healthy and affordable... but also REALLY easy to ignore). Combined it with some chicken, sauteed potatoes/onion, and a pouch of Tasty Bite Vegetable Tikka Massala. Surprisingly simple to make, healthy, cheap, and delicious. Thanks for challenging me!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 17, 2015, 01:59:57 AM
Did a full inventory of the freezer on Saturday (cold hands!).

Took out some salmon for dinner. Was informed with one hours notice that we had an unexpected dinner guest (which was a nice suprise), so had to scramble for what to do.

Contemplated fish cakes to stretch the two fillets, but I also had a lovely pork loin in the freezer which, with more notice, I definitely would have served. So I defrosted that under running water and saved the salmon for Sunday. Cobbled together a quick mozarella and tomato salad to start, since we didn't have many potatoes.

Made a sauce for the pork from onions, garlic, an apple and an individual pot of chicken stock, which has been hanging around for ages. All in all a very yummy dinner, and I was pleased with myself for not suggesting we go out or get take away just because it was last minute.

I also discovered I have enough ends of chicken fillets for a meal. When I get a bird with lots of breast meat I shave a bit off and freeze it. I've now got enough of these 'extras' for chicken fajitas, which will feel like a free meal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on August 17, 2015, 11:06:29 AM
Nice Job everyone!

OX05 - for bulgar. I make a vegetarian version of Cig Kofte. Loosely based on this recipe: http://www.unrulybliss.com/recipe/turkish-red-lentil-lettuce-wraps/ (http://www.unrulybliss.com/recipe/turkish-red-lentil-lettuce-wraps/) They are awesome, everyone in my family loves them! They are great wrapped in lettuce, but the filling can also be fried into little patties much like a falafel - but way tastier!

I have been finding my biggest "Use it up" challenge has been the fresh veggies that we have been getting from the Garden and CSA. Living up North and not having access to fresh veggies for so many years has made me get into the habit of not being very good at remembering to cook with them. 

I have a big crockpot of fennel, onions and apple that I am caramelizing. Will serve with a pork loin roast I found in the freezer for dinner tonight and leftovers for the next couple of days. Planning on making a pan of roasted root veggies to go along with it.

I have been making No-knead bread but substituting 1/2 a cup of the flour for the cornmeal I have been trying to use up for ages (Making progress, I just had way too much) it has been working out very well.

Does anyone have any suggestions for fresh green beans? Usually, I give them a quick stir-fry in garlic and top with some toasted almonds, but it is starting to become monotonous. I do know this is a good problem to have!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on August 17, 2015, 12:11:39 PM
Made a batch of pancakes yesterday from a liter of sourmilk (kefir) and a bit of sourcream that were almost two months past the date. Really fluffy and nice pancakes, that disappeared almost as fast as I could make them.

Dinner today was the last of our eggs with some tomato soup and pasta. For tomorrow, I've pulled out some pork, think I'll be making a stir fry.

I'm already seeing more space in the freezer and fridge. Not really seeing as big a difference in the food budget as I was hoping for, but maybe if we keep this up...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 17, 2015, 12:18:08 PM
Nice Job everyone!

OX05 - for bulgar. I make a vegetarian version of Cig Kofte. Loosely based on this recipe: http://www.unrulybliss.com/recipe/turkish-red-lentil-lettuce-wraps/ (http://www.unrulybliss.com/recipe/turkish-red-lentil-lettuce-wraps/) They are awesome, everyone in my family loves them! They are great wrapped in lettuce, but the filling can also be fried into little patties much like a falafel - but way tastier!

I have been finding my biggest "Use it up" challenge has been the fresh veggies that we have been getting from the Garden and CSA. Living up North and not having access to fresh veggies for so many years has made me get into the habit of not being very good at remembering to cook with them. 

I have a big crockpot of fennel, onions and apple that I am caramelizing. Will serve with a pork loin roast I found in the freezer for dinner tonight and leftovers for the next couple of days. Planning on making a pan of roasted root veggies to go along with it.

I have been making No-knead bread but substituting 1/2 a cup of the flour for the cornmeal I have been trying to use up for ages (Making progress, I just had way too much) it has been working out very well.

Does anyone have any suggestions for fresh green beans? Usually, I give them a quick stir-fry in garlic and top with some toasted almonds, but it is starting to become monotonous. I do know this is a good problem to have!

Green beans are excellent in eggs ( lighly cook first unless sliced to small pieces ).
Excellent addition to salads, with cooked or raw ( I love them raw ).
Great raw with hummus or dip.
Green bean casserole: add cream of mushroom, onions, salt, pepper and top with dried onions ( and bake ).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on August 17, 2015, 12:32:02 PM
[quote author=riverffashion link=topic=23139.msg771323#msg771323 date=1439835488

Green beans are excellent in eggs ( lighly cook first unless sliced to small pieces ).
Excellent addition to salads, with cooked or raw ( I love them raw ).
Great raw with hummus or dip.
Green bean casserole: add cream of mushroom, onions, salt, pepper and top with dried onions ( and bake ).
[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 17, 2015, 07:08:07 PM
[quote author=riverffashion link=topic=23139.msg771323#msg771323 date=1439835488

Green beans are excellent in eggs ( lighly cook first unless sliced to small pieces ).
Excellent addition to salads, with cooked or raw ( I love them raw ).
Great raw with hummus or dip.
Green bean casserole: add cream of mushroom, onions, salt, pepper and top with dried onions ( and bake ).

Thanks for the suggestions!
[/quote]

This is a great thread for new ideas isn't it? Love it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ox05 on August 17, 2015, 08:05:01 PM
Swig! Thanks for the advice, I'm totally going to fry the rest up as patties tomorrow to mix things up a bit!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 19, 2015, 06:26:05 PM
Another way to use up green beans: can them! My sister has been pickling green beans for years and they are quite tasty.

I like steamed green beans as one of the beans in 3 bean salad (I also use pintos, chickpeas, kidney beans -- whatever adds up to 3 beans). There are lots of easy recipes for this online.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on August 19, 2015, 08:19:43 PM
Does anyone have any suggestions for fresh green beans?

Green bean tacos are awesome! 

It's similar to making peppers and onions for fajitas-- but replace the peppers with green beans and skip the meat.  I flavor it all with cumin, chili powder and garlic.   Serve with tortillas and your preferred taco fixings!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 23, 2015, 08:33:41 PM
I figure out how to make homemade tofu from dry soy beans. It took two days. But the texture is a 1000 times better than the store bought stuff. Fried it up with some miso and soy sauce and served over salad with homemade peanut seaseme dressing...even my 5 year old went nuts for it. Yea for not only saving some cash but making food with what is on hand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 23, 2015, 08:40:34 PM
Used up a bag of Costco shrimp that was in the freezer -- made a fresh veggie stir fry with 3 zucchini, 2 onions, 2 bell peppers, a small bag of carrots, some questionable celery and a homemade stir fry sauce -- threw in the cooked shrimp at the last minute. Dinner was delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 23, 2015, 09:52:29 PM
I figure out how to make homemade tofu from dry soy beans. It took two days. But the texture is a 1000 times better than the store bought stuff. Fried it up with some miso and soy sauce and served over salad with homemade peanut seaseme dressing...even my 5 year old went nuts for it. Yea for not only saving some cash but making food with what is on hand.

That's super exciting! I never thought about making tofu (although I've made a million other things from scratch). And the completed meal sounds delicious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 24, 2015, 03:07:43 AM
Thanks to my freezer audit earlier this week, I knew we had enough scraps of chicken breast to make fajitas without buying chicken. So I defrosted them all and was glad to use them up. One bag was dated 2012 (!) and had a little freezer burn, but oh well, serves me right for not using it up sooner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 24, 2015, 12:44:34 PM
Used up the rest of the almond flour to make breakfast pizzas yesterday.

Used up the three overripe bananas to make banana bread last night.

I'll use up the rest of the plain pork rinds to bread chicken legs tonight.

Tossed 1/2 cup strawberries yesterday.  We didn't get to them in time before leaving for vacation last week, and I neglected to toss them into the freezer.  :(  However, that's it for food waste this month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 24, 2015, 03:20:43 PM
I've used up all my stock, so made new on the frozen chicken bones today.

Also been really enjoying ods-and-end salad the last few days. Only rule is: put in all and soundry you will eat from fridge and pantry. Todays lunchsalad was red onion, olives, feta, some sausage, tomatoes, pineaple (all random leftovers), a heap of lettuce and plenty of herbs to liven things up. It's quite the creative prosess: I've never har this fun with salads before.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 25, 2015, 02:04:09 PM
This is going to be pleasant for my wallet.
Spent $ 19 this weekend for every last food-item I need until next week. And then I only need some milk, fresh fruit and cheese to last another full week.

Today made two more lunchsalads with ods and ends. Hope capers fits  - found  a jar in the back of my fridge and made use of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 26, 2015, 09:42:37 AM
Soaked and boiled a pot of pinto beans for instead of opening a can of refried beans for burritos last night.  DH bought a HUGE bag of pintos earlier this year, and we've slowly been going through it.  Used up the last evelope of very strong taco seasoning mix.  Blegh.  I'll continue making my own blend.

Zucchini will go into tomorrow's Crock Pot lasagna, as will a container of homemade tomato sauce from the freezer.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on August 26, 2015, 09:55:03 AM
This is going to be pleasant for my wallet.
Spent $ 19 this weekend for every last food-item I need until next week. And then I only need some milk, fresh fruit and cheese to last another full week.

Today made two more lunchsalads with ods and ends. Hope capers fits  - found  a jar in the back of my fridge and made use of it.

Popped capers are life transforming! Drain em, pat em dry and heat up a bit of olive oil. When really hot, add the capers and stir them around until they begin to golden and crisp. Just a minute or two. Drain em on paper towel. I add em to everything.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on August 28, 2015, 01:20:39 AM
Popped capers are life transforming! Drain em, pat em dry and heat up a bit of olive oil. When really hot, add the capers and stir them around until they begin to golden and crisp. Just a minute or two. Drain em on paper towel. I add em to everything.
Thank you for the tip. Will try. :)

Today I'm making pumpkin soup with the very last of last years pumpkin puree. Good to have it out of the freezer before the new pumpkin season. Also using up half a can of coconut milk and some of the never-ending supply of home grown chilies.

Made croutons from old stale bread for the first time ever this week. Can't believe I've never made them before. Takes next to no time - tastes amazing. Now I'm looking forward to testing out different herbs and a bit of cheese with them and so on..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 28, 2015, 02:48:06 AM
Had dinner all prepped and ready to cook when husband called to tell me he wouldn't be home for dinner! Cooked it and froze it all, as we're away for the weekend and it wouldn't have lasted all chopped up. Glad to have a ready done meal in the freezer I guess, but I was annoyed at the time.

Without this thread I may have just let my annoyance take over and wasted most of it, but now I wouldn't dare!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 29, 2015, 10:07:25 PM
Used up a jar of extra virgin olive oil today, just in time for it to be replaced by a 3L tin I picked up for $16.99. It was the last one on the shelf so I asked for a rain check for 2 more :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on August 30, 2015, 05:18:39 AM
Working on some chocolate right now ;-) that counts, right? It was in my pantry!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on August 30, 2015, 07:18:03 PM
Working on some chocolate right now ;-) that counts, right? It was in my pantry!
Totally!

I used leftover whipping cream (used to make tikka masala a few weeks ago), a little hot fudge, and strawberries to make a dessert because I was craving something sweet. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juslookin on September 03, 2015, 05:10:30 AM
I've been reading and catching up. We had a pipe burst over the winter and cause major damage to our first floor and kitchen. I was without a kitchen for most of the summer. The result was massive food bills.

We set up a makeshift kitchen in the basement with an electric burner, microwave and toaster oven but it was a challenge to say the least.

Now that I have my kitchen back, (and it's gorgeous), I need to get back to eating down our stock.
I have two fridge/freezer combos, a chest freezer and an upright freezer. I actually have another chest freezer but we emptied that in the spring and it sits unplugged.

We grow a lot of our fruit and veggies. We have raised our own chicken and pork. Right now I am raising a beef cow. So at certain times of the year we can fill those freezers up easy. This year with the work in the house, (we did it ourselves, my husband is a wonderful carpenter), we didn't process anything out of the garden, we're just eating it. This is fine because I still have an overabundance from last year.

I will do a freezer inventory this week and get on track. I'd like to save a ton of food money this month.

So last night's dinner was chicken quesadillas for two of us and shepherds pie for the other two. I didn't have enough beef or chicken leftovers for four so I combined them. I thawed a gluten free strawberry cake and we all enjoyed desert, a rarity.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dexterous on September 13, 2015, 01:44:36 AM
We embarked on this task a month ago without posting, and right as we about finished... our friends moved across country.  They provided us all of their food that they didn't want to transport, which completely filled our cabinets/freezer.  It's now time to start over, with some foods we typically don't eat!  Fun.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 13, 2015, 11:41:50 AM
We embarked on this task a month ago without posting, and right as we about finished... our friends moved across country.  They provided us all of their food that they didn't want to transport, which completely filled our cabinets/freezer.  It's now time to start over, with some foods we typically don't eat!  Fun.

Excellent! Free food, money saved, great challenge :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 28, 2015, 06:05:18 PM
Salad with spinach, romaine lettuce, carrot, apple. Corn tortillas, hot sauce, and salt. I eat a plant-based diet, but was expecting to not fill up. I did and was pleasantly surprised.
Also, I don't enjoy fruit in salads ordinarily but figured I needed to bulk up the meal so added & was actually good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on September 29, 2015, 01:50:34 AM
I'm in! I'll be moving from Germany to the US in just 12 days! I have a tiny kitchen, so not a huge stash of food, but still need to get through the random bits and bobs floating around in there...I've planned to make some veggie burgers to use my canned beans, sweet potatoes, and breadcrumbs (still leaving me with an excess of breadcrumbs!) and need to find a good use for 1/2 jar of tart cherry jam. It's awesome jam but I'm not much of a jam eater - bought it for my mom - and don't want to buy any baking supplies to turn it into something else. Does anybody have a good, vegetarian recipe for something savory one can make with cherry jam? I'm thinking of mixing it with balsamic vinegar for some salad dressing, or with fresh tomatoes & veggies for a chopped relish type thing. Dunno. What are your thoughts? I'm hoping to be ~zero waste when I leave on the 10th, though worst case scenario I contribute to the great German compost pile...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 29, 2015, 06:01:26 AM
need to find a good use for 1/2 jar of tart cherry jam. It's awesome jam but I'm not much of a jam eater - bought it for my mom - and don't want to buy any baking supplies to turn it into something else. Does anybody have a good, vegetarian recipe for something savory one can make with cherry jam?

Couscous, roast squash or sweet potato and a spiced cherry jam/onion compote/chutney on top with some nuts?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on September 29, 2015, 07:11:08 AM
That sounds tasty - thanks! Will have to think about how to spice it properly...probably with something reasonably hot, like cayenne. Onion, cherry, and cayenne pepper chutney could work!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 29, 2015, 12:59:29 PM
I'm in! I'll be moving from Germany to the US in just 12 days! I have a tiny kitchen, so not a huge stash of food, but still need to get through the random bits and bobs floating around in there...I've planned to make some veggie burgers to use my canned beans, sweet potatoes, and breadcrumbs (still leaving me with an excess of breadcrumbs!) and need to find a good use for 1/2 jar of tart cherry jam. It's awesome jam but I'm not much of a jam eater - bought it for my mom - and don't want to buy any baking supplies to turn it into something else. Does anybody have a good, vegetarian recipe for something savory one can make with cherry jam? I'm thinking of mixing it with balsamic vinegar for some salad dressing, or with fresh tomatoes & veggies for a chopped relish type thing. Dunno. What are your thoughts? I'm hoping to be ~zero waste when I leave on the 10th, though worst case scenario I contribute to the great German compost pile...

My coworker has an excellent recipe with tart cherries-
Soak in whiskey 24 hrs at least.
Sauté cherries in butter.
Add sauted mushrooms & Worcester sauce .
She uses as a steak sauce, but could be used for anything I image.
I am vegan, so would use probably coconut oil as substitute for butter.
Probably good over sauted greens, brown rice or quinoa.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Gray Matter on September 29, 2015, 03:33:32 PM
I have a slight twist on this.  DH and I overspent this month on groceries (damn Costco!), and I want to make it up in October.  So, my goal for a family of five:

$600.00     October's monthly grocery allotment
-272.31      Amount overspent in September
-100.00      School lunches for October
$227.69    Total Amount Budgeted for October Groceries

This won't be easy, but should be doable as we have food in the pantry and freezer, including a turkey, and still have a box of veggies each week from the CSA (not sure when that stops, but sometime in October).  It'll be made a little more challenging by the fact that I'm hosting my mom and aunt for a long weekend, and we're taking friends to the cabin for another weekend, but with lots of planning and foresight (NOT my forte), we should be OK.

I'll check in periodically this month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 29, 2015, 04:16:30 PM
I have a slight twist on this.  DH and I overspent this month on groceries (damn Costco!), and I want to make it up in October.  So, my goal for a family of five:

$600.00     October's monthly grocery allotment
-272.31      Amount overspent in September
-100.00      School lunches for October
$227.69    Total Amount Budgeted for October Groceries

This won't be easy, but should be doable as we have food in the pantry and freezer, including a turkey, and still have a box of veggies each week from the CSA (not sure when that stops, but sometime in October).  It'll be made a little more challenging by the fact that I'm hosting my mom and aunt for a long weekend, and we're taking friends to the cabin for another weekend, but with lots of planning and foresight (NOT my forte), we should be OK.

I'll check in periodically this month.

If you tell us what you hav, perhaps we can offer up ideas :).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kaikou on September 29, 2015, 05:06:34 PM
this sounds like foun! :0

so do we list what we have in house and then people share recipes?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 29, 2015, 05:08:17 PM
this sounds like foun! :0

so do we list what we have in house and then people share recipes?

Yes, excellent!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on October 05, 2015, 09:04:25 AM
What's your favorite recipe involving cucumbers?
-Have done: cucumber salad, tabbouleh, pickles, cucumber muffins
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 05, 2015, 09:22:24 AM
What's your favorite recipe involving cucumbers?
-Have done: cucumber salad, tabbouleh, pickles, cucumber muffins


Cucumber is really good in smoothies. Gives a sort of light sweet taste and nice smooth texture. Blend with any combination of fruits or veg. And some some of milk (iuse substitute, am vegan)
Kale, spinach, apple, banana, pineapple, any kind of melon or berry, mango, carrot, celery are all good options.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 06, 2015, 12:13:15 PM
I'm jumping back in.  We've acquired a lot of weird food items in the past few months.  Our freezer is overflowing.  Our shelves are full, and I'm still shopping for new food. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 06, 2015, 02:35:23 PM
Im out of black tea, so I've decided not to buy more- just quit caffeine (which I've done a few times over the years). Looking forward to the natural energy that always follows :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on October 06, 2015, 05:00:15 PM
Smoothies! They totally fell off my radar. Thanks! Also good on you for quitting caffeine!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on October 07, 2015, 12:19:36 PM
Well, I'm in the last few days before I move and I've done all the cooking I'm going to do. Most of my leftover fresh veg, onions, olives, etc. got turned into a surprisingly tasty pot of rice & beans ++ tonight. I've got enough leftovers to keep me through the remainder of my time here, lined up neatly in the fridge. I gave some usable food to a colleague who lives in the same building (rice, breadcrumbs, an extra head of garlic) and I think the pitch pile will be as follows: a bit of fresh ginger, a few Tbsp jam (I tried hard but can't eat all of it!), and yogurt my mom bought a few weeks ago & didn't finish (I'm wildly lactose intolerant, and couldn't eat it if I wanted to). Germany is big on composting so I don't feel very guilty for the (minimal) waste. I've also got some great bread spread in the fridge and I'm thinking of having that for breakfast Saturday before I leave, with just a little bit of celebratory German bread. Which happens to be the best bread in the whole world...so! Pretty pleased. I'm excited to repeat the experience when I return home to various half-empty containers of bits & bobs. It's actually quite fun :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Gray Matter on October 09, 2015, 04:58:47 AM
Doing OK so far on the grocery budget--have spent about $47 out of a budget of $227 for the month (for five of us--trying to make up our deficit spending from last month).  Plan on cooking a small turkey that's taking up space in my freezer this weekend and making a few meals from that.

The biggest challenge will be next week when I'm hosting my mom, dad, and aunt Thursday-Sunday.  I haven't been good at entertaining on a budget in the past, so that will be an interesting challenge for me.

One kinda funny thing.  I had some bread dough in the freezer and wanted to bake it to go with crockpot split pea/potato/broccoli soup (getting creative with whatever's in the fridge).  It was a busy day with lots of coming and going, so I tried speed up the rising process by putting it covered in the oven at a low temperature.  Despite coating the cling wrap, it still stuck and in pulling it off, the whole loaf collapsed.  I baked it anyway, and oh. my. god.  It was so delicious.  Dense and chewy and WAY better than the usual light and fluffy stuff.  The kids devoured it--we ate a whole loaf in one sitting.  Sometimes things are salvageable in unexpected ways.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 10, 2015, 12:42:49 AM
Glad to see this thread still going as I could use it right now.

I have tons of work travel this month, so avoiding buying stuff that won't get eaten will be a huge plus.  In addition, we have a beef quarter coming shortly, so making room in the freezer will make it way easier to put the new meat in in some sort of order. 

Have some beans and grains that I need to admit we're never going to eat, so they need to be cooked up and fed to the chickens.  Also need to suck it up and figure out what to do with the heart and tongue from last year's beef quarter.

Haven't been doing smoothies but have a couple cans of pumpkin and lots of vanilla whey powder, so "pumpkin pie" smoothies are going to be a staple breakfast for the workdays that I'm not out of town.  I've also been working on eating down the stash of various fruit preserves by mixing them into plain yogurt.  I got way overzealous with the jam-making when I first learned to can, but we never have toast, so there aren't many opportunities to use the stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 10, 2015, 04:21:20 PM
Glad to see this thread still going as I could use it right now.

I have tons of work travel this month, so avoiding buying stuff that won't get eaten will be a huge plus.  In addition, we have a beef quarter coming shortly, so making room in the freezer will make it way easier to put the new meat in in some sort of order. 

Have some beans and grains that I need to admit we're never going to eat, so they need to be cooked up and fed to the chickens.  Also need to suck it up and figure out what to do with the heart and tongue from last year's beef quarter.

Haven't been doing smoothies but have a couple cans of pumpkin and lots of vanilla whey powder, so "pumpkin pie" smoothies are going to be a staple breakfast for the workdays that I'm not out of town.  I've also been working on eating down the stash of various fruit preserves by mixing them into plain yogurt.  I got way overzealous with the jam-making when I first learned to can, but we never have toast, so there aren't many opportunities to use the stuff.

Beef tongue makes great tacos.
Beef heart makes great BBQ beef put the heart in the crock pot cover with BBQ sauce and then cook on low all day. It is so good with some raw onion on a roll or not. One of my fav
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Gray Matter on October 11, 2015, 06:18:01 AM
I have a slight twist on this.  DH and I overspent this month on groceries (damn Costco!), and I want to make it up in October.  So, my goal for a family of five:

$600.00     October's monthly grocery allotment
-272.31      Amount overspent in September
-100.00      School lunches for October
$227.69    Total Amount Budgeted for October Groceries

This won't be easy, but should be doable as we have food in the pantry and freezer, including a turkey, and still have a box of veggies each week from the CSA (not sure when that stops, but sometime in October).  It'll be made a little more challenging by the fact that I'm hosting my mom and aunt for a long weekend, and we're taking friends to the cabin for another weekend, but with lots of planning and foresight (NOT my forte), we should be OK.

I'll check in periodically this month.

If you tell us what you hav, perhaps we can offer up ideas :).

This is me (Miss Two-Twenty-Seven Until November) and I've already fucked it up.  Made it until October 10.  I haven't quite figured out how to wrangle Costco.  I like going there, because some things are much cheaper than I can find at any of the other local grocery stores, but I ALWAYS OVERSPEND.

I put a turkey on (had been residing in my freezer forever--decided to cook it and get multiple meals out of it), did some menu planning for the next week (which includes entertaining my folks and an aunt for four days), and I went with a list of fill-in ingredients.  But then I wasn't thinking of the fact that everything you buy is in bulk, so instead of the one can of black olives I need for my recipe, I now have eight.  Same with diced tomatoes, quinoa, etc.  Grand total = $270.

But I did some things right, too, so I don't want to count it as a complete failure.  I went off a list, I didn't buy impulse purchases, and I didn't buy anything prepackaged (which, I'll be honest, we normally do).  So...a failure that with potential to redeem?  I've kicked the goal for ending up flush in the grocery budget into the next month, hoping I can get half-way there this and the rest of the way there by the end of next month.

Once I get through my houseguests, then I'll be looking for advice for some random ingredients.  I don't mind serving unusual combinations to my own immediate family, but prefer recognizable dishes for guests, thus all the fill-in ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 11, 2015, 08:35:38 AM
Glad to see this thread still going as I could use it right now.

I have tons of work travel this month, so avoiding buying stuff that won't get eaten will be a huge plus.  In addition, we have a beef quarter coming shortly, so making room in the freezer will make it way easier to put the new meat in in some sort of order. 

Have some beans and grains that I need to admit we're never going to eat, so they need to be cooked up and fed to the chickens.  Also need to suck it up and figure out what to do with the heart and tongue from last year's beef quarter.

Haven't been doing smoothies but have a couple cans of pumpkin and lots of vanilla whey powder, so "pumpkin pie" smoothies are going to be a staple breakfast for the workdays that I'm not out of town.  I've also been working on eating down the stash of various fruit preserves by mixing them into plain yogurt.  I got way overzealous with the jam-making when I first learned to can, but we never have toast, so there aren't many opportunities to use the stuff.

Beef tongue makes great tacos.
Beef heart makes great BBQ beef put the heart in the crock pot cover with BBQ sauce and then cook on low all day. It is so good with some raw onion on a roll or not. One of my fav

Thanks!  So does the beef heart cook in a way that it shreds after slow-cooking?  I've always thought that it didn't  have the same type of muscle fibers and was afraid it would just sort of turn to mush with a long stewing treatment.

Lengua tacos are great as long as the tongue is cooked enough to be tender.  Not a fan of the rubbery little cubes I've gotten from some taco stands.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on October 11, 2015, 10:25:59 AM
I have a slight twist on this.  DH and I overspent this month on groceries (damn Costco!), and I want to make it up in October.  So, my goal for a family of five:

$600.00     October's monthly grocery allotment
-272.31      Amount overspent in September
-100.00      School lunches for October
$227.69    Total Amount Budgeted for October Groceries

This won't be easy, but should be doable as we have food in the pantry and freezer, including a turkey, and still have a box of veggies each week from the CSA (not sure when that stops, but sometime in October).  It'll be made a little more challenging by the fact that I'm hosting my mom and aunt for a long weekend, and we're taking friends to the cabin for another weekend, but with lots of planning and foresight (NOT my forte), we should be OK.

I'll check in periodically this month.

If you tell us what you hav, perhaps we can offer up ideas :).

This is me (Miss Two-Twenty-Seven Until November) and I've already fucked it up.  Made it until October 10.  I haven't quite figured out how to wrangle Costco.  I like going there, because some things are much cheaper than I can find at any of the other local grocery stores, but I ALWAYS OVERSPEND.

I put a turkey on (had been residing in my freezer forever--decided to cook it and get multiple meals out of it), did some menu planning for the next week (which includes entertaining my folks and an aunt for four days), and I went with a list of fill-in ingredients.  But then I wasn't thinking of the fact that everything you buy is in bulk, so instead of the one can of black olives I need for my recipe, I now have eight.  Same with diced tomatoes, quinoa, etc.  Grand total = $270.

But I did some things right, too, so I don't want to count it as a complete failure.  I went off a list, I didn't buy impulse purchases, and I didn't buy anything prepackaged (which, I'll be honest, we normally do).  So...a failure that with potential to redeem?  I've kicked the goal for ending up flush in the grocery budget into the next month, hoping I can get half-way there this and the rest of the way there by the end of next month.

Once I get through my houseguests, then I'll be looking for advice for some random ingredients.  I don't mind serving unusual combinations to my own immediate family, but prefer recognizable dishes for guests, thus all the fill-in ingredients.

Sounds fair enough. Consider it pantry principle shopping à la Amy Dacyczyn.  When I've needed to really stay on budget, because I only took cash with me, for example, I keep a running total on a calculator with the memory add and memory recall functions. As some things are taxable I can make mini calculations and get a more accurate total.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 11, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
I have a slight twist on this.  DH and I overspent this month on groceries (damn Costco!), and I want to make it up in October.  So, my goal for a family of five:

$600.00     October's monthly grocery allotment
-272.31      Amount overspent in September
-100.00      School lunches for October
$227.69    Total Amount Budgeted for October Groceries

This won't be easy, but should be doable as we have food in the pantry and freezer, including a turkey, and still have a box of veggies each week from the CSA (not sure when that stops, but sometime in October).  It'll be made a little more challenging by the fact that I'm hosting my mom and aunt for a long weekend, and we're taking friends to the cabin for another weekend, but with lots of planning and foresight (NOT my forte), we should be OK.

I'll check in periodically this month.

If you tell us what you hav, perhaps we can offer up ideas :).

This is me (Miss Two-Twenty-Seven Until November) and I've already fucked it up.  Made it until October 10.  I haven't quite figured out how to wrangle Costco.  I like going there, because some things are much cheaper than I can find at any of the other local grocery stores, but I ALWAYS OVERSPEND.

I put a turkey on (had been residing in my freezer forever--decided to cook it and get multiple meals out of it), did some menu planning for the next week (which includes entertaining my folks and an aunt for four days), and I went with a list of fill-in ingredients.  But then I wasn't thinking of the fact that everything you buy is in bulk, so instead of the one can of black olives I need for my recipe, I now have eight.  Same with diced tomatoes, quinoa, etc.  Grand total = $270.

But I did some things right, too, so I don't want to count it as a complete failure.  I went off a list, I didn't buy impulse purchases, and I didn't buy anything prepackaged (which, I'll be honest, we normally do).  So...a failure that with potential to redeem?  I've kicked the goal for ending up flush in the grocery budget into the next month, hoping I can get half-way there this and the rest of the way there by the end of next month.

Once I get through my houseguests, then I'll be looking for advice for some random ingredients.  I don't mind serving unusual combinations to my own immediate family, but prefer recognizable dishes for guests, thus all the fill-in ingredients.

Sounds like you hav a lot of different options. & in bulk, so should last a while. I really recommend switching out recipes for similar ingredients you already hav. Or better yet, forego recipes (,I don't use recipes, except if learn to make something like yogurt,;Soymilk, or really specific baking (sugar free, gluten free, and vegan ,). This is a really excellent time to get creative!
I tend to eat really simply, so these are the types of food I keep on hand:
I cook a largish amount of simple foods and combine daily in mydish with slight variations: some kind of legume, a grain, vegetables cooked & raw, fruits mostly. Also on hand: oats, some sort of spicy addition, and some alternative milk or yogurt.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on October 11, 2015, 12:45:32 PM
I still have $100 left in our food budget this month. But that will be cutting it close.

Need to stock up on beans, to continue making my "chipotle" salad bowls for dinner. Having a blast with that.

I'm determined to stay on budget this month. Not a lot of food in the house right now, but will do.

Making batches of both pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins to freeze/breakfast.

Have oatmeal. Quinoa. Red lentils. Wild rice... Kale... Salad lettuce.

Okay beans and I need more veggies. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Polaria on October 15, 2015, 06:18:28 AM
Also need to suck it up and figure out what to do with the heart and tongue from last year's beef quarter.

How about beef tongue in Madeira sauce, for example http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/member-recipes/recipe-detail/212/#gjC46iwvDSCdViM0.97

It is a Belgian/French recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 15, 2015, 01:26:12 PM
I am starting over. And this time as the food stores go down I am going to rethink how I shop, eat and cook. Learning how to keep a minimal kitchen has not been easy for me at all. I grew up in a house that never had any food and when I got on my own I kept my kitchen STOCKED. It has gotten better over the years. But I still keep way too much on hand.

It is time for me to learn and be at peace with only 10 options for dinner in my kitchen.
One step at a time in the journey called life.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 16, 2015, 08:19:41 AM
I'm the same way, seemsright!   Slowly getting better.  I still stock up when there are deals, but have simplified a lot.

Right now eating a jar of pears I canned last year.

The new beef quarter went in the freezer yesterday, but I'm going to challenge myself to use up all of last year's before opening g any new packages.

I won't mind demolishing the last two lamb chops, either.  Have been waiting for a day when DH is gone since there aren't enough for two.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NeverLost on October 16, 2015, 08:45:37 AM
I'm in on this!  I have practically blown my grocery budget for this month already (on the 16th) and need to get my shit together so I don't go way over this month.  We took an unexpected shopping trip to a Trader Joes an hour from home when we were in that neighborhood and I spent a ton on snacks and frozen foods.  The next day we went to the pumpkin patch and I spent $35 on pumpkins, caramel corn and jams.  It was good since we're now stocked up for a while, but I have only $55 left in my budget!  I think it may be impossible to not go over but I need to make sure I don't go hundreds of dollars over!  So far, I've come up with a spicy udon veggie stir fry (have tons of udon noodles), a tapenade pasta (I bought olive tapenade at trader joes) and a French onion soup, since I have about 7 large sweet onions mom my gave me since she bought the Costco bag of them. 

I have three large butternut squashes from my grandma's garden.  I don't really want to do a soup since I have just recently made pumpkin bisque twice and I think my family is sick of it.  I know I am since I had to take the leftovers!  I found this recipe that I am going to try:

http://www.naivecookcooks.com/caramelised-butternut-squash-pizza-with-basil-pesto/

So now I just need about 10 other butternut squash recipes that aren't a soup. I had this one pinned and it looks amazing, however I would have to buy the shells and ricotta so we'll see.  Also, the only milk we have is almond milk so I'd have to figure out something there too. 

http://rachelschultz.com/2013/10/08/butternut-squash-ricotta-stuffed-shells/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 16, 2015, 10:17:47 AM
I'm in on this!  I have practically blown my grocery budget for this month already (on the 16th) and need to get my shit together so I don't go way over this month.  We took an unexpected shopping trip to a Trader Joes an hour from home when we were in that neighborhood and I spent a ton on snacks and frozen foods.  The next day we went to the pumpkin patch and I spent $35 on pumpkins, caramel corn and jams.  It was good since we're now stocked up for a while, but I have only $55 left in my budget!  I think it may be impossible to not go over but I need to make sure I don't go hundreds of dollars over!  So far, I've come up with a spicy udon veggie stir fry (have tons of udon noodles), a tapenade pasta (I bought olive tapenade at trader joes) and a French onion soup, since I have about 7 large sweet onions mom my gave me since she bought the Costco bag of them. 

I have three large butternut squashes from my grandma's garden.  I don't really want to do a soup since I have just recently made pumpkin bisque twice and I think my family is sick of it.  I know I am since I had to take the leftovers!  I found this recipe that I am going to try:

http://www.naivecookcooks.com/caramelised-butternut-squash-pizza-with-basil-pesto/

So now I just need about 10 other butternut squash recipes that aren't a soup. I had this one pinned and it looks amazing, however I would have to buy the shells and ricotta so we'll see.  Also, the only milk we have is almond milk so I'd have to figure out something there too. 

http://rachelschultz.com/2013/10/08/butternut-squash-ricotta-stuffed-shells/

Butternut squash is actually excellent as a simple side dish:
Halve squashes and remove insides. Drizzle inside of squashes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, or whatever herbs or spices you have on hand. Bake, interior side down. Bake until soft and skin is a little crisp - fork will poke thru skin into flesh easily.
Roasted garlic is excellent accompaniment to this above dish. Leave whole garlic head completely intact, skin and all.
Cut small portion off non root end and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt etc and bake.
Also, as a sweet dessert , bake in similar fashion or peel, remove inside, and cut in med. sized pieces and simmer. Add  sugar, cinnamon, or whichever sweeter spices  you enjoy. Can eat only sqash or top with whipped creme or ice creme.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Faraday on October 16, 2015, 10:58:15 AM
Butternut squash is actually excellent as a simple side dish:
Halve squashes and remove insides. Drizzle inside of squashes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, or whatever herbs or spices you have on hand. Bake, interior side down. Bake until soft and skin is a little crisp - fork will poke thru skin into flesh easily.
Roasted garlic is excellent accompaniment to this above dish. Leave whole garlic head completely intact, skin and all.
Cut small portion off non root end and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt etc and bake.
Also, as a sweet dessert , bake in similar fashion or peel, remove inside, and cut in med. sized pieces and simmer. Add  sugar, cinnamon, or whichever sweeter spices  you enjoy. Can eat only sqash or top with whipped creme or ice creme.

I LOVE butternut squash with cinnamon. May I worship both of you now? :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NeverLost on October 16, 2015, 01:39:05 PM
Thanks!  I'll give it a try!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 16, 2015, 09:13:09 PM
Butternut squash is actually excellent as a simple side dish:
Halve squashes and remove insides. Drizzle inside of squashes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, or whatever herbs or spices you have on hand. Bake, interior side down. Bake until soft and skin is a little crisp - fork will poke thru skin into flesh easily.
Roasted garlic is excellent accompaniment to this above dish. Leave whole garlic head completely intact, skin and all.
Cut small portion off non root end and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt etc and bake.
Also, as a sweet dessert , bake in similar fashion or peel, remove inside, and cut in med. sized pieces and simmer. Add  sugar, cinnamon, or whichever sweeter spices  you enjoy. Can eat only sqash or top with whipped creme or ice creme.

I LOVE butternut squash with cinnamon. May I worship both of you now? :-)

Yes. Ha!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 16, 2015, 10:48:10 PM
So now I just need about 10 other butternut squash recipes that aren't a soup.

We made a recipe for Thanksgiving a few years back that was good and fairly inexpensive. You cube the squash, toss with sauteed onions and rosemary, throw it in a baking dish and top with cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs. (We adapted this recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/butternut-squash-gratin-with-rosemary-breadcrumbs-104303  and just made it simpler/healthier with less butter, no sugar, less cheese, etc.)

I'm probably too late for the person looking for cucumber recipes, but I'll throw this out there anyway: one of my favorite salads to make is cucumber + tomato + walnuts + a little fresh goat cheese, tossed with a vinaigrette.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Faraday on October 17, 2015, 07:39:27 PM
So now I just need about 10 other butternut squash recipes that aren't a soup.

We made a recipe for Thanksgiving a few years back that was good and fairly inexpensive. You cube the squash, toss with sauteed onions and rosemary, throw it in a baking dish and top with cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs. (We adapted this recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/butternut-squash-gratin-with-rosemary-breadcrumbs-104303  and just made it simpler/healthier with less butter, no sugar, less cheese, etc.)

I'm probably too late for the person looking for cucumber recipes, but I'll throw this out there anyway: one of my favorite salads to make is cucumber + tomato + walnuts + a little fresh goat cheese, tossed with a vinaigrette.

Throwing butternut-worshipful glances in your direction too, Ms. D. Slice!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on October 17, 2015, 11:23:42 PM
I'm actually just about everything I had- except I'm still going thru the tea and cinnamon ( which I love together ) & the cayenne. Other than that I'm done. So I purchased a 1lb. Each of quinoa & lentils, some spinach & a bag of carrots and cooked some of them all together, with a little cayenne & plan to eat this until I'm out. I don't mind eating the same healthy foods for a few days at all. When I'm out, I get something a little different ( different vegetables mostly ) .

Okay folks. I ran out of everything, so I replenished my supply. There's a sale 20% off all bulk items at the natural foods store my fiancé works, plus our 27% team member discount. I've got back into Zero Waste again recently, which means buying in bulk section with my own bags-. And buying my produce loose. Also, am vegan so i was doing much of my shopping in bulk section anyway. So I was able to get a couple pounds or so of all the usual suspects:


Oats, black beans, lentils, soy beans (for making soymilk etc), brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, flax seeds, and a few cinnamon sticks (to tone down soy bean taste).

I will eat this supply before purchasing more food, except produce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 17, 2015, 11:43:18 PM
I have so much food stashed all over the place  Today I rearranged the home-canned goods in the basement and brought some upstairs to increase their chances of getting used.  Am going to shoot for not buying any fresh fruit until I use up the berries in the freezer, the last couple melons from the garden and put a big dent in the canned peaches, pears and assorted fruit preserves, which I've been stirring into homemade yogurt.

Then there's the dry storage stuff like split peas, red lentils that I was obsessed with a couple years ago but haven't eaten lately, a giant bag of white rice etc, etc.  There are even some spaghetti squash from last year's garden that still appear to be good.  Need to cut one open and see.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on October 23, 2015, 11:57:21 AM
Here's one of my favorite savory butternut squash recipes (most are sweet): http://www.theppk.com/2012/10/roasted-butternut-alfredo/

It's also good used in lieu of pumpkin in baked goods or chunked and put into stews or chili. You can also peel it, chunk it up, and roast it in a 400 F oven for ~30-40 minutes with liberal amounts of olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and coriander if desired. Just stir once 1/2 way through roasting. Most veggies are good this way, actually :) In my house we roast everything we can find! Good luck.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NeverLost on October 23, 2015, 12:07:56 PM
I tried the shells recipe I posted earlier and it was wonderful!  Will make again soon for sure!

http://rachelschultz.com/2013/10/08/butternut-squash-ricotta-stuffed-shells/

I am putting the roasted butternut alfredo on the menu for next week... yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on October 24, 2015, 09:57:39 AM
There was enough whale for two dinners. I sliced it thinly and seared it today, and served it as wraps with julienne carrots and swedes, with sweet and sour sauce.

Tomorrow will be a more traditional day, will heat the leftovers in a creamy sauce, and serve with mashed potatoes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Reader on November 01, 2015, 09:19:21 AM
I've also been working on eating down the stash of various fruit preserves by mixing them into plain yogurt.  I got way overzealous with the jam-making when I first learned to can, but we never have toast, so there aren't many opportunities to use the stuff.

Thanks for the great idea! i have been wondering what to do with my half bottle of raspberry jam.

Oats, black beans, lentils, soy beans (for making soymilk etc), brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, flax seeds, and a few cinnamon sticks (to tone down soy bean taste).
how do the cinnamon sticks work to tone down the soy bean taste? do you boil it with the soya milk?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on November 01, 2015, 12:41:17 PM
I've also been working on eating down the stash of various fruit preserves by mixing them into plain yogurt.  I got way overzealous with the jam-making when I first learned to can, but we never have toast, so there aren't many opportunities to use the stuff.

Thanks for the great idea! i have been wondering what to do with my half bottle of raspberry jam.

Oats, black beans, lentils, soy beans (for making soymilk etc), brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, flax seeds, and a few cinnamon sticks (to tone down soy bean taste).
how do the cinnamon sticks work to tone down the soy bean taste? do you boil it with the soya milk?


Yes. I make soymilk (really easy to do) and when its ready to cook, I add a cinnamon stick and boil together for about 20 minutes. It counteracts the pungent soybean taste perfectly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on November 11, 2015, 07:24:06 AM
Hi everyone, would love any ideas / recipes to use up ricotta cheese. I have a tub and have never used it before.

Would prefer main courses rather than deserts, but whatever you've got, throw it at me! Thanks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on November 11, 2015, 09:42:59 AM
Take some pasta...cook it up.
Take some pasta sauce (any would work homemade or from a jar) heat some up, take some greens put in hot sauce, dump in your ricotta cheese then take that mixture and mix in your pasta.

You will end up with a lasagna type thing.

I would just eat it with some peaches and honey and a spoon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on November 11, 2015, 01:57:39 PM
Hi everyone, would love any ideas / recipes to use up ricotta cheese. I have a tub and have never used it before.

Would prefer main courses rather than deserts, but whatever you've got, throw it at me! Thanks.


Manicotti is really good. They're giant round noodles you can stuff .I can't figure out how to add a link, but Google recipes for manicotti. Really is very simple. Manicotti shells are stuffed with ricotta in casserole dish and baked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on November 12, 2015, 04:13:05 AM
A baked pasta dish is a great idea, thank you both!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on November 12, 2015, 04:29:19 AM
I finally cracked open the can of light cocounut milk that I've had for over a year. I made my husband a pumpkin pie that was remarkably good if I do say so myself. I'm going to use the rest of the can for either some chia pudding or a curry veg stew. The stew calls for more cocunut milk than I have left, but I figured I'd just put more veg broth in... hope that won't make it weird. Of course, I could just reduce the whole recipe. Doh!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: $40Kby40 on November 15, 2015, 01:52:51 AM
I work 12 hr night shifts and have gotten into the bad habit of not taking food or not wanting what I do take and running over to the grocery store in the middle of the night to get something else. This is both a waste of $ and not great for my waist as what I usually grab is junk food/candy.
I've got some vegetables, not much fruit, 2 lbs of hamburger meat, leftovers and some other random things in the house. I'm going to challenge myself to eat what I have for at least the next 10 days and not spend any $.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on November 15, 2015, 06:20:48 AM
I work 12 hr night shifts and have gotten into the bad habit of not taking food or not wanting what I do take and running over to the grocery store in the middle of the night to get something else. This is both a waste of $ and not great for my waist as what I usually grab is junk food/candy.
I've got some vegetables, not much fruit, 2 lbs of hamburger meat, leftovers and some other random things in the house. I'm going to challenge myself to eat what I have for at least the next 10 days and not spend any $.

Not sure which vegetables you have, but I have a great recipe for ground beef:
Tomato, bell pepper, scallions, garlic .I use a lot in terms of ratio : 1:1 vegetables to meat.  even amounts of each vegetable.. Dice. Sauté in pan for a minute or so.
Add the ground beef and generous amount of  mint leaves, a little chicken bouillon cube (& salt& pepper if desired) to taste. Stir until cooked.
I add diced green beans to vegetables in first step, they go well with the combination.
This dish is excellent with handmade tortillas &/or rice (Guatemalan dish). Or of course can use regular tortillas.
Or sometimes I fry potatoes to accompany.
Is also good as cold dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 16, 2015, 04:45:43 AM
Hi everyone, would love any ideas / recipes to use up ricotta cheese. I have a tub and have never used it before.

ricotta toasts with grilled zucchini & balsamic or za'tar
stuffed pasta shells with roast squash/sweet potato puree & parmesan
dolloped on pizza along with favourite toppings
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: $40Kby40 on November 18, 2015, 09:53:06 AM
Thanks riverffashion - that does sound good. I had the meat, leftover onion, and some green beans. So, that's what I got out of it and cooked some rice to go with it.

We have a kitchen area at work and I know the guys ordered chinese the other night so there should be soy sauce packets or something left around if I need to add some more flavor to it. I work tonight and tomorrow so I'll take enough tonight to last both days.
The last night I worked was Mon and it snowed all night so there was no temptation to leave and run to the grocery store.

Today is day 4 of my no spend challenge and I'm at $0.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nancy on November 18, 2015, 11:47:17 AM
Made the curry soup recipe from Thug Kitchen. I added more spices to it, and I think it's quite tasty. Used up noodles and coconut milk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on November 18, 2015, 04:56:58 PM

 Used half a jar of Alfredo sauce that needed to get use out of the fridge. Made spaghetti sauce with canned tomatoes, TVP, Alfredo, and spices.


Also cooked up and got into the freezer 10 pounds of chicken leg quarters.  That's shredded for future use now.  The bones are cooking over tonight for bone broth, and once they' we softened up enough, they're dog food. Tonight, the dogs got skin and fat and they're happy as clams. Also, I have created a monster, otherwise known as the world's happiest cat. I'm afraid I gave him scraps while I was separating out the chicken. I'll probably never work in peace in my kitchen again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Reader on November 19, 2015, 05:22:38 AM
Also cooked up and got into the freezer 10 pounds of chicken leg quarters.  That's shredded for future use now.  The bones are cooking over tonight for bone broth, and once they' we softened up enough, they're dog food. Tonight, the dogs got skin and fat and they're happy as clams. Also, I have created a monster, otherwise known as the world's happiest cat. I'm afraid I gave him scraps while I was separating out the chicken. I'll probably never work in peace in my kitchen again.
that's quite a monster meal! i can imagine the waggy tails and purry cat as you're whipping all these up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on November 19, 2015, 12:50:26 PM
Also cooked up and got into the freezer 10 pounds of chicken leg quarters.  That's shredded for future use now.  The bones are cooking over tonight for bone broth, and once they' we softened up enough, they're dog food. Tonight, the dogs got skin and fat and they're happy as clams. Also, I have created a monster, otherwise known as the world's happiest cat. I'm afraid I gave him scraps while I was separating out the chicken. I'll probably never work in peace in my kitchen again.
that's quite a monster meal! i can imagine the waggy tails and purry cat as you're whipping all these up.


 Oh they're happy, all right. And I made bone broth, cooking it overnight in the crockpot with enough apple cider vinegar to leach the bones, so they should be safe for doggy consumption tonight. Once the bones crumble between my fingers, I know they won't splinter inside the dogs.


Ironically, our supper last night was vegitarian! But we have quick convenience food in the freezer now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on November 20, 2015, 02:14:23 AM
I'm eating out of the freezer again. Goal is to eat those ods and end that inevitably end up in there as I'm a "throw away no food" sort of household.

This week I ate quinoa salad with some cubes of salmon I froze because I simply couldn't eat more and they were on their use-by date and the last of some mozarella from a date-sale months ago. Also made thai pumpkin soup with all ingredients from the freezer. Tonight I'm in for a break with fajitas, but next week I'm tackling leftover black bean soup, chili and chickpeas.

If I find time I might make a big batch of rubarb&strawberry jam this weekend. Have a tub of frozen rubarb in there too..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SeaEhm on November 29, 2015, 03:07:05 PM
haha- I haven't checked this forum in a while and just noticed this thread.

Earlier this week, I told my wife, "wow! there is nearly nothing in our pantry."

Then, today I found some cans of chunked pineapples in the pantry. I also remembered having some frozen chicken in the freezer, so I added some bar-b-cue sauce, pineapple, chicken, some seasonings, and potato chunks into a slow cooker and it's been cooking for the past couple of hours. 

Let's see how it turns out.  Worse comes to worst, I got rid of a few things that have just been sitting there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on November 29, 2015, 03:12:15 PM
haha- I haven't checked this forum in a while and just noticed this thread.

Earlier this week, I told my wife, "wow! there is nearly nothing in our pantry."

Then, today I found some cans of chunked pineapples in the pantry. I also remembered having some frozen chicken in the freezer, so I added some bar-b-cue sauce, pineapple, chicken, some seasonings, and potato chunks into a slow cooker and it's been cooking for the past couple of hours. 

Let's see how it turns out.  Worse comes to worst, I got rid of a few things that have just been sitting there.

It sounds like it won't be long until you eat all the food in your house ha-ha.
The meal you've got cooking sounds good to me. Let us know how it turns out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SeaEhm on November 29, 2015, 08:32:54 PM
haha- I haven't checked this forum in a while and just noticed this thread.

Earlier this week, I told my wife, "wow! there is nearly nothing in our pantry."

Then, today I found some cans of chunked pineapples in the pantry. I also remembered having some frozen chicken in the freezer, so I added some bar-b-cue sauce, pineapple, chicken, some seasonings, and potato chunks into a slow cooker and it's been cooking for the past couple of hours. 

Let's see how it turns out.  Worse comes to worst, I got rid of a few things that have just been sitting there.

It sounds like it won't be long until you eat all the food in your house ha-ha.
The meal you've got cooking sounds good to me. Let us know how it turns out.

5 hours later, I get an itch to do some research about cooking times.  This leads me to find articles about frozen chicken and slow cookers.  Next, I eventually find that the USDA does not recommend cooking frozen chicken in a slow cooker.  They talk about how slow cookers stay at a temperature that helps bacteria grow for long periods of time.

Basically, I found a way to make my house smell good for about 4 of those hours and learned a pretty good lesson to ALWAYS THAW YOUR MEATS!

I immediately looked at my wife and said, "Let's eat at In-N-out tonight."  20 seconds later, I see these tubes of Pillsbury crescent rolls and I get to town making some other food from the fridge.

This time, sliced chicken nuggets & cheese filled crescent rolls and another variation with slicked chicken nuggets, pineapples, and BBQ sauce (to redeem my other failure) haha

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 30, 2015, 05:38:36 PM
Last month was really expensive and, even though I have only been in my new place eight months, the food storage is overflowing. Time to pantry shop!

So far, I cleared out the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers for yesterday's lunch, and the last of a batch of Massaman curry for dinner. I had half an apple left over from another cooking project so I chopped that up and threw it in and it was really good! Today I finished up some quinoa and half of a container of black bean and sweet potato chili. I was thinking about the last slice of apple pie for dessert, but I may be too full.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on November 30, 2015, 05:39:19 PM
haha- I haven't checked this forum in a while and just noticed this thread.

Earlier this week, I told my wife, "wow! there is nearly nothing in our pantry."

Then, today I found some cans of chunked pineapples in the pantry. I also remembered having some frozen chicken in the freezer, so I added some bar-b-cue sauce, pineapple, chicken, some seasonings, and potato chunks into a slow cooker and it's been cooking for the past couple of hours. 

Let's see how it turns out.  Worse comes to worst, I got rid of a few things that have just been sitting there.

It sounds like it won't be long until you eat all the food in your house ha-ha.
The meal you've got cooking sounds good to me. Let us know how it turns out.

5 hours later, I get an itch to do some research about cooking times.  This leads me to find articles about frozen chicken and slow cookers.  Next, I eventually find that the USDA does not recommend cooking frozen chicken in a slow cooker.  They talk about how slow cookers stay at a temperature that helps bacteria grow for long periods of time.

Basically, I found a way to make my house smell good for about 4 of those hours and learned a pretty good lesson to ALWAYS THAW YOUR MEATS!

I immediately looked at my wife and said, "Let's eat at In-N-out tonight."  20 seconds later, I see these tubes of Pillsbury crescent rolls and I get to town making some other food from the fridge.

This time, sliced chicken nuggets & cheese filled crescent rolls and another variation with slicked chicken nuggets, pineapples, and BBQ sauce (to redeem my other failure) haha


If that advice about not slow cooking frozen chicken were really accurate, I should have died twice a week for about the last decade.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on December 01, 2015, 08:24:20 AM
Used up frozen chick-peas, some chicken stock and a bag of frozen pumpkin for a Moroccan stew this weekend. Today I'm freezing the last of the sauce (there somehow is always more sause than meat) for minestrone soup. I know it's "free" food and I know I hate waste, but leftovers from eating out the freezer somehow still really bothers me. Feels like that freezer will never empty.

Oh, well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on December 01, 2015, 03:41:12 PM
Used up frozen chick-peas, some chicken stock and a bag of frozen pumpkin for a Moroccan stew this weekend. Today I'm freezing the last of the sauce (there somehow is always more sause than meat) for minestrone soup. I know it's "free" food and I know I hate waste, but leftovers from eating out the freezer somehow still really bothers me. Feels like that freezer will never empty.

Oh, well.

I quite like chicken soup with beans or chickpeas or lentils thrown in - I do cook the beans separate though (and from scratch).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on December 02, 2015, 04:29:33 PM
Used up frozen chick-peas, some chicken stock and a bag of frozen pumpkin for a Moroccan stew this weekend. Today I'm freezing the last of the sauce (there somehow is always more sause than meat) for minestrone soup. I know it's "free" food and I know I hate waste, but leftovers from eating out the freezer somehow still really bothers me. Feels like that freezer will never empty.

Oh, well.

I quite like chicken soup with beans or chickpeas or lentils thrown in - I do cook the beans separate though (and from scratch).
I dub any soup with stock, herbs and beans/chickpeas "minestrone". I'll add any meat I have - chorizo, meatballs, chicken or just veggies. My absolute favourite soup in the world: odds-and-ends soup heavy on the herbs.

I too cook my own beans from scratch. The tinned ones just doesn't taste the same.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on December 02, 2015, 08:15:41 PM
Used up frozen chick-peas, some chicken stock and a bag of frozen pumpkin for a Moroccan stew this weekend. Today I'm freezing the last of the sauce (there somehow is always more sause than meat) for minestrone soup. I know it's "free" food and I know I hate waste, but leftovers from eating out the freezer somehow still really bothers me. Feels like that freezer will never empty.

Oh, well.

I quite like chicken soup with beans or chickpeas or lentils thrown in - I do cook the beans separate though (and from scratch).
I dub any soup with stock, herbs and beans/chickpeas "minestrone". I'll add any meat I have - chorizo, meatballs, chicken or just veggies. My absolute favourite soup in the world: odds-and-ends soup heavy on the herbs.

I too cook my own beans from scratch. The tinned ones just doesn't taste the same.

Yes, cooking simply  from scratch is healthy, delicious, cost effective, and little effort on my part (at least my cooking anyway!) . I mostly eat vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. With a little fruit from time to time. When I feel like a little " extravagance " I will make yogurt or soymilk or the like. (Also simple to make, though more steps required. )
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on December 28, 2015, 04:11:00 PM
Oy, time for me to start this challenge again!

At a minimum, I must get to the bottom and back of my freezer. I spent more than ever on food this past year, and a good portion of it seems to be stashed away.

Today I made spicy turkey stew with the leftover carcass from Christmas Eve. Tomorrow we'll probably have turkey again, but with the last of the stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy that will hopefully be edible from the drippings I saved. It's amazing how much food is on a medium sized turkey.

On the short term future agenda:
quiches to use up the frozen spinach and two pie crusts
swedish meatballs from IKEA (why oh why did I buy those???!!!) & potatoes
cranberry chicken
chicken jambalaya with parker house rolls
french dips
pasta with meat sauce
pasta with meal balls
pizza
ham and cheese omelets
chana masala and rice
various soups
buffalo chicken wings
smoothies
salad with salmon on top
chocolate chip cookies
oatmeal cookies

I think, to make all of that, the only thing I will need to buy is sub rolls for the French dips. And that's just what I can think of off the top of my head as I haven't even gone to look in there.

It's a ridiculous life of luxury and opulence that I lead. It will be interested to see what I end up spending on groceries this month. Surely, if I really felt creative, I could spend $0. Craziness.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GoConfidently on December 28, 2015, 08:17:05 PM
I've been unofficially following along since mid-November. I don't buy a lot of food but I also get lazy about cooking the same stuff all the time so I thought this would be a nice challenge. I cooked a pound of dry pinto beans and some rice today. Tomorrow I'm making a quiche with spinach and pork sausage and a left over pie crust from thanksgiving. I have a lot of breakfast food left and some beef stew in the freezer. I can easily make  it to January 4 (my goal date) but coffee is running low.  Life is too short to not have coffee in the morning. I still have a ridiculous amount of baking supplies, but I don't want to gain 10 pounds so I'm ok with that staying for now. If I buy a small amount of groceries this week ($20) I can make enough meals to last a long time and I have some time off this week to cook and freeze.

My grocery list for $20:
Whole chicken
Jar of pasta sauce
Veggies
Milk
Ricotta cheese
Coffee
Eggs

Meals that will make:
Roasted chicken (1/4 eaten as is, some reserved for soup/chicken salad, stock)
Roasted veg and quinoa salad
Lasagna
Mexican chicken soup
Chicken noodle soup
Tuscan sausage and kale soup

Add those to what I already have, and I'm good for at least four weeks but longer if I'm diligent. Good thing I like soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on January 03, 2016, 05:07:03 PM
Okay, here is a story of pure ridiculousness:

French dips was on my list of things to make and I had everything but the rolls. So, I took advantage of an opportunistic purchase of some awesome looking wheat sub rolls at the Dollar Store of all places. Totally random purchase, since I was there to get a pregnancy test. Supposedly the Dollar Store pregnancy tests work just fine, and according to it I am not pregnant, which is a good thing.

Anyway, the brand name fancy pants sub rolls were there just by chance and I got home all stoked to thaw the beef roast . . . but then I couldn't find it in my dinky freezer. Dug around under some stuff. Looked in the freezer door. WTF? Where did it go? Did I thaw it already?  Hmmm, no. Maybe I used it and I forgot? Weird.

So, when I was out the next day getting some beer, I bought another roast (bonus points for it being on super sale.) No, my beer consumption has nothing at all to do with needing a pregnancy test. Got home all psyched to make French dips au jus  tomorrow in the slow cooker. And then I got some ice from my drink . . . and there was the other roast, the one I was looking for in vain, frozen solid and for some reason in the ice cube bin, stashed below the ice cube tray.

Oh yes, definitely time to clean out my stash of provisions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on January 04, 2016, 05:13:00 AM
My goal for this week is to meal plan as many meals as I can for January using items out of the pantry and freezer. I have so many tins. The freezer is mainly meat, so I will have a lot of veggies to buy.

I was really good with Christmas leftovers, and the only thing remaining is some smoked salmon. I opened the packet on December 29th, so I'm wary of using it... but then it was so expensive it will annoy me to throw it away (not to even think of wasting food which I hate as well).

I thought maybe I could cook it up in some pasta and that would kill anything nasty? Probably better than eating it raw. Hmmm. Or a quiche? Or would you all throw it out and be done with it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 04, 2016, 07:56:51 AM
My goal for this week is to meal plan as many meals as I can for January using items out of the pantry and freezer. I have so many tins. The freezer is mainly meat, so I will have a lot of veggies to buy.

I was really good with Christmas leftovers, and the only thing remaining is some smoked salmon. I opened the packet on December 29th, so I'm wary of using it... but then it was so expensive it will annoy me to throw it away (not to even think of wasting food which I hate as well).

I thought maybe I could cook it up in some pasta and that would kill anything nasty? Probably better than eating it raw. Hmmm. Or a quiche? Or would you all throw it out and be done with it?

Is it cold or hot smoked? I would have no problems eating hot smoked salmon that has been in the fridge for that long, mostly because I'm the only one that likes it in the house, so if I open a package it usually takes me that long to eat it with no ill effects. I would cook it though. Put it in an omelette, pasta or make some baked eggs or something!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 04, 2016, 09:34:04 AM
Okay, here is a story of pure ridiculousness:

French dips was on my list of things to make and I had everything but the rolls. So, I took advantage of an opportunistic purchase of some awesome looking wheat sub rolls at the Dollar Store of all places. Totally random purchase, since I was there to get a pregnancy test. Supposedly the Dollar Store pregnancy tests work just fine, and according to it I am not pregnant, which is a good thing.

Anyway, the brand name fancy pants sub rolls were there just by chance and I got home all stoked to thaw the beef roast . . . but then I couldn't find it in my dinky freezer. Dug around under some stuff. Looked in the freezer door. WTF? Where did it go? Did I thaw it already?  Hmmm, no. Maybe I used it and I forgot? Weird.

So, when I was out the next day getting some beer, I bought another roast (bonus points for it being on super sale.) No, my beer consumption has nothing at all to do with needing a pregnancy test. Got home all psyched to make French dips au jus  tomorrow in the slow cooker. And then I got some ice from my drink . . . and there was the other roast, the one I was looking for in vain, frozen solid and for some reason in the ice cube bin, stashed below the ice cube tray.

Oh yes, definitely time to clean out my stash of provisions.

This is hilarious:) . and yes sounds like a good time to get through it all. Glad you're not pregnant by the way!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 04, 2016, 10:43:40 AM
LOL!  Yay for not being pregnant!  (If you don't want to be that is, LOL.)

I also have been focusing on leftovers and freezer stash.  We're gaining plastic containers! :)  It was nice having 3 days off.

Christmas leftover ham went towards lunch meat, an omelet, and ham hock and beans.  Froze half of the latter.

Spaghetti sauce for tomorrow used up a cup of leftover Ragu (from October) from the freezer.

DH ate leftover corn from the freezer last night and will do so again tonight.

Brought a leftover cheeseburger patty from the freezer for lunch today.

Homemade biscuits used up the rest of the flour on Saturday.

Homemade low carb pizza crust used up the rest of the cream cheese last night.

We're currently using up several cups of cheddar I shredded earlier in December and froze before the holiday busyness.

Wednesday I'll make some sort of slow cooker meal with smoked sausage.

This weekend will be eggs Lorraine to use frozen spinach.

I'm going to take a stab at homemade bacon vinaigrette sometime this week instead of buying bottled. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 04, 2016, 06:23:24 PM
Decided to switch to dried chickpeas instead of canned.  So last night I soaked them, and this evening I put them on the stove to simmer while we opened a new account for the SO's TFSA.

Towards the end we both noticed a burning smell.

The chickpeas are ok, just a bit of char, but the pot is now soaking with baking soda.  I love that pot and I hope it survives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on January 08, 2016, 07:03:14 AM
Need to get through our pantry as we move cross-country in 6 months or so. eek!

This week has gone well so far. $36 for groceries. Having friends over for dinner on the weekend so I'm going to do pulled pork with beans, buns, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw. I'll just have to pick up some cabbage and attempt making coleslaw myself.

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on January 08, 2016, 08:02:34 AM
Did a full pantry audit. Sat down with that and the freezer list. Came up with about 5 complete meals (and countless I need to purchase perishables for). Naturally, I forgot to take anything out of the freezer last night...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on January 08, 2016, 08:26:01 AM

I have so much food stashed all over the place  Today I rearranged the home-canned goods in the basement and brought some upstairs to increase their chances of getting used.  Am going to shoot for not buying any fresh fruit until I use up the berries in the freezer, the last couple melons from the garden and put a big dent in the canned peaches, pears and assorted fruit preserves, which I've been stirring into homemade yogurt.

Then there's the dry storage stuff like split peas, red lentils that I was obsessed with a couple years ago but haven't eaten lately, a giant bag of white rice etc, etc.  There are even some spaghetti squash from last year's garden that still appear to be good.  Need to cut one open and see.

Lentils are good in chili, sloppy joes and to replace some of the beans in bean soup. I mix cooked spaghetti squash with pasta in recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 08, 2016, 01:40:44 PM
Went hard core in the pantry:

An unopened 5 pound bag of flour from last month's holiday baking will be donated to the food bank.

Half bags of leftover popcorn and white chocolate chips also from baking (and caramel corn!) will go to my sister (I'm a low carber and want the stuff out of my house).

Been drinking more green tea to use it up.

There are some leftover single serve punch mix envelopes from Christmas Eve's pinata I'll donate to the food bank, too.

Last night's beer cheddar soup used a bottle of homemade beer someone gave us for Christmas.

Last night's pecan crusted pork chops used 2/3 of a bag of leftover pecans from last month's baking.

There are still more odds and ends in the freezer which I'll focus on this weekend for next week's meals.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SondraF on January 08, 2016, 01:53:54 PM
We, too, have to move in a few months and between that, a tiny kitchen and fridge, and wanting to eat better/save money by having food already cooked, I've been trying to clear out the pantry and fridge too.  Cooked up a bag of pintos earlier in the week and made a crazy good soup that used up some pintos, shallots + garlic left over from xmas, celery and carrots hanging around post xmas, and some vermicelli im trying to use up.  Here is recipe if anyone wants to try (we did on stove top about 45 minutes one night after work) - its very flexible and I could see a lot of different ways you could use up veggies in it:

http://www.culinaryhill.com/slow-cooker-pasta-and-bean-soup/

I have a box of instant miso soup a friend sent from Trader Joes.  Not reeeaalll sure what to do with it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on January 09, 2016, 10:03:36 AM
^Lol I've had two "packets" of miso soup that someone randomly gave me in my cupboard for about two years. All kinds of little odds and ends of gifted foods seem to have accumulated here.

So far this month I've spend $42 on groceries for 3-4 people (my other half doesn't always eat here, so can't count him as a full person on the bill.) That's just over a $1 per person per day spent in addition to using up what we have, and there is still a TON of food here!

I'm going to have to pitch some long expired yogurt that got tucked behind something. Sad. I hate wasting food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SondraF on January 09, 2016, 01:21:35 PM
Im still not real sure why she sent it - was supposed to be a care package and I dont eat a lot of soy and never requested it!  Ah well, maybe I will try throwing in some of my edamame in the freezer, my vermicelli, and some spinach into the instant miso soup and see if that can make it appealing!

I do love the challenge of pantry cooking. Sometimes some excellent recipes are born.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 09, 2016, 01:47:10 PM
We, too, have to move in a few months and between that, a tiny kitchen and fridge, and wanting to eat better/save money by having food already cooked, I've been trying to clear out the pantry and fridge too.  Cooked up a bag of pintos earlier in the week and made a crazy good soup that used up some pintos, shallots + garlic left over from xmas, celery and carrots hanging around post xmas, and some vermicelli im trying to use up.  Here is recipe if anyone wants to try (we did on stove top about 45 minutes one night after work) - its very flexible and I could see a lot of different ways you could use up veggies in it:

http://www.culinaryhill.com/slow-cooker-pasta-and-bean-soup/

I have a box of instant miso soup a friend sent from Trader Joes.  Not reeeaalll sure what to do with it!

Miso soup is meant for sipping pretty much as is. If the packet doesn't contain scallions or tofu, ad a teeny bit of these.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 11, 2016, 03:18:44 AM
I need to get back to this. My freezer needs defrosting and it's currently so full of "stuff" that I simply can't be bothered. Also bought a lot of "just in case" food for the holidays and ended up using hardly any of it so I had to either watch it go to waste or toss it in freezer... Oh, well, at least I have food.

Took out a bag of chickpeas, white beans and some stock yesterday for minestrone. Next on my list are some carrots that's getting old - I'm considering either putting them in a fish&calamari curry (I'm stuggeling with that calamari - I bough a bag to test and I don't much care for it, so if anyone has a good recipe I'd be gratefull) or roasting them.

Also made chestnut spread with the chestnuts that's been lingering for a year in my pantry. Delicious stuff - and so simple.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 11, 2016, 06:30:06 AM
I have a can (28.8?) of tomatoes that I bought on sale about a year ago because "it's a pantry staple".  Obviously not in my house.  There are only two of us, we don't eat pasta with red sauce and I greatly dislike tomato soup.  We don't eat the same thing over and over for dinner - extras are usually put into the freezer for another week (this would not be a problem in my sister's house where they routinely are feeding 7 or 8 people at dinner).

Suggestions?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ebrat on January 11, 2016, 09:58:46 AM
I have a can (28.8?) of tomatoes that I bought on sale about a year ago because "it's a pantry staple".  Obviously not in my house.  There are only two of us, we don't eat pasta with red sauce and I greatly dislike tomato soup.  We don't eat the same thing over and over for dinner - extras are usually put into the freezer for another week (this would not be a problem in my sister's house where they routinely are feeding 7 or 8 people at dinner).

Suggestions?

I made this a couple weeks ago and liked it: http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Slow-Cooker-White-Chicken-Chili-6616.html  It's not super tomato-y
Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on January 11, 2016, 10:05:23 AM
I find that tomatoes make beef soup taste "beefier". I will buy a pot roast on sale, cut it up into small cubes and brown, then put with pan juices in a big pot, add an enormous can of tomatoes, a couple of cans (or a bag, soaked overnight) of beans and whatever vegetables are in my fridge, pantry or freezer. Simmer until beef is tender. I then portion out and freeze. Makes a great quick lunch or dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 11, 2016, 11:08:59 AM
^Lol I've had two "packets" of miso soup that someone randomly gave me in my cupboard for about two years. All kinds of little odds and ends of gifted foods seem to have accumulated here.

So far this month I've spend $42 on groceries for 3-4 people (my other half doesn't always eat here, so can't count him as a full person on the bill.) That's just over a $1 per person per day spent in addition to using up what we have, and there is still a TON of food here!

I'm going to have to pitch some long expired yogurt that got tucked behind something. Sad. I hate wasting food.

Same here, Zamboni.  We usually do okay, unless life is crazy busy, DH and I are out of town or whatnot.  Last month I tossed some Romaine, zucchini and a few berries we didn't get to in time.  And it looks like I'll have to toss some leftovers here at the office I forgot to take home Friday.  Last week I tossed half a head of garlic because it became "fuzzy" at the top?  :S
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 11, 2016, 01:26:57 PM
I need to get back to this. My freezer needs defrosting and it's currently so full of "stuff" that I simply can't be bothered. Also bought a lot of "just in case" food for the holidays and ended up using hardly any of it so I had to either watch it go to waste or toss it in freezer... Oh, well, at least I have food.

Took out a bag of chickpeas, white beans and some stock yesterday for minestrone. Next on my list are some carrots that's getting old - I'm considering either putting them in a fish&calamari curry (I'm stuggeling with that calamari - I bough a bag to test and I don't much care for it, so if anyone has a good recipe I'd be gratefull) or roasting them.

Also made chestnut spread with the chestnuts that's been lingering for a year in my pantry. Delicious stuff - and so simple.

How about carrot juice. Sweet & delicious on its own or add apple and ginger.
Also, carrots (and any veg, also pineapple) are excellent on the grill.
Or
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 11, 2016, 03:11:36 PM

How about carrot juice. Sweet & delicious on its own or add apple and ginger.
Also, carrots (and any veg, also pineapple) are excellent on the grill.
Or
Oh, yes, grilled pineapple is one of my favourites. I long for warm weather - right now it's midwinter and every other lake is frozen solid. No grill for me for another 3.5 months. I cook them on the pan, but it's not the same.

Apple, ginger and a juicer I have, though. Will make juice for my guests tomorow. People always love fresh juice and I tend to forget I have my juicer, for some reason. Thanks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on January 11, 2016, 03:39:41 PM
Ideas needed: Attempted to use my Instant Pot for the first time for black beans and brown rice. Problems getting a seal on the pot required much troubleshooting and the end product is pretty bad :-(  Basically the beans are just cooked enough, the rice is complete mush, and it's pretty soupy. Some of it burned/crusted on the bottom too, I threw that part away.

Any ideas for rescue/repurpose? I was originally planning tacos/burritos but it's way too wet/mushy...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on January 11, 2016, 04:02:14 PM
Make it the starting point for a batch of chili.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 12, 2016, 03:12:30 AM
Ideas needed: Attempted to use my Instant Pot for the first time for black beans and brown rice. Problems getting a seal on the pot required much troubleshooting and the end product is pretty bad :-(  Basically the beans are just cooked enough, the rice is complete mush, and it's pretty soupy. Some of it burned/crusted on the bottom too, I threw that part away.

Any ideas for rescue/repurpose? I was originally planning tacos/burritos but it's way too wet/mushy...
How about soup? I mean: wouldn't it suit as a base for taco soup or black bean soup? Both contain a lot of spices that should suit beans and rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 12, 2016, 03:25:42 AM
Ideas needed: Attempted to use my Instant Pot for the first time for black beans and brown rice. Problems getting a seal on the pot required much troubleshooting and the end product is pretty bad :-(  Basically the beans are just cooked enough, the rice is complete mush, and it's pretty soupy. Some of it burned/crusted on the bottom too, I threw that part away.

Any ideas for rescue/repurpose? I was originally planning tacos/burritos but it's way too wet/mushy...
How about soup? I mean: wouldn't it suit as a base for taco soup or black bean soup? Both contain a lot of spices that should suit beans and rice.

I second this. I'd make a separate soup (with lots of broth) with chicken, carrots, celery, spinach, etc . - then I would throw the rice/beans in when it's done.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaryByrne on January 12, 2016, 10:20:51 AM
Instead of buying ground beef to make spaghetti last night, My mom and I made peanut butter stir fry. Instead of buying a stir fry produce pack with carrots, broccoli and pea pods we used the broccoli crown in our fridge and half our baby carrots bought for a snack but too watery to eat. We also tried a slightly more expensive ramen style noodle (for the convenience) which is closer to the texture of real healthier asian noodles we could get for cheap in exotic food section at grocery store. Tonight we're making baked potatoes and using only things in our fridge as toppings. Sour cream from chili/nachos from the friday/weekend and leftover chili that we froze.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 12, 2016, 01:04:02 PM
***Preserved Lemon***
 A little chopped up lemon peel and a few dribbles of the salty liquid on roasted potatoes are AMAZING! New awesome discovery for us!

Unfortunately, our "eat" all the food in our house challenge has turned into "get rid of"all the food in our house. Due to some new dietary restrictions, there is a bunch of stuff we don't want in the house anymore and are probably not going to eat.   

On the bright side, we are making quick progress! We have been giving away lots to the food bank, and friends and family. There have been a few things we have had no takers on, or were more chemical than food anyway. Those things we have thrown out. I don't feel good about that, but we will not be buying it again and it is not hanging around cluttering up our kitchen or our lives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 21, 2016, 05:49:48 AM
Confession: I love testing new food. And drink. I also love tea. Because of this I have over 20 different tea types. Most of them in the quantity of 40+ cups. This has been status quoe for years, yet only last week I bought a new type. I'm a tea-hoarder. Will force myself to drink what I have before getting more. It will be very, very hard...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 21, 2016, 11:19:00 AM
Confession: I love testing new food. And drink. I also love tea. Because of this I have over 20 different tea types. Most of them in the quantity of 40+ cups. This has been status quoe for years, yet only last week I bought a new type. I'm a tea-hoarder. Will force myself to drink what I have before getting more. It will be very, very hard...

I'm sure I hav nothing close to what you have, but I do have a fully stocked cabinet of tea & coffee. I will say that I bought very little of it, much has been gifted. However, I hav been drinking what we have down - the green & black varieties mostly. I don't go for the fruit flavored tea's but future hubby does so he's been drinking those down as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mongoose on January 25, 2016, 01:42:35 PM
I'm toying with the idea of jumping in...but" to be honest, I have a bit of paranoia about my kids and food (oldest has celiac and I worry about her food security... I know, it's absurd!). I need to get DH involved (or make sure he's cool with it at least). We have a very limited budget right now and quite a bit of food stocks. Makes sense to use them up.

I'm guessing we'll be in for some pretty weird meals as I have an eclectic mix. I'm going to allow restocking of flours (I sometimes have supply issues with GF flours) and purchasing milk, cheese, and some produce (although we shouldn't need much since I have some frozen from a friends garden). May end up allowing buying ingredients to finish a dish.

I'm so sick of beans right now I honestly never want to see them again. But, we have several pounds left, so I just started some more soaking. I can't wait to run out of dried beans (we prefer lentils but I bought these on sale quite awhile ago).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 26, 2016, 02:42:24 PM
I'm toying with the idea of jumping in...but" to be honest, I have a bit of paranoia about my kids and food (oldest has celiac and I worry about her food security... I know, it's absurd!). I need to get DH involved (or make sure he's cool with it at least). We have a very limited budget right now and quite a bit of food stocks. Makes sense to use them up.

I'm guessing we'll be in for some pretty weird meals as I have an eclectic mix. I'm going to allow restocking of flours (I sometimes have supply issues with GF flours) and purchasing milk, cheese, and some produce (although we shouldn't need much since I have some frozen from a friends garden). May end up allowing buying ingredients to finish a dish.

I'm so sick of beans right now I honestly never want to see them again. But, we have several pounds left, so I just started some more soaking. I can't wait to run out of dried beans (we prefer lentils but I bought these on sale quite awhile ago).


what kinds of things do you have? we can help with meal ideas :)

i'll add, in terms of beans- i've always cooked everything from scratch- a recipe idea:
cook the beans as normal, then saute some onion and add the beans with a little oil and smash to create refried beans (what kinds of beans do you have btw? this could work with black, pinto, red, white, pink) .add a little bit of chicken boullion cube and salt to taste . make dough with corn masa (this is okay for your daughter i think but idk- another option that would work is rice flour). corn masa and water to make the dough, thick enough to work with but not to crumble. use corn husk or banana leaves(banana is better imo because of the flavor it adds). place some masa inside of the leaves (which need to be soaked a little in warm water first to soften for bendability). spoon some beans onto the masa and fold leaves around and close leaf. place a layer of leaves in the bottom of a large pot and then layer and stack the tamales. then add water just until you can see it in the pot. cook on medium setting on the stovetop. usually takes around 45-1hr. but i would check on them- when masa is cooked, it becomes a stiffer with a rubbery like feel to it. these are pretty filling. delicious as a snack or a meal with maybe rice or similar and salsa and maybe a salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 26, 2016, 04:00:31 PM
Focus on the freezer and pantry continues:

Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D

Poured out two unopened bottles of sugar free Da Vinci syrups I didn't get to in time.

Been remembering to pull out proteins two days before I use them to allow for adequate thawing time.

Finally used the canned crab I bought last fall by mixing it with cream cheese and sour cream to use as a cucumber smear.

Made homemade refried beans for the first time using Budget Bytes' dried pinto beans recipe.  DH actually liked them.  :)

The chicken noodle soup I stockpile came in handy this week because DH has been sick.

Made my own taco seasoning spice blend rather than buying the $1 envelope with fillers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 26, 2016, 04:43:41 PM
How on earth did I acumulate so much rice, pasta and grains? Will take months to go through it all. Made fried rice yesterday and have enough for lunches all week.

Anyone have a good recipe for couscous? So far bland and sticky is all I have to say for it, and I still need to eat half the package...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on January 26, 2016, 05:05:39 PM
Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D


Blueberry-infused gin is really good, if you like gin... :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fitfrugalfab on January 26, 2016, 07:30:53 PM
My DH and I were snowed in over the weekend and we're about there!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on January 26, 2016, 08:13:08 PM
How on earth did I acumulate so much rice, pasta and grains? Will take months to go through it all. Made fried rice yesterday and have enough for lunches all week.

Anyone have a good recipe for couscous? So far bland and sticky is all I have to say for it, and I still need to eat half the package...

Cook it with broth for more flavor, I like it plain with butter though... if it's sticky you may not have let it cook long enough? It should dry out and be quite fluffy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 26, 2016, 11:07:52 PM
How on earth did I acumulate so much rice, pasta and grains? Will take months to go through it all. Made fried rice yesterday and have enough for lunches all week.

Anyone have a good recipe for couscous? So far bland and sticky is all I have to say for it, and I still need to eat half the package...

Cook it with broth for more flavor, I like it plain with butter though... if it's sticky you may not have let it cook long enough? It should dry out and be quite fluffy.

I agree, couscous shouldn't be sticky.  Maybe too much water?  My approach to cooking it is to add boiling water (quantity as per package directions) then cover it and let it sit until all the water is absorbed.

I also like couscous plain, with butter (margarine) and a little salt.  But yes, it is bland. 

Just like plain rice, it does a nice job accompanying a spicy, flavourful chili, or some kind of curry.

I also sometimes make it, let it cool, then add chopped cucumber, tomato, feta, and a little Italian dressing to make a couscous salad.  Feta makes everything bettah!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YogiKitti on January 27, 2016, 04:13:41 AM
How on earth did I acumulate so much rice, pasta and grains? Will take months to go through it all. Made fried rice yesterday and have enough for lunches all week.

Anyone have a good recipe for couscous? So far bland and sticky is all I have to say for it, and I still need to eat half the package...

I love adding couscous to my pumpkin soup! So it might be good in any sort of creamy soup.


I am joining this challenge because my pantry is overly stocked and its slightly annoying having to dig through things to find what I want.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mongoose on January 27, 2016, 06:07:49 AM
what kinds of things do you have? we can help with meal ideas :)

Well, frozen sliced peaches that I can make into cobbler (have a good gluten free recipe for that). We don't normally eat dessert so the cobbler/meat thing seems weird. Other than that not sure what to do with it.

The sliced frozen plums can go in stir fry but we have so many that I'll never use them up at this rate.

I make tamales when I have the time but use corn husks. Having time is a real problem. Never had banana leaves before to use. Maybe it would be a good way to disguise some of those much despised beans. We have black, great northern and pinto beans. DH and I are from Texas and sadly we even dislike refried beans. Or bean tamales but we'll get over that.

We have a "lamb" (probably really more of a sheep at maybe over a year old). I'm more than a little weirded out by it. We got it from a local guy and, I think it's okay but the guy included everything. It was all bagged separately but the first bag I opened was staring back at me (fine normally but not especially when I was expecting a hunk of meat). The rumen/gut was also included...again it wouldn't normally be a problem but they left the content intact and it was putrifying. DH froze the meat and I've been avoiding it. I'm not quite sure that the initial butchering was ok. On the bright side, it was free...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on January 27, 2016, 08:49:20 AM
I'm jumping in for the month of February! I am going to inventory my freezer/fridge/pantry this weekend and see what I've got. DH and I have high protein intake requirements (bodybuilding for both of us) but I stocked up on meat this month, we'll just need to keep buying eggs(we eat 4-5 dozen a week), milk and the occasional item to complete a recipe. My stretch goal is to keep spending under $200 this month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 28, 2016, 01:10:16 PM
Focus on the freezer and pantry continues:

Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D

Poured out two unopened bottles of sugar free Da Vinci syrups I didn't get to in time.

Been remembering to pull out proteins two days before I use them to allow for adequate thawing time.

Finally used the canned crab I bought last fall by mixing it with cream cheese and sour cream to use as a cucumber smear.

Made homemade refried beans for the first time using Budget Bytes' dried pinto beans recipe.  DH actually liked them.  :)

The chicken noodle soup I stockpile came in handy this week because DH has been sick.

Made my own taco seasoning spice blend rather than buying the $1 envelope with fillers.

blueberries are one of my favourites! blueberries are a fabulous addition to smoothies, also in oatmeal (i add after, i dont enjoy cooked fruit in my oats).
and yes! chicken soup, we have been making this regularly, have been sick for a couple weeks. and i make beans pretty regularly as well. i cook separate, but when i set up a small batch of the soup to reheat, i add some beans (i prefer black or lentils) and it is a really delicious combination imo, especially adding some of the bean broth as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YogiKitti on January 28, 2016, 08:38:01 PM
I second blueberries in oatmeal! I mix in frozen ones after I make the oatmeal. I love that it turns it purple! I bet that would be a fun way to get kids to eat oatmeal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 29, 2016, 05:13:52 AM
Thank you for all the nice ideas for couscous. I will try to tweek the cooking time - when I followed package instructions they ended up sticky.

This weeks work lunches has been homemade fried rice. Next weeks lunshes will be frozen pasta sauce with some of the stash of pasta. Tonights dinner is fish'n chips, all ingredients but the beer from the freezer. Have plans to test out a black bean brownie recipe this weekend.  I have relatives that can't eat wheat, so if a beancake might taste good I'm baking it.

I also have a box of rubarb from last year. Need to buy frozen strawberries and make yam. I love strawberry rhubarb yam.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 29, 2016, 12:04:44 PM
Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D


Blueberry-infused gin is really good, if you like gin... :-)

((high fives))  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 29, 2016, 12:08:15 PM
Thank you for all the nice ideas for couscous. I will try to tweek the cooking time - when I followed package instructions they ended up sticky.

This weeks work lunches has been homemade fried rice. Next weeks lunshes will be frozen pasta sauce with some of the stash of pasta. Tonights dinner is fish'n chips, all ingredients but the beer from the freezer. Have plans to test out a black bean brownie recipe this weekend.  I have relatives that can't eat wheat, so if a beancake might taste good I'm baking it.

I also have a box of rubarb from last year. Need to buy frozen strawberries and make yam. I love strawberry rhubarb yam.

Anje, please let us know how it turns out.  I'm a low carber, and make a black bean chocolate cake.  It's not too bad.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 29, 2016, 12:10:11 PM
Focus on the freezer and pantry continues:

Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D

Poured out two unopened bottles of sugar free Da Vinci syrups I didn't get to in time.

Been remembering to pull out proteins two days before I use them to allow for adequate thawing time.

Finally used the canned crab I bought last fall by mixing it with cream cheese and sour cream to use as a cucumber smear.

Made homemade refried beans for the first time using Budget Bytes' dried pinto beans recipe.  DH actually liked them.  :)

The chicken noodle soup I stockpile came in handy this week because DH has been sick.

Made my own taco seasoning spice blend rather than buying the $1 envelope with fillers.

blueberries are one of my favourites! blueberries are a fabulous addition to smoothies, also in oatmeal (i add after, i dont enjoy cooked fruit in my oats).
and yes! chicken soup, we have been making this regularly, have been sick for a couple weeks. and i make beans pretty regularly as well. i cook separate, but when i set up a small batch of the soup to reheat, i add some beans (i prefer black or lentils) and it is a really delicious combination imo, especially adding some of the bean broth as well.

Riverffashion, I sometimes add refried beans to ground meat to bulk up the burrito quantity for DH's lunches. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 29, 2016, 03:59:30 PM

Anje, please let us know how it turns out.  I'm a low carber, and make a black bean chocolate cake.  It's not too bad.  :D

I baked them tonight, and I think they taste great. Do they taste like brownies? No. Do they get chewy sticky like brownies? No (although that might be the fault of my dingy blender). If you've ever tasted mochi with sweet redbean filling - that's what they resemble. Plus chocolate. And I love mochi, so this is totally alright with me. But it's not brownies, so there's that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 29, 2016, 05:30:54 PM
Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D


Blueberry-infused gin is really good, if you like gin... :-)

((high fives))  :)

sounds tasty, though i'm not a fan of gin. i imagine it would be good infused into many kinds of alcohol though. thanks for the idea :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on January 29, 2016, 05:32:21 PM
Focus on the freezer and pantry continues:

Been using the fresh blueberries I froze last June.  Made some blueberry crepes Sunday, and have been putting some in my vodka.  :D

Poured out two unopened bottles of sugar free Da Vinci syrups I didn't get to in time.

Been remembering to pull out proteins two days before I use them to allow for adequate thawing time.

Finally used the canned crab I bought last fall by mixing it with cream cheese and sour cream to use as a cucumber smear.

Made homemade refried beans for the first time using Budget Bytes' dried pinto beans recipe.  DH actually liked them.  :)

The chicken noodle soup I stockpile came in handy this week because DH has been sick.

Made my own taco seasoning spice blend rather than buying the $1 envelope with fillers.

blueberries are one of my favourites! blueberries are a fabulous addition to smoothies, also in oatmeal (i add after, i dont enjoy cooked fruit in my oats).
and yes! chicken soup, we have been making this regularly, have been sick for a couple weeks. and i make beans pretty regularly as well. i cook separate, but when i set up a small batch of the soup to reheat, i add some beans (i prefer black or lentils) and it is a really delicious combination imo, especially adding some of the bean broth as well.

Riverffashion, I sometimes add refried beans to ground meat to bulk up the burrito quantity for DH's lunches. :)

sounds delicious :)

P.S. I have an excellent recipe with ground beef if you're interested. it's in a previous post. i'll see if i can find it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on February 01, 2016, 11:09:25 AM

Anje, please let us know how it turns out.  I'm a low carber, and make a black bean chocolate cake.  It's not too bad.  :D

I baked them tonight, and I think they taste great. Do they taste like brownies? No. Do they get chewy sticky like brownies? No (although that might be the fault of my dingy blender). If you've ever tasted mochi with sweet redbean filling - that's what they resemble. Plus chocolate. And I love mochi, so this is totally alright with me. But it's not brownies, so there's that.

::frantically searches for recipe:: That sounds like the only thing I ever need in life, forever. Do you have a link to the recipe? I can't find it in this thread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 01, 2016, 02:07:11 PM

Anje, please let us know how it turns out.  I'm a low carber, and make a black bean chocolate cake.  It's not too bad.  :D

I baked them tonight, and I think they taste great. Do they taste like brownies? No. Do they get chewy sticky like brownies? No (although that might be the fault of my dingy blender). If you've ever tasted mochi with sweet redbean filling - that's what they resemble. Plus chocolate. And I love mochi, so this is totally alright with me. But it's not brownies, so there's that.

Nice.  Think you'll make them again?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: elaine amj on February 01, 2016, 02:17:09 PM
I'm jumping in - this is great! I have a freezer stuffed full of food. We need to see the bottom at some point. or at least rotate some stuff upwards. I think there's a corner I haven't seen in 3-4 months!

I have been making yogurt and am trying to figure out what to do with the whey. I have about 2-3 cups of it in my fridge right now...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 01, 2016, 03:44:11 PM
I did a full inventory this weekend:
Deep Freezer/Kitchen Freezer
Meat: 3 packages bacon, 6lbs chicken breast tenders, 6lbs chicken thighs, 6lbs chicken breasts, 1 whole chicken, 1 package aidell's chicken and apple sausages, 6lbs pork chops, 7.5lbs 93/7 ground beef, 3lbs 88/12 ground beef, 1lb ground elk, 2lbs ahi tuna steaks, 4lbs pork Italian sausages, 1lb stew meat, 3lbs beef liver, 1 serving: shrimp, tuna steak, chicken breast, turkey burger
Breads: 1 loaf sprouted grain sliced bread, 1/2 loaf cinnamon raisin bread (Costco), 1/2 loaf sourdough bread, Brazilian cheese bread balls
Frozen Vegetables:5 packages of chopped spinach, 2 bags of cauliflower, 1 bag of peas, 2 large packages of broccoli, 1 large bag of Normandy blend veggies (Costco), 1 small package of root veggie blend, 2 packages of butternut squash, 1 bag of spicy sweet potato fries, partial bags of: kale, peas, corn, green beans, stir fry medley, vegetable medley, spinach, sweet potato fries, kale and quinoa blend
Frozen fruit: lots of bananas, partial bags of blueberries, cherries, raspberries
Treats: leftover cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookie dough, lots of ice cream and sorbet, "proyos", fruit/veggie frozen treats (kind of like a frozen jamba juice in stick form)
odds and ends: pre-boiled lasagna noodles, tomato paste, chipotle peppers in adobo, lots of chicken broth, plus bones and a chicken back and feet to make more, freekeh, cream cheese, jimmy delight breakfast sandwiches, 3lb macadamia nuts, 1 serving thai chicken soup, 1 serving Mexican chicken soup
Refrigerator
Sauces/Condiments: sauerkraut, mango habanero salsa, stir fry sauce, salma olek, lemongrass, minced ginger, shrimp cocktail, bbq sauce x2, roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, mustard, restaurant salsa, coconut chili sauce, thai curry paste, miracle whip, mayo, sun butter, spray butter, honey mustard, sour cream, cream cheese, frosting, peanut butter, cheese sauce, guacamole single serve cups, green olives, blue cheese stuffed green olives, pickles, jalapenos, pepperoncinis, capers, lots of salad dressing
Juices/Beverages: apple, cranberry, pomegranate, skim milk, cashew milk, La Croixs
Other: shredded cheese, bacon, 2 English muffins, 4 packages whole grain wraps, 1/2 package corn tortillas, yogurt, eggs, egg whites, apple sauce, almond flour, flaxseed meal
Pantry
Canned Goods: 2 pumpkin, 5 cream of mushroom soup, tomato paste, 2 fire roasted tomatoes, 2 cranberry sauce, enchilada sauce, artichoke hearts, black beans, fish stock, veal stock, chicken broth, 4 chunk light tuna, 12 sardines, 1 salmon, evaporated milk
Jars/Sauces/Condiments: lemon juice, olive oil, ghee, bacon fat, avocado oil, coconut oil, fish sauce, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, Cholula, mustard, tomato spread, jasmine jam, ponzu, rice vinegar, mango chutney, red cooking wine, beets, salad dressing, honey, molasses, sugar free caramel sauce, truffle spread, almond butter
Bags/Powders/Baking: powdered peanut butter, chocolate powdered peanut butter, 6 sugar free pudding mixes, breadcrumbs, panko, pork dust, smoothie powder, mct powder, 3 varieties cocoa powder, gelatin,  oat flour, coconut flour, white flour, whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate chips, goji berries, kale powder, matcha powder, 3 whey protein powder, 1 casein protein powder, brownie box mix, pumpkin bread box mix,  Kodiak power cakes mix, buttermilk protein pancake mix, about time protein pancake mix, brown rice protein powder, egg white protein powder, corn starch, baking soda, baking powder, sugar blends
Grains: oats, barley, white rice, grits, rice noodles, soba noodles, penne pasta, brown rice elbow macaroni, Japanese griddle cakes, boxes of mac and cheese, bag of pinto beans
Dried Goods/Snacks: raisins, dates, figs, mangoes, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, popcorn, lara bars, fruit/veggie pouches, cliff bars, oreos, rice krispies treats, oatmeal packets, cereal

So I must have been unintentionally preparing for the apocalypse... because I should be able to feed myself and my DH for weeks, maybe months on our stores... *sigh* The trouble we run into is we base our meals off of our macros and the one roadblock I see is DH loves his eggs for breakfast, we go through 5 dozen a week between the two of us. Maybe I can find a way to make a breakfast that fits the macro requirements and is still tasty and easy so we can get through some of this stockpile and not buy eggs this month. Lunch and dinner is easy because I change those up all the time (as evident by my ridiculous collection of sauces and condiments...)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on February 01, 2016, 06:14:13 PM
I did a full inventory this weekend:
Deep Freezer/Kitchen Freezer
Meat: 3 packages bacon, 6lbs chicken breast tenders, 6lbs chicken thighs, 6lbs chicken breasts, 1 whole chicken, 1 package aidell's chicken and apple sausages, 6lbs pork chops, 7.5lbs 93/7 ground beef, 3lbs 88/12 ground beef, 1lb ground elk, 2lbs ahi tuna steaks, 4lbs pork Italian sausages, 1lb stew meat, 3lbs beef liver, 1 serving: shrimp, tuna steak, chicken breast, turkey burger
Breads: 1 loaf sprouted grain sliced bread, 1/2 loaf cinnamon raisin bread (Costco), 1/2 loaf sourdough bread, Brazilian cheese bread balls
Frozen Vegetables:5 packages of chopped spinach, 2 bags of cauliflower, 1 bag of peas, 2 large packages of broccoli, 1 large bag of Normandy blend veggies (Costco), 1 small package of root veggie blend, 2 packages of butternut squash, 1 bag of spicy sweet potato fries, partial bags of: kale, peas, corn, green beans, stir fry medley, vegetable medley, spinach, sweet potato fries, kale and quinoa blend
Frozen fruit: lots of bananas, partial bags of blueberries, cherries, raspberries
Treats: leftover cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookie dough, lots of ice cream and sorbet, "proyos", fruit/veggie frozen treats (kind of like a frozen jamba juice in stick form)
odds and ends: pre-boiled lasagna noodles, tomato paste, chipotle peppers in adobo, lots of chicken broth, plus bones and a chicken back and feet to make more, freekeh, cream cheese, jimmy delight breakfast sandwiches, 3lb macadamia nuts, 1 serving thai chicken soup, 1 serving Mexican chicken soup
Refrigerator
Sauces/Condiments: sauerkraut, mango habanero salsa, stir fry sauce, salma olek, lemongrass, minced ginger, shrimp cocktail, bbq sauce x2, roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, mustard, restaurant salsa, coconut chili sauce, thai curry paste, miracle whip, mayo, sun butter, spray butter, honey mustard, sour cream, cream cheese, frosting, peanut butter, cheese sauce, guacamole single serve cups, green olives, blue cheese stuffed green olives, pickles, jalapenos, pepperoncinis, capers, lots of salad dressing
Juices/Beverages: apple, cranberry, pomegranate, skim milk, cashew milk, La Croixs
Other: shredded cheese, bacon, 2 English muffins, 4 packages whole grain wraps, 1/2 package corn tortillas, yogurt, eggs, egg whites, apple sauce, almond flour, flaxseed meal
Pantry
Canned Goods: 2 pumpkin, 5 cream of mushroom soup, tomato paste, 2 fire roasted tomatoes, 2 cranberry sauce, enchilada sauce, artichoke hearts, black beans, fish stock, veal stock, chicken broth, 4 chunk light tuna, 12 sardines, 1 salmon, evaporated milk
Jars/Sauces/Condiments: lemon juice, olive oil, ghee, bacon fat, avocado oil, coconut oil, fish sauce, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, Cholula, mustard, tomato spread, jasmine jam, ponzu, rice vinegar, mango chutney, red cooking wine, beets, salad dressing, honey, molasses, sugar free caramel sauce, truffle spread, almond butter
Bags/Powders/Baking: powdered peanut butter, chocolate powdered peanut butter, 6 sugar free pudding mixes, breadcrumbs, panko, pork dust, smoothie powder, mct powder, 3 varieties cocoa powder, gelatin,  oat flour, coconut flour, white flour, whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate chips, goji berries, kale powder, matcha powder, 3 whey protein powder, 1 casein protein powder, brownie box mix, pumpkin bread box mix,  Kodiak power cakes mix, buttermilk protein pancake mix, about time protein pancake mix, brown rice protein powder, egg white protein powder, corn starch, baking soda, baking powder, sugar blends
Grains: oats, barley, white rice, grits, rice noodles, soba noodles, penne pasta, brown rice elbow macaroni, Japanese griddle cakes, boxes of mac and cheese, bag of pinto beans
Dried Goods/Snacks: raisins, dates, figs, mangoes, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, popcorn, lara bars, fruit/veggie pouches, cliff bars, oreos, rice krispies treats, oatmeal packets, cereal

So I must have been unintentionally preparing for the apocalypse... because I should be able to feed myself and my DH for weeks, maybe months on our stores... *sigh* The trouble we run into is we base our meals off of our macros and the one roadblock I see is DH loves his eggs for breakfast, we go through 5 dozen a week between the two of us. Maybe I can find a way to make a breakfast that fits the macro requirements and is still tasty and easy so we can get through some of this stockpile and not buy eggs this month. Lunch and dinner is easy because I change those up all the time (as evident by my ridiculous collection of sauces and condiments...)

Holy sh*t.
This is a good challenge for you.
:). You are about to  save an incredible amount of money. Time to get creative.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on February 01, 2016, 06:59:05 PM
[food]

Holy sh*t.
This is a good challenge for you.
:). You are about to  save an incredible amount of money. Time to get creative.

Agreed! I am jealous of everyone's freezer space. I have a side-by-side and it seems so tiny.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on February 02, 2016, 05:14:49 AM

Anje, please let us know how it turns out.  I'm a low carber, and make a black bean chocolate cake.  It's not too bad.  :D

I baked them tonight, and I think they taste great. Do they taste like brownies? No. Do they get chewy sticky like brownies? No (although that might be the fault of my dingy blender). If you've ever tasted mochi with sweet redbean filling - that's what they resemble. Plus chocolate. And I love mochi, so this is totally alright with me. But it's not brownies, so there's that.

::frantically searches for recipe:: That sounds like the only thing I ever need in life, forever. Do you have a link to the recipe? I can't find it in this thread!
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/06/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/
This is the link. I didn't add vanilla (I never can taste vanilla in chocolate) and I cut down a bit on the sugar (I always do that). I also didn't add chocolate chips (I was out of them).
I'm not good at following recipes, basically. ;)

@MountainGal: Yes, I think I will. But who knows: my cake baking is very limited and I've forgoten to re-make better cakes than this one.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on February 02, 2016, 10:11:44 AM
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/06/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/
This is the link. I didn't add vanilla (I never can taste vanilla in chocolate) and I cut down a bit on the sugar (I always do that). I also didn't add chocolate chips (I was out of them).
I'm not good at following recipes, basically. ;)

Yum--thank you! Good to know that you can cut down on the sugar and that the chocolate chips are not as mandatory as she says :) Now, when will I have the time to make these...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mongoose on February 02, 2016, 04:31:25 PM
Ideas for miso? I was going to make miso soup but couldn't find bonito flakes. :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NeverLost on February 03, 2016, 12:52:49 PM
I have never put bonito flakes in my miso.  I just use seaweed, tofu and green onion and it's still very good.  I also add miso to other soups I'm making.  It just adds some depth.   Also, I've heard that a combo of miso/mayo for sandwiches is incredible but I've never tried it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on February 03, 2016, 08:17:37 PM
[food]

Holy sh*t.
This is a good challenge for you.
:). You are about to  save an incredible amount of money. Time to get creative.

Agreed! I am jealous of everyone's freezer space. I have a side-by-side and it seems so tiny.

Do you mean "macro" as in macrobiotic? Or..?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 05, 2016, 12:32:54 PM
I did a full inventory this weekend:
Deep Freezer/Kitchen Freezer
Meat: 32 packages bacon, 6lbs2lbs chicken breast tenders, 6lbs2lbs chicken thighs, 6lbs chicken breasts, 1 whole chicken, 1 package aidell's chicken and apple sausages, 6lbs4lbs pork chops, 7.5lbs 93/7 ground beef, 3lbs 88/12 ground beef, 1lb ground elk, 2lbs ahi tuna steaks, 4lbs pork Italian sausages, 1lb stew meat, 3lbs beef liver, 1 serving: shrimp, tuna steak, chicken breast, turkey burger
Breads: 1 loaf sprouted grain sliced bread, 1/2 loaf cinnamon raisin bread (Costco), 1/2 loaf sourdough bread, Brazilian cheese bread balls
Frozen Vegetables: 54 packages of chopped spinach, 2 bags of cauliflower, 1 bag of peas, 21 large packages of broccoli, 1 large bag of Normandy blend veggies (Costco), 1 small package of root veggie blend, 2 packages of butternut squash, 1 bag of spicy sweet potato fries, partial bags of: kale, peas, corn, green beans, stir fry medley, vegetable medley, spinach, sweet potato fries, kale and quinoa blend
Frozen fruit: lots of bananas, partial bags of blueberries, cherries, raspberries
Treats: leftover cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookie dough, lots of ice cream and sorbet, "proyos", fruit/veggie frozen treats (kind of like a frozen jamba juice in stick form)
odds and ends: pre-boiled lasagna noodles, tomato paste, chipotle peppers in adobo, lots of chicken broth, plus bones and a chicken back and feet to make more, freekeh, cream cheese, jimmy delight breakfast sandwiches, 3lb macadamia nuts, 1 serving thai chicken soup, 1 serving Mexican chicken soup
Refrigerator
Sauces/Condiments: sauerkraut, mango habanero salsa, stir fry sauce, salma olek, lemongrass, minced ginger, shrimp cocktail, bbq sauce x2, roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, mustard, restaurant salsa, coconut chili sauce, thai curry paste, miracle whip, mayo, sun butter, spray butter, honey mustard, sour cream, cream cheese, frosting, peanut butter, cheese sauce, guacamole single serve cups, green olives, blue cheese stuffed green olives, pickles, jalapenos, pepperoncinis, capers, lots of salad dressing
Juices/Beverages: apple, cranberry, pomegranate, skim milk, cashew milk, La Croixs
Other: shredded cheese, bacon, 2 English muffins, 43 packages whole grain wraps, 1/2 package corn tortillas, yogurt, eggs, egg whites, apple sauce, almond flour, flaxseed meal
Pantry
Canned Goods: 2 pumpkin, 5 cream of mushroom soup, tomato paste, 2 fire roasted tomatoes, 2 cranberry sauce, enchilada sauce, artichoke hearts, black beans, fish stock, veal stock, chicken broth, 4 chunk light tuna, 12 sardines, 1 salmon, evaporated milk
Jars/Sauces/Condiments: lemon juice, olive oil, ghee, bacon fat, avocado oil, coconut oil, fish sauce, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, Cholula, mustard, tomato spread, jasmine jam, ponzu, rice vinegar, mango chutney, red cooking wine, beets, salad dressing, honey, molasses, sugar free caramel sauce, truffle spread, almond butter
Bags/Powders/Baking: powdered peanut butter, chocolate powdered peanut butter, 6 sugar free pudding mixes, breadcrumbs, panko, pork dust, smoothie powder, mct powder, 3 varieties cocoa powder, gelatin,  oat flour, coconut flour, white flour, whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate chips, goji berries, kale powder, matcha powder, 3 whey protein powder, 1 casein protein powder, brownie box mix, pumpkin bread box mix,  Kodiak power cakes mix, buttermilk protein pancake mix, about time protein pancake mix, brown rice protein powder, egg white protein powder, corn starch, baking soda, baking powder, sugar blends
Grains: oats, barley, white rice, grits, quinoa, rice noodles, soba noodles, penne pasta, brown rice elbow macaroni, Japanese griddle cakes, boxes of mac and cheese, bag of pinto beans
Dried Goods/Snacks: raisins, dates, figs, mangoes, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, popcorn, lara bars, fruit/veggie pouches, cliff bars, oreos, rice krispies treats, oatmeal packets, cereal
Produce: Onions, garlic, sweet potatoes

I made a small dent in the reserves by making the following recipes:
-6 servings Marinated Pork Chops with Steamed Broccoli and Roasted Sweet Potatoes (1 leftover still in fridge)
-4 servings Fish Tacos with Steamed Cauliflower and Black Beans
-4 servings Asian Chopped Salad with Chicken Breast
-6 servings Baked Chicken Breast with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce, Steamed Quinoa and Green Beans
-12 servings Honey Sriracha Chicken Thighs with Steamed White Rice and Stir Fry Veggies (8 chicken servings leftover which will be used for lunches, out of rice/veggies)
-6 servings Ahi Tuna with Jasmine Petal Jam, Steamed Freekeh and Creamed Spinach (making for dinner tonight, we'll eat leftovers for lunches)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 06, 2016, 12:34:34 PM
For the month of February, I'm not buying any protein, except eggs.  We have a freezer full of beef, ham, chicken and salmon, so this is not even a challenge.

Working on using up other stuff as well.  I have 1.5 quarts of homemade yogurt, a quart each of kimchi and sauerkraut, too many kinds of mustard, bulk beans that we don't eat (periodically cook a batch and feed to the chickens), 3 wedges of brie (clearance buy), almond flour and coconut flour, egg protein powder, whey protein powder, beef gelatin, frozen green chile, lentils, split peas, rice, black beans, frozen pineapple, frozen blueberries, various nuts, frozen sweet potato fries and hashbrowns, winter squash, sweet potatoes, yellow onions, and lots of beef and lamb liver, small potatoes, lots of beets and carrots.  Tons of canned and frozen tomato products.  The fridge is actually looking pretty bare and we'll buy some fresh vegetables each week, but I'm shooting to get the stock decreased.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on February 06, 2016, 01:11:55 PM
For the month of February, I'm not buying any protein, except eggs.  We have a freezer full of beef, ham, chicken and salmon, so this is not even a challenge.

Working on using up other stuff as well.  I have 1.5 quarts of homemade yogurt, a quart each of kimchi and sauerkraut, too many kinds of mustard, bulk beans that we don't eat (periodically cook a batch and feed to the chickens), 3 wedges of brie (clearance buy), almond flour and coconut flour, egg protein powder, whey protein powder, beef gelatin, frozen green chile, lentils, split peas, rice, black beans, frozen pineapple, frozen blueberries, various nuts, frozen sweet potato fries and hashbrowns, winter squash, sweet potatoes, yellow onions, and lots of beef and lamb liver, small potatoes, lots of beets and carrots.  Tons of canned and frozen tomato products.  The fridge is actually looking pretty bare and we'll buy some fresh vegetables each week, but I'm shooting to get the stock decreased.

Excellent! Sounds like u hav plenty of options to work with. Let us know if u want ideas. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on February 11, 2016, 02:55:41 AM
Am trying to up my intake of fish and reduce meat consumption to one or two times a week. Since my stock of meat is down to one packet of pulled pork this is an excelent time. This week I've been eating moqueca (that is one tasty pot of fish) and rice bowl with cod (still working on that supply of rice). Next up is fish taco and next week my plans are pasta salad with cheese or eggs (got to eat that pasta) and curry with some frozen pumpkin, chickpeas and salmon or more cod (I love cod, it's one underrated fish).

Have completely eaten out all supplies of cheese and frozen veggies (except the pumpkin). Also emptied a small bag of rice yesterday. Next up is sushi rice from my sushi-making days (I no longer bother). I have never made onigiri, but it sounds good, so I will try it out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Larabeth on February 11, 2016, 02:59:51 AM
Ooooh, I like this!!!

I'll probably start this this week... we're moving next month!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 12, 2016, 10:05:07 AM
I did a full inventory this weekend:
Deep Freezer/Kitchen Freezer
Meat: 3 packages bacon, 6lbs chicken breast tenders, 6lbs2lbs chicken thighs, 6lbs chicken breasts, 1 whole chicken, 1 package aidell's chicken and apple sausages, 6lbs4lbs pork chops, 7.5lbs 5.5lbs 93/7 ground beef, 3lbs 88/12 ground beef, 1lb ground elk, 2lbs ahi tuna steaks, 4lbs pork Italian sausages, 1lb stew meat, 3lbs beef liver, 1 serving: shrimp, tuna steak, chicken breast, turkey burger
Breads: 1 loaf sprouted grain sliced bread, 1/2 loaf cinnamon raisin bread (Costco), 1/2 loaf sourdough bread, Brazilian cheese bread balls
Frozen Vegetables: 53 packages of chopped spinach, 2 bags of cauliflower, 1 bag of peas, 21 large packages of broccoli, 1 large bag of Normandy blend veggies (Costco), 1 small package of root veggie blend, 2 packages of butternut squash, 1 bag of spicy sweet potato fries, partial bags of: kale, peas, corn, green beans, stir fry medley, vegetable medley, spinach, sweet potato fries, kale and quinoa blend
Frozen fruit: lots of bananas, partial bags of blueberries, cherries, raspberries
Treats: leftover cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookie dough, lots of ice cream and sorbet, "proyos", fruit/veggie frozen treats (kind of like a frozen jamba juice in stick form)
odds and ends: pre-boiled lasagna noodles, tomato paste, chipotle peppers in adobo, lots of chicken broth, plus bones and a chicken back and feet to make more, freekeh, cream cheese, jimmy delight breakfast sandwiches, 3lb macadamia nuts, 1 serving thai chicken soup, 1 serving Mexican chicken soup
Refrigerator
Sauces/Condiments: sauerkraut, mango habanero salsa, stir fry sauce, salma olek, lemongrass, minced ginger, shrimp cocktail, bbq sauce x2, roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, mustard, restaurant salsa, coconut chili sauce, thai curry paste, miracle whip, mayo, sun butter, spray butter, honey mustard, sour cream, cream cheese, 3 2 bags of buttercream frosting, peanut butter, cheese sauce, guacamole single serve cups, green olives, blue cheese stuffed green olives, pickles, jalapenos, pepperoncinis, capers, lots of salad dressing
Juices/Beverages: apple, cranberry, pomegranate, skim milk, cashew milk, La Croixs
Other: shredded cheese, bacon, 2 English muffins, 42 packages whole grain wraps, 1/2 package corn tortillas, yogurt, eggs, egg whites, apple sauce, almond flour, flaxseed meal
Pantry
Canned Goods: 2 pumpkin, 5 cream of mushroom soup, tomato paste, 2 fire roasted tomatoes, 2 cranberry sauce, enchilada sauce, artichoke hearts, black beans, fish stock, veal stock, chicken broth, 43 chunk light tuna, 12 sardines, 1 salmon, evaporated milk
Jars/Sauces/Condiments: lemon juice, olive oil, ghee, bacon fat, avocado oil, coconut oil, fish sauce, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, Cholula, mustard, tomato spread, jasmine jam, ponzu, rice vinegar, mango chutney, red cooking wine, beets, salad dressing, honey, molasses, sugar free caramel sauce, truffle spread, almond butter
Bags/Powders/Baking: powdered peanut butter, chocolate powdered peanut butter, 6 sugar free pudding mixes, breadcrumbs, panko, pork dust, smoothie powder, mct powder, 3 varieties cocoa powder, gelatin,  oat flour, coconut flour, white flour, whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate chips, goji berries, kale powder, matcha powder, 3 whey protein powder, 1 casein protein powder, brownie box mix, pumpkin bread box mix,  Kodiak power cakes mix, buttermilk protein pancake mix, about time protein pancake mix, brown rice protein powder, egg white protein powder, corn starch, baking soda, baking powder, sugar blends
Grains: oats, barley, white rice, grits, quinoa, rice noodles, soba noodles, penne pasta, brown rice elbow macaroni, Japanese griddle cakes, boxes of mac and cheese, bag of pinto beans
Dried Goods/Snacks: raisins, dates, figs, mangoes, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, popcorn, lara bars, fruit/veggie pouches, cliff bars, oreos, rice krispies treats, oatmeal packets, cereal
Produce: Onions, garlic, sweet potatoes

Made a smallish dent this week, we ate protein pancakes with eggs and bacon for breakfast most days(one day I had ground beef with an egg and two other days I made smoothies which finished off my raspberries), I made a giant batch (12 servings) of chili with butternut squash and sweet potatoes in it and also baked up some chicken to add to salads for lunch. I made a batch of brownies and made cupcakes(I had all ingredients except milk, so I picked up a single serve portion) to take to a potluck.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 12, 2016, 12:20:02 PM
Planning to go grocery shopping tonight.  Made a list entirely of veggies and will stick with it. 

I've been out of town and did a pretty good job of emptying the fridge of perishables before leaving (at least the stuff DH won't eat while I'm gone).

I am trying to get back into the habit of using the Out of Milk app, so I updated it on my flight home and now it just has the ingredients I want to have as staples going forward.  The pantry is pretty streamlined since we don't use many processed foods anymore (salad dressings, marinades, spice mixes etc. are pretty much non-existent).

OTOH, I just pre-ordered half of a lamb, so the freezer stock is going to see an uptick.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on February 14, 2016, 11:01:11 AM
Confession: I love testing new food. And drink. I also love tea. Because of this I have over 20 different tea types. Most of them in the quantity of 40+ cups. This has been status quoe for years, yet only last week I bought a new type. I'm a tea-hoarder. Will force myself to drink what I have before getting more. It will be very, very hard...
Finished a packet of good Christmas tea this week. I now have only 2 types left (that's what happens when people know you like tea). I prefer to only drink spicy tea in the colder months, so my plan is to drink them before Easter. They are still good next winter, but they are better now.

Also have 2 giant bags of a chai mix. I stopped drinking regular milk a while back, and chai just isn't that much fun sans milk. Anyone got a good replacement for drinks like that? I find rice too watery and sweet and almond to drown out any other taste..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 14, 2016, 11:14:35 AM
Proud of myself this morning:  I extracted two packages of beef tongue from 2014 from the freezer and am thawing them out now.  They will go in the slow cooker and we'll have lengua tacos the next couple nights.  I am still recoiling a bit in horror of the lamb's tongue, kidney and heart that are in there.  They may get cooked up and served to the dogs (plus they're tiny, so mustering up lots of effort to prepare them doesn't seem worthwhile).  Still lots of beef liver to get through; might try cooking it sous vide to see if that improves the texture.

Used up our black beans last night and won't buy more until we've gotten through the split peas and two varieties of lentils that have been in the cupboard for ages.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 14, 2016, 11:55:11 AM
Confession: I love testing new food. And drink. I also love tea. Because of this I have over 20 different tea types. Most of them in the quantity of 40+ cups. This has been status quoe for years, yet only last week I bought a new type. I'm a tea-hoarder. Will force myself to drink what I have before getting more. It will be very, very hard...
Finished a packet of good Christmas tea this week. I now have only 2 types left (that's what happens when people know you like tea). I prefer to only drink spicy tea in the colder months, so my plan is to drink them before Easter. They are still good next winter, but they are better now.

Also have 2 giant bags of a chai mix. I stopped drinking regular milk a while back, and chai just isn't that much fun sans milk. Anyone got a good replacement for drinks like that? I find rice too watery and sweet and almond to drown out any other taste..

Nice work, I have a tea collection too, but I prefer coffee in the mornings. I should try two cups of tea a day to try and make a dent...

As far as a milk substitute, I really Silk's Unsweetened Cashew Milk, it is creamy and mild in flavor. https://silk.com/products/unsweetened-original-cashewmilk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 14, 2016, 12:43:40 PM
 Today I found one can of hominy and two of pumpkin in the depths of the reserve pantry storage area. I had thought there were only condiments in there -  it's all stuff that move with us when we moved into the house. So, I've moved those cans to the regular can area and will be using them ASAP. The pumpkin will go and pasta sauce, and the hominy will almost certainly be fried with ham and onions for a meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meghan88 on February 14, 2016, 04:53:27 PM
Artichoke hearts!!

Bought a few too many large jars on sale two years ago, and they expire this May.  I have three 24-ounce (large!) jars left.  They're nice straight out of the jar (in moderation).  I've baked them into quiches, added them to peppers, onions and other veg over pastas, but could use a few more suggestions.

I think I can keep them anyway for a few months after the BB date.

Any ideas or input?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: birdie55 on February 14, 2016, 05:04:19 PM
I slice artichoke hearts on cheese pizza.  I have found a couple of the one pot pasta recipes that use artichoke hearts and mushrooms and cheese.  I think one is called wonderpot.  I haven't tried them yet but they sound good. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 14, 2016, 06:36:59 PM
Are they pickled?  If not, something like this might be good:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/artichoke-gratinata-recipe.html

If they are pickled, they might still be good thoroughly drained and then sprinkled with parm and chile flakes and roasted as sort of an appetizer. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YogiKitti on February 15, 2016, 02:59:33 AM
Confession: I love testing new food. And drink. I also love tea. Because of this I have over 20 different tea types. Most of them in the quantity of 40+ cups. This has been status quoe for years, yet only last week I bought a new type. I'm a tea-hoarder. Will force myself to drink what I have before getting more. It will be very, very hard...
Finished a packet of good Christmas tea this week. I now have only 2 types left (that's what happens when people know you like tea). I prefer to only drink spicy tea in the colder months, so my plan is to drink them before Easter. They are still good next winter, but they are better now.

Also have 2 giant bags of a chai mix. I stopped drinking regular milk a while back, and chai just isn't that much fun sans milk. Anyone got a good replacement for drinks like that? I find rice too watery and sweet and almond to drown out any other taste..

I like soy milk the best.

I am also a tea-horder and I like to try new teas more than I like to finish tested flavors. I was actually thinking of this today and plan to randomly grab one type of tea from the cupboard to try every few days-maybe combine some lesser liked flavors into something new. My end goal is to be able to artfully display the tea in the cupboard instead of having everything being ugly and stacked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: herisff on February 15, 2016, 07:04:53 AM
@horsepoor - re the beef liver, I have heard (but never tried) that if you freeze the liver and then grate it when frozen, it hides well inside ground meat (probably at a 1:1 ratio at most I would guess, otherwise the texture would suffer).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 15, 2016, 09:15:03 AM
Proud of myself this morning:  I extracted two packages of beef tongue from 2014 from the freezer and am thawing them out now.  They will go in the slow cooker and we'll have lengua tacos the next couple nights.  I am still recoiling a bit in horror of the lamb's tongue, kidney and heart that are in there.  They may get cooked up and served to the dogs (plus they're tiny, so mustering up lots of effort to prepare them doesn't seem worthwhile).  Still lots of beef liver to get through; might try cooking it sous vide to see if that improves the texture.

Used up our black beans last night and won't buy more until we've gotten through the split peas and two varieties of lentils that have been in the cupboard for ages.

Is it beef heart? I made this last year, still one of the best and most memorable dishes I've ever had: http://paleoporn.net/beef-heart/

The heart comes out like the richest steak you've ever had. So incredible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 15, 2016, 10:03:13 AM
herisff  Thanks!  I've read about mixing it into ground meat, but not the tip of grating it from frozen.  Will give it a try.

eat.train it's actually a lamb's heart.  I did have a beef heart that I cooked a few months ago.  In retrospect, I should have just thrown the lamb's heart in the dish as well.  It's pretty small, so it doesn't seem worthwhile to spend a lot of time preparing it.  I did throw the lamb's tongue in with the beef tongue yesterday and we had some excellent lengua and kimchi tacos for dinner.

This morning I thawed out one of the 5 remaining packages of Hatch chile and put some in an omelette.  I'm going to New Mexico next month and will be bringing more home, so I need to start using this (I tend to save it too long since it's kind of hard to get in Idaho).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 15, 2016, 12:26:43 PM
Artichoke hearts!!

Bought a few too many large jars on sale two years ago, and they expire this May.  I have three 24-ounce (large!) jars left.  They're nice straight out of the jar (in moderation).  I've baked them into quiches, added them to peppers, onions and other veg over pastas, but could use a few more suggestions.

I think I can keep them anyway for a few months after the BB date.

Any ideas or input?

Artichoke dip.  http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/quick_and_easy_artichoke_dip/ (http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/quick_and_easy_artichoke_dip/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 15, 2016, 01:14:51 PM
herisff 
This morning I thawed out one of the 5 remaining packages of Hatch chile and put some in an omelette.  I'm going to New Mexico next month and will be bringing more home, so I need to start using this (I tend to save it too long since it's kind of hard to get in Idaho).

*swoon* we used to live in southern NM about two hours away from Hatch. I miss green-chile-everything.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 15, 2016, 08:52:02 PM
herisff 
This morning I thawed out one of the 5 remaining packages of Hatch chile and put some in an omelette.  I'm going to New Mexico next month and will be bringing more home, so I need to start using this (I tend to save it too long since it's kind of hard to get in Idaho).

*swoon* we used to live in southern NM about two hours away from Hatch. I miss green-chile-everything.

Yeah, I went to grad school in Cruces and hence the Chile addiction.  The last few years I've bought 50# of fresh from Bountiful Baskets and roasted and frozen them.  Can only get mediums though, looking forward to getting some hots!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on February 16, 2016, 09:37:30 AM
herisff 
This morning I thawed out one of the 5 remaining packages of Hatch chile and put some in an omelette.  I'm going to New Mexico next month and will be bringing more home, so I need to start using this (I tend to save it too long since it's kind of hard to get in Idaho).

*swoon* we used to live in southern NM about two hours away from Hatch. I miss green-chile-everything.

Yeah, I went to grad school in Cruces and hence the Chile addiction.  The last few years I've bought 50# of fresh from Bountiful Baskets and roasted and frozen them.  Can only get mediums though, looking forward to getting some hots!

I'm a fellow alumni! I did both undergrad and grad school at NMSU. :) We lived in Alamogordo though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 17, 2016, 06:35:24 AM
herisff 
This morning I thawed out one of the 5 remaining packages of Hatch chile and put some in an omelette.  I'm going to New Mexico next month and will be bringing more home, so I need to start using this (I tend to save it too long since it's kind of hard to get in Idaho).

*swoon* we used to live in southern NM about two hours away from Hatch. I miss green-chile-everything.

Yeah, I went to grad school in Cruces and hence the Chile addiction.  The last few years I've bought 50# of fresh from Bountiful Baskets and roasted and frozen them.  Can only get mediums though, looking forward to getting some hots!

I'm a fellow alumni! I did both undergrad and grad school at NMSU. :) We lived in Alamogordo though.

Small world isn't it?  I had a research plot on the Air Force Base, so I went to Alamogordo almost weekly.  Fun watching the Stealths fly while counting plants.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: zephyr911 on February 17, 2016, 07:19:39 AM
We're in, with exceptions for fresh vegetables and dairy. We have tons of frozen fish/meats and old non-perishables, and will make it our goal to include a meaningful portion of them in every meal until it looks like Old Mother Hubbard in here. >.<
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on February 17, 2016, 07:30:42 AM
I would grind the organ meat and use it as part of a spicy sausage mix, with ground pork and some pork fat. Artichokes: these are great sliced as part of an antipasto salad, with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cheese and a few slices of ham, turkey or salami.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meghan88 on February 17, 2016, 10:49:19 AM
Thanks for all of the great artichoke suggestions!  (They are marinated, BTW.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: emilypsf on February 17, 2016, 01:31:58 PM
Ok, I am officially joining this challenge!  I've already kind of been doing it on my own for the month of February, but I'm hoping that this will motivate me/hold me accountable.

It would take too long to go through and list everything in our freezer/pantry, but I'll just say that between having little kids, demanding jobs, and ordering in bulk from Azure Standard, our family has accumulated a ton of odds and ends that need to be used up.

So, I'll be buying milk, eggs, and produce but trying not to buy anything else for the rest of this month.  We have already spent $250 on groceries (stocked up on a few things at Costco, including diapers, and two trips to the farmers market).  So, for the rest of the month, I'm going to have a goal of spending $130.  $100 at the farmers market and $30 at the grocery store.  I know I have a long way to go to get to mustachianism, so please don't punch my face too hard.  Btw, I live in San Francisco and mostly eat organic.  It adds up.

Yesterday, kids had pancakes from the freezer for breakfast.  Parents had oatmeal.  Kids had PBJ for lunch, string cheese, edamame, and applesauce for snacks.  I had a salad for lunch with grilled chicken from the freezer and peanuts for a snack.  I defrosted ham and cooked white beans for soup, but the ham was discolored.  I was almost certain that it was just freezer burn, but it also smelled funny, so I tossed it and used some frozen meatballs instead.  The kids also had a pita pizza made with leftovers from making pizza with friends over the weekend.

Today, kids had cinnamon raisin toast from the freezer for breakfast.  Same snacks and lunch for them as yesterday.  We are out of edamame, but the farmers market is tomorrow, and we'll pick up some fruit for them to snack on.  Same lunch for me, too, but I had white beans instead of chicken on my salad.  We'll have leftover soup for dinner, and I'm defrosting some frozen bread pieces to make bread pudding/french toast casserole for tomorrow's breakfast.  Anybody have a good bread pudding recipe? 

Also, any suggestions of what to do with frozen cranberries?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 17, 2016, 05:46:33 PM
Also, any suggestions of what to do with frozen cranberries?

Frozen cranberries go well into scones or muffins.  You might want a bit more sugar depending on how tart they are. 

I use this recipe http://sugarmansculinary.blogspot.ca/2010/04/blueberry-scones.html with all white flour & 1/2 cup sugar instead of 1/3.  Sometimes I switch out the lemon and put in some nutmeg & cardamon instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FunkyChopstick on February 17, 2016, 08:37:32 PM
I have had a soup mix, the plastic tube kind that have beans and tiny bits of veggies and a spice packet, in my cupboard for a looooonnng time. That poor minestrone packet has been around for at least 3 years. Hubs is a house husband and I asked him to make it for tonight since we have been eating like crap the last few weeks. It took him a few hours but an onion, some tomato paste, can of white beans, and a serious dipping into the spice drawer--ta da! That soup was amazing!

I also made a protein shake from a canister of soy powder that I have had for close to 4 years. It was disgusting. It was my lunch. I feel empowered in a slavic, utilitarian way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on February 17, 2016, 09:21:50 PM
Ok, I am officially joining this challenge!  I've already kind of been doing it on my own for the month of February, but I'm hoping that this will motivate me/hold me accountable.

It would take too long to go through and list everything in our freezer/pantry, but I'll just say that between having little kids, demanding jobs, and ordering in bulk from Azure Standard, our family has accumulated a ton of odds and ends that need to be used up.

So, I'll be buying milk, eggs, and produce but trying not to buy anything else for the rest of this month.  We have already spent $250 on groceries (stocked up on a few things at Costco, including diapers, and two trips to the farmers market).  So, for the rest of the month, I'm going to have a goal of spending $130.  $100 at the farmers market and $30 at the grocery store.  I know I have a long way to go to get to mustachianism, so please don't punch my face too hard.  Btw, I live in San Francisco and mostly eat organic.  It adds up.

Yesterday, kids had pancakes from the freezer for breakfast.  Parents had oatmeal.  Kids had PBJ for lunch, string cheese, edamame, and applesauce for snacks.  I had a salad for lunch with grilled chicken from the freezer and peanuts for a snack.  I defrosted ham and cooked white beans for soup, but the ham was discolored.  I was almost certain that it was just freezer burn, but it also smelled funny, so I tossed it and used some frozen meatballs instead.  The kids also had a pita pizza made with leftovers from making pizza with friends over the weekend.

Today, kids had cinnamon raisin toast from the freezer for breakfast.  Same snacks and lunch for them as yesterday.  We are out of edamame, but the farmers market is tomorrow, and we'll pick up some fruit for them to snack on.  Same lunch for me, too, but I had white beans instead of chicken on my salad.  We'll have leftover soup for dinner, and I'm defrosting some frozen bread pieces to make bread pudding/french toast casserole for tomorrow's breakfast.  Anybody have a good bread pudding recipe? 

Also, any suggestions of what to do with frozen cranberries?

Welcome to the challenge! It's actually alot of fun getting creative with what you have. Sounds like you already came up with some good meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: emilypsf on February 19, 2016, 08:17:49 AM
I just wrote a big post about yesterday that got lost, so here is the summary.  Spent $23 at the grocery store on milk, yogurt, and eggs.  I will have to re-work my categories, but I think we will still make it under the spending limit.  I'm going to use some of this yogurt to make my own next week.  Didnt make it to the farmersmarket.  Power went out last night, so I cooked dinner by light of camping lanterns (very unusual for us city dwelers).  Today we will eat leftovers and a peach crisp I found in the freezer.  How did we let that sit for two years?!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 20, 2016, 03:43:07 AM
Bought groceries for the week for both man and beast for $25 yesterday. Unless we run out of kibble later in the week, should've checked that before we left...


We make extra grocery  trips in a week only for extreme emergencies - out of dog food, coffee, or toilet paper, and for TP I've been known to just bring home a couple of the "ends" our custodial staff leave for the taking at work (big industrial rolls, occasionally get changed when almost but not quite out. Usually I keep one in my office for cleaning screens.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: emilypsf on February 21, 2016, 04:50:25 PM
Well, yesterday we spent $15 at the grocery store and today we spent $45 at the farmers market.  That means we have $47 left.  So, which will probably mostly go to milk and eggs, so we will skip the market next weekend.  We have some frozen veggies and fruit that we will eat instead of fresh.  I made bread, yogurt, and muffins last week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: emilypsf on February 21, 2016, 04:53:55 PM
Oh, I also used up a small amount of raw sugar, some lentils, and drank through a very old container of tea.  So, things are going pretty well.  I really do need to tighten our buying habits to make room for our pantry/freezer meals, though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 21, 2016, 05:23:36 PM
Yesterday I made split pea soup with the ham bone from the pre-Christmas sale spiral sliced ham, onions that were sprouting and getting funky, lots of carrots and most of the remaining stash of split peas. 

Today - made up jars with fruit and protein powder so I can have breakfast smoothies all week.  Used up the bee pollen that's been in the freezer forever, as well as frozen pineapple cores and most of the frozen blueberries.

Next time I see the neighbor, I'm giving him all the hops I have stashed in the freezer since I haven't brewed in ages and he mentioned that he does.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 21, 2016, 05:36:59 PM
Cooked up a 10 pound bag of frozen chicken leg quarters that I got for $.39 a pound a while back. Made meat for us - seven meals' worth - six large containers of broth (used the cut the ends off of onions from the last couple of weeks as well), and a tremendous amount of assorted chicken goop to give to the dogs in place of their usual cans for several days.  They love chicken goop with an unholy passion. :-)


 Also pulled a bag of whole wheat flour out of the freezer yesterday, let it warm, and used it in making two loaves of bread today. Still have some left, but our bread is healthier, and the freezer stash is shrinking a bit. I'll put it back in until next weekend when I make more bread. Also put some sunflower seeds in both loaves. The ones I have are salted and I've been afraid to use them in bread, but I just rinsed them well in a sieve and threw them in. They really make it yummier.


Editing to add I also used two antique bananas from the freezer in two ingredient cookies. I cheated with mine and added cocoa powder and raisins for utterly fabulous chocolate oatmeal raising cookies that don't taste anything like bananas.: http://www.theburlapbag.com/2012/07/2-ingredient-cookies-plus-the-mix-ins-of-your-choice/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on February 22, 2016, 06:25:44 AM
I've been off and on at this challenge for a while, and I'm really starting to feel a difference in my kitchen cupboards! Instead of being showered by half-eaten bags of nuts, and having to shuffle around bags of quinoa to get to the plain flour, I actually have space in my cupboards! I can slide things over to get to things at the back without taking everything out. Thank you all.

I still have a way to go, but now I've realised not to buy exotic sounding things unless I have an actual recipe and plan to make it, my kitchen is a nicer place to be.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on February 22, 2016, 10:44:19 AM
As I've said before, I don't keep much of a stock. So I do mini versions of eating everything in the house. I consume a large amount of produce so buy when I'm completely out of what I have. I've ran out if oats now, so have been drinking my green smoothies with or for breakfast, rather than as lunch . and lentils and vegetables for other meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on February 23, 2016, 03:29:04 PM
Thanks for the milk-tips. I tried soy milk this week but - I think it's an aquired taste. As for cashew milk: I'm quite sure no one has seen that around here. I've tried oat milk (really, really didn't like that one) and almond milk is out because they only sell it with weird and spooky preservatives. I might just get "real" milk as a treat occasionally for my chai (I stopped drinking milk simply because I digest it poorly, so a little of it should be no worry)

I should be done with two more bags of tea this week. Got just 2 or 3 cups left. One Christmassy type, the other a earl grey loose leaf. Both good, both seen better days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 25, 2016, 03:06:15 PM
I've been an active participant in this challenge before, and though I'm not actively trying to eat down my pantry at this point in time, I am trying to (a) eat more at home (b) rotate through the older stuff first and (c) reduce overall food waste. 

Let's say my challenge is just "Eat the Food In Your House."

Clearly, a concerted effort at rotating the stock was needed, because I have had a couple of meals that tasked a bit freezer burnt or stale.  Hopefully I've gotten to most of the really old stuff by now.

My expenses on eating out have been slashed, and it's getting easier to think of just eating at home rather than stopping on my way from place to place.  I'm even bringing my lunch to work more often, and bought some extra stuff to stock in my desk drawer. 

Love the fact that several people have commented on feeding some stuff to their dog(s).

Part of my strategy is to supplement the dog's regular kibble with odds and ends that I'm otherwise not getting to in time.  Taking great care to not upset the overall balance of her diet too much, or upset her stomach, of course!  She's enjoying her meals, I'm easing back a titch on her regular food (and therefore saving a few pennies) and much less stuff is ending up in the garbage.  A few examples - I'm notorious for throwing out half a carton of expired eggs, or eating half a container of plain yoghurt before forgetting about it, or throwing out produce.  All of those can go to the dog, in moderate quantities.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: emilypsf on February 28, 2016, 10:58:06 AM
Things are going pretty well for us.  I'll have to go over the budget at the end of the month -- I think we went a bit over, but other than one trip to Costco, I haven't bought anything except milk, eggs, and beer at the grocery store this month.  Last week we had homemade muffins, bread, yogurt, pizza, and tortillas.  We roasted a chicken from the freezer and made smoothies with frozen pineapple and berries.  I finished off a couple bags of specialty flours and lots of stuff from the freezer.  I'll be continuing into March.  I'm also going to join the "stick to a grocery budget" thread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mongoose on February 28, 2016, 04:07:03 PM
Anyone else freaking out as open spots appear in the pantry and freezer? I think I have uncovered an Inner Bag Lady and she apparently is afraid of personal food shortages. We have been eating food mostly from our freezer and pantry and now there are, gasp, open spots. I rotate stock but have never actually eaten it down, not even to move. We packed coolers with dry ice on our last two cross country moves. Boxes of food were moved as well. In the last 15 years I have never moved into a house and not had an instantly full pantry and freezer. It actually may be more than a little ridiculous. I definitely feel more secure with large food stocks though. I'm not a hoarder. I don't let the food go bad like DH's grandmother used to (she had an extra large chest freezer of JIC food that they never touched; grandad encouraged "shopping" there, which was fantastic when we were in college). I just keep several months worth of stocks.

I keep finding myself nervously wondering, as our stocks slowly are decreasing, about how I will ever afford to rebuild them. Assuming we get to a more financially secure, I want to change our diet back to Paleo/Whole 30ish and a lot of our current stocks are beans, lentils, and other cheap staples. It makes sense to just eat them now while money is tight. Every time I open the freezer or pantry I have a moment of panic though. Ugh!  I need to do a freezer and pantry inventory. I suspect it will show the continued presence of ridiculous amounts of food, despite actually having eaten it down some.

Onward though. Another batch of rice and beans are getting converted to premade entrees for DH to take to work. Trying a savory oatmeal recipe (I am trying some way to make oatmeal palatable to me; the rest of the family likes it but I find it abhorrent) as well. I've been premaking casseroles and lunches from our stocks. As a bonus, eating out has essentially been eliminated by the sheer volume of food we have at home. (Shuffles feet in embarrassment.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on February 29, 2016, 02:16:51 AM
My weakness is the sales. I struggle with the instinct to grab just 2-4 duplicates when they are priced down and keep having to remind myself to only get 1 (or 2 if they are normally pricy) and only if I know it's either a staple or something I will make that week. Because there is always something on sale. Ok: it's not chicken this week, but I can eat pork, or fish or beef. And the irony is that I actually much prefer buying "random" meat and challenging myself to cook it rather than planning from the freezer. Power of habit, I guess...

Found a tin of tea with only two bags left at the back of my cupboard, and also emptied one out for my morning tea today. So that's 4 down, 16 left. The challenge is I'm out of one of my very favourite teas: jasmine tea.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on February 29, 2016, 04:22:51 AM
Having people for dinner tomorrow and doing a chinese-style chicken dish with garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

I usually serve it with bok-choy but I have a british cabbage in the fridge that needs using up and I'd rather not have to buy anything special.

Trouble is I've never cooked cabbage unless it's in one special dish that wouldn't go with this.

Just shred it finely and steam? Or stir fry over high heat? My mother used to boil it and yuck. This would go nicely with chicken and rice though, right?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 29, 2016, 07:55:51 AM
Having people for dinner tomorrow and doing a chinese-style chicken dish with garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

I usually serve it with bok-choy but I have a british cabbage in the fridge that needs using up and I'd rather not have to buy anything special.

Trouble is I've never cooked cabbage unless it's in one special dish that wouldn't go with this.

Just shred it finely and steam? Or stir fry over high heat? My mother used to boil it and yuck. This would go nicely with chicken and rice though, right?

I would do this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/stir-fry-cabbage-recipe.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on February 29, 2016, 09:07:22 AM
Having people for dinner tomorrow and doing a chinese-style chicken dish with garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

I usually serve it with bok-choy but I have a british cabbage in the fridge that needs using up and I'd rather not have to buy anything special.

Trouble is I've never cooked cabbage unless it's in one special dish that wouldn't go with this.

Just shred it finely and steam? Or stir fry over high heat? My mother used to boil it and yuck. This would go nicely with chicken and rice though, right?

I would do this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/stir-fry-cabbage-recipe.html

Thank you for that! Since the ingredients are really similar to the marinade for the chicken (which just goes in a casserole dish in the oven) I might just chuck the cabbage in with the chicken. Any reason this is a terrible idea?

It's a martha stewart recipe - chicken thighs, minced ginger and garlic, soy sauce, in a casserole dish, in the oven until it's falling off the bone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 01, 2016, 07:32:37 AM
I would do this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/stir-fry-cabbage-recipe.html
Thank you for that! Since the ingredients are really similar to the marinade for the chicken (which just goes in a casserole dish in the oven) I might just chuck the cabbage in with the chicken. Any reason this is a terrible idea?
It's a martha stewart recipe - chicken thighs, minced ginger and garlic, soy sauce, in a casserole dish, in the oven until it's falling off the bone.

I'd be concerned about extra water coming out if you baked the cabbage with the chicken - you might end up with braised chicken & cabbage soup.  Also the texture wouldn't be as good.  What if you just doubled your original marinade and used the second portion for the stir fry?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on March 01, 2016, 03:53:17 PM
Anyone else freaking out as open spots appear in the pantry and freezer? I think I have uncovered an Inner Bag Lady and she apparently is afraid of personal food shortages. We have been eating food mostly from our freezer and pantry and now there are, gasp, open spots. I rotate stock but have never actually eaten it down, not even to move. We packed coolers with dry ice on our last two cross country moves. Boxes of food were moved as well. In the last 15 years I have never moved into a house and not had an instantly full pantry and freezer. It actually may be more than a little ridiculous. I definitely feel more secure with large food stocks though. I'm not a hoarder. I don't let the food go bad like DH's grandmother used to (she had an extra large chest freezer of JIC food that they never touched; grandad encouraged "shopping" there, which was fantastic when we were in college). I just keep several months worth of stocks.

I keep finding myself nervously wondering, as our stocks slowly are decreasing, about how I will ever afford to rebuild them. Assuming we get to a more financially secure, I want to change our diet back to Paleo/Whole 30ish and a lot of our current stocks are beans, lentils, and other cheap staples. It makes sense to just eat them now while money is tight. Every time I open the freezer or pantry I have a moment of panic though. Ugh!  I need to do a freezer and pantry inventory. I suspect it will show the continued presence of ridiculous amounts of food, despite actually having eaten it down some.

Onward though. Another batch of rice and beans are getting converted to premade entrees for DH to take to work. Trying a savory oatmeal recipe (I am trying some way to make oatmeal palatable to me; the rest of the family likes it but I find it abhorrent) as well. I've been premaking casseroles and lunches from our stocks. As a bonus, eating out has essentially been eliminated by the sheer volume of food we have at home. (Shuffles feet in embarrassment.)

I'm like you. I looked into my fridge yesterday and the light was reaching some of the back corners and bottom shelves, a phenomenon I'm certain I've never seen before!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 04, 2016, 06:11:38 AM
I would do this:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/stir-fry-cabbage-recipe.html
Thank you for that! Since the ingredients are really similar to the marinade for the chicken (which just goes in a casserole dish in the oven) I might just chuck the cabbage in with the chicken. Any reason this is a terrible idea?
It's a martha stewart recipe - chicken thighs, minced ginger and garlic, soy sauce, in a casserole dish, in the oven until it's falling off the bone.

I'd be concerned about extra water coming out if you baked the cabbage with the chicken - you might end up with braised chicken & cabbage soup.  Also the texture wouldn't be as good.  What if you just doubled your original marinade and used the second portion for the stir fry?

Thanks plain jane, I stir fried it and it was delicious! I got so many compliments on the meal :) My guest sent a thank you email and mentioned how great it was again! Beaming over here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 05, 2016, 09:16:53 PM
Glad the cabbage was a hit!

I've been out of town, so I hit the store and stocked up on produce, and grabbed some butter and a favorite salsa, but otherwise didn't get any non perishables or protein.  Need to take stock of the pantry tomorrow and see what else we can start eating down.  Thinking some of the lentils have been around the house far too long.  Of course, I did bring back about 10# of frozen chile, some big cans of chipotles, two bottles of hot sauce, and dried chile from my trip to New Mexico.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 07, 2016, 02:45:56 PM
Last Fall during Chili Cookoff season, DH bought several 2LB packages of ground pork, used just one and the other had been sitting in the freezer since.  Saturday I soaked pinto beans overnight, and boiled them yesterday.  I cooked up the sausage, added the pinto beans, ketchup, brown sugar, onion and garlic powders and baked it for an hour at 325, then uncovered for another 30.  DH had two bowls last night, and has a ton of leftovers for lunches this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 11, 2016, 02:22:54 AM
My freezer is looking orderly and half-empty. This week: out a portion of black bean soup, some bread and all the tortillas. In 2 portions of curry for lunch and some feta cheese that was on sale for $ 1 because they vere on the use by-date. Feta freezes excellently, so I'm happy.

In other news: 5 down, 15 left of my giant tea-collection. I've gone through all the christmas-teas and opened a lovely rose earl grey the other day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 11, 2016, 04:41:19 AM
My freezer is looking orderly and half-empty. This week: out a portion of black bean soup, some bread and all the tortillas. In 2 portions of curry for lunch and some feta cheese that was on sale for $ 1 because they vere on the use by-date. Feta freezes excellently, so I'm happy.

In other news: 5 down, 15 left of my giant tea-collection. I've gone through all the christmas-teas and opened a lovely rose earl grey the other day.

Doing well on the tea Anje! I was just getting on top of my stash, when my DH went to a conference and came home with sample packets. I don't want to be ungrateful for free tea, but at the same time it feels like using it up is now a chore!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 14, 2016, 12:54:21 PM
My freezer is looking orderly and half-empty. This week: out a portion of black bean soup, some bread and all the tortillas. In 2 portions of curry for lunch and some feta cheese that was on sale for $ 1 because they vere on the use by-date. Feta freezes excellently, so I'm happy.

In other news: 5 down, 15 left of my giant tea-collection. I've gone through all the christmas-teas and opened a lovely rose earl grey the other day.

Doing well on the tea Anje! I was just getting on top of my stash, when my DH went to a conference and came home with sample packets. I don't want to be ungrateful for free tea, but at the same time it feels like using it up is now a chore!
Ha!  I love free tea, so feel free to send it my way.  I just finished a major tea clean-out at work and at home.  Now I only have a few types of tea that I really like.

I'm in the middle of a freezer clean-out.  I defrosted and cooked most of the chicken breasts in the freezer.  I only have one bag of soup left in the freezer.  Now I need to tackle our condiments...so many jars of jam, types of mustard, and other random things we've collected.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 14, 2016, 01:03:33 PM
I grocery shop once a month so I usually need to be creative a day or two beforehand.  Currently in the slow cooker are chicken breasts wrapped in bacon covered in the last of the canned apples from our tree last fall.  Tomorrow will be boneless pork chops covered in the rest of the apples.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on March 14, 2016, 02:46:11 PM
I grocery shop once a month so I usually need to be creative a day or two beforehand.  Currently in the slow cooker are chicken breasts wrapped in bacon covered in the last of the canned apples from our tree last fall.  Tomorrow will be boneless pork chops covered in the rest of the apples.

Wow, sounds good. Hav u tried the bacon wrapped chicken before?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 15, 2016, 05:50:00 AM
My freezer is looking orderly and half-empty. This week: out a portion of black bean soup, some bread and all the tortillas. In 2 portions of curry for lunch and some feta cheese that was on sale for $ 1 because they vere on the use by-date. Feta freezes excellently, so I'm happy.

In other news: 5 down, 15 left of my giant tea-collection. I've gone through all the christmas-teas and opened a lovely rose earl grey the other day.

Doing well on the tea Anje! I was just getting on top of my stash, when my DH went to a conference and came home with sample packets. I don't want to be ungrateful for free tea, but at the same time it feels like using it up is now a chore!
Ha!  I love free tea, so feel free to send it my way.  I just finished a major tea clean-out at work and at home.  Now I only have a few types of tea that I really like.

I'm in the middle of a freezer clean-out.  I defrosted and cooked most of the chicken breasts in the freezer.  I only have one bag of soup left in the freezer.  Now I need to tackle our condiments...so many jars of jam, types of mustard, and other random things we've collected.
I wouldn't worry about 15 (or 20) types of tea if they were all different types that I love. But some of them are just ok-ish teas that I bought but never finished. And so my goal is to end up with only the teas I love and drink regularly. And only 1 of each type at the time (not 3-4 like now).

I'm eating my way out of fridge and freezer before easter, while at the same time compiling a looong list of food to get for entertaining and so on for the holidays. Oh well. At least then the pile of food is new.. I don't like tossing food, but a jar of greyish pickles ended up in the bin.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 15, 2016, 10:10:06 AM
I wouldn't worry about 15 (or 20) types of tea if they were all different types that I love. But some of them are just ok-ish teas that I bought but never finished. And so my goal is to end up with only the teas I love and drink regularly. And only 1 of each type at the time (not 3-4 like now).

Have you considered bringing the ok-ish teas into work and leaving them in the kitchen?

I'm really pleased with my attempts to eat down the kitchen before our trip.  If everything goes to plan, the only perishables that I need to address is a bag of carrots (the plan is to peel & shred, then I can keep them in the freezer in 1 cup portions for baking or to bulk out ground meat), and some chickpeas (add a bit of liquid on top and then into the freezer).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on March 15, 2016, 11:17:13 AM
I wouldn't worry about 15 (or 20) types of tea if they were all different types that I love. But some of them are just ok-ish teas that I bought but never finished. And so my goal is to end up with only the teas I love and drink regularly. And only 1 of each type at the time (not 3-4 like now).

Have you considered bringing the ok-ish teas into work and leaving them in the kitchen?

I'm really pleased with my attempts to eat down the kitchen before our trip.  If everything goes to plan, the only perishables that I need to address is a bag of carrots (the plan is to peel & shred, then I can keep them in the freezer in 1 cup portions for baking or to bulk out ground meat), and some chickpeas (add a bit of liquid on top and then into the freezer).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on March 15, 2016, 11:26:20 AM
I wouldn't worry about 15 (or 20) types of tea if they were all different types that I love. But some of them are just ok-ish teas that I bought but never finished. And so my goal is to end up with only the teas I love and drink regularly. And only 1 of each type at the time (not 3-4 like now).

Have you considered bringing the ok-ish teas into work and leaving them in the kitchen?

I'm really pleased with my attempts to eat down the kitchen before our trip.  If everything goes to plan, the only perishables that I need to address is a bag of carrots (the plan is to peel & shred, then I can keep them in the freezer in 1 cup portions for baking or to bulk out ground meat), and some chickpeas (add a bit of liquid on top and then into the freezer).

Fiance & I have around 30 boxes of tea,which  I don't like mostly,  and will not drink- but my sweetheart loves any tea. He gets some free from work from time to time, and I've helped mom reduce her larger collection , and brought it for him as well. Ah well . it does get drank tho. & I do get the types I do enjoy for free.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 15, 2016, 12:38:00 PM
I grocery shop once a month so I usually need to be creative a day or two beforehand.  Currently in the slow cooker are chicken breasts wrapped in bacon covered in the last of the canned apples from our tree last fall.  Tomorrow will be boneless pork chops covered in the rest of the apples.

Wow, sounds good. Hav u tried the bacon wrapped chicken before?

Thank you, riverff.  I've had bacon wrapped chicken, just not made in the slow cooker, nor covered in apples.  It was really good and tender, and DH said it was apple-y, LOL.  The pork chops are cooking today, and I have my grocery list and coupons ready to go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on March 15, 2016, 01:02:41 PM
I grocery shop once a month so I usually need to be creative a day or two beforehand.  Currently in the slow cooker are chicken breasts wrapped in bacon covered in the last of the canned apples from our tree last fall.  Tomorrow will be boneless pork chops covered in the rest of the apples.

Wow, sounds good. Hav u tried the bacon wrapped chicken before?

Thank you, riverff.  I've had bacon wrapped chicken, just not made in the slow cooker, nor covered in apples.  It was really good and tender, and DH said it was apple-y, LOL.  The pork chops are cooking today, and I have my grocery list and coupons ready to go.

Great :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jooles on April 06, 2016, 11:37:13 AM
Officially reviving this challenge in my house today.

Eat down the house for the rest of April.

Goals -

reducing spending on food

use up unloved food that you already own.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on April 07, 2016, 04:30:22 AM
Made a meal plan for the rest of the week yesterday which was totally out of the freezer and store cupboard. Things are getting emptier and easier to see and use, hurrah!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on April 07, 2016, 10:19:51 AM
I wouldn't worry about 15 (or 20) types of tea if they were all different types that I love. But some of them are just ok-ish teas that I bought but never finished. And so my goal is to end up with only the teas I love and drink regularly. And only 1 of each type at the time (not 3-4 like now).

Have you considered bringing the ok-ish teas into work and leaving them in the kitchen?

I'm really pleased with my attempts to eat down the kitchen before our trip.  If everything goes to plan, the only perishables that I need to address is a bag of carrots (the plan is to peel & shred, then I can keep them in the freezer in 1 cup portions for baking or to bulk out ground meat), and some chickpeas (add a bit of liquid on top and then into the freezer).
I did that with some teabags I didn't care for. But I much prefere lose leaf tea and no one at work (besides me) will drink that.

It's a creative and rewarding process, though. I discovered that rice boiled in tea rather than water is a nice variation. That cookies or cake with tea (in them, not served alongside) is good. And there are several tea-rubs and marinades that caught my interest. Tea-jam is also an actual thing. I might try it when I've eaten the old jam.

I'm almost out of two other types of tea. One a very lovely rose tea I'll be sad to be out of. But I'm still at 15.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on April 18, 2016, 08:49:18 PM
So have slowly read through 17 pages of posts and resolved to join. I started Friday. I do not seem to have as much as some in the freezer/pantry, but there is definitely things that must be eaten. We are a mixed family of 1 vegetarian, 1 pescatarian (me) and 2 omnivores. 1 omnivore (SO) allergic to chicken, wheat, soy and dairy (He is a challenge). This week-end I made vegetarian chilli (it was so good - and this forum forced me to find the recipe - thanks) - lentils finished, sad peppers and old shredded carrots done - 5 meals frozen. Made cornbread to go with - packet expired 2013 :-). Asked my son to buy Gurum Masala yesterday- came back with 3 packets of Tikka Masala??? (It says Masala mom, great son Masala means MIX!) Well he is, at this moment eating Tikka with chicken and rice that has been at the bottom of the fridge with a bag of assorted rice that has been in the pantry for years. 2 more meals frozen - bonus. Also emptied a jam jar making the Jam Tarts mentioned on about page 8. (Got rid of old powder sugar and all purpose flour). Made marinara sauce (3 more portions frozen) to go with endless pasta in the pantry. Enough frozen food to keep 3 adults going until next week-end (I get fed by the hotel I work at). This forum does wonders to make people think outside the box.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on April 18, 2016, 09:22:36 PM
Future Hub & I do mini versions of this- we do a shop about every 2-2.5 weeks (costco) and eat it down. Working thru a 10lb. bag if carrots currently haha.
Also, he works at a grocery, so he brings home items sometimes for $1 each (or free). Most recently- corned beef, BBQ beef ribs, bacon, chorizo(he eats so much meat! I eat very little). Best of all he brought approx. 10lbs. of raspberries! I drink a daily smoothie , mostly vegetables but a little fruit, so this is perfect. Pull a container out of the freezer at a time. Yum.
But we really get our stock very low before we do another shop, and then it's basics- lots of produce, tortillas, yogurt and the like.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on April 24, 2016, 05:11:22 PM
So family was fed on all the food made last week-end. Just used the last of the chicken and used the second packet of Tikka Masala. SO is getting the final frozen liver and bacon made the last time my mom visited. 1lb frozen cod to make fish cakes for me - getting a little harder to think up meals now but that's the fun of the challenge. Only buying eggs and milk tomorrow. Any ideas for thin sliced beef round steaks?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on April 25, 2016, 04:56:47 AM
I've been having the flu the last weeks, so food has been going bad in my fridge. But I salvaged some produce and some turkey meat and made fajitas this weekend. Have set menu for the week: fajitas, pizza and spring rolls for lunch/dinner. Cinnamon buns and smoothies for snack/breakfast.

In other news: 7 down, 15 left of my giant tea-collection. I restocked on my favourite summer tea (jasmine green tea) and found a bag of tea I didn't know I owned at the back of the cupboard.. It's an assam earl grey, so that should make for excelent morning tea.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on April 25, 2016, 10:56:42 AM
So family was fed on all the food made last week-end. Just used the last of the chicken and used the second packet of Tikka Masala. SO is getting the final frozen liver and bacon made the last time my mom visited. 1lb frozen cod to make fish cakes for me - getting a little harder to think up meals now but that's the fun of the challenge. Only buying eggs and milk tomorrow. Any ideas for thin sliced beef round steaks?

Marinating that and using it thinly sliced in stir fry or fajitas would be good. Definitely do a 24 hour marinade period first though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: carolina822 on April 26, 2016, 09:41:36 PM
A bit late to the game on this one, but when I realized how much f-ing money I spent on grabbing dinner out during tax season when I was too exhausted to cook for myself (and that's with lunch being bought for us every day at the office, so that part was free!), I'm feeling fat and stupid and poor and there is plenty of food in my freezer to eat. So I'm going to eat it.

I made spaghetti the other night with turkey sausage that I had bought, then froze, because I was too freaking lazy to even brown some meat and toss in a can of tomatoes. Ate that for a couple of meals, then froze the rest of the sauce. Yeah, not supposed to freeze meat twice - don't even care. I pulled a container of mystery soup (it appears to have okra and corn in it, so we'll see) out to thaw for tomorrow. I know there are a couple of freezer bag meals in there that are probably a lost cause - did one of those once-a-month cooking days at least a year ago and didn't take full advantage of it. Maybe I'll try that again sometime (probably not).

I cleaned out my fridge tonight and there were rotten peppers, leftover soup that was growing mold, and leftover chicken that was too far gone to even feed to the dog. There were a couple bags of lettuce that were about to go bad (it seems like ALL my lettuce goes bad before I motivate myself to make a salad) so I made a giant salad with the non-rotten peppers and carrots and I WILL finish eating it before it wilts, dammit! I waste a ton of food from being too lazy to cook it, and spend too much money on takeout that's not even that good. Must. Stop. Now.

I haven't set an official food budget yet, but that's the main drain on my funds that gives zero return to me. I'm going to Chicago next weekend for a quick vacation and I know that's not MMM when you're still paying off debt, but the trip is mostly paid for already and is something of a last hurrah before getting even more to the grindstone. I'd like to spend no money on food at all between now and then. Yeah, a whole week - lol - but hey, it's a start.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on May 07, 2016, 07:50:37 PM
So making progress and learning lots of new things to make which has been a hit with the family. The Tikka Masala and chicken are gone, had some cream left over so made an egg flan/quiche with red potato, caramelized onion and some old cherry tomatoes that were in the fridge. Cream, cherry tomatoes, red potatoes, eggs and onions gone. Making Mexican one pot quinoa tonight, (if you haven't tried it you should - so good and very little effort - about $1.50 p.p. serving and uses lots of random ingredients). Other than fresh ingredients - still no shopping. Have not yet cooked the thin round steak but found a marinade I can make with ingredients I have so maybe tomorrow for the meat eaters. On the plus side my herb and tomato plants are now producing so no more store bought tomatoes or herbs. Will learn to dry the thyme, oregano and rosemary - any tips would be welcome. Need to start freezing the parsley.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on May 09, 2016, 03:23:50 PM
Emptied out the top shelf of my cupboard last week. I now have nothing (save my bamboo steamer) that needs to go there. Haven't had spare room since I moved in.

Also made a plan to eat out the freezer completely. Today I made curry and used up the final frozen chili from last years harvest (I still have a lot of dried chili, it was a nice chili-season), some pumpkin, chickpeas and green beans as well as the stock from last months boiled pork. When that's eaten I will make pumpkin soup and then some hummus. Snack this week is more cinnamon buns. I make a boatload and then eat one (or two) a day until I'm out.

My challenge is a bag of frozen plums. Only catch is: I made plum Gin on them. They taste good (and boozy) so I planned on using them for dessert with ice cream, but they turn brown once they thaw, so... Not nice. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on May 09, 2016, 03:36:20 PM
My challenge is a bag of frozen plums. Only catch is: I made plum Gin on them. They taste good (and boozy) so I planned on using them for dessert with ice cream, but they turn brown once they thaw, so... Not nice. Any ideas?

Found a thread on Chowhound with someone having a similar issue (frozen plums, but no booze)... suggestions include making a puree and then a sorbet; plum jam; plum ketchup or chutney; plum cake; plum butter; plum wine. Maybe one of those will work for you? http://www.chowhound.com/post/frozen-plums-289959?page=2
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on May 11, 2016, 03:22:19 AM
My challenge is a bag of frozen plums. Only catch is: I made plum Gin on them. They taste good (and boozy) so I planned on using them for dessert with ice cream, but they turn brown once they thaw, so... Not nice. Any ideas?

Found a thread on Chowhound with someone having a similar issue (frozen plums, but no booze)... suggestions include making a puree and then a sorbet; plum jam; plum ketchup or chutney; plum cake; plum butter; plum wine. Maybe one of those will work for you? http://www.chowhound.com/post/frozen-plums-289959?page=2
Thank you, Dollar Slice!
I think I might try making plum butter. The liquour might lend it a nice undertone and they will be much more usable once alcohol-free and spreadable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on May 11, 2016, 11:19:08 AM
I haven't been on the forums in months, but I wandered back in today and saw this thread.   I have done a pretty good job of cooking out of my freezer and pantry lately in anticipation of a bountiful harvest (though in Montana, that harvest is always later than everywhere else).

I have a bunch of lemon herb and spicy breaders - they were given to me and we don't eat a lot of meat.   I've tried using them to bread veggies, but it isn't my favorite way to eat vegetables.   Any ideas on how I could use them?  Could I make crackers with them somehow?

Tonight I'm making paella and using the last of the frozen peppers and peas (not authentic obviously, but still delicious).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on May 11, 2016, 11:33:40 AM
I have a bunch of lemon herb and spicy breaders - they were given to me and we don't eat a lot of meat.   I've tried using them to bread veggies, but it isn't my favorite way to eat vegetables.   Any ideas on how I could use them?  Could I make crackers with them somehow?

You could use them to top various kinds of casseroles. Great on baked mac and cheese, etc.  Or, hmm... poached dumplings like in matzah ball soup? And I've seen recipes for Ritz cracker crumb crusts for quiche/tart/cheesecake type dishes, I bet you could sub crispy breadcrumbs for cracker crumbs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on May 16, 2016, 05:11:45 PM
Time for me to join and fully commit. Crunch time is on. Moving in 5 weeks! Must empty everything!

Going to spend my evening starting the inventory!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 27, 2016, 05:49:22 AM
Cleaned the kitchen cupboards this weekend. Stocks are running down very nicely!

However, there were a couple of spices / spice mixes I just don't know what to do with. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes to use up:


They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on May 27, 2016, 08:55:25 AM
Cleaned the kitchen cupboards this weekend. Stocks are running down very nicely!

However, there were a couple of spices / spice mixes I just don't know what to do with. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes to use up:

  • Jalfrezi spices
  • Tandoori spice mix
  • Chinese 5 spice
  • Ras el hanout
  • Cajun ragin

They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.

http://meljoulwan.com/2013/01/02/paleo-sweet-potato-soup/ uses ras el hanout and is tasty

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/5242279411/slow-cooker-lemongrass-and-coconut-chicken uses Chinese 5-spice and is tasty too
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 27, 2016, 10:53:56 AM
Cleaned the kitchen cupboards this weekend. Stocks are running down very nicely!

However, there were a couple of spices / spice mixes I just don't know what to do with. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes to use up:

  • Jalfrezi spices
  • Tandoori spice mix
  • Chinese 5 spice
  • Ras el hanout
  • Cajun ragin

They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.

http://meljoulwan.com/2013/01/02/paleo-sweet-potato-soup/ uses ras el hanout and is tasty

http://nomnompaleo.com/post/5242279411/slow-cooker-lemongrass-and-coconut-chicken uses Chinese 5-spice and is tasty too

Thank you! The slow cooker is my favourite, and soup is a lunchtime staple for me, perfect suggestions.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on May 27, 2016, 11:54:34 AM
Cleaned the kitchen cupboards this weekend. Stocks are running down very nicely!

However, there were a couple of spices / spice mixes I just don't know what to do with. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes to use up:

  • Jalfrezi spices
  • Tandoori spice mix
  • Chinese 5 spice
  • Ras el hanout
  • Cajun ragin

They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.

I couldn't remember exactly what was in Chinese five-spice, but I knew I disliked it. So I looked it up and it's anise, clove, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel (at least according to Wikipedia). That explains why I don't like it, since I can't abide anise. Anyway, that's my 2 cents, in case it helps.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on May 30, 2016, 07:01:06 AM
Thawed and used a packet of frozen preecooked springroll-mix from last year this weekend. I've been avoiding it for months, yet it made very good spring rolls. Appart from a yar of crab meat everything in there is now food from the last 2 months that I know I eat regularly.

Got out a box of coconut milk last night - I plan to make sweetened condenced milk from it. A tiny jar of that stuf costs an arm and a leg ($5) and a box of coconut milk+sugar costs me less than 2.

In tea news I've been drinking ice tea by the gallon the last week. Turns out loose leaf tea, a frech nectarin and a spoonfull of honey makes ice tea better than the one you get out and about. My tea-stash is shrinking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on May 30, 2016, 05:17:52 PM
Speaking of tea report - I brought maybe 8 tins of tea to work (honestly the type I don't tend to enjoy, but others do)  - for us staff to drink, but mostly for spa clientele. Excellent.
Mostly down to stock we enjoy at home now - black and green for me and a few others the fiancée drinks.
Any progress is progress folks. Well done.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on June 01, 2016, 10:10:59 AM
Cleaned the kitchen cupboards this weekend. Stocks are running down very nicely!

However, there were a couple of spices / spice mixes I just don't know what to do with. Does anyone have any ideas or recipes to use up:

  • Jalfrezi spices
  • Tandoori spice mix
  • Chinese 5 spice
  • Ras el hanout
  • Cajun ragin

They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.

My kids LOVE tandoori cauliflower and peas.  For the cauliflower, I drizzle with oil and seasoning and bake it.  I make two heads at once for my family of five because they love to take it in their lunchboxes.

The Cajun spice is good on potatoes - Cajun fries (think Bojangles) - or eggs or ham and beans.    We add Cajun seasoning to ground beef, corn and black beans when we run out of taco seasoning (or cumin specifically bc I make my own) and it is still good.   Funny, Cajun seasoning is something I would never need to "use up" - it is always being added to my list.

I got a good deal on chocolate chips and now I am wishing I hadn't bought them.   We like cookies and muffins, but I dont really want my kids eating multiples of those every day.   They are bulk so I cannot donate.  Can I use them in a sort of mole sauce?   I think it would be way too sweet and too sweet for sauces is a code word for the leftovers wont get eaten in our house.  No one likes BBQ sauce or sweet ketchup, Miracle Whip or Honey Mustard in my house.   I live with weirdos ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on June 01, 2016, 10:20:46 AM
I got a good deal on chocolate chips and now I am wishing I hadn't bought them.   We like cookies and muffins, but I dont really want my kids eating multiples of those every day.

You can refrigerate or freeze cookie dough. When I make chocolate chip cookies I bake one small pan at a time so there aren't tons of them around to eat all at once.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on June 01, 2016, 11:32:38 AM
I got a good deal on chocolate chips and now I am wishing I hadn't bought them.   We like cookies and muffins, but I dont really want my kids eating multiples of those every day.

You can refrigerate or freeze cookie dough. When I make chocolate chip cookies I bake one small pan at a time so there aren't tons of them around to eat all at once.


You can also freeze cookies, or you can freeze chocolate chips.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 01, 2016, 11:49:43 AM
I got a good deal on chocolate chips and now I am wishing I hadn't bought them.   We like cookies and muffins, but I dont really want my kids eating multiples of those every day.

You can refrigerate or freeze cookie dough. When I make chocolate chip cookies I bake one small pan at a time so there aren't tons of them around to eat all at once.

Good advice for someone named savedough!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 02, 2016, 04:57:05 AM
Thanks for all the tips savedough! I don't seem to use seasoning mixes much, they're not that common in the UK, but it makes perfect sense that cajun would be good on fries, thank you! Sweet potatoes fries are a favourite so that would be easy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 03, 2016, 12:50:22 PM
Used up the rest of the pepperoni, fresh spinach, feta and Greek olives in a salad for today's lunch, finished a bag of flavored sunflower seeds for a snack last night, and warmed up most of the rest of the spaghetti squash from the freezer last night for supper.  I am so glad there is such thing as freezing leftovers.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 06, 2016, 04:04:44 AM
Leftovers for lunch yesterday and today. Friends were good enough to feed us last night, and what a feast it was!

I have been doing so well clearing out the cupboards that I have loads of clips in the drawer - you know the ones you would put on top of a bag of rice or something after it's opened? I was always scrabbling around for these before, borrowing one from something that could live without it so that something else wouldn't go stale. I was shocked when I saw I had about 10 free at the moment. Things are changing for the better!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 06, 2016, 07:38:53 AM
Love to see all the progress :)

I'm finding it tough to balance between stocking up and eating down. We use to live fairly remotely so we had huge stock up trip a few times a year and would eat down everything in between. Since moving last year to a place where everything is more abundant, I find that I am still stuck in the "hoarder" mindset of not knowing when I will get something again so must buy lots. Of course, sometimes this makes good financial sense. Sometimes, not so much. It is those purchases I am trying to deal with now :)

Our diets have changed over the past year as well so trying to figure that out in relation to our food stocks have been interesting as well. 

My goal this week is to consolidate all the bits and pieces of things and get them into one place so I know what I have to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on June 06, 2016, 11:54:19 AM
I had done a good job of eating down our stocks, but we've slowly been building them back up.  I will start the process all over again.  Starting with the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 07, 2016, 02:22:36 AM

I'm finding it tough to balance between stocking up and eating down. We use to live fairly remotely so we had huge stock up trip a few times a year and would eat down everything in between. Since moving last year to a place where everything is more abundant, I find that I am still stuck in the "hoarder" mindset of not knowing when I will get something again so must buy lots. Of course, sometimes this makes good financial sense. Sometimes, not so much. It is those purchases I am trying to deal with now :)


I struggle with this too. I spend ages 'eating down' the freezer, and then mildly freak out that there is nothing in the freezer, and so start stock-piling again.

What I've found works for me is this: I only buy meat and fish when they are marked down, and they go straight in the freezer. No full price meat / fish is to enter the freezer (or our house really. I'm lucky in that I know of a few local places with really poor stock control).

With the knowledge that everything in the freezer was reduced I find it easier to pull stuff out in the morning (because if it's full price stuff in there I worry I'll stop on my way home and find something that's been marked down). And then if I do stop and find something marked down, it's no problem, because I don't have to use it up today - it's destined for the freezer anyway.

Other stuff in there is emergency veggies (apart from peas I don't like the texture of frozen veggies, but would prefer frozen to none), and a few preassembled meals eg beef in red wine, lasagne, and soups.

Since I started buying everything I see that's marked down and freezing it straight away, my turnover has been much more consistent.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on June 07, 2016, 08:16:55 AM
Good tips, theadvicist!

I'm definitely struggling with the balance between raw foods (I got a 1.5 lambs) and sales foods and foods I want to put up for winter and food I can turn into other foods. I don't have a lot of prepared foods in the freezer, no room! It'  the balance between figuring out what should be eaten and what isn't available in winter and I do want to save. The lamb I might not be able to get again and it is in rather large cuts, perfect for soups and stews and braises...you know all the stuff I don't want to do in the summer!

I think I have to venture into the world of pressure canning. Storing all my bone broth in the freezer takes up a lot of room. I can't throw out bones without making stock...but it is summer and hot so the idea of making soup or something like that is just not appealing at all. But, I'm going to need some room for huckleberries and other goodies that I want for the winter!

Successes: Freezer and pantry are organized and inventoried. Starting to create a list of random herbs/spices and teas I can turn into custom blends for Christmas gifts.

Used up the last of some bean flakes I was given. Contemplating making some refried beans out of our big sack of pintos and dehydrating them for camping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on June 12, 2016, 06:55:40 PM
I was off my "try new recipes one week; play pantry games the next week" plan for a bit due to houseguests and a couple of weeks with no cooking whatsoever, but I am back with some victories--made a Basque stew to use up frozen tuna that has been in the freezer a looong time (perfect condition, though) and a selection of veggies from the veggie box, and a Greek shrimp panzanella salad that cleared out a different bunch of veggies, some olives and feta, and frozen shrimp and bread from the freezer. I had gotten the bread as a freebie and wasn't sure what to do with it--I am not a super anti-carber but bread pudding and French toast both seemed like bad ideas. Mixed with lots and lots of veggies and some protein, I feel better about it. I have some other ideas for clearing out bits and pieces but that was enough cooking for one day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 13, 2016, 12:22:22 PM
Made a huge pot of delicious bean stew with the last of a huge jar of dried beans, a random chorizo and some ham that's been languishing in the fridge.

Switched to breakfast smoothies for awhile to use up frozen fruit, protein powder and chia seeds.

Threw the last of a jar of relish I canned back in '12 into a bowl of potato salad.

Most of the dried tomatoes went into a batch of carrot/garlic scape pesto, so those should be used up by the time this year's tomato crop starts inundating the kitchen.

Need to put a dent in our stock of mustard.  My husband keeps 3-4 different kinds of mustard around, plus I have a CostCo sized jar of Grey Poupon, and three jars of homemade from a co-worker.  Yes, having 7 different containers of mustard in the fridge is a bit much!

Need to target the lentils next.  I've got a container of mixed tiny lentils that might just go to the chickens, or I'll mix them in with the green lentils for dal.  The French green lentils will make a great salad with carrots and shallots.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 17, 2016, 10:21:06 AM
I bought some corn on the cob today. It's covered in a white powder. Is it just sugar / starch, and fine to eat, or has it gone bad?

Thanks to anyone who knows! I've given it a rinse, most of it has come off.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on June 21, 2016, 02:43:27 AM
I've eaten down my food stash to a point where I now see what my go-to staples really are (pasta: spaghetti, beans: black, red, green and chickpeas, rice: jasmine). As an unexpected and completely random side effect I've started being much more tidy around the kitchen (doing dishes, cleaning away stuff right away etc). Also I've been more adventurous in my cooking. I'm on a asian food journey right now (I like semi-dedicating a month to a region), and have discovered a few nice ways to prepare tofu. I'm also making my own red bean paste (for some reason you can't buy it around here) for testing out those red bean snacks. Also, I love curries, but don't like curry powder.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on June 21, 2016, 02:54:44 AM
I've eaten down my food stash to a point where I now see what my go-to staples really are (pasta: spaghetti, beans: black, red, green and chickpeas, rice: jasmine). As an unexpected and completely random side effect I've started being much more tidy around the kitchen (doing dishes, cleaning away stuff right away etc). Also I've been more adventurous in my cooking. I'm on a asian food journey right now (I like semi-dedicating a month to a region), and have discovered a few nice ways to prepare tofu. I'm also making my own red bean paste (for some reason you can't buy it around here) for testing out those red bean snacks. Also, I love curries, but don't like curry powder.

I've found side  benefits of tidiness and trying new recipes too. I think it's because it's so much easier to put things away when you don't have to rearrange everything on the shelf to make room. I hadn't realised how much of my resistance to putting things away (food, clothes, everything!) was due to having to actively make room for them first.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Diniecita on June 23, 2016, 09:11:00 PM
I' m totally in on this! I'm sure my husband will think it's awesome too. He always thinks we have enough food, unless we are out of bananas. (Anybody else sing the bananas song when they type the word out??) I have a stand up freezer full of meat that we've had in there for 1-2 years. I didn't do a meat order this year because I knew I wouldn't have anywhere to put it. So, I've been working on eating the meat already. I accidentally bought the wrong kind of rice in a 25# bag. We've been eating it, it's sticky rice so it's good in stir fry or soup, but not as a leftover.
I usually get good stuff from our garden and we have to buy fruit and some vegetables. Which I like to get at the farmer's market. They are usually organic and GMO free. So, count me in. I may not meet your 9 month deadline. But, I'm going to go for the end of the year or so. Actually this year the only meat I have bought has been 2 salmon fillets and a large package of hot dogs. I think I can go without both for a little while.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on June 27, 2016, 03:28:46 PM
So work has been crazy with 65+ hours work for the last 5 weeks and it appears I am the only one capable of cooking in this house which has resulted in a pantry full of "things". So, although it is swelteringly hot (108 is the coolest day in the last 2 weeks) I decided to make freezer meals to make space. Onion crustless quiche, chili, Moroccan chicken dish (organic chicken on sale this morning - hope my son will eat it or I wasted 2.99) and chicken tikka masala (son loves this). So after throwing away the old takeaway containers, removing the bad salads stuff I completed 15 meals for $20 + what I had in the house. I can now see in the fridge;  now to figure out what to do with the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Diniecita on June 27, 2016, 04:41:03 PM
So work has been crazy with 65+ hours work for the last 5 weeks and it appears I am the only one capable of cooking in this house which has resulted in a pantry full of "things". So, although it is swelteringly hot (108 is the coolest day in the last 2 weeks) I decided to make freezer meals to make space. Onion crustless quiche, chili, Moroccan chicken dish (organic chicken on sale this morning - hope my son will eat it or I wasted 2.99) and chicken tikka masala (son loves this). So after throwing away the old takeaway containers, removing the bad salads stuff I completed 15 meals for $20 + what I had in the house. I can now see in the fridge;  now to figure out what to do with the pantry.

Sounds great. Pantry stuff is usually good for baking. Maybe you could make some quick breads?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lyngi on July 28, 2016, 07:00:58 PM
Making chicken pot pie soup.  Old frozen peas&carrots.  Solid brick of frozen corn. Sliced carrots, starting to shrivel.  Onion, starting to shrivel.  Two -count them- two--partial bags of frozen biscuits.  Using the instant pot.  Chicken, broth, raw carrots, raw onion cook for 20 minutes.  Then add the frozen blocks of veggies.  Then some heavy cream-bought for creme brulee (instant pot).  Will cook the biscuits once the sun goes down. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 29, 2016, 12:42:50 PM
Lyngi, that sounds wonderful!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night I used up the rest of the taco shells for dinner.  Today I'm eating the last of the fresh spinach for lunch along with last night's leftover chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alsoknownasDean on August 02, 2016, 06:32:26 AM
I've been injured for the last week (sprained my ankle) and haven't been at the supermarket since Wednesday. As a result, I've been eating what I had here.

I realised just how much food I actually have here. I've still barely scratched the surface. Tonight I've cooked a lazy pasta sauce with chunky pork sausages (found in the freezer). I've also cooked up a chicken curry and a red kidney bean curry. That's lunches and dinners sorted for at least the rest of the week.

Let's see if I can make it to next week before I stop at the store.

I've also got most of a bottle of tequila sitting here. Maybe that'll go with the lemon I've also got :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on August 02, 2016, 07:17:45 AM
I always enjoy seeing this thread updated :)

Hope your foot gets feeling better quick, alsoknownasDean!

I'm slowly chipping away at things. Our diet has changed so dramatically the last year or so we are ending up with lots of stuff that we just aren't interested in using, so I have been rehoming what I can.

We are going to a music festival this weekend, so I have taken the opportunity to dig into my dried fruit and nut supply to make a bunch of granola bars, bliss balls and other snacks. Also used quite a bit of our coffee/tea supply by making several batches of each and freezing them in Icecube trays to pack our coolers with. As they slowly melt, we'll have yummy cold drinks and not have to pay festival prices!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FIREdancer on August 02, 2016, 07:45:44 AM
I really need to do this.  I probably have almost an entire month's worth of meals in my freezer.  On top of that my pantry probably has enough to whip up another few weeks of meals.  I would try to skip the grocery store for a few weeks, but sadly my garden is not doing so well this year, so if I want any fresh stuff, I'll need to supplement.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on August 02, 2016, 08:32:09 AM
Used a jar of balsamic jelly I canned in 2010, when I first was learning to can, to make an amazing glaze for the leg of lamb on Sunday.

Used a package of beef liver a couple weeks ago:  soaking it in ACV instead of milk made it more palatable.  Cheaper too! Cooked with lots of onions, mushrooms and butter.   Have one more package to use up. 

Cooked the last of my frozen spinach into a kind of odd breakfast hash with Mexican pork and beans.

Our freezer is actually looking almost spare, which is good since we'll be getting a freezer lamb and probably half a pig soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on August 02, 2016, 05:54:28 PM
 Tonight we fried up some potatoes that needed to be used and dug out some decent spinach from a bunch that is starting to wilt for salads. Dug a couple of burgers out of the freezer and called it a meal.

In a little while, I'm going to put the rest of the spinach and an assortment of other itemS  like some wilted carrots into a curry lentil soup which will make lunches for quite some time for me.

ETA: just  discovered I have no lentils. It's a sad, sad day. On the other hand, this means I used up all the lentils.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Thrifty Snail on August 03, 2016, 06:03:04 AM
With two kids we are always fighting this battle. The thing that gets wasted the most is bagged salad. It seems to last two days in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 03, 2016, 04:08:43 PM
Leaving a holiday condo in a day and half, so the "eat down the fridge" game is on. Had leftover ham, 2 carrots and 1 cup of blueberries for lunch.  Kids finished the peanut butter and the jam this morning that we brought from home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 07, 2016, 12:33:15 PM
Nothing like an upcoming vacation to spur the "use it up" game. Two overripe cantaloupes became agua fresca. Leftover orzo, sliced black olives, tapenade, a red pepper and grape tomatoes along with some pantry ingredients went into a tuna pasta salad. (Looks terrible, tastes delicious). Stuffed some leftover chorizo rice into two random tiny acorn squash that turned up in my produce box. Roasted green beans--I am not very fond of green beans but I like them this way. Since the oven was on, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes and a couple carrots. The sweet potatoes and carrots got a little burned on the side touching the pan but that was easy to trim off. Tossed the roasted root veggies with a chimichurri inspired sauce based on the Budget Bytes recipe which used up a lemon, some wilted green onions, the last of a bunch of cilantro, a few cloves of garlic, and basil from the pot on my deck.

For the first time in ages I have gotten ahead of the produce drawers...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on August 07, 2016, 05:45:44 PM
Right now I have some lamb ribs and other bony lamb things in the instant pot with red chile sauce and onion.  Will shred it up for a nice taco filling to eat this week, and should result in a nice stock to use for a soup with Mexican flavors when the weather cools.  That just leaves one package of lamb chops until we get this year's lamb in a few weeks.

I finally used up the mixed micro-lentils by adding them to a big batch of hummus.  The hummus also used up some chipotles in adobo that have been hiding in the back of the fridge.

I'm going to commit right now to cooking beef liver this week.  I always have to work myself up to it.  Soaking in ACV instead of milk seemed to work better to neutralize the flavor a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 07, 2016, 10:47:30 PM
Pulled a package of pork loins out of the freezer to marinate and grill tomorrow. Also thawing a whole chicken in the fridge for the day after - will do it in my Instant Pot.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on August 07, 2016, 11:56:57 PM
This thread is very inspiring. I think I might set myself a mini-goal - no supermarket shop except for milk this week (hubby cannot live without coffee). In the cupboard/ produce drawer /garden we have plenty. I went through a phase of trying gluten free living and now have lots of half eaten random flours (buckwheat, potato, rice etc).

Tonight it is lentil and pumpkin soup done in the slow cooker. Tomorrow I will have to fashion some sort of pizza base to use up those flours since we also have a bunch of cheeses from when we entertained at the weekend - hey the worst that can happen is that it has to be eaten with a knife and fork.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: markstache on August 08, 2016, 12:35:14 PM
The wife and kids left today to start their vacation early. I'll be joining them on Saturday. Goal: the fridge will be nearly empty when I leave (with the exception of beer yeast, cheeses that's I'm aging, and some eggs that will keep). That reminds me, I should go eat some salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on August 08, 2016, 05:08:13 PM
Today our dogs helped with leftover cornbread on the kitchen counter. Unusual behavior, that; I can only assume they really like cornbread, which I didn't know.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: kaleidoscopicalkris on August 09, 2016, 10:07:43 AM
I need to get in on this challenge. My fiancee and I have a new apartment that we will be moving into on September 29th. My goal is to move as little as possible. I will do a full inventory of our food this week and buy as little food as possible! I want to get more cooking skills under my belt, so this is a good excuse.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on August 16, 2016, 06:51:58 PM
Sign me up for this challenge! I went just a tiny bit overboard batshit crazy a couple weeks ago when meat and frozen vegetables were on sale and had to engage in some master level freezer tetris to get everything to fit. I vowed I’d forego any more stockpiling for the foreseeable future.

In addition to the freezer madness, I also have a fair amount of odds and ends stashed in the cupboards that apparently aren’t going to cook themselves, so I need to make some effort to use them up. I’ve been stuck in a bit of rut with cooking lately, sticking to a small set of easy to make meals and meals I can prepare ahead of time and freeze. These “autopilot” meals are great for when life is busy, but rotating the same set of meals each week is getting boring and means a lot of other things are languishing in the cupboards.

I’ve been making some respectable progress on the freezer in the past week. I completely skipped grocery shopping last weekend, and we officially ran out of salad stuff today. I did this deliberately to force us to eat the frozen veggies and it appears to be working.

On Sunday I made a loaf of bread in the bread machine so we wouldn’t feel the need to go to the store mid-week when the bread ran out. Man, homemade bread is SO good, I need to do this more often!

I had a lot of fresh fruit on hand too that I’ve mostly eaten down. The bananas and apples all got eaten last week, and now we’re working on the last item, which is unfortunately an entire watermelon. But I diced it all up over the weekend so we can just spoon out a bowl at a time, and as its the only fresh fruit left its slowly disappearing.

I will have to go to the store this weekend for some perishables: yogurt, lettuce, carrots, celery, eggs, and maybe some avocados, but hopefully that will be about it. Also probably some stuff to cook for dog food, but I’m counting that separately from the human food.

I’ve got some recipes planned for later this week that should start using some of the oddball items in the cupboards: this balsamic chicken recipe (http://www.letsdishrecipes.com/2011/01/balsamic-chicken.html) to use a bottle of balsamic salad dressing that I didn’t care for (hoping its better on chicken than salad), and Chicken Taco Cornbread Pie (http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/chicken-taco-cornbread-pie-51904.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-thmmash-_-20160808-_-1006&cm_lm=182FDBB419259F97C0140C6302DD59F4&bt_he=C8CD9556090F4BC6D915EBE279A9E5FAAD2B302567B9F2731A1B49952984C455?kraftcustom=true#.V6jdDJk9LhY.email)  to use up a package of cornbread mix. There’s way more stuff to get used but at least this is a start! We’ve had a lot of vet bills lately, so my savings from not grocery shopping will help make up for that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on August 16, 2016, 08:49:58 PM
We successfully skipped a grocery shop last week and ate out of the cupboards! But then spent a fortune this week... but mainly on bulk specials that will last, I hope!

Next challenge: We have used up all our cocoa/ hot chocolate options and we are left with a box of carob powder. I need to incorporate this into a bedtime milky drink that tastes good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on August 19, 2016, 06:27:31 AM
We successfully skipped a grocery shop last week and ate out of the cupboards! But then spent a fortune this week... but mainly on bulk specials that will last, I hope!

Next challenge: We have used up all our cocoa/ hot chocolate options and we are left with a box of carob powder. I need to incorporate this into a bedtime milky drink that tastes good.

I had to do this with some hot chocolate mix I didn't really like. I just mixed it with the stuff I did like - and couldn't tell the difference, it just stretched it further. Might be worth a try. My ratio was almost 1:1 and it was fine, but you can just increase chocolate and reduce carob until you can't notice it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tomita on August 19, 2016, 03:11:27 PM
made a ratatouille  with a eggplant that was lingering in the cupboard , lots of onions, red pepper from the scraps I save for stock and it turned out delicious
plan to repeat this  "N" times
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on August 19, 2016, 03:17:18 PM
Finally used up 2 spaghetti squash....man, those things last a long time! I don't even remember buying them! They were fine, btw.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on August 21, 2016, 03:47:37 PM
OK I think I did pretty well this week! As planned, I used up some cornbread mix in Chicken Taco Cornbread Pie (http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/chicken-taco-cornbread-pie-51904.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-thmmash-_-20160808-_-1006&cm_lm=182FDBB419259F97C0140C6302DD59F4&bt_he=C8CD9556090F4BC6D915EBE279A9E5FAAD2B302567B9F2731A1B49952984C455?kraftcustom=true#.V6jdDJk9LhY.email"), and used the last giant carrot for carrot sticks to eat as a side. This was a pretty good recipe that we both enjoyed, which is good because I have one more pack of cornbread mix to go.

The Balsamic Chicken (http://www.letsdishrecipes.com/2011/01/balsamic-chicken.html) was pretty good, not sure if I'd make it again but since it used the whole bottle of Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing I was aiming to burn, I won't need to :)

Much frozen vegetables and watermelon were consumed.

We've had a bag of mexican hot cocoa mix sitting in the cupboard for longer than I care to admit. This sad mix was rejected by a co-worker, who had purchased it for a fundraiser for another co-worker's kid, only to find out it contained milk products which he couldn't eat because he was vegan. He oferred it up so I brought it home for hubby who loves hot cocoa, but apparently not enough to actually go to the effort of making it with any regularity. I finally put the poor chocolatey powder out of its misery today by making these hot cocoa muffins (http://amandascookin.com/starbucks-hot-cocoa-chocolate-chip-muffins/). I made a few substitutions - using coconut oil which has also been languishing unloved in the cupboard instead of melted butter, and using a mix of whole wheat and white flour since we have an abundance of whole wheat on hand (besides, now it's healthy, right?). The result earned a resounding "meh". They're decent and will suffice for morning snacks at work, but I wouldn't make them again.

Also today, I prepared a chicken salsa casserole for dinner tomorrow, which used some corn tortillas, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, and a can of green chiles, all of which I have embarrasing quantities of. Tomorrow I'll make a big batch of Mexican Rice (which will use up some chicken broth and tomato sauce from the cupboards and the rest of a diced onion sitting in the fridge) - that will be dinner and lunches for several days. Today for lunch, I mixed up some leftover shredded chicken and the last remnants of a bottle of BBQ sauce and spread it on a piece of toast. That was really pretty good.

Hubby's been surprisingly tolerant of this whole endeavor, he's been eating PB&J since the lunch meat ran out, and didn't even complain when we ran out of butter a couple of days before grocery shopping day. We did our shopping Friday and only bought a few things - salad stuff and some fruit, butter, yogurt, bread and eggs. I don't envision buying a while lot next weekend either, I expect we'll save about $100 this month on our normal grocery budget!

On the agenda for this coming week - make my own salad dressing to use some raspberry vinegar, figure out what to do with a can of adobo chiles and a pork roast (ideally resulting in carnitas tacos... mmmm tacos), and use up an open bottle of honey teriyaki glaze sitting in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on August 21, 2016, 05:49:16 PM
We successfully skipped a grocery shop last week and ate out of the cupboards! But then spent a fortune this week... but mainly on bulk specials that will last, I hope!

Next challenge: We have used up all our cocoa/ hot chocolate options and we are left with a box of carob powder. I need to incorporate this into a bedtime milky drink that tastes good.

I had to do this with some hot chocolate mix I didn't really like. I just mixed it with the stuff I did like - and couldn't tell the difference, it just stretched it further. Might be worth a try. My ratio was almost 1:1 and it was fine, but you can just increase chocolate and reduce carob until you can't notice it.

So this is what I did:
3 x level tsp carob powder
1/2 tsp brown sugar
shake of ground cinnamon (1/4 tsp?)
add 2/3 hot water to the mug
add one drop vanilla extract
top up with milk, stir and enjoy!

Was delish. Got a whole box of this powder tho!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on August 22, 2016, 07:31:51 AM
Started a new batch of Kim Chi this weekend and buzzed up the last of the frozen pineapple to add to it, having seen a recipe for pineapple turmeric Kim Chi recently.

The last can of tomato paste that has been lingering around the house for ages finally went towards thickening a batch of salsa I canned (have been using last year's homemade paste instead of the store bought stuff).

The last few peaches that didn't fit in the canner, and have been in a jar of light syrup in the fridge got dehydrated, along with a bunch of free pears this weekend.

Failed on making liver last week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: markstache on August 22, 2016, 10:16:10 AM
Doing pretty well. Before I left on vacation, I mostly cleared out the fridge. Left about 1/2 gallon of milk to spoil. I guess I could have made some cheese before I left.

Since we got back Saturday, we've mostly been eating homemade bread and cheese. Used up some potatoes and onions, along with some homemade yogurt cheese, for crepes yesterday. Last night, we had homemade mozzarella (for which we bought milk) with homemade bread and garden grown basil and tomatoes. Oh, and the last of our homemade wine. Luckily, we've got another batch sitting ready to bottle.

Our next task should probably be clearing out the freezer. There's not too much in there, but I don't recall what it is, which means it's time to eat it or toss it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 25, 2016, 11:56:52 AM
About a 1/4 cup tomato paste and take out rice from the freezer went into bison jambalaya for last weekend's camping trip.

Tuesday we ate leftover hot dogs and brats from the camping trip.

DH's garden continues to produce zucchini.  So far this season I've made low carb zucchini bread, lc zucchini fritters, and fried them coated in Parmesan.  Tonight I'm going to make chicken and zucchini stir fry for the first time. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on August 28, 2016, 09:59:39 AM
Holy crap people, why the hell do I have so much food in my house?? I feel like I’ve been making good progress in this little project - the smaller of the two food cupboards in the kitchen is looking pretty roomy right now, and I’ve cleared enough space in the chest freezer that I can actually find things now - hooray! But the the more I dig into the reserves the more stuff I find that needs to get used. Here’s some of the things I did this week:

I ran out of the green tea I like to drink at work. At home, I have FOUR freaking giant boxes of black or black/green tea that I don’t like all that much when prepared as hot tea. So, for the foreseeable future I’ll be making up some refrigerator iced tea each night and taking that to work to drink instead. This may very well last until I’m FIREd :)

I finally finished the bottle of teriyaki glaze from the fridge - it took two separate meals to use it all up: grilled chicken kabobs last weekend and baked drumsticks last night.

Instead of homemade mexican rice, I cooked up two packages of Spanish rice mix I had bought to take camping but we never ate.

What I thought was raspberry vinegar hidden way in the back of the cupboard turned out to be pomegranate infused red wine vinegar. No worries, I still used it for some salad dressing - mixed ¼ cup of the vinegar, ¼ cup of olive oil, and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper. It was quite tasty - not as overpowering as the store bought dressings I’m used to and I could really taste the vegetables in the salad. Bonus points because it has no sugar. I may just continue making my own dressing for ever! I made a second batch on Friday and added some Italian Seasoning to it.

Mixed up a batch of tuna for hubby to have sandwiches - used up one of the two open bottles of mayonnaise that was in the fridge (also leftover from camping… in JUNE).

We have SEVEN jars of lentils in the cupboard. I made a batch of lentil tacos, but that only uses 1 cup of lentils, and results in about 3 meals worth. I need to find some more lentil recipes.

Today I’m making a pot of chicken broth, using a couple bags of chicken carcasses and veggie scraps from the freezer. And for dinner tonight, I’ve got some beef stew in the crockpot. I was able to use the last of a bunch of celery in that, and instead of the 1.5 cups of beef broth the recipe called for, I threw in an old can of French Onion soup from the back of the cupboard and ½ cup of beef broth that’s been in the freezer forever.

We did our last grocery shop for the month of August yesterday, and it was almost entirely produce and some milk. I did buy some of Sprout’s chicken sausage I like to use for our homemade pizza since it was on sale, and bell peppers were on sale for .50 each, but those were the only “stockpile” purchases. I had to stifle a few sobs as we passed by some really good meat deals, but I know they’ll go on sale again. The bottom line is I’ve saved over $100 on my grocery budget for the month, spending just under $200. Let’s see if I can beat that in September!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on August 28, 2016, 03:13:58 PM
Lentil soup -
Add whichever herbs, spices, or vegetables you like. I use onion in mine, as well as one or more of these: Spinach, carrots, celery. I like Italian seasoning, old bay, and salt. Maybe garlic. Sometimes i add quinoa, although one could add rice, potatoes, etc. Quick and easy. For richer flavor on occasion I add a little tiny amt of coconut oil.
Cold Lentil salad -
I love this one and tend to bring it to potlucks.
All vegetables added are to be raw. I add onion or scallions,
Shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes. Maybe some finely chopped kale, maybe quinoa, maybe feta, olives, capers or jicama etc .
To taste: I add balsamic vinegar,  salt, poss. a little olive oil or coconut oil.
Of course season and use whatever you like, but it's a bit nicely filling side dish or meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on August 28, 2016, 04:24:50 PM
Red lentil soup is really nice with a few slices of fresh lemon added. I've even added orange slices when I had no lemon. I add what ever root veg I have and do it in the slow cooker with whatever stock for 2 hrs on high. The root veg kind of mush up when you stir it and you get a v hearty and filling orange soup.

ETA: I also put fresh chilli and cumin in.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on August 28, 2016, 07:18:09 PM

Cold Lentil salad -
I love this one and tend to bring it to potlucks.
All vegetables added are to be raw. I add onion or scallions,
Shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes. Maybe some finely chopped kale, maybe quinoa, maybe feta, olives, capers or jicama etc .
To taste: I add balsamic vinegar,  salt, poss. a little olive oil or coconut oil.
Of course season and use whatever you like, but it's a bit nicely filling side dish or meal.

Its a bit hot here for soup right now, but this one sounds promising. Thanks for the idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on August 28, 2016, 08:24:55 PM
I'm trying not so much to run down the pantry stocks, so much as use up the stuff that I am unlikely to buy again.

To that end, on the weekend I used up the last of the quinoa. I don't mind quinoa, but I don't like it ENOUGH for it to be a staple in my house.

I bought some nori sheets and tofu to use up the last of the sushi rice. I love sushi, so this will be a very enjoyable part of the challenge :-)

I think I'll make coconut cookies later in the week, to use up the coconut flour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 28, 2016, 08:46:14 PM
In the last few months I have come in WAY WAY under my food budget by eating what we have on hand.

This has proven to me that I keep way two much food on hand. I am slowly working through it. With a CSA during the growing season I really have not had to go to the store for much at all. Just some milk, cheese and yogurt for the little.  I did buy some meat the other week.

I am staying out of the store for as long as possible. We were out of a few staples like mayo and stir fry sauce. But I am just making them from scratch and calling it a day.

Homemade plum sauce took me 2+ hours to make...but make it made a awesome stir fry sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 29, 2016, 01:02:21 PM
About a 1/4 cup tomato paste and take out rice from the freezer went into bison jambalaya for last weekend's camping trip.

Tuesday we ate leftover hot dogs and brats from the camping trip.

DH's garden continues to produce zucchini.  So far this season I've made low carb zucchini bread, lc zucchini fritters, and fried them coated in Parmesan. Tonight I'm going to make chicken and zucchini stir fry for the first time. :)

The stir fry turned out great!  I added a bit of sriracha and served it on top of cauliflowered rice.

Last night I used another large zucchini by coating slices in almond flour, crushed pork rinds, grated Parmesan cheese and egg and frying it.

Saturday I used up some failing Romaine in a 7 layer salad.  I also used up a potato and corn cob for DH for supper.

Part of last night's leftover ham is in the slow cooker today for tonight's ham and beans (dried beans DH bought MONTHS ago).  :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on September 01, 2016, 06:39:07 AM
2 of my 4 pantry shelves are now pretty much empty! I could definitely consolidate onto two, by packing things in as tightly as I used to, but I am enjoying not having a can land on my toe everytime I want something from the back! Love this thread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 01, 2016, 07:42:03 AM
2 of my 4 pantry shelves are now pretty much empty! I could definitely consolidate onto two, by packing things in as tightly as I used to, but I am enjoying not having a can land on my toe everytime I want something from the back! Love this thread.
Love spaciousness.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 01, 2016, 07:47:45 AM
I am back on the band wagon :) I've let out stocks get a week bit out of control. When it is all in packages, it doesn't look so bad, but I have been sealing everything in mason jars and it is amazing how much it all actually is when you can see it.

So I'm continuing with regifting food we are not going to eat because of new dietary restrictions and searching for recipes to make more food gifts for Christmas presents.   Also, doing the simplest (or sometimes the hardest) thing of just not buying more!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: markstache on September 01, 2016, 10:34:26 AM
Continuing to do well. Buying dairy and produce, but for the most part just continuing to eat what we got. We made sweet potato french fries from our potatoes from our garden last night. So far, three jars of fermented salsa and probably a few more by the end of the month. We should try to do some swaps with other gardeners I as I think we'll have far more habeneros than we could possibly use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 01, 2016, 12:14:27 PM
We're finally ordering groceries again.  It was a rough month, but I was able to get creative.  Our freezer is much cleaner, and our fridge is almost empty (except condiments).  We still have a lot of dry goods to get through, but I think I'm going to just avoid buying more and use up what we have.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 01, 2016, 12:27:16 PM
I used up the remaining packages of chipotle cheese bites and chopped walnuts, and the jar of Greek olives in yesterday and today's lunch salads.

The remaining family size cod package and some shrimp were used last night for supper.  I've got to remember to buy peeled and deveined shrimp in the future.  Been working longer hours at the office, and would welcome the convenience.  And, much to my chagrin, I bought and opened a new bottle of cocktail sauce, forgetting we already had an open one in the fridge. 

DH and I shopped the freezer and pantry for an upcoming camping trip vs. buying new food.  And I'm going to make another low carb zucchini bread loaf and frittata beforehand.

DH accepted my suggestion of taking the container of homemade frozen burritos to work today.  :)

This morning I arranged the freezer a bit.  Among homemade leftovers and some convenience foods, we're down to a basket each of frozen veggies and proteins. 

September's focus:  The canned black beans and pumpkin.

Added:  Does anyone know how long Nori (seaweed sheets) will last once they package has been opened?  I looked it up online, but would rather hear answers from folks here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 01, 2016, 03:09:55 PM
I think the nori is fine to eat pretty much indefinitely, but it might lose its crispness.  In that case, you might put it in a miso soup or something.

I've been pretty proud of my lack of grocery shopping this month.

Finally used up a jar of Almond butter that had gotten kind of dried out.

Excited that the temperature is dropping this weekend and I can justify making soups.  Corn green chile chowder is going to be on the menu since I grew sweet corn and we only ate two as corn on the cob.  Now it's sat around and gotten starchy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 01, 2016, 03:19:24 PM
Thank you, horsepoor.  And your chowder sounds delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alewpanda on September 01, 2016, 08:09:47 PM
Many of you have been doing this for weeks, but we are starting this as of this month.  We have to a) make room for half a cow at the end of this month, and b) spend less than normal in our grocery budget to help accomodate the extra large expense of the beef order this month.  Also, friends of ours were pcsing, and our parents were in town last week.  Our parents left us with random items that were partway used by them, plus food items they brought and didn't use, and our friends gave us a whole bunch of stuff that was partially used that the movers wouldn't move.  So needless to say, tons of random foodstuffs in this house....

Todays lunches: extra eggs made into egg salad and put on sandwiches
Tonights Dinner:t pork chops with gllaze and smashed potatoes with leftover parmesan cheese, milk and butter.  Yummy! 

Tomorrow: Probably leftovers from both of today's meals ...lol
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 04, 2016, 10:27:43 PM
Well, I haven't been quite as on top of it this past week as I would have liked to have been, but I'm still making progress:


The good news is I've found some more lentil recipes to try (as I mentioned upthread I have seven jars of lentils in the cupboard)... the bad news is I found even more lentils in the garage. Yes that's right, I have a utility shelf full of food in the garage that serves as my extended pantry.

Grocery shopping this weekend was mostly a success. While I spent almost $100, $40 of that was personal and cleaning stuff - I figure since I'm saving so much on food I should go ahead and replenish a few dwindling non-food items and CVS had some good deals. As for food stuff, I mainly got produce and dairy, but I did buy one large package of chicken drumsticks, 2 bottles of soy sauce, and several bottles of salad dressing because they were on sale and I had coupons. The drumsticks will be part of using other things up, so I kind of had to buy them, right? :) We are actually starting to get low on meat so I've called off the meat moratorium for now.

For the upcoming week, I'll be making a large batch of chicken fried rice to use up leftover rice from the fridge, trying a new Quinoa Pizza Casserole (http://"http://24carrotlife.com/2016/01/26/pizza-quinoa-casserole/") recipe to make a dent in the quinoa, and some copycat El Pollo Loco chicken to use up some pineapple juice in the freezer. And of course more smoothies and pickles.

My goal for shopping is to keep it to about $25-$30 per week for the rest of the month. That should allow me to get plenty of produce and a normal, reasonable, sane person amount of meat when it is on sale, and still come in under $200 for the month. Apparently we have lots more vet bills this month (doggy is in the ER tonight :'(   )so it will help to keep groceries down again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: wintersun on September 05, 2016, 04:04:13 PM
It is a long time since I have visited the forum regularly.  It is fun to jump back in.

After my dh went on a special diet a few months ago our grocery bill skyrocketed.  August was the first month I was able to get it down to 2/3 of the highest amount.

What I did was to look at what I was buying and what was in the cupboard and realised that I kept buying odd things we do not usually eat like specialty black pasta or cream cheese or miso.  And that was putting our bill up.

I also had a major money talk with dh.  I think he is better understanding that there is a monthly limit and that one way we can have more money for personal spending is to spend less on groceries.  Before that he would do things like buy a ribeye roast or a piece of salmon without looking at the price and then consume 1/2 a pound to 1 pound of meat at a sitting. (sigh).  Now he is settling in to this new way.

In August I took out everything in the pantry and finally threw away a few things that were probably 8 years old including several boxes of tea (15?) that were from a friend's pantry and she had been given them by someone else who was clearing out.

Now I can see things in my pantry and can easily figure out what to buy and what we have handy.  It feels great, thanks to all of you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 05, 2016, 10:30:51 PM
It is a long time since I have visited the forum regularly.  It is fun to jump back in.

Welcome back wintersun, missed you around the forums!

I spent the morning organizing my pantry and cold room, so I at least have a better idea of what I have. Not buying anything other than fresh veggies and fruit for the foreseeable future. I gathered up all our various dried fruits and stuck them in one easy to pull out container so hopefully hubby knows where and what to grab instead of just opening whatever package is closest and having it end up in various spots in the kitchen.

I have 1 and a half-empty shelves in the pantry, that was overflowing this morning! As an added bonus I found two "make your own cheese kits" that were gifted to us, and a set of cute cheese knives also gifted to us. They ended up there because I can't eat dairy anymore. Together they would make a totally cute Christmas gift for a friend of ours who would LOVE it.

Hubby has been helping use up pantry things and made oat farls for his breakfast tomorrow.

Although we did just come home with a tote full of apples, and another of pears and MIL asked us if we wanted a case of plums. Very glad we have a big dehydrator!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alewpanda on September 06, 2016, 08:48:06 AM
Did pretty well clearing excess foodstuffs this holiday weekend...

Used up ice cream that had been sitting in our freezer :)  also used a boxed pudding mix that was given to us by friends who were moving.  I make homemade pudding, so it didn't really compare, but it satisfied a sweet tooth for cheap and little work.

Pulled 3 T-bones from the freezer and grilled them.  We get as many steaks as they can cut from our half a cow when we order, so we still had steaks from the last half cow.  2 more are in the freezer...so more grilling will be necessary!

Had eye-filled potatoes sitting in the cupboard...made a pan full of smashed red potatoes with butter and Parmesan on friday, and mashed sweet potatoes yesterday.

Husband is slowly eating up the cereal left by family visiting last month, and I am slowly eating up the bagels left (normal breakfasts are toast, eggs, or oatmeal for us!)

Printed some recipes to use up random dry food items that I brought home from our friends house when they packed.  Going to try to make them for lunches since a lot of them are single serving amounts (random small amounts of open foodstuffs). 

Used up some chia drink mix given to us too :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juneboogie on September 07, 2016, 07:11:10 PM
"Jalfrezi spices
Tandoori spice mix
Chinese 5 spice
Ras el hanout
Cajun ragin

They are spice packets with no further information on them. I literally have no idea what to do with them. Like, I know jalfrezi is a type of curry, but have no idea how I would go about making one. I suppose I could just use them to season meat? TIA.  "

Late response but I am a recent forum member.  I like the taste of all these spice blends & use them to jazz up beans, also they are great sprinkled on popcorn!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on September 10, 2016, 07:25:18 AM
I now know that we'll be moving out of our rental and into our new house (!) at the end of November, so I've been trying to use up some of the random bits and bobs in the pantry and fridge. I don't want to move all of it, though Brown Bear is less concerned and continues to stock up on dry goods. I figure we can at least get through the small volumes of things we've got lying around and not replace them.

Last week I made a few rounds of chia seed breakfast "pudding" with almond milk, peanut butter, and Brown Bear's homemade strawberry jam. He'd cooked it too long so it had set into gummy candy, and I found the only way for me to eat it was to blend it into my breakfasts :) I used a random packet of date paste similarly - food processed it with nuts and coconut and cocoa powder and peanut butter, rolled it into balls, dipped them in chocolate, and ate them for dessert over the past two weeks. I've also been getting through our considerable stash of herbal tea by brewing a pot of iced tea every few days, sticking it in the fridge, and offering it to any comers and any time of day or night. It's making a difference! We've had some of it for years and we're obviously never gonna drink it unless it appears (like magic!) in the fridge.

This morning I made some amazing scones - blueberry coconut walnut. I used up the walnuts from the freezer, and put a dent in my considerable dessicated coconut stash (love coconut!). I'm also trying to get through some wheat germ and a small bag of semolina flour that we've had forever, so I chucked some of those in there as well in place of some of the AP flour. Blueberries came from the 6.5 lbs that I picked when we were out near Lake Michigan about a month ago and then froze. We still have a lot of frozen blueberries left to eat but they're *so good* that I find myself rationing them out in small volumes to make them last...This may be stupid.

I also made a big Asian-syle quinoa salad this morning to use up piles of fresh produce from our CSA share, local farmers market, and my dad's garden. Dad's been so generous with just giving us his surplus that we're drowning in veggies! I'd cooked quinoa late last night when i had the munchies - in hopes of eating that instead of an entire lb bag of pretzels - so I stirred the cooled leftover quinoa together with the remainder of our frozen peas, fresh tomatoes, green onions, shallots, a big yellow pepper, some beautiful purple carrots, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, fresh mint, and a soy sauce/ginger/lime/rice vinegar dressing. And a jalapeno from my dad's garden, just to make sure my hands were good and spicy before breakfast :)

We've also already got piles of onions, garlic, and winter squash, so I'm planning to make a green lentil & heirloom bean soup tomorrow night with squash and onion, kale, fresh thyme, and rosemary from our pot out on the porch. And then we'll have dinner guests to help us eat it. Somehow we've been managing to get through all of the produce without throwing any of it away, and I guess it's a good thing that we like veggies because they're in every meal we eat these days. It's amazing to have such wonderful cheap/free produce at our fingertips.

I guess my ongoing "use it up" goals are as follows:
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on September 10, 2016, 07:36:42 AM
Right now I have some lamb ribs and other bony lamb things in the instant pot with red chile sauce and onion.  Will shred it up for a nice taco filling to eat this week, and should result in a nice stock to use for a soup with Mexican flavors when the weather cools.  That just leaves one package of lamb chops until we get this year's lamb in a few weeks.

I finally used up the mixed micro-lentils by adding them to a big batch of hummus.  The hummus also used up some chipotles in adobo that have been hiding in the back of the fridge.

I'm going to commit right now to cooking beef liver this week.  I always have to work myself up to it.  Soaking in ACV instead of milk seemed to work better to neutralize the flavor a bit.

I am not a paleo eater, but this recipe looks good:
http://autoimmune-paleo.com/bacon-beef-liver-pate-with-rosemary-and-thyme/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 10, 2016, 09:13:16 AM
Right now I have some lamb ribs and other bony lamb things in the instant pot with red chile sauce and onion.  Will shred it up for a nice taco filling to eat this week, and should result in a nice stock to use for a soup with Mexican flavors when the weather cools.  That just leaves one package of lamb chops until we get this year's lamb in a few weeks.

I finally used up the mixed micro-lentils by adding them to a big batch of hummus.  The hummus also used up some chipotles in adobo that have been hiding in the back of the fridge.

I'm going to commit right now to cooking beef liver this week.  I always have to work myself up to it.  Soaking in ACV instead of milk seemed to work better to neutralize the flavor a bit.

I am not a paleo eater, but this recipe looks good:
http://autoimmune-paleo.com/bacon-beef-liver-pate-with-rosemary-and-thyme/

Haha, that is actually the recipe I've used, and need to use up the little tubs of pate that are hiding in the freezer.  Still haven't used up the beef liver.  I have a crazy-powerful food processor now, so I might try pre-slicing it while it's still partially frozen, and then soaking it in the ACV.  Cutting out the nasty bits might be easier that way; it's pretty much the worst part of preparing it.  If all else fails, I'll make gourmet dog treats.

Used up the last of the lamb last night.  I've been buying very few groceries, but it seems like the food collection is continuing to expand as I've canned a bunch of soup and salsa in the past week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on September 11, 2016, 02:59:05 PM
Got a sinus infection that knocked me over the last few weeks. As always when I'm unwell things got out of shape in the fridge. Ended up having to toss out a yoghurt that had gone moldy as well as a carrot, some small onions and a peach. Normally I freeze any old bits I can't eat but oh, well...

Currently my use up projects are:
-a bag of chia seeds that I bought to make chia pudding for breakfast. Turns out I find pudding unpalatable in the morning, so that's no good. I've been putting a spoonful in water/juice. Makes a fun drink with a bit of texture, at least. Suppose I could put it in smoothies, too.
-a giant slab of cheese that luckily survived neglect in the fridge. Will cube some and slice some and freeze when I get the energy. Excellent for salads or cheese sandwich.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 12, 2016, 01:22:52 PM
I am pleased to report freezer proteins are down to just chicken breasts and one piece of fish.  I'm going to stock up on sale proteins this Thursday.

DH's garden has begun to produce tomatoes in addition to zucchini.  And his apple and peach trees did really well this year.  A box of not perfect apples were dropped off at a horse owning friend's house today.  DH gave bags of peaches to several different neighbors, one of whom traded him for some still hot roasted chilies.  He brought some to the guys at his work today, and I have a bowlful for clients here on my desk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 12, 2016, 05:37:24 PM
Well, last week was just straight up stupid and I consider it a tremendous achievement that we managed to eat anything other than packaged granola bars and string cheese due to all the drama that was going on. Several of my planned dinner recipes during the week did not happen and we just had quick, easy meals instead (i.e. frozen salmon fillets or turkey burgers). BUT overall we stayed the course and did manage to continue chipping away at the ridiculous stockpiles of food in the house:


I haven’t had a chance to tabulate the totals from my weekly grocery shopping, but I should be pretty close to my $30 goal for the week. I bought 2 whole chickens on sale and stocked up on bread, cheese, and eggs that were all on sale for $.99, but most of the rest was produce.

This week we’ll still be in sort of survival mode and eating largely from the freezer stash of pre-cooked stuff. We still have tons of chicken fried rice I made a couple of weeks ago so hubby’s been having that for lunches and somewhere I have a bag of chicken and rice burritos I made a while back. And one night will be carnitas from the freezer that I made last week… that will finally be the end of a large package of sad looking tortillas as well!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on September 13, 2016, 09:08:43 PM
Soliciting suggestions: I made a really nice beef stew with homemade stock tonight, and miscalculated how much stock I needed (was just eyeballing and not using a recipe). I ended up with a lot of extra liquid. Delicious, thickened, spiced gravy. But what do I do with it? I was thinking about cooking and adding more vegetables to fill out the stew, but maybe someone has a better idea? I live alone, so a pot of beef stew is already a lot of servings without using vegetables to stretch it a lot further...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 13, 2016, 10:40:54 PM
Soliciting suggestions: I made a really nice beef stew with homemade stock tonight, and miscalculated how much stock I needed (was just eyeballing and not using a recipe). I ended up with a lot of extra liquid. Delicious, thickened, spiced gravy. But what do I do with it? I was thinking about cooking and adding more vegetables to fill out the stew, but maybe someone has a better idea? I live alone, so a pot of beef stew is already a lot of servings without using vegetables to stretch it a lot further...

I'd use it as a base for a beef dip. If you don't want to burn out on beef, you could also just freeze it as a "base" and use it for your next soup or stew.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on September 14, 2016, 04:35:26 AM
Soliciting suggestions: I made a really nice beef stew with homemade stock tonight, and miscalculated how much stock I needed (was just eyeballing and not using a recipe). I ended up with a lot of extra liquid. Delicious, thickened, spiced gravy. But what do I do with it? I was thinking about cooking and adding more vegetables to fill out the stew, but maybe someone has a better idea? I live alone, so a pot of beef stew is already a lot of servings without using vegetables to stretch it a lot further...
I freeze all things of that nature in ice cube trays for later use. That way I can just ad as needed: a cube into rice, a handfull cubes into soup and so on. Same with leftover sause: I freeze in cubes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on September 14, 2016, 07:46:21 AM
Thanks for the ideas! Freezing it sounds like a good plan. I definitely don't want to make beef again right away (it's so expensive, I only make beef about 3x a year).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 14, 2016, 10:59:29 AM
Yeah I'd probably throw it into the freezer until I was ready to deal with it, then throw in a bunch of vegetables and maybe some barley to make a nice soup/stew.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Travis on September 14, 2016, 11:08:20 AM
We're not trying to eat "everything" in the house, but last month we were too busy to go grocery shopping and had to get creative with ours meals.  I was surprised that we lived for about a week just based on what was in the pantry when normally we would have considered ourselves "out of food."
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 18, 2016, 04:20:40 PM
So I said to the hubby, "I'm doing really well with this challenge, did you see all the room in the cupboards?" And he said happily "Yeah! So what are you going to fill them with?" That's what we call enabling, my friends.

Here's the weekly progress report:

I spent $43 at the grocery store this weekend, fell off the wagon a little bit and stocked up on chicken breast, broccoli (why?? I have several bags in the freezer, but it was .79/lb) and tortillas (tacos are a staple in our house so tortillas must be had!). But I'm still on track to meet my lowered monthly target ($200). Next weekend should hopefully just be produce, milk and butter.

I had a little bit of downtime this week so I was able to do some cupboard organization. I consolidated some open spices which freed up some space. And then since the smaller food cupboard had a lot of room, I was able to go through my larger cupboard and move some stuff to the smaller cupboard, so now not only can I reach everything without other crap falling on my head, I have a good idea of what I actually have and I can make plans to use up some of the neglected stuff. Once my lentil Mexican stew from the freezer has been eaten (I'm about halfway through it), I'll make a batch of chili to use up a few cans of beans, and there's one can and one jar of chicken gravy in the cupboard that I'll use in some chicken pot pies next time I have leftover chicken and enough butter on hand to make some pie crusts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on September 18, 2016, 08:09:59 PM
I definitely did some stocking up this weekend: re-stocked all of the nuts (we had none! unheard of!) and fresh fruits and veggies. Probably too many veggies, considering how this week is stacking up. Le sigh. And I was doing so well, too! Total grocery bill for the week: $68. Not too bad for 2 people but higher than it could have been.

On the eating down front, this weekend I did finish off our jar of peanut butter, a few cans of beans, some leftover cooked bulgar, two rather squashy nectarines, and a bag of tortillas which had all stuck together in the packet (maddening!) I also used up more of our baking bits and bobs making granola yesterday from this recipe: http://minimalistbaker.com/strawberry-coconut-granola/ (http://minimalistbaker.com/strawberry-coconut-granola/). Her granola recipes are all great, as are her "best damn vegan biscuits," but I haven't always been thrilled by her other baked goods.

I need some help with this something, guys - what do I do with a large bunch of sage? We got it in our CSA a week and a half ago and it's been hiding out in the fridge ever since. I'm not a big sage eater...it's a really strong flavor that I'm not overly fond of. Help!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on September 18, 2016, 08:30:44 PM
Used up the last of some quinoa (note to self: do not buy again; we do not actually like quinoa) and sushi rice.

Now using up the last of a few other kinds of rice. Need to bear in mind in future that all we actually need is Arborio and one type of "eating" rice (e.g. wild rice).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 18, 2016, 09:06:22 PM
YellowCat-
Sage is really lovely sautéed in butter over ravioli or other pastas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YogiKitti on September 19, 2016, 01:40:48 AM
I haven't been working on this goal for a while, but it is time to get back in the game.

I cooked up the last of the pinto, navy, and black beans. We will be eating refried bean burritos, white chili, and black bean burgers in the next couple of days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nottoolatetostart on September 19, 2016, 04:24:54 AM
I am going to join in this challenge. My husband will be out of town on and off over the next 6 weeks, so I want to get rid of some bags of rice, beans, a little meat that we have, turkey burgers, seafood, etc....all that stuff that we thought we would eat during the summer. Need to get our grocery budget down to help average out 2016's annual expenditures. I have some aggressive goals for 2017 so I really need to get the training wheels going.

We should only need fresh produce, eggs, dairy. My goal is to shop the 99 per lb or less produce each week.

On a side note, I'm getting excited for soup and (homemade) bread weather!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: stashgrower on September 19, 2016, 05:35:40 AM
Joining. I started on the quinoa last week, made good progress. Now targeting legumes and cheese :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 19, 2016, 07:53:14 AM
Made a sweet potato pie last night using a jar of the the sweet potato chunks I canned last year.  The crust burnt, so it's unfit to bring to work, and I need to bake another, because I mentioned it to my co-worker and now her heart is set on it.

Yesterday, started a beef soup bone from the freezer in the Instant Pot to make stock, added some stew meat, and a big container of something from the freezer that I'd labeled "for soup".  I think it was from cooking a pork shoulder in red chile, so it had lots of flavor.  Added in the last of the black beans and garden veggies no longer at their best, as well as some random bits of beans, salsa and stock that were taking up space in the fridge, and ended up with a big tasty pot of chili style soup.

Used the last of some homemade mayo and few stalks and leaves from a bunch of celery in a big batch of egg salad for work lunches.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alsoknownasDean on September 20, 2016, 04:55:06 AM
I've been working on clearing out the cupboards over the last couple of months.

Last night's effort was to make a curry with the jar of Thai red curry paste and coconut milk (although silly me added two cans of tomatoes, force of habit as I make a lot of Indian curries based on tomatoes).

I'll have to work through the sauces next, and spices. That and the $1.50 pineapple I bought the other day, oops. And the jar of olives, and the Sri Lankan curry powder that only seems to come in 500g containers. That's a lot of curry powder.

It's come a long way from when I couldn't fit everything in my tiny pantry.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: stashgrower on September 20, 2016, 06:55:10 AM
Darn, went backward today in order to go forward. Picked up a good bulk buy on grains. Doesn't reduce the pantry contents, but does make a cheap re-stock.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 20, 2016, 03:44:48 PM
I am still working on this project. I am determined to get our food bill down.

I found some masa harina in my pantry that looks like just enough for a batch of homemade corn tortillas. I suck at making them but I think I can make them eatable but they wont look pretty. I made a pot of Mexican corn chowder from the CSA box this last week. And it is pretty good. But hubby is all ready done with it...too bad buddy, eat it again as we have goals to get to. It should be gone after lunch tomorrow.

I have spent the day canning tomatoes and salsa. So the pantry will look full again. But I think there is a bunch of random things in there.

Need tips to get through a gigantic bag of popcorn kernels.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on September 21, 2016, 05:43:02 AM
I'm down to seasonal berries/veggies and beans in my freezer. Plan is to stock up with some lamb now it's season, but to stop stocking up on meat on sale. I barely eat meat, so there really is no point.

Need to eat up a bag of dried soy beans, though. I had a plan for them, but not sure what it was (I do this).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 21, 2016, 11:54:58 AM
Seemsright,

For popcorn, I add a lot of minced raw garlic & soy sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 21, 2016, 12:21:05 PM
Need tips to get through a gigantic bag of popcorn kernels.

Ooh you just reminded me, I have about 3/4 of a jar of popcorn kernels to use up too. My first thought was to just try and remember to actually make popcorn on movie/tv night (that's the reason I bought it, after all), but a quick Google search brought up this popcorn ball (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/popcorn-balls/) recipe and I have a partial bag of marshmallows that needs to get used too. I would not be including candy corn though, because blech! I'm just not sure how long they'll last, I expect they'd get gross and stale before we ate it all. I could bring them into work, but then my coworkers might think I like them or something ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 21, 2016, 12:28:22 PM
Need tips to get through a gigantic bag of popcorn kernels.

Ooh you just reminded me, I have about 3/4 of a jar of popcorn kernels to use up too. My first thought was to just try and remember to actually make popcorn on movie/tv night (that's the reason I bought it, after all), but a quick Google search brought up this popcorn ball (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/popcorn-balls/) recipe and I have a partial bag of marshmallows that needs to get used too. I would not be including candy corn though, because blech! I'm just not sure how long they'll last, I expect they'd get gross and stale before we ate it all. I could bring them into work, but then my coworkers might think I like them or something ;)

LOL!  And you just reminded me we have a half bag of mini marshmallows lurking in our pantry.  Off to Google recipes!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juneboogie on September 21, 2016, 12:28:38 PM
I am still working on this project. I am determined to get our food bill down.

I found some masa harina in my pantry that looks like just enough for a batch of homemade corn tortillas. I suck at making them but I think I can make them eatable but they wont look pretty. I made a pot of Mexican corn chowder from the CSA box this last week. And it is pretty good. But hubby is all ready done with it...too bad buddy, eat it again as we have goals to get to. It should be gone after lunch tomorrow.

I have spent the day canning tomatoes and salsa. So the pantry will look full again. But I think there is a bunch of random things in there.

Need tips to get through a gigantic bag of popcorn kernels.

You can use popped corn as packing material when sending fragile items...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 21, 2016, 12:30:16 PM
Need tips to get through a gigantic bag of popcorn kernels.

Ooh you just reminded me, I have about 3/4 of a jar of popcorn kernels to use up too. My first thought was to just try and remember to actually make popcorn on movie/tv night (that's the reason I bought it, after all), but a quick Google search brought up this popcorn ball (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/popcorn-balls/) recipe and I have a partial bag of marshmallows that needs to get used too. I would not be including candy corn though, because blech! I'm just not sure how long they'll last, I expect they'd get gross and stale before we ate it all. I could bring them into work, but then my coworkers might think I like them or something ;)
We always keep popcorn around.  I pop some every once in a while and store it in a gallon freezer bag.  I eat it when I want a snack.  Popcorn has the perfect crunch for the "I'm not actually hungry, but I want to eat" snack.

I've been doing a great job eating down on fridge and freezer, but our pantry is still a nightmare.  I think I need to sort through it and get creative. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Juneboogie on September 21, 2016, 12:36:59 PM
After making a batch of chick peas in my pressure cooker this morning, I was left with a good 4+ cups of rich broth.  (I follow Tamar Adler's bean-cooking advice, which leaves a lovely broth).  Lunch naturally followed:  boiled some tiny pasta in the broth (using it up in the process), tossed in chopped kale & grated raw carrot, a bit of canned tomato & juice.  Fed myself & spouse, with leftovers for two lunches tomorrow.  Thanks to this thread's encouragement, I resisted the urge to throw out the broth!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 21, 2016, 01:19:08 PM
We always keep popcorn around.  I pop some every once in a while and store it in a gallon freezer bag.  I eat it when I want a snack.  Popcorn has the perfect crunch for the "I'm not actually hungry, but I want to eat" snack.

How long does it stay fresh in the bag? And I assume you're not putting butter on it before storing it, right? :)

I think my problem is that the only time I ever think "Hey, popcorn would be good right now," is when I'm relaxed on the couch watching tv, after we've eaten dinner and I've done all the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. If I made popcorn, I'd have to get a pot out and do work, then there would be dirty pot sitting in the sink, mocking and shaming me with its dirtiness while I was trying to goof off :) If I could make it ahead of time, well that would solve everything!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 21, 2016, 02:25:34 PM
Thanks for the popcorn ideas.

As I was making my little's lunch this morning and I have about one more days worth of her snack mix left I thought to myself I am not buying anymore she can have popcorn.

I got 12.5# of the stuff for something like $5 and I thought it was such a deal. Why I bought it I am not sure as it will take me forever to get through it. But I guess I am always up for a challenge. I think I have some corn syrup in the pantry that i need to use and gelatin maybe I will make some marshmallows. http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fluffy-vanilla-marshmallows-130751 is the best recipe ever! And make some of those popcorn balls for my little for Halloween.

I am slowly getting through the odds and ends. I swear they just multiply.

Today I made banana bread with hazelnuts that were in the back of the pantry and the small end of the season zucchini in the fridge.  And I will cook the rest of the pasta to go with dinner.

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 21, 2016, 02:38:20 PM
We always keep popcorn around.  I pop some every once in a while and store it in a gallon freezer bag.  I eat it when I want a snack.  Popcorn has the perfect crunch for the "I'm not actually hungry, but I want to eat" snack.

How long does it stay fresh in the bag? And I assume you're not putting butter on it before storing it, right? :)

I think my problem is that the only time I ever think "Hey, popcorn would be good right now," is when I'm relaxed on the couch watching tv, after we've eaten dinner and I've done all the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. If I made popcorn, I'd have to get a pot out and do work, then there would be dirty pot sitting in the sink, mocking and shaming me with its dirtiness while I was trying to goof off :) If I could make it ahead of time, well that would solve everything!
No, I don't put butter on it.  I use an airpopper, so I frequently don't bother even putting salt on it before I eat it.  I usually eat the popcorn within a few days, and it's fine.  I think butter would make it a little soggy. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on September 21, 2016, 03:39:52 PM
I find a good tight sealing Tupperware like container keeps popcorn fresh longer than ziplock bags. I pop it with a little oil on the stove and add a little salt after popping.  I pack it in lunches. 

Those of you with excess popcorn could plan on giving caramel corn for Christmas gifts. Or making Caramel or other spiced popcorn your potluck dish this fall. Cheap and relatively easy but people seem to love it.

We always keep popcorn around.  I pop some every once in a while and store it in a gallon freezer bag.  I eat it when I want a snack.  Popcorn has the perfect crunch for the "I'm not actually hungry, but I want to eat" snack.

How long does it stay fresh in the bag? And I assume you're not putting butter on it before storing it, right? :)

I think my problem is that the only time I ever think "Hey, popcorn would be good right now," is when I'm relaxed on the couch watching tv, after we've eaten dinner and I've done all the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. If I made popcorn, I'd have to get a pot out and do work, then there would be dirty pot sitting in the sink, mocking and shaming me with its dirtiness while I was trying to goof off :) If I could make it ahead of time, well that would solve everything!
No, I don't put butter on it.  I use an airpopper, so I frequently don't bother even putting salt on it before I eat it.  I usually eat the popcorn within a few days, and it's fine.  I think butter would make it a little soggy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 22, 2016, 12:22:33 PM
Though I no longer eat popcorn, miss it dearly, and no longer keep it in the house, I like PMG's idea about the Christmas gifts.  :)


Earlier this week I made a stir fry which used up a yellow squash and a zucchini from DH's garden.  Today I tossed several containers of leftovers in the freezer since we won't get to them in time, brought two other leftover containers for my lunch, and found a brownie recipe online which will use up the mini marshmallows, bits of sugar and flour I have on hand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 25, 2016, 11:24:21 AM
Weekly check-in time! While I haven't gotten around to the popcorn yet, I'm still on course. Here are the highlights:


Our last grocery shop for the month was $28 and about half of that was non-food items. The only food stuff we bought was milk, butter, and produce. My monthly grocery total is $204 so I'm once again almost $100 under for the month!

I *really* need to do a freezer inventory as it's pretty much anarchy in the chest freezer. My main use-it-up project for the work week is soup for dinner one night (hopefully the weather isn't too hot) to use up some leftover chicken and veggies, and I'll be throwing in some neglected quinoa from the cupboard. I'm also planning on making some drop biscuits to start using up some more baking mix. This box isn't quite as ancient as the last package I finished, so hopefully it's not awful and I can finish it before it becomes inedible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 25, 2016, 12:07:39 PM
On Monday morning, I made my coffee, added some milk, took a sip, looked into the cup, and realized the milk was all curdled and clumpy. Not how I like starting my week :( Rather than making a special trip to the store for milk, for the rest of the week I just added a spoonful of dry milk to my coffee and called it good enough. I could have actually mixed up a batch of milk, but I really only needed it for coffee so this was easier and had no risk of more milk going bad.

And after writing this up, I have just now remembered that I have a thing of shelf-stable almond milk in the cupboard, which I keep on hand for this exact situation. *facepalm* This is why I have so much weird shit in my cupboards for so long :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 25, 2016, 10:32:58 PM
Cleaned out the fridge and pantry and made BBQ sauce that is crazy good. Who knew that taking some tomatoes (from the CSA) some random bits and bobs from the fridge can make a good BBQ sauce. I took the last of the black berry jam, some miso paste,  the leftover plumb sauce that I made from scratch, some of this and some of that. Some cucumbers, dried fruit that was in the back of the pantry and put it all together. It turned out amazing.

The popcorn...ahh the popcorn. We made 2 huge bowls of it this week. But I wanted to make corn bread, I was out of corn meal. So I threw some popcorn into the vitamix...and bam I have corn meal. I have a feeling this is how I am going to get through most of this popcorn. And as a bonus I told my 6 year old that I made popcorn bread and it was the best thing on earth and she wants the leftovers in her lunch tomorrow :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 26, 2016, 07:08:54 AM
Last night I had a block of cream cheese and small amounts of raspberry jam, ginger marmalade, and apricot jam in the fridge.

This morning I have a batch of rugelach for the office and a single jar of orange/lemon marmalade in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on September 26, 2016, 07:50:46 AM
Cleaned out the fridge and pantry and made BBQ sauce that is crazy good. Who knew that taking some tomatoes (from the CSA) some random bits and bobs from the fridge can make a good BBQ sauce. I took the last of the black berry jam, some miso paste,  the leftover plumb sauce that I made from scratch, some of this and some of that. Some cucumbers, dried fruit that was in the back of the pantry and put it all together. It turned out amazing.

The popcorn...ahh the popcorn. We made 2 huge bowls of it this week. But I wanted to make corn bread, I was out of corn meal. So I threw some popcorn into the vitamix...and bam I have corn meal. I have a feeling this is how I am going to get through most of this popcorn. And as a bonus I told my 6 year old that I made popcorn bread and it was the best thing on earth and she wants the leftovers in her lunch tomorrow :)

I don't know if I am more impressed with the BBQ sauce or the cornbread, way to go!

Last night I had a block of cream cheese and small amounts of raspberry jam, ginger marmalade, and apricot jam in the fridge.

This morning I have a batch of rugelach for the office and a single jar of orange/lemon marmalade in the fridge.

Nice job! Feels good to get those last little bits all finished up :)

Over the weekend I made a complete Indian-ish meal from the pantry. I made fish cakes using some boxed mashed potatoes, curry powder, spinach (no peas left)The fish was from the freezer and poached in some spices and canned coconut milk - reused the poaching liquid for the mashed potatoes. Made a coating out of a bunch of various nuts and  seeds I needed to finish off.

Served with papadum, home-canned chutney. I also made a quick Thai style creamed spinach to go with it out of Thai red curry paste, some coconut milk and some chopped up Spinach. It was a bit f a fusion, but it was all very tasty, came together faster than going out or ordering take-out and it is nice to know I can make an awesome meal from staples I always seem to have around :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 26, 2016, 08:46:48 AM


I don't know if I am more impressed with the BBQ sauce or the cornbread, way to go!

Last night I had a block of cream cheese and small amounts of raspberry jam, ginger marmalade, and apricot jam in the fridge.

This morning I have a batch of rugelach for the office and a single jar of orange/lemon marmalade in the fridge.

Nice job! Feels good to get those last little bits all finished up :)

Over the weekend I made a complete Indian-ish meal from the pantry. I made fish cakes using some boxed mashed potatoes, curry powder, spinach (no peas left)The fish was from the freezer and poached in some spices and canned coconut milk - reused the poaching liquid for the mashed potatoes. Made a coating out of a bunch of various nuts and  seeds I needed to finish off.

Served with papadum, home-canned chutney. I also made a quick Thai style creamed spinach to go with it out of Thai red curry paste, some coconut milk and some chopped up Spinach. It was a bit f a fusion, but it was all very tasty, came together faster than going out or ordering take-out and it is nice to know I can make an awesome meal from staples I always seem to have around :)
[/quote]

Thank you. I am going to challenge myself in turning the leftover BBQ sauce into a soup this week. It is a spicy tomato base sauce so it should be doable. I was able to save $270 of my food budget this last month. And I want to at least save that much for the month of Oct. The best thing ever is my hubby is on board. He is willing to take a bit of random for his lunches and he is starting to find the joy in the game. As long as I feed us well I am good with eating the most random. Knowing how to cook and willing to put in the effort we all can get to our goals.

I may have to start playing with indian food as I have a bunch of lentils in the pantry. Thank you for the ideas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on September 26, 2016, 09:00:45 AM
The popcorn...ahh the popcorn. We made 2 huge bowls of it this week. But I wanted to make corn bread, I was out of corn meal. So I threw some popcorn into the vitamix...and bam I have corn meal. I have a feeling this is how I am going to get through most of this popcorn. And as a bonus I told my 6 year old that I made popcorn bread and it was the best thing on earth and she wants the leftovers in her lunch tomorrow :)

This is genius!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 26, 2016, 11:38:47 AM
The popcorn...ahh the popcorn. We made 2 huge bowls of it this week. But I wanted to make corn bread, I was out of corn meal. So I threw some popcorn into the vitamix...and bam I have corn meal. I have a feeling this is how I am going to get through most of this popcorn. And as a bonus I told my 6 year old that I made popcorn bread and it was the best thing on earth and she wants the leftovers in her lunch tomorrow :)

This is genius!
+1.  Brilliant!


~~~~~~~~~~~

I ended up making pseudo fudge with the leftover mini marshmallows.  I didn't have enough powdered sugar that the recipe called for, so I used the marshmallows to substitute and ended up using up both of these items.  :D

Used up another fresh from DH's garden zucchini for dinner last night, and 9 peaches from our tree in a cobbler per his request.

I made three salads for lunches this week which used up the fresh spinach, chipotle cheese bites, and an open container of black olives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: riverffashion on September 26, 2016, 11:55:55 AM
The popcorn...ahh the popcorn. We made 2 huge bowls of it this week. But I wanted to make corn bread, I was out of corn meal. So I threw some popcorn into the vitamix...and bam I have corn meal. I have a feeling this is how I am going to get through most of this popcorn. And as a bonus I told my 6 year old that I made popcorn bread and it was the best thing on earth and she wants the leftovers in her lunch tomorrow :)

This is genius!
Wow, now this is some inventive thinking. Props.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 27, 2016, 09:30:48 AM
I'm so impressed with everyone's ingenuity! 

I just used a jar of red curry sauce last night (well, part of it) that we bought at Trader Joe's a few years ago.  I put it on brown rice and frozen vegetables.  It wasn't the best meal ever, but it was passable.  I'm much more excited about it as a lunch option.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MVal on September 28, 2016, 09:46:41 PM
Okay, I'm in. I have a crap ton of food in my pantry that needs to be eaten up before I try to move into my own place, which I hope to do in the next few months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 29, 2016, 09:43:47 AM
I am going to cook a whole chicken in that BBQ sauce I made and turn it into BBQ chicken quesadillas. In my head it should be good we will see. I also have some leftover pinto beans to put into them too. This should pretty much take care of all of the leftovers in my frig. I will toss all of the veggies from last week into the pot with the chicken.

This is turning into one huge project. Next to tackle is my spices. I have so many that have been in there for awhile.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YogiKitti on September 30, 2016, 02:56:38 AM
I inventoried my pantry and now have a list of what needs to be eaten down in the next few months. Hopefully this will help with coming up with meals instead of just starring at my pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SuperSaver on October 01, 2016, 09:30:16 AM
Our best friend couple spent the entire weekend over at our new place and they're really good, frugal cooks. They helped us make more progress on our pantry and freezer than my fiance and I had for the prior month. It was nice to show them our food stores and say "help us figure out how to eat this down!" It felt kind of like we were on a cooking show together. :)

*We had a steak,shrimp, veggie stir fry with rice. Used up the last of the frozen shrimp, half the frozen steak, 2 bags of frozen stir fry veggies & a couple cups of rice. Also learned the dab of cornstarch alongside the peanut oil really makes for the best consistency.
*They made pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes and used up some chocolate chips, syrups, vegan butter, lactaid milk and flour.
*Lunch was pesto pasta with broccoli. Used up 1/2 of the frozen pesto, the rest of the linguine and the last bag of broccoli.
*Dinner was roasted chicken drumsticks, mashed potatoes, asparagus and gravy. It used up the last of the frozen chicken drumsticks, some of the vegan butter and lactaid milk. I also learned how to make gravy! It was fantastic. Yay for cornstarch.
*Homemade snickerdoodles used up some baking products (but I had to buy the cream of tartar... but, I am fine with a few more versatile baking goods and spices).
*We made a birthday cake with homemade peanut butter icing. It used up half my powdered sugar and some of our kerrygold butter.
*The last day was tacos for lunch. We used up 2 pounds of beef, 1 tomato from their garden and salsa.
*When they left I made the last 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts to make oven baked chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 03, 2016, 01:20:35 PM
Super, I am bowing down to the experts!  What a fantastic way to spend your weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I used up the last can of black beans for nachos last week.  I still have my eye on the canned pumpkin....

Last Friday when DH got back into town, he gathered up 7 more tomatoes from his garden.  I used two last night in tomato mozzarella salads, and will use several more in tonight's stuffed zucchini.

There are two zucchini from DH's garden left.  The huge one I'll bake tonight as mentioned above.  The other I'll stir fry later on this week with some garlic chicken sausage bought on sale last month.

I used several cups of frozen strawberries for low carb pancakes yesterday.  These, only with strawberries:  http://genaw.com/lowcarb/blueberry_pancakes.html (http://genaw.com/lowcarb/blueberry_pancakes.html)

I know it's not food, but I am pleased to announce I used up the last bit of remaining CLR and Mr. Clean products last week.  I've discovered vinegar works just as well, and is less expensive and toxic.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 03, 2016, 01:37:59 PM
Last week started off slowly, mainly because it was 100+ degrees and I had no interest in cooking. I had to add 1 banana to the stash in the freezer since it was getting brown and attracting fruit flies :( We mostly ate stuff out of the freezer, and did manage to finish off the last of the carnitas tacos. But later in the week as it cooled down I got back in the game:


Shopping this week was a mixed bag. The discount store I like to frequent (Big Lots) had one of their 20% off sales where I usually stock up on dry and canned goods, and I couldn’t resist. The good news is that since I now have a very good idea of what I actually need and use regularly, I didn’t just buy a lot of random crap. For example, I often get jars of spices since they are only $.80 during the sale. Since I recently did a thorough cupboard inventory I knew that I had plenty of spices except for paprika, so I bought 2 jars. Normally I just toss 2-3 jars of everything in the cart, then get home and go “WTF did I do that for?” I did buy tons of cans of tomatoes since I go through a lot of those, 5 cans of pineapple since I was almost out, and tons of pasta since they had the kind I really like and we eat a lot of it. I resisted the temptation to buy any boxes of tea because I am committed to using up the 8 million tea bags I already possess.

I also bought more produce than was probably justified at Ralphs because I had $5 off $15 produce coupon there. But this just means I’ll need hardly anything next week so it works out cheaper in the long run.

I still need to do a freezer inventory.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 09, 2016, 03:10:52 PM
So one night last week I was on a chair reaching waaay to the back of the cupboard (we have strange, deep cupboards) and I saw that one of the cans of tomato paste back there had burst and spewed tomato goop all over :( The goop got on three other cans of paste... I briefly considered just washing them off but, ug... botulism, not worth the risk for 3x $.35 cans of tomato paste. All 4 cans went into the trash. I was bummed to know that I had failed to manage my stockpile efficiently and wasted food as a result. But I checked out everything else in the cupboard (pulled it all out and did a thorough cleaning of that shelf) and it all looks fine. This just renewed my commitment to finishing off the old crap and doing a better job going forward.

So, here are my accomplishments for last week:

So the good news is I did an inventory of the chest freezer and its not looking bad at all. I've been doing a good job of rotating the frozen food, apparently its just the food in the cupboards that I let sit for years. The only thing I found that I need to make an effort to deal with is some vegan whipped topping stuff which I had a free coupon for last summer (god I hope it was only last summer). I've also got 4 ancient boxes of jell-o in the Cupboard of No Return so that seems like an easy solution. My frozen vegetable stash has gotten crazy as I have nearly 10 bags of stir fry vegetables, some broccoli, and almost nothing else. Hubby hates broccoli, so I'll need to even out the disparity here.

Shopping this week was... well, I'm not sure what happened. I had very good intentions of only buying milk, yogurt, and some salad stuff. But meat was on sale and I had an iBotta offer for $4 off a chuck roast, but the family packs were way cheaper per pound than the single packs.... and well, now I have two large chuck roasts. And then pork loin roasts were on sale too, and I had found this Slow Cooker 5 Spice Pulled Pork Recipe (http://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/09/slow-cooker-5-spice-pulled-pork/) that I wanted to make to start using up the Chinese 5 Spice blend in the cupboard that I don't know what to do with, and more carnitas to keep using up the adobo chiles in the fridge... and now I have two large pork roasts. And they also had pie pumpkins in stock, and there is nothing more delicious than homemade pumpkin puree... so I bought 5 pumpkins and cooked them up. Fortunately that's enough work that I will not be tempted to do it again for at least another year.

The bottom line is I bought way more than I should have, especially after stocking up on canned and dry goods last week. So, I am hereby officially declaring that for the rest of October I will not buy any food that doesn't go on a salad unless I am COMPLETELY OUT or its TOTALLY free. No more stocking up, we have plenty to eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 09, 2016, 05:25:15 PM
Bought a jar of roasted red pepper a while back because it would be a "great pantry staple" and we were sure to find it useful it one day.  Not so much.  So I opened it, and they weren't very good.  Rinsed them and let them marinate in a homemade balsamic dressing for the day and then blended them with some harissa & tahini, and stirred in some feta.  Made a quite good sauce for the steak and roast brussel sprout dinner.  And we know never to buy it again.

Ditto I had a can of tomato from a while back (I need to stop paying attention to otherwise good cookbook authors who suggest things are great pantry staples if I have never kept them in my pantry before) that I tried to make into ketchup/bbq sauce.  It wasn't very good, so I put it into the pan with some freebie cider and made pulled pork.  Technically this adds to the food in the house, but it reduces things I don't like and adds to things I do like.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 09, 2016, 05:38:11 PM
Now that the cool weather is setting in, I have been enjoying using all my excess dried spices and teas in brewing crockpot chai concentrate.

Now that everything has been organized, I've been playing a lot of substitute x with y instead of going to the store for x. I tend to free-wheel when I cook so it's pretty instinctive to know if something will work or not. I usually make some version of bliss balls for hubby's lunches throughout the week. Currently working through my dried fruit supply instead of getting more dates, which is the usual base.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 13, 2016, 07:53:16 PM
Need some help here... I made this 5 Spice Pulled Pork (http://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/09/slow-cooker-5-spice-pulled-pork/) and well... apparently I don't like Chinese 5 Spice blend. I've got a ton of leftovers, any ideas on how I can salvage it? There isn't a thick sauce on it or anything, it is mostly seasoned shredded meat. The only thing I can think of is to slather it in BBQ sauce and hope that covers up the taste.

And are there any non-food uses for Chinese 5 Spice (it might scare away bugs? haha) because otherwise its going in the trash... luckily I got it from the bulk section and didn't buy too much, there's only maybe 3 tbsps left.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on October 13, 2016, 09:34:49 PM
Need some help here... I made this 5 Spice Pulled Pork (http://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/09/slow-cooker-5-spice-pulled-pork/) and well... apparently I don't like Chinese 5 Spice blend. I've got a ton of leftovers, any ideas on how I can salvage it? There isn't a thick sauce on it or anything, it is mostly seasoned shredded meat. The only thing I can think of is to slather it in BBQ sauce and hope that covers up the taste.

And are there any non-food uses for Chinese 5 Spice (it might scare away bugs? haha) because otherwise its going in the trash... luckily I got it from the bulk section and didn't buy too much, there's only maybe 3 tbsps left.

You might try rinsing the meat off and seasoning it again with a different strong flavor? Maybe taco seasoning?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Waterbug on October 14, 2016, 02:08:06 PM
I'm in! I've done this challenge on my own before and what worked best for me was to make a written list of the food I had on hand and have a separate column for protein, carb, veggie, and sauce. It was easy to then match up the ingredients for the best meal combinations.

This time around I don't have quite as much to work through. I'll be focusing on using up some random things that have just been around for too long and not getting touched with my regular cooking.

1) Frozen fruit - pears, mixed berries, and mixed fruit including pineapple. I'm not really a fan of smoothies but I could make some for my toddler or purée and refreeze as a Popsicle?  I would like to bake with some of them but will need to find some gluten free and dairy free recipes that taste good without buying a bunch of other random ingredients.
2) Almond flour - possibly use in the baking mentioned above.
3) Tea assortment - I'll start treating myself to some hot tea now that the weather is cooler :)
4) Basil pesto - bought this for pasta but it's a little too much basil for our taste. I'll be making a roast in the next few days and think I may throw the pesto in the crockpot with the roast/carrots/potatoes for a little extra flavor.
5) Marshmallows - maybe half a bag left over from camping. I have no idea.

Here we go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 15, 2016, 12:37:24 PM
You might try rinsing the meat off and seasoning it again with a different strong flavor? Maybe taco seasoning?

Thank you, EngineerYogi. I have long postulated that tacos are in fact the solution to all of life's problems, and it appears that (at least in this case) they are! For dinner last night I took some of the meat, put it in a strainer, and rinsed it thoroughly. Then I heated up just a little vegetable oil in the skillet and added some diced onions and the meat. Once the onions were cooked I added taco seasoning and some water, then let it all simmer for awhile. Put the meat on some fried corn tortillas with cheese and a generous spoonful of salsa, and voila, salvage tacos! I could taste a bit of the original seasoning still, but it was much improved.

For lunch today I tried the BBQ sauce - rinsed some of the meat off then heat it up in a pot with a large quantity of bottled BBQ sauce, then put it all on a burger bun. This too worked well. Again, I could still taste a bit of the original flavor but it was much more edible now.

I've taken the rest of the meat, rinsed it off and portioned it out and put it in the freezer. There's enough for three more meals of tacos or BBQ sandwiches, then we can just forget this ever happened :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mtngrl on October 15, 2016, 01:13:57 PM
Waterbug, when I have a bunch of frozen fruit like that, I mix it all up together for a big fruit salad. If it gets very juicy once it thaws, you can strain off some of the liquid. We like it as is, but you can also stir the thawed fruit into yogurt, serve over cottage cheese or ice cream or use as a topping for pancakes or waffles instead of syrup. Or you can make a fruit crisp -- sprinkle on your favorite topping and bake. Sugar substitutes seem to work fine in a crisp like that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on October 15, 2016, 10:11:08 PM
You might try rinsing the meat off and seasoning it again with a different strong flavor? Maybe taco seasoning?

Thank you, EngineerYogi. I have long postulated that tacos are in fact the solution to all of life's problems, and it appears that (at least in this case) they are! For dinner last night I took some of the meat, put it in a strainer, and rinsed it thoroughly. Then I heated up just a little vegetable oil in the skillet and added some diced onions and the meat. Once the onions were cooked I added taco seasoning and some water, then let it all simmer for awhile. Put the meat on some fried corn tortillas with cheese and a generous spoonful of salsa, and voila, salvage tacos! I could taste a bit of the original seasoning still, but it was much improved.

For lunch today I tried the BBQ sauce - rinsed some of the meat off then heat it up in a pot with a large quantity of bottled BBQ sauce, then put it all on a burger bun. This too worked well. Again, I could still taste a bit of the original flavor but it was much more edible now.

I've taken the rest of the meat, rinsed it off and portioned it out and put it in the freezer. There's enough for three more meals of tacos or BBQ sandwiches, then we can just forget this ever happened :)

I'm so glad rinsing and fresh seasoning worked!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 16, 2016, 05:08:02 PM
This weekend has been an intense "use up all the things" weekend!

Lamb stew in the crockpot - used up some lamb from the freezer, several open bottles of wine, some pucks of sundried tomato pesto I had in the freezer.

Crockpot Chai concentrate - Now that it is cool I'm making a batch every couple of days. Slowly making a dent in my massive spice collection.

Chutney. We got some free pears so figured it was a good way to use up our supply of various things. We have made and canned 4 batches and now I am out of: Vinegar (apple cider, regular, sour cherry) Sweeteners of any sort, onions, ginger, and put a serious dent in the dried fruit (no more tamarind, dried mango (2 different kinds), used  up a bunch of spices as well.

We did a Pear & Cardamom, Pear & Mango, Pear, Peach & Golden Berry, Pear & Tamarind.

I have a duck in the crockpot from the freezer for dinner tonight - and stuffed it with fresh apple, dried figs and prunes.

Cooking some wild rice from the stash with some duck stock (from our last duck) so I have room in the freezer for more stock.

Oh, I also made a bunch of buckwheat crepes for hubby's breakfasts for the next week using up some of our bulk buckwheat flour.

Tonight, duck bones will go into the crockpot for bone broth and we'll be adding some delicious duck fat to our stores :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 17, 2016, 01:05:47 PM
Well aside from the pork incident I had a constructive week:


The biggest accomplishment is what I did not do this week, which is buy a bunch of stuff at the grocery store. I stuck to my plan and only bought some salad stuff, yogurt, and bread. I was sooo tempted to stock up on oats because I am very low and they were on sale for .50/lb, but I managed to talk myself out of it. I thought about what I wanted them for (granola bars, oatmeal raisin cookies, and oatmeal pancakes) and decided that I could find alternatives to make that would use the copious amounts of food that I already have on hand. What a novel concept! (someone should start a challenge or something!). I have found a recipe for cinnamon raisin cookies that do not require oats, so I can still use up the raisins in the cupboard, and I have tons of blueberries in the freezer so I can make blueberry pancakes instead. Not sure about the granola bars, but I know I'll figure something out. I was also tempted to buy some frozen veggies in a variety that hubby likes, but after planning my meals for the week I realized I wouldn't need any, so I can at least wait until next shopping trip.

I've figured out that part of my shopping problem is that I always think "Well I might as well grab it now while I'm at the store, then maybe I won't have to go shopping next weekend..." but I pretty much ALWAYS need to get at least lettuce, cucumber and some fruit, so that rarely works out. Now that I've recognized this pattern, I'm hoping I can be a little more rational. I don't intend to quit stockpiling stuff when its super cheap, but for items that are typically the same price all the time or are on sale frequently, it isn't really necessary.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 17, 2016, 01:54:09 PM
What a novel concept! (someone should start a challenge or something!).

I think one of the very first challenges I did in this community was a "Skip this week's grocery shop" thread :) There have been a few over the years, and I think this thread was a spin-off from one of those way back in the day. Hubby is going to be gone for 9 days starting next week, and I won't have the car,  so I'm going to be eating down the pantry and avoiding the store, except I will be buying and cooking some mushrooms as a treat since he doesn't like them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 17, 2016, 02:57:57 PM
What a novel concept! (someone should start a challenge or something!).

I think one of the very first challenges I did in this community was a "Skip this week's grocery shop" thread :) There have been a few over the years, and I think this thread was a spin-off from one of those way back in the day. Hubby is going to be gone for 9 days starting next week, and I won't have the car,  so I'm going to be eating down the pantry and avoiding the store, except I will be buying and cooking some mushrooms as a treat since he doesn't like them.

I'm just laughing at myself because I've been part of this thread for a couple of months and I just now seem to be figuring out that there's plenty of food in the house, I don't need to buy more right now :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 19, 2016, 07:27:08 PM
Commenting to follow, and for inspiration in teducing food waste and using up some of the weird and wonderful sauces in my fridge and pantry.

I have friends who generously cook in my kitchen then generously leave me with leftover sauces and spices and dressings.

I need to make more of an effort to shape menus around these ingredients, because I would hate to see them go to waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on October 24, 2016, 05:41:20 AM
I have controll of my freezer, put the pantry ... now that's another story.

I need to find a use for: a packet of soy beans, a quarter packet of popcorn cernels, 2 giant things of hot cocoa mix (I drink hot cocoa maybe four times a year?), a bag of tortilla flour (bought for making tortilla. Exept that was an epic fail), a bag of glutinous rice flour (for making mochi with. Another epic fail), a bag of dried shitake (turns out I'm really, really bad at the part where I need to plan ahead so that they can rehydrate in hot water) and a bag of ice tea mix. Don't know why I bought that one. Expect I was hot and thirsty while shopping (never a good idea).

At least I know how to make use of popcorn. The rest.. not so much.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: stashgrower on October 24, 2016, 06:55:10 AM
I did better this mont on eating legumes and grains from the pantry. I did buy a bulk item on sale, but it was something I ran out of. Got the food bill down to less than half the monthly average (with one week of the month to go).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on October 24, 2016, 10:52:21 AM
I have controll of my freezer, put the pantry ... now that's another story.

I need to find a use for: a packet of soy beans, a quarter packet of popcorn cernels, 2 giant things of hot cocoa mix (I drink hot cocoa maybe four times a year?), a bag of tortilla flour (bought for making tortilla. Exept that was an epic fail), a bag of glutinous rice flour (for making mochi with. Another epic fail), a bag of dried shitake (turns out I'm really, really bad at the part where I need to plan ahead so that they can rehydrate in hot water) and a bag of ice tea mix. Don't know why I bought that one. Expect I was hot and thirsty while shopping (never a good idea).

At least I know how to make use of popcorn. The rest.. not so much.

hot cocoa mix - bust up some mint candies (or freeze dried raspberries or vanilla bean or homemade hard caramel) Stick into pretty packaging and give as "Gourmet" hot chocolate for Christmas :)

You could probably also use it  in your baking as well.

Tortilla flour - I would try again, they seem really simple but it does take some experimenting and getting a bit of a feel for it. It definitely took me more than one or twice to get the hang of it.

Rice flour - Often used in gluten-free baking. If you know anyone who is gluten intolerant you could use it to make them some treats for Christmas or some homemade baking mix. I also use some when I make Kimchi to feed the little yeasties.

Shitake - I made some magic mushroom seasoning for my FIL for Christmas last year, he loves the stuff! The recipe calls for Porcini but you can use any dried 'shrooms you happen to have http://nomnompaleo.com/post/105333542218/magic-mushroom-powder-diy-holiday-gift (http://nomnompaleo.com/post/105333542218/magic-mushroom-powder-diy-holiday-gift)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 24, 2016, 12:27:15 PM
I have controll of my freezer, put the pantry ... now that's another story.

I need to find a use for: [...] 2 giant things of hot cocoa mix (I drink hot cocoa maybe four times a year?) [...]

I was able to use up some hot cocoa mix in some muffins a while back. There are a lot of good looking desert recipes out there that use cocoa mix, just hit up Google.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: WootWoot on October 24, 2016, 12:54:57 PM
I've got a question. I really can't remember when, but my mom's BF gave us some fresh-caught salmon. It could be as much as a year old and it's in the freezer. It was pretty tightly packed, tho I really can't tell if it was vacuum packed or what.

Do you think it's still safe to eat it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 24, 2016, 01:04:51 PM
All right, its my weekly check-in time! Hubby was out of town for a couple of nights so I was able to use up some weird stuff that I know he wouldn't eat, and I did a bunch of batch cooking over the weekend.


I had what I feel is a reasonable shopping trip this week. I bought mostly produce and a gallon of milk, a couple bags of frozen vegetables, one large pack of thin-cut steaks that were on sale to put in the freezer, and then a giant package of string cheese which I keep on hand for a quick snack and to put in my lunch because I was out. The meat and cheese were the only stockpile foods so I think I did pretty good. I've also been doing well at keeping my freezer inventory list updated as I take things out or put them in. It really helps when I go shopping when I know for certain what is already in the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 24, 2016, 01:06:23 PM
I've got a question. I really can't remember when, but my mom's BF gave us some fresh-caught salmon. It could be as much as a year old and it's in the freezer. It was pretty tightly packed, tho I really can't tell if it was vacuum packed or what.

Do you think it's still safe to eat it?

As long as it has remained frozen it is definitely safe. The taste/quality may possibly have suffered if it wasn't properly packaged, but it won't hurt you. I'd be willing to wager it tastes fine.

ETA:
Well maybe I'm wrong, after googling it sounds like fatty fish like salmon doesn't last all that long even if it stays frozen. Huh.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 24, 2016, 07:27:02 PM
I've got a question. I really can't remember when, but my mom's BF gave us some fresh-caught salmon. It could be as much as a year old and it's in the freezer. It was pretty tightly packed, tho I really can't tell if it was vacuum packed or what.

Do you think it's still safe to eat it?

There is safety and there is flavour/quality.  If it has stayed frozen, I'd use some strong flavours just in case it picked up anything in the freezer (e.g. salmon cakes, or a coconut curry).  But I have a strong belief in my freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 24, 2016, 09:07:29 PM
Yeah, I think I would make fish cakes out of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EngineerYogi on October 24, 2016, 09:14:14 PM
I cooked a bag of beans, 3 cups of white rice and a broccoli casserole from pantry and already on hand items. The broccoli casserole was a spur of the moment dish, I found a package of cream of mushroom soup with a recipe on it and had some broccoli that was a day shy of being trashed. I was also able to use up the remnants of a bag of brown rice pasta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on October 27, 2016, 08:07:03 AM
Thank you for the tips DTaggart and swick. I'll test out making some of that magic mushroom-powder. And I'll try to make tortilla again. After all: it took me years to make a decent curry from scratch, but it worked out in the end. I'll also see if I can put the hot cocoa mix in something or another homebaked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: stashgrower on October 27, 2016, 09:39:22 AM
Finished one bag of quinoa today. Happy news. Worked through more beans again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GoConfidently on October 27, 2016, 08:32:01 PM
Made around of dried pinto beans borracho style for the freezer. Ended up with a lot of extra fluid so I left some beans in the pot and added water, two chicken thighs, an onion, thick sliced carrots, and cilantro for a chicken tortilla soup. So easy and delicious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on October 31, 2016, 12:44:25 PM
Well I didn't do a whole lot this week, mostly just ate down the freezer stash of things I made previously. The weather is FINALLY starting to cooperate and not be 90+ degrees, so I think soup might finally be an option. I did manage to use up a few things:


And once again I did a pretty minimal grocery shopping - produce, a bunch of ground turkey since it was cheap, and some chicken. Oh, and a bag of flour because I was out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 04, 2016, 10:52:28 PM
Used up soft tomatoes, slightly stale bread, fresh basil, and half a red onion in a quick bruschetta for a free but totally indulgent lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: ATLAtty on November 06, 2016, 07:53:48 AM
I'm in! Moving in two weeks and trying to get creative with what is left in my cupboard. So far I have a ton of beans and dried goods plus a couple pounds of meat in the freezer.  Fridge is pretty empty but for condiments. Aiming to use up a few pounds of garbanzos for lunches this week, with chili or black beans and rice for dinners.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on November 07, 2016, 02:58:01 AM
Got really lazy this weekend and didn't go grozery shopping. I had "nothing" on friday, and from that cooked up an omelett with spring onion and cheese, plus some cheese-buns and some lassie when a friend came over. I still had "nothing" on saturday, so I ate muesli yoghurt with a smoothie for breakfast (I was invited away for the rest of the day). Sunday I ate pancakes with spring onion, a kaki, soba noodles with plum sause and some bean-pasta with shrimp.

I make note that when my mind tells me there's "nothing" to eat I could probably live of that for a week. Possibly two. Am still going shopping today as I have no fresh produce left (besides ginger, chili and garlick).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on November 07, 2016, 12:55:16 PM
Well I had another busy week and didn't get as much done as I had initially planned, but still made a little progress using up the oddball stuff. I finally made some soup which used up zucchini, celery, and chicken stock from the freezer, finished off the last of the gross shredded pork and frozen chicken burritos, and made some multigrain waffles this weekend which used up the last of 1 jar of wheat germ (one more jar to go...).

I'm going out of town for a few days, so we bought some frozen junk and "special" treats for hubby (so he hopefully won't just eat at McDonald's for 3 meals a day...), and I'm making a pot roast the day before I leave so he should have some leftovers to enjoy.

Hopefully when I get back next weekend I'll be able to jump back in and get back to using up stuff. I've still got a lot of sugary crap, but I want to take a break from making junk food, especially since we are still finishing off excess Halloween candy. I have excessive quantities of canned garbanzo beans so hummus is on the list, and maybe a loaf of mulitgrain bread since I have some rye flour to use. I do have some plans to make a batch of Nutella brownies, but I'm going to give those to the neighbors as a thank-you for giving us an egg a few weeks back when we were out. I suspect that's probably how I'll end up dealing with most of the sugary food still in the house, good thing the holidays are coming!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 07, 2016, 01:06:52 PM
Used up Halloween party leftovers by making the salsa, tortilla chips and taco shells into tacos on Saturday.  Leftover chocolate chips and a can of pumpkin pie filling from the pantry will make chocolate chip pumpkin cookies.  We've got an unopened large bottle of apple juice from the party which I'll take to the food pantry if my neighbors don't want it.  DH is doing a good job at drinking the rest of the leftover juice mixers.  He said pineapple and orange juice together isn't too bad.  :)  I'm gifting an unopened bottle of bourbon to someone for his birthday later on this month, and am working on the rest of the leftover alcohol.  This will save me significantly at the liquor store the next several months, LOL.

I made Budget Bytes not refried beans yesterday from the everlasting jar of dry pinto beans and froze 3/4 of the batch.

I blanched and froze numerous tomatoes from DH's garden a few weeks ago.

DH took the container of leftover jambalaya from the freezer to work today.  Yay more freezer space!

Cheers to no food waste.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 07, 2016, 01:17:17 PM
Some progress and some realizations.

Progress:
 - Made stock from chicken bones in the freezer
 - Made stock from huge bag of asparagus stalks in the freezer
 - Have been experimenting with the carrot greens that we usually compost. Haven't found a way we like them (raw is out) so will try cooking them today.
 - Used up some cornmeal, mochi and oats in a very tasty gluten-free cornbread for hubby
 - Used up some buckwheat for crepes for breakfasts for the week, topping with rhubarb compote from the freezer.
 - Continuing to put a dent in spices and tea. Used up several boxes of tea over the weekend.
 
Realizations:
I have been resisting getting rid of food that is not healthy for us and doesn't work with our lifestyle. It triggers guilt and craving whenever I have to shift around it (daily) and I feel bad about throwing it out, but it's open and thus far no one has wanted it. I finally threw out:
 - Bulgar
 - Inari pouches
 - Wheat containing soy sauce
 - Semolina
 - Orzo
 - several random condiments that have wheat in them

Onward and upward :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meadow lark on November 12, 2016, 07:39:30 AM
I love this thread!  Is that wrong?  It feels like admitting loving porn or something.
I am jumping in late.  We are planning on moving out of our house and into an RV this spring - date will depend on when our house sells, but hopefully April or March.

DW and I have completely separate food - so this will just be about me.  Last year I had a goal for eating everything down before the New Year, and did really well.  But this year, before the Spring, I would actually like to use up things like condiments and spices, too.

I would love to move into the RV and drive to the grocery store, as opposed to moving food into it from the old house.  So in a year's time I know my dill can be no more than a year old!  (As someone who has moved her spices several times!)

This is what I am working with.

My spice collection is smaller than it has been in years, so that is a start.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meadow lark on November 12, 2016, 07:57:18 AM
Wow - nothing like sharing pics on the internet to make you realize how much you need to clean and remodel your kitchen!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meadow lark on November 12, 2016, 09:13:56 AM
Did a food inventory.  This is a list only of the foods I need to be reminded to eat.  The other stuff is food I will probably eat and rebuy a few times before we move.

Small Freezer

Pecans
2 Cranberries
Brussels Sprout
Root Veggies
Smart Dogs
Veggie Burgers

Refrigerator

Pickles
Cashew Butter. try a recipe for vegan "cream" sauce on veggies?

Condiment Shelf

Green curry paste with coconut manna in this week's bean soup?used 1/4

Main Selves

Coconut Manna (coconut butter)
Cashews
Sunflower seeds (turned into sunflower butter to hide my dog meds in.)
Sesame seeds
Cocoa
Can of beets in my salad this week
PB powder. Use in Thai Peanut sauce instead of regular PB?
Nutritional Yeast
Quinoa
Oats

And I am working on losing weight, so I am not going to start making chocolate cake to use up the cocoa, so if I have to throw away a few things at the end that is perfectly fine.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on November 12, 2016, 11:36:01 AM
Meadow lark,

In regards to cocoa powder, do you eat dairy? I like to mix cocoa into plain yogurt.  Or homemade chocolate milk. It's a treat that actually has some nutrition.  I've also made chocolate granola and added it to oatmeal, thought I don't enjoy it quite as much that way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on November 12, 2016, 12:04:52 PM
I also really enjoy this thread. I am not planning to move like some of you all but I like to keep a low stock kitchen. I find that I waste less and eat better. 

I keep a running grocery list on my phone along with a list of things I could make with the ingredients I have at home as well as a list of things I'm hungry for.

Today I made potato soup with greens I froze a few weeks ago from a CSA box. Proud of myself for using them up promptly and not letting them get old and freezer burned. I made enough soup for four meals.

I am skipping grocery shopping this weekend, but I think I'll find enough to eat. I have eggs and oatmeal for breakfasts.  I'll make a batch of pumpkin muffins for snacks. Lunches will be carrots and hummus. And I'm cooking up the last of a bag of bean and lentil mix. I don't enjoy that mix at all but it's is full of healthy stuff and it's super convenient for this week when I'm low on proteins I like. I also still have a serving of grapes and several apples.  Enough for this week, by Friday I'll be excited to get more fresh fruit.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 12, 2016, 01:36:43 PM
I often buy large portions of meat which are cheaper than small portions. Most of it gets frozen. I noticed recently that the freezer drawers are quite full. I guess we don't need to buy meat for a few weeks, certainly if we added some vegetarian meals as well. I just need to be consequent in taking out meat early in the morning if I want to eat it the same evening.
I can serve with dried selfpicked mushrooms. Unfortunately we don't have any vegetables from own garden. The spinach we had, was eaten freshly in the summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 12, 2016, 06:27:39 PM
In early January, I'm going to work on the other side of the country for two months.  My husband is not likely to use many of the ingredients we have around the house while I'm gone, so I'm really trying to focus on using things that might not survive until I return in March.  I am on a fruit-buying ban, with the exception of lemons and limes. 

Need to use up:

Frozen blueberries
Frozen cherries
Dried cherries
Raisins
Prunes
Dried pears
Canned pears
Big box of apples

I also have two kinds of protein powder and a container of chia seeds to use up, so I'll probably be alternating between oatmeal and smoothies for the next several weeks.  I've been mixing the egg white protein into oatmeal and adding lots of frozen or dried fruits.

Also have winter squash, about 30# of sweet potatoes, and 20# of regular potatoes and 25# of onions in the basement.  Work lunches need to feature squash or sweet potatoes if I want to have a chance of using these before I leave.  Some canning may need to occur as well.  The spaghetti squash will hold through winter.

Other stuff needing to be used:

Frozen "riced" cauliflower
Coconut flakes
Coconut flour
Salmon fillets
Beef liver pate
Labneh

Lots of broccoli, cabbage, leeks, beets and parsnips still coming in from the garden.

Tonight I used up some chorizo along with potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks and collards in a lovely soup with fresh cornbread made from the last of last year's corn crop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 13, 2016, 02:06:57 AM
Some of you might get a laugh out of this Ask Reddit thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/5cn833/what_is_the_most_pathetic_meal_youve_ever_eaten/

Our creative ingredient combinations are positively glamorous compared with, say, croutons with barbecue sauce... >.<
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 14, 2016, 01:54:35 AM
Just made mini pizzas using up a little pot of pizza sauce (freezer), a tin of pineapple (pantry), mozzarella (huge stash left over from a function), basil from my plant, and fresh salami, tomato, and capsicum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 14, 2016, 07:35:33 AM
Oh, that Reddit thread made me sad.  Last night DH and I reminisced about what our parents fed us growing up (fish sticks, frozen lima beans) while we dined on local grass-fed lamb chops, lentils with shallot cooked in homemade beef broth, and roasted homegrown broccoli.  We are so lucky it's embarrassing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 15, 2016, 02:13:44 PM
That thread reminded me of my "broke food" days.  My fave was Ramen noodle with a can of Veg-All, topped with cheese if I was lucky.  Also, of buying 16 cent bags of lunch meat...

A new-to-me recipe Sunday night used up 1/4 cup tomato paste and bag of cut okra from the freezer.

Used the rest of the chopped walnuts in salads for today and tomorrow's lunch.

The aforementioned pumpkin cookies also used up a small bag of sugar, and more of the lingering brown sugar.

We were down to the last bag of frozen veggies, pork chops and chicken breasts, and the fridge very bare before I did my monthly grocery shop last night. :)

Now, to focus on that half bag of frozen store brand strawberries...

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on November 17, 2016, 05:50:43 AM
Used up the last of a mixed bag of frozen veggies I hated last night. Ironically they weren't too bad and I'm thinking maybe I should keep them on hand because dinner without veggies isn't dinner to me and they did get me out of a pickle last night! Ugh.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 19, 2016, 10:26:04 AM
We are moving at some point next year. I will be leaving first to go start work at the end of Jan, and DH will be left behind with the kids until the house sells.
My priorities: Cook/ eat everything that DH will not prepare after I've left. AKA everything.

2 days ago I reorganized the pantry. I have probably 200+ tea bags of various flavors. They are small but overall the buy vs actual needs category needs to be evaluated.
I also have a habit of buying sauces. Trying to buy only meat / veggies to go through a lot of those jars.
Also have lots of baking chips (chocolate, chocolate mint, etc). Must make lots and lots of desserts. We have GF flours (every separate item under the sun) from our various attempts to go GF. Need to see if any of these are practical to bake with or if I just need to be realistic and dump them all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 19, 2016, 06:25:55 PM
Used up some of my stash of salsa from the freezer last night.

Defrosting chicken breast to cook tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 19, 2016, 06:50:12 PM
Making scalloped potatoes  right now with some of the potato excess and goat cheese  that has been in the freezer for six months or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 20, 2016, 02:04:46 AM
Making scalloped potatoes  right now with some of the potato excess and goat cheese  that has been in the freezer for six months or so.

I've had a hankering for creamy potato recipes all day. Potato bake... *drool*
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: meadow lark on November 20, 2016, 11:55:50 AM
Made bean soup (I do this once a week.)
Used about 1/4 of my Green Thai curry paste, and the 1/2 a jar of 'Coconut Manna' (pulverized coconut) I have been staring at for months.  It also used 2 cans coconut milk, 1 lb dry black beans, a butternut squash, a delicata squash, 2 onions, a small eggplant, celery, green bell pepper, garlic, bunch of bok choy, vegan Bouillion - but those aren't things I am trying to use up.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 20, 2016, 03:58:51 PM
Making scalloped potatoes  right now with some of the potato excess and goat cheese  that has been in the freezer for six months or so.

I've had a hankering for creamy potato recipes all day. Potato bake... *drool*

Quite the calorie bomb, but damn' it was good!

I've been working away at the 21# turkey I got free with purchase last week.  That is a lot of bird.  We had drumsticks for dinner last night, I made a huge pot of stock that will get canned tonight.  This morning I canned 12 pints of potato/turkey/green chile chowder (using more of the goat cheese too), and am currently canning 5 quarts and 3 pints of turkey vegetable soup.  Not exactly using up food, but I have lunches handled for a long, long time.  There is a lot of turkey meat that simmered in with the bones for 20 hours or so, and it's so overcooked now that I am trying to figure out a good use for it where the texture won't be so prominent.

On the flip side, I dug up about 20# of parsnips this morning.  Not sure what I'm going to do with all of those.

In the actual using up of the things department, I made pancakes for breakfast this morning using up a small jar of pear sauce, the end of a bag of walnuts and some of my coconut flour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on November 21, 2016, 03:09:00 AM
I've decided to try making soy milk with my dried soy beans. I don't like store bougt soy milk, but since I have no reference to "good quality" soy milk I'm making it myself to figure out if I like that version.

Also rehydrated and boiled all my other dried beans and froze them in portion packs this weekend. I eat a fair amount of beans in the winter, but they need to be on hand. I now have 18 portions, so I think I'm set until next year. I seem to rotate between chili (2 things of beans) - minestrone (1-2 things of beans) - curry (1 thing of beans) - noodle soup (no beans) all winter long, with the odd break for something roasted or tapas on weekends.

Also: does anyone have experience with chili and cocoa? I've seen chili recipes with cocoa in them, and I've been thinking of testing out to make a dent in my heap of unused cocoa..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 21, 2016, 11:05:04 AM
Making scalloped potatoes  right now with some of the potato excess and goat cheese  that has been in the freezer for six months or so.

I've had a hankering for creamy potato recipes all day. Potato bake... *drool*

Quite the calorie bomb, but damn' it was good!

I've been working away at the 21# turkey I got free with purchase last week.  That is a lot of bird.  We had drumsticks for dinner last night, I made a huge pot of stock that will get canned tonight.  This morning I canned 12 pints of potato/turkey/green chile chowder (using more of the goat cheese too), and am currently canning 5 quarts and 3 pints of turkey vegetable soup.  Not exactly using up food, but I have lunches handled for a long, long time.  There is a lot of turkey meat that simmered in with the bones for 20 hours or so, and it's so overcooked now that I am trying to figure out a good use for it where the texture won't be so prominent.

On the flip side, I dug up about 20# of parsnips this morning.  Not sure what I'm going to do with all of those.

In the actual using up of the things department, I made pancakes for breakfast this morning using up a small jar of pear sauce, the end of a bag of walnuts and some of my coconut flour.
I'm impressed with your turkey abilities!  I'm just hoping to successfully cook a turkey for the first time on Thursday.  Wish me luck!

For any root vegetable, I like to roast them and then freeze them.  They're awesome to toss into mashed potatoes, soups, etc. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 21, 2016, 07:41:37 PM
I'm impressed with your turkey abilities!  I'm just hoping to successfully cook a turkey for the first time on Thursday.  Wish me luck!

For any root vegetable, I like to roast them and then freeze them.  They're awesome to toss into mashed potatoes, soups, etc.

You will be fine!  Personally I like to brine the bird overnight (here it's usually cold enough to leave it in a bucket in the garage or back porch), sprinkle liberally with salt/pepper/herb mashup, stuff a cut onion and maybe a lemon in the cavity and roast under a tinfoil tent until the last half hour, then remove the tent, crank the heat up to 400 or so to get it nice and golden.  You can baste at that time if you want.  For some real decadence, shove some pats of herb butter between the skin and the breast before cooking.  Monitor the temp and pull it out when the thigh hits 165.  Most of the infamous dry turkey is due to over cooking.  Some birds are just dry, so if you don't get lots of pan drippings, any dryness is on the bird, not the chef.

Thanks for the tip on freezing roasted veg.  I will give that a shot next time we do a big pan.

Used up two jars of last year's tomato sauce in tonight's dinner.  Sort of an "unstuffed cabbage" stew with ground beef and a tomato base.  I also julienned a parsley root I dug up yesterday and tossed it in.  Have never cooked with this ingredient before, but I think it has potential as a noodle substitute.  Perhaps the parsnips do too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 21, 2016, 07:46:46 PM
Also: does anyone have experience with chili and cocoa? I've seen chili recipes with cocoa in them, and I've been thinking of testing out to make a dent in my heap of unused cocoa..

I have several chili recipes that involve either cocoa or unsweetened chocolate. I find it very tasty. Sort of mole (the Mexican food, not the rodent) inspired.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 22, 2016, 01:08:22 PM
You will be fine!  Personally I like to brine the bird overnight (here it's usually cold enough to leave it in a bucket in the garage or back porch), sprinkle liberally with salt/pepper/herb mashup, stuff a cut onion and maybe a lemon in the cavity and roast under a tinfoil tent until the last half hour, then remove the tent, crank the heat up to 400 or so to get it nice and golden.  You can baste at that time if you want.  For some real decadence, shove some pats of herb butter between the skin and the breast before cooking.  Monitor the temp and pull it out when the thigh hits 165.  Most of the infamous dry turkey is due to over cooking.  Some birds are just dry, so if you don't get lots of pan drippings, any dryness is on the bird, not the chef.
Thanks for the advice!  I'm still nervous :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 28, 2016, 01:02:52 PM
<<raises hand>>

Add me to the list of people who will soon be moving.  DH and I found a home out in the country, and will be putting ours on the market sometime this week.  :)  The refrigerator isn't too packed, but the freezer is after last month's grocery shop, and the pantry has about 40 canned items.  The new home doesn't have a pantry, but does have room in the laundry for shelves.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 29, 2016, 01:38:56 AM
<<raises hand>>

Add me to the list of people who will soon be moving.  DH and I found a home out in the country, and will be putting ours on the market sometime this week.  :)  The refrigerator isn't too packed, but the freezer is after last month's grocery shop, and the pantry has about 40 canned items.  The new home doesn't have a pantry, but does have room in the laundry for shelves.

Congratulations!

Enjoy the big pantry eat-down. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 30, 2016, 12:43:38 PM
<<raises hand>>

Add me to the list of people who will soon be moving.  DH and I found a home out in the country, and will be putting ours on the market sometime this week.  :)  The refrigerator isn't too packed, but the freezer is after last month's grocery shop, and the pantry has about 40 canned items.  The new home doesn't have a pantry, but does have room in the laundry for shelves.

Congratulations!

Enjoy the big pantry eat-down. :)

Thank you!  We learned last night our offer was accepted.  Now to sell our current house.

I counted last night:  There are 38 cans to be exact.  I was close, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 02, 2016, 11:28:02 AM
The moving-soon challenge continues!  This week:

Canned items:  2 cans of tuna, olives, green beans.
Freezer:  Chicken breasts, pork chops, cod, half bag of shrimp, bag of cauliflower.  Steak and the rest of the shrimp will be this Sunday.
Spices:  Tossed 6 expired containers, and added an unopened duplicate nutmeg to the donation box since I mistakenly bought two last month.
Misc:  2 tortillas, and taco shells and the last bit of two bottles of booze leftover from our Halloween party.

Next we need to focus on refrigerated condiments and bits of baking items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 02, 2016, 12:11:21 PM
Haveing a great time using up spices for Christmas Presents!

Made some "Old Bay" Seasoning as it was an ingredient in a recipe for BBQ seasoning. Discovered it is awesome in Sheperd's pie, so will gift a couple of jars of that as well as the BBQ popcorn seasoning.

Dehydrated some TJ's Sriracha (that stuff is AMAZING) and am combining it with some of our bulk Himalayan Salt for a Sriracha Salt. Originally meant for popcorn, I have been using the test batch I created on pretty much everything.

Have plans to create a test batch of Sour Cream and Onion popcorn seasoning today. will use up a bunch of dehydrated garden green onions and scapes I have had around for a while and not known what to do with.

Our Gift ideas for Christmas this year: record bowl gift baskets with popcorn, seasoning salts and either a hand cast Death Star or lego brick Beesewax candle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GoConfidently on December 04, 2016, 07:32:11 PM
This is an odd one for me because I love coffee, but a friend brought a stovetop espresso maker over and made espresso. She left the espresso ground coffee and I don't have an espresso maker. I use a French press and that's just asking for a mouthful of sludge. I thought about cold brew, but evidently coarse ground is best for that too. So what do I do with this coffee? And good recipes from or other uses I'm not considering?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 04, 2016, 07:45:25 PM
This is an odd one for me because I love coffee, but a friend brought a stovetop espresso maker over and made espresso. She left the espresso ground coffee and I don't have an espresso maker. I use a French press and that's just asking for a mouthful of sludge. I thought about cold brew, but evidently coarse ground is best for that too. So what do I do with this coffee? And good recipes from or other uses I'm not considering?

Create a BBQ rub with it? You could probably also use it for cold brew and strain it out. Depending on how fine it is you could add some to a sugar scrub base. I'd probably go with a rub or spice blend myself. Or pour in a bottle of vodka and steep for a while and create an espresso vodka for Christmas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on December 05, 2016, 04:46:17 AM
Yep, cold brew and strain through cheesecloth / muslin or even kitchen paper (as in the rolls of paper towels) Just set the towels in a sieve and strain over a large jug or bowl. Makes lovely iced coffee if you like it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on December 05, 2016, 11:14:32 AM
This is an odd one for me because I love coffee, but a friend brought a stovetop espresso maker over and made espresso. She left the espresso ground coffee and I don't have an espresso maker. I use a French press and that's just asking for a mouthful of sludge. I thought about cold brew, but evidently coarse ground is best for that too. So what do I do with this coffee? And good recipes from or other uses I'm not considering?

I saw a recipe on Food Network that was equal parts sugar (maybe brown sugar, seasoned salt and fine ground coffee was a steak rub.  Sounded delicious, but I rarely cook steak so I never tried.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 05, 2016, 03:44:08 PM
Actually doing pretty well on this!

I made a delicious Indian lamb curry the other day with a rather sad butternut squash, part of a CostCo bag of carrots, a can of garbonzo beans, some of the raisins, half a jar of chutney and a can of coconut milk.  Served it over fried cauli-rice the first day, and white rice the second day

Yesterday I made a big batch of green soup and two pans of roasted root vegetables to eat all week. 

Also made a nice pancake topping out of most of the frozen blueberries.  The pancakes to go with used some of the coconut flour.

Perhaps I'll bring something baked with the frozen cherries to a working meeting next week, as that's one thing I haven't touched at all.

In early January, I'm going to work on the other side of the country for two months.  My husband is not likely to use many of the ingredients we have around the house while I'm gone, so I'm really trying to focus on using things that might not survive until I return in March.  I am on a fruit-buying ban, with the exception of lemons and limes. 

Need to use up:

Frozen blueberries
Frozen cherries
Dried cherries
Raisins
Prunes
Dried pears
Canned pears
Big box of apples

I also have two kinds of protein powder and a container of chia seeds to use up, so I'll probably be alternating between oatmeal and smoothies for the next several weeks.  I've been mixing the egg white protein into oatmeal and adding lots of frozen or dried fruits.

Also have winter squash, about 30# of sweet potatoes, and 20# of regular potatoes and 25# of onions in the basement.  Work lunches need to feature squash or sweet potatoes if I want to have a chance of using these before I leave.  Some canning may need to occur as well.  The spaghetti squash will hold through winter.

Other stuff needing to be used:

Frozen "riced" cauliflower
Coconut flakes
Coconut flour
Salmon fillets
Beef liver pate
Labneh

Lots of broccoli, cabbage, leeks, beets and parsnips still coming in from the garden.

Tonight I used up some chorizo along with potatoes, sweet potatoes, leeks and collards in a lovely soup with fresh cornbread made from the last of last year's corn crop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 11, 2016, 11:48:59 AM
Discovered an AWESOME hack for using up my nut butter supply (added bonus saves on buying other milk substitutes) and is So Dang EASY. Also - Makes a great hot chocolate base!

You do have to have a high-speed blender. I used TJ's salted cashew butter, and I'll be damned it tasted like "Salted Caramel" cashew milk. (because of the dates, it is VERY lightly sweetened - I imagine more dates would make it more dessert like, if you were making it for hot chocolate and using cocoa more dates would be good. It is a pretty good substitute for those who don't do dairy.

I haven't tried it with other nut butters, but I will be!

http://www.thepretendbaker.com/easiest-cashew-milk-ever/ (http://www.thepretendbaker.com/easiest-cashew-milk-ever/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 12, 2016, 12:26:12 PM
This is an odd one for me because I love coffee, but a friend brought a stovetop espresso maker over and made espresso. She left the espresso ground coffee and I don't have an espresso maker. I use a French press and that's just asking for a mouthful of sludge. I thought about cold brew, but evidently coarse ground is best for that too. So what do I do with this coffee? And good recipes from or other uses I'm not considering?

I saw a recipe on Food Network that was equal parts sugar (maybe brown sugar, seasoned salt and fine ground coffee was a steak rub.  Sounded delicious, but I rarely cook steak so I never tried.

Oh, boy, does that sound good!

Horsepoor, you're doing really well!

Swick, I'm all ears when it comes to non-dairy.  :)

~~~~~~~~

Still focusing on using up things because of the eventual move.  Our house went on the market last week, and so far no one has come to look at it.  I am confident, however.

Pantry:  The oatmeal is due to expire at the end of the month, so I've been making it for DH to warm up in the morning.  One more serving, and bonus:  It's also using up some sad brown sugar.  He said it's good.  Also from the pantry I used up another can of olives, and a few powdered drink mix envelopes.

Freezer:  Brought frozen ground turkey with Ragu from earlier this summer for lunches and it will provide 2 servings.  I took out a pork loin and beef sausage for suppers tonight and tomorrow night.

Fridge:  There are till a ton of condiments available.  Sigh

This week is the usual monthly grocery shopping.  It will be interesting to see if I change my purchasing behavior to fit this eat down process.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 12, 2016, 12:55:39 PM

Fridge:  There are till a ton of condiments available.  Sigh


I've been known to plan meals around maximum condiment usage.

Got lots of mustards? Honey mustard baked chicken!

Stirfry sauces are good for using up lots of random Asian-ish ingredients (sesame seed oil, chili sauces, hot sauces, oyster hoisin, fish, black bean)

Mayo? Time to make a couple of salads (egg, chicken, tuna) Also, you can sub some of the fats in baked goods with mayo as well. I'd google since I don't have any recipes to recommend.  I do have vague recollections of someone in my family making "Mayo Chocolate Cake" which uses an ungodly amount.

Ketchup and/or BBQ sauce? Time for meatloaf! A squirt of ketchup is also good for balancing out the acid taste in tomato type sauce (since it is mostly sugar anyways)

Nut butter - Easy dairy-free milk (see my post above!)

Jams and sweet spreads - Can be stirred into yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, tagines and curries. Anywhere you would like the sweet/fruit taste. My Grandma's secret to a good spaghetti sauce was a little dollop of grape jelly stirred into the sauce.

Umm...I'm probably forgetting some, if you list your condiments, I can probably come up with some ideas!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 12, 2016, 03:53:17 PM

Fridge:  There are till a ton of condiments available.  Sigh


I've been known to plan meals around maximum condiment usage.

Got lots of mustards? Honey mustard baked chicken!

Stirfry sauces are good for using up lots of random Asian-ish ingredients (sesame seed oil, chili sauces, hot sauces, oyster hoisin, fish, black bean)

Mayo? Time to make a couple of salads (egg, chicken, tuna) Also, you can sub some of the fats in baked goods with mayo as well. I'd google since I don't have any recipes to recommend.  I do have vague recollections of someone in my family making "Mayo Chocolate Cake" which uses an ungodly amount.

Ketchup and/or BBQ sauce? Time for meatloaf! A squirt of ketchup is also good for balancing out the acid taste in tomato type sauce (since it is mostly sugar anyways)

Nut butter - Easy dairy-free milk (see my post above!)

Jams and sweet spreads - Can be stirred into yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, tagines and curries. Anywhere you would like the sweet/fruit taste. My Grandma's secret to a good spaghetti sauce was a little dollop of grape jelly stirred into the sauce.

Umm...I'm probably forgetting some, if you list your condiments, I can probably come up with some ideas!

How to make gravy:

Just add flour, salt, a little red wine, and don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 13, 2016, 08:39:25 AM
I need to join this challenge (although realistically, it will probably just being eating down the food in my house and not eating ALL of it). My pantry is a cluttered mess, and there's no room in my freezer for the freezer meals I'm hoping to make before the new baby arrives. This evening I'm going to make a list of meals I can make with what's on hand or minimal new ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 13, 2016, 11:16:50 AM

Fridge:  There are till a ton of condiments available.  Sigh


I've been known to plan meals around maximum condiment usage.

Got lots of mustards? Honey mustard baked chicken!

Stirfry sauces are good for using up lots of random Asian-ish ingredients (sesame seed oil, chili sauces, hot sauces, oyster hoisin, fish, black bean)

Mayo? Time to make a couple of salads (egg, chicken, tuna) Also, you can sub some of the fats in baked goods with mayo as well. I'd google since I don't have any recipes to recommend.  I do have vague recollections of someone in my family making "Mayo Chocolate Cake" which uses an ungodly amount.

Ketchup and/or BBQ sauce? Time for meatloaf! A squirt of ketchup is also good for balancing out the acid taste in tomato type sauce (since it is mostly sugar anyways)

Nut butter - Easy dairy-free milk (see my post above!)

Jams and sweet spreads - Can be stirred into yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, tagines and curries. Anywhere you would like the sweet/fruit taste. My Grandma's secret to a good spaghetti sauce was a little dollop of grape jelly stirred into the sauce.

Umm...I'm probably forgetting some, if you list your condiments, I can probably come up with some ideas!

Swick, like minds!  I put chicken stir fry on the menu for tomorrow before reading your post.  And, excellent idea about the stirring sweet stuff into things.  I'll suggest that to DH for his yogurt.

The list, off the top of my head since I'm not at home:
2 bottles cocktail sauce (I mistakenly opened the second.  Sigh)
taco sauce
lemon juice
mayo
Dijon
regular mustard
ketchup
sugar free ketchup
chili sauce-will use some tomorrow
strawberry preserves
apricot preserves (ugh, could have used this on last night's pork!)
bottled wasabi which expires this month
light soy sauce-will use some tomorrow
We also have some sweetened lime juice from the Halloween party
Oh, and pickle juice, LOL!

mustache, that gravy sounds really good.

Welcome, nessness!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 13, 2016, 11:18:56 AM
MG, I like to make salad dressings.  One of my favorites is Dijon mustard, lemon juice or vinegar, and olive oil (maybe a little bit of honey if I'm feeling like it). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 13, 2016, 11:21:02 AM
MG, I like to make salad dressings.  One of my favorites is Dijon mustard, lemon juice or vinegar, and olive oil (maybe a little bit of honey if I'm feeling like it).

Thank you, 4alpacas!  We do have honey in the cupboard.  That will be a delicious addition.  :)

Added:  Last night I used up some frozen cauliflower, and I'll use the rest of the frozen peppers in adobo sauce in a new to us recipe for sweet potatoes Christmas Eve.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on December 13, 2016, 04:18:27 PM
Tried making homemade soy milk. Success. (This stuff is only waguely similar to what I get in stores) Except now, instead of 1/2 a cup of dried soy beans I have 3 cups of soy milk and nearly a cup of rehydrated soy-pulp. My plan for tomorrow: figure out what to use soy pulp for... I bet it's loads: those that make soy milk have this "problem" all the time.

Emptied out this last week: two things of pasta, a jar of rosehip jelly, a bottle of fancy olive oil I got for Christmas year before last and a bottle of vine-concentrate.

Ended up tossing out a jar of olives that had gone bad and 3 bananas that had gone all gooey.

Anyone got ideas on how to use up peanut butter? Tailored to someone who can't stand the taste of peanuts? (Got the peanut butter for satay. Liked satay. But I'll be making it with cashews from now on. Or something not peanut.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 13, 2016, 05:23:55 PM

Fridge:  There are till a ton of condiments available.  Sigh


I've been known to plan meals around maximum condiment usage.

...

Ketchup and/or BBQ sauce? Time for meatloaf! A squirt of ketchup is also good for balancing out the acid taste in tomato type sauce (since it is mostly sugar anyways)


How to make gravy:

Just add flour, salt, a little red wine, and don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang...

mustache, that gravy sounds really good.

It's from an Aussie Christmas carol ... as much as a song with no chorus, a recipe for gravy, and a story about being in jail can be a Christmas carol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb4YWJgfmQE

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 13, 2016, 05:26:30 PM
Tried making homemade soy milk. Success. (This stuff is only waguely similar to what I get in stores) Except now, instead of 1/2 a cup of dried soy beans I have 3 cups of soy milk and nearly a cup of rehydrated soy-pulp. My plan for tomorrow: figure out what to use soy pulp for... I bet it's loads: those that make soy milk have this "problem" all the time.

Emptied out this last week: two things of pasta, a jar of rosehip jelly, a bottle of fancy olive oil I got for Christmas year before last and a bottle of vine-concentrate.

Ended up tossing out a jar of olives that had gone bad and 3 bananas that had gone all gooey.

Anyone got ideas on how to use up peanut butter? Tailored to someone who can't stand the taste of peanuts? (Got the peanut butter for satay. Liked satay. But I'll be making it with cashews from now on. Or something not peanut.)

Hopefully the chocolate in these two overpowers the taste of peanut butter.

Chocolate peanut butter puffed quinoa balls: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/37770/chocolate+peanut+butter+puffed+quinoa+balls

Peanut butter and dark chocolate cookies: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/34740/peanut+butter+and+dark+chocolate+cookies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on December 14, 2016, 07:19:16 AM
Anyone got ideas on how to use up peanut butter? Tailored to someone who can't stand the taste of peanuts? (Got the peanut butter for satay. Liked satay. But I'll be making it with cashews from now on. Or something not peanut.)

Curried "African" peanut soup?  Sweet potato/yams/winter squash, onions/garlic, greens/kale/spinach, curry, peanut butter, coconut milk, favourite curry blend or paste, stock.  You can blend everything and then add the greens, or blend the greens in too.  Great for the winter.

Lamb in peanut curry or Massaman curry is also very good, and might work if you like satay.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on December 14, 2016, 08:32:57 AM
The list, off the top of my head since I'm not at home:
2 bottles cocktail sauce (I mistakenly opened the second.  Sigh) - The gravy suggestion would work for cocktail sauce, I've never tried it and am slightly horrified and intrigued at the same time :) Would also be good on/in meatloaf. Of course, the correct answer is to make some bacon wrapped scallops or oysters!
taco sauce - Taco Soup!
lemon juice - I usually use in water either cold or hot, you can add sweetener as you like. You could also make a lemon curd. Or a glaze to drizzle over something sweet (Powdered sugar and lemon juice)
mayo
Dijon
regular mustard
ketchup
sugar free ketchup
chili sauce-will use some tomorrow
strawberry preserves - good candidate for stirring into oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt.
apricot preserves (ugh, could have used this on last night's pork!)
bottled wasabi which expires this month - I like the idea of this layered sushi. Would use the mayo, soy and you could add the wasabi: http://www.goodmorningcali.com/sushi-bake/ (http://www.goodmorningcali.com/sushi-bake/)
light soy sauce-will use some tomorrow
We also have some sweetened lime juice from the Halloween party
Oh, and pickle juice, LOL!  - Sauteed Mushrooms! Seriously, these are sooooo goood...I keep a jar of pickle juice on hand. Although I have only done it with Garlic dill pickle juice. Not sure if a sweet pickle would be as good.http://www.vodkaandbiscuits.com/2015/06/11/the-best-ever-sauteed-mushrooms/ (http://www.vodkaandbiscuits.com/2015/06/11/the-best-ever-sauteed-mushrooms/)

mustache, that gravy sounds really good.

Welcome, nessness!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 14, 2016, 09:50:35 AM
Was going to buy a dessert to bring to Bible study tonight, but I found a cookie mix that had been in my pantry for awhile (not expired though) and made those instead.

Made a grocery list for the week and there are only 9 things on it, and it would be even lower if not for dishes I need to make for a church potluck and a Christmas party. Hoping my pantry and freezer look a little less crowded by the end of the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 14, 2016, 09:55:04 AM
Anyone got ideas on how to use up peanut butter? Tailored to someone who can't stand the taste of peanuts? (Got the peanut butter for satay. Liked satay. But I'll be making it with cashews from now on. Or something not peanut.)

Curried "African" peanut soup?  Sweet potato/yams/winter squash, onions/garlic, greens/kale/spinach, curry, peanut butter, coconut milk, favourite curry blend or paste, stock.  You can blend everything and then add the greens, or blend the greens in too.  Great for the winter.

Lamb in peanut curry or Massaman curry is also very good, and might work if you like satay.

I also make a version of African peanut soup:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/73090/african-peanut-soup/ (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/73090/african-peanut-soup/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 14, 2016, 09:59:22 AM
The list, off the top of my head since I'm not at home:
2 bottles cocktail sauce (I mistakenly opened the second.  Sigh) - The gravy suggestion would work for cocktail sauce, I've never tried it and am slightly horrified and intrigued at the same time :) Would also be good on/in meatloaf. Of course, the correct answer is to make some bacon wrapped scallops or oysters!
taco sauce - Taco Soup!
lemon juice - I usually use in water either cold or hot, you can add sweetener as you like. You could also make a lemon curd. Or a glaze to drizzle over something sweet (Powdered sugar and lemon juice)
mayo
Dijon
regular mustard
ketchup
sugar free ketchup
chili sauce-will use some tomorrow
strawberry preserves - good candidate for stirring into oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt.
apricot preserves (ugh, could have used this on last night's pork!)
bottled wasabi which expires this month - I like the idea of this layered sushi. Would use the mayo, soy and you could add the wasabi: http://www.goodmorningcali.com/sushi-bake/ (http://www.goodmorningcali.com/sushi-bake/)
light soy sauce-will use some tomorrow
We also have some sweetened lime juice from the Halloween party
Oh, and pickle juice, LOL!  - Sauteed Mushrooms! Seriously, these are sooooo goood...I keep a jar of pickle juice on hand. Although I have only done it with Garlic dill pickle juice. Not sure if a sweet pickle would be as good.http://www.vodkaandbiscuits.com/2015/06/11/the-best-ever-sauteed-mushrooms/ (http://www.vodkaandbiscuits.com/2015/06/11/the-best-ever-sauteed-mushrooms/)

mustache, that gravy sounds really good.

Welcome, nessness!

Swick, thank you so much!  I am eyeballing the sushi bake and have printed out the recipe.  :)

After investigating last night, I also found:
A-1 sauce
BBQ sauce
ranch and blue cheese dressings

Nessness: Your tiny grocery list is impressive!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 14, 2016, 10:04:06 AM
I forgot to add:  I'll be making this tonight.  It will take care of the frozen spinach and cauliflower and I'm tossing in some chicken breasts for protein:

http://onglutenfree.com/?page_id=1357 (http://onglutenfree.com/?page_id=1357)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 14, 2016, 10:50:16 AM
Any recipes that use rice noodles?  We have 5 boxes. 

I'm making a pecan pie tonight for a work event with the leftovers from my efforts at Thanksgiving. 

Anyone have any advice about what to do with jam?  I was thinking about making thumbprint cookies.  We have at least 10 jars of jam because I have friends that are jam-making fiends.  I love all of the jam, but our stockpile has gotten out of control. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: choppingwood on December 14, 2016, 10:59:32 AM
Anyone have any advice about what to do with jam?  I was thinking about making thumbprint cookies.  We have at least 10 jars of jam because I have friends that are jam-making fiends.  I love all of the jam, but our stockpile has gotten out of control.

Individual jam tarts. You'll never get through 10 jars making thumbprint cookies, though it is a fine use of jam.

Toast and jam or pancakes and jam for breakfast on a scheduled, but not everyday, basis.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 14, 2016, 11:28:17 AM
Any recipes that use rice noodles?  We have 5 boxes. 
Dragon noodles! The recipe calls for lo mein noodles but I think it's just as good, if not better, with rice noodles. This is actually on my meal plan for this week to use up some of my rice noodles!

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/08/spicy-noodles/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 14, 2016, 02:55:26 PM
For jam: I don't have a specific recipe to recommend, but look up some recipes for linzer bars. They use up lots of jam and I think you could use whatever flavor you had too much of. Example: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/raspberry-linzer-star-bars-recipe.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on December 14, 2016, 04:22:01 PM
Any recipes that use rice noodles?  We have 5 boxes. 

I'm making a pecan pie tonight for a work event with the leftovers from my efforts at Thanksgiving. 

Anyone have any advice about what to do with jam?  I was thinking about making thumbprint cookies.  We have at least 10 jars of jam because I have friends that are jam-making fiends.  I love all of the jam, but our stockpile has gotten out of control.
My favorite things to-do with jam is:
- cheese. Few things is better than toast (or crackers) topped with a slice of Brie and jam.
- yoghurt. Get the non-sweetened kind and mix in jam. Top with nuts or granola.
- sandwich. Homemade bread, cheese, bacon, Tomato, jam, more bread, toast. Amazing.
- dressing. Got fancy fig jam? It makes one tasty mustard-fig dressing.

I like rice noodles both in stir fry and soup. They make a nicely plain contrast in anything spicy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 15, 2016, 08:05:32 AM
I received a basket of Italian foods as a Christmas gift last night - olive oil, balsamic, dried porcini mushrooms, traditional pesto, red pepper pesto, a huge wedge of parmesan, and some sort of candy that I don't know the name of. It's an awesome gift but definitely doesn't help with this challenge. I know if I don't start eating the foods now they'll stay in my pantry forever, so I think this weekend I'll try making quinoa with parmesan, pesto, and mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 17, 2016, 12:40:56 PM
Used rice and lentils yesterday in a tasty soup.  It also used up some carrots that are looking a bit sad, and about half a can of chipotles.

Thursday night I made a meatloaf with lots of grated winter squash mixed in.  My husband is no fan of squash, but the flavor blended well, and he seemed to like it.  The meatloaf also used up half a jar of leftover BBQ sauce from last time we had ribs. 

Not counting wine, I've only spent $60 on groceries so far this month!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on December 17, 2016, 01:37:30 PM
I have half a bag of spinach and a frozen pie crust, so spinach quiche is on the menu for tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on December 17, 2016, 03:44:03 PM
I've been using up the stuff in my cupboards...

-used brown lentils to make soup
-used barley to make soup and also used as a substitute for rice in stirfry
-used cornmeal to make polenta (yuck!) Is there a way to make that taste good? Or another use for cornmeal?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on December 17, 2016, 03:47:58 PM
Cornbread and corn muffins!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on December 17, 2016, 03:52:09 PM
Cornbread and corn muffins!

Thanks you! Will try some muffins.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on December 18, 2016, 09:00:55 AM
Any ideas for using up these items?
-Dijon mustard
-Rice vinegar
-Worcestershire sauce
Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on December 18, 2016, 09:07:14 AM
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/caesar-salad-recipe.html

Just use the rice vinegar instead of the balsamic. It should still be good. Oh, and omit anchovies if you don't like them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 18, 2016, 01:40:53 PM
Any ideas for using up these items?
-Dijon mustard
-Rice vinegar
-Worcestershire sauce

Rice vinegar - Asian slaw with sesame oil and ginger.  Other oils work too, just won't have the Asian flavor profile.

Dijon mustard - makes a good pan sauce with honey over Brussels sprouts, other vegetables or chicken.

Worcestershire - anywhere you can use a little umami flavor - beef stew and the like.  I don't know of any recipes that use lots of it, but it seems to last forever.
Here's a chicken recipe that uses 1/4 cup of Dijon, plus a bit of Worcestershire http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mustard-chicken-1862
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 18, 2016, 02:05:13 PM
Any ideas for something easy to do with pork chops that doesn't involve frying or browning?  I've been ill and get an asthma attack when there's smoke in the house. Husband took kids out of the house to give me some rest, and said to order in some food for dinner, but I'd rather not.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 18, 2016, 02:09:13 PM
Anyone have any advice about what to do with jam?  I was thinking about making thumbprint cookies.  We have at least 10 jars of jam because I have friends that are jam-making fiends.  I love all of the jam, but our stockpile has gotten out of control.

Individual jam tarts. You'll never get through 10 jars making thumbprint cookies, though it is a fine use of jam.

Toast and jam or pancakes and jam for breakfast on a scheduled, but not everyday, basis.

Did anybody mention Linzer Torte? I was just wishing we had enough jam for one.
https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/12/linzer-torte/
http://www.austria.info/us/basic-facts/austrian-cuisine/linzer-torte
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 18, 2016, 02:29:42 PM
Any ideas for using up these items?
-Dijon mustard
-Rice vinegar
-Worcestershire sauce

Any ideas for something easy to do with pork chops that doesn't involve frying or browning?  I've been ill and get an asthma attack when there's smoke in the house. Husband took kids out of the house to give me some rest, and said to order in some food for dinner, but I'd rather not.

Bonus points for answering two queries with one recipe? :D

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/44742/marinated-baked-pork-chops/

Oven-baked chops marinated in soy and Worcestershire sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 18, 2016, 03:57:33 PM
Any ideas for using up these items?
-Dijon mustard
-Rice vinegar
-Worcestershire sauce

Any ideas for something easy to do with pork chops that doesn't involve frying or browning?  I've been ill and get an asthma attack when there's smoke in the house. Husband took kids out of the house to give me some rest, and said to order in some food for dinner, but I'd rather not.

Bonus points for answering two queries with one recipe? :D

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/44742/marinated-baked-pork-chops/

Oven-baked chops marinated in soy and Worcestershire sauce.

Thanks so much!!  Chops are baking right now and they smell great! I usually brown chops and then cook through with apple slices or potatoes/onions, so it's nice to do something different.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 18, 2016, 06:37:49 PM
Happy to help, Poundwise, hope they are yummy.

I need advice on something before I buy it.

I like sliced turkey from the deli but it's $30/kilo.

With Christmas just around the corner, the supermarkets are selling turkey rolled roasts for $10/kilo.

Could I buy a couple of those to cook, slice and freeze? Would the meat be ok for sandwiches and salads?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on December 18, 2016, 08:25:33 PM
With Christmas just around the corner, the supermarkets are selling turkey rolled roasts for $10/kilo.

Could I buy a couple of those to cook, slice and freeze? Would the meat be ok for sandwiches and salads?

I would think so. I think the lady on the Prudent Homemaker blog does this frequently? That said, I'm not sure of the proper technique so that you can defrost it as you need it. Maybe someone else has an idea there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on December 19, 2016, 05:34:07 AM
With Christmas just around the corner, the supermarkets are selling turkey rolled roasts for $10/kilo.

Could I buy a couple of those to cook, slice and freeze? Would the meat be ok for sandwiches and salads?

I would think so. I think the lady on the Prudent Homemaker blog does this frequently? That said, I'm not sure of the proper technique so that you can defrost it as you need it. Maybe someone else has an idea there.

I buy a ham, boil then bake it (Nigella recipe), and when it's cold, slice, then freeze. I have a meat slicer (I know, so extravagant), but honestly, I can make a whole ham for £14 and I parcel up the meat in tin foil to freeze. In the mornings I just take a tin foil parcel to work, it has defrosted by the time I want to build my ham sandwich. I got about 30 portions out of my last ham! For reference, the ham I like to buy in the supermarket (real ham, not 'reformed' honey roasted) is £4 a packet (which lasts two days), £2 a portion. Frugal win!

The ham was fine for MONTHS in the freezer. I didn't think it would make so much at first, so I had the chance to check, and yeah, it lasts.

So, anyway, long story short, I haven't tried with turkey, but with cooked ham it was great.

What's a 'rolled roast' though? I would only do it with un-messed with meat. So if it's just fillets rolled up with stuffing in the middle, fine. If it has been in any way shaped or mechanically recovered, I personally wouldn't.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 19, 2016, 01:14:19 PM
Condiment focus continues....

Used up the rest of the apricot preserves into a dump chicken recipe and froze it.

Used some of the sweet chili sauce on chicken breasts tonight, and will use more in a Mongolian lamb recipe tonight.

We used a bit of the BBQ sauce on sliders Saturday night.

I sucked it up and poured out about 1/2 cup sweetened lime juice and 1/2 gallon apple juice from our Halloween party.  This is primarily because we needed the fridge space for Christmas Eve.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on December 20, 2016, 08:34:56 PM
Definitely going to make vege sushi sometime soon to use up some nori sheets.

And I found some Arborio rice hidden in the pantry: risotto! Yay!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 21, 2016, 12:06:26 AM
The was a large moose roulade in the freezer, sitting there since the summer. Way too much diner for the two of us. Not expecting visitors soon. So we just prepared it on Monday, ate some slices. I cut up the rest into slices that went back into the freezer for some other time.
Yesterday I found 4 scallops and 2 big shrimp(s) in the freezer, which had been sitting there since who knows how long. It was still edible. I served it with thinly cut vegetables, soy sauce and noodles.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 21, 2016, 08:44:22 AM
Finishing off some dried apple slices right now.

Used lamb kidneys and lamb heart in a shepherd's pie we're having for dinner tonight, which also used up more potatoes, carrots, and the last of a jar of tomato jam that's been in the fridge far too long.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 21, 2016, 08:53:21 AM
Happy to help, Poundwise, hope they are yummy.

I need advice on something before I buy it.

I like sliced turkey from the deli but it's $30/kilo.

With Christmas just around the corner, the supermarkets are selling turkey rolled roasts for $10/kilo.

Could I buy a couple of those to cook, slice and freeze? Would the meat be ok for sandwiches and salads?

Thank you again, everybody enjoyed the chops and I think that we'll add that recipe to our regular menu! We didn't have lemons so I tried a splash of cider vinegar and it worked fine.

As for using regular turkey for sandwiches, I don't see why not?  I could see roast turkey meat on a baguette, with romaine lettuce, cheese and honey mustard. Maybe even splash of cranberry jelly for interest.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on December 23, 2016, 01:02:29 PM
It's been a little while since I've posted, but I'm still making slow progress. The holidays have been both a help and hinderance on my cupboard clearing ambitions.

Good: I was able to use 1 old can of evaporated milk and some frozen pumpkin in a Thanksgiving pie (and will be making another for Christmas, which will use the last of the evaporated milk), and finally used up an old tub of whipped topping on said pie as well.
Bad: Of course, I filled the freezer with leftover turkey, broth, and mashed potatoes.
Good: I made one batch of turkey soup a couple of weeks ago
Bad: I still have enough broth and turkey for 1-2 more batches of soup. And I'm making another turkey for Christmas.
Good: After I cook the Christmas turkey, there will not be a giant turkey in my fridge/freezer
Bad: This is the time of year I stockpile baking supplies (especially flour and sugar), so I'm re-filling all that nice empty space I had cleared.
Good: I have lots of space to stockpile the things I know I will use while they're cheap, and I have a much better idea of how much and what I should be buying.
Bad: One of my regular stores has been doing almost daily e-coupons for free items, so I'm ending up with some kind of random stuff filling my cupboards again.

Anyway, you get the gist... using up old stuff but frequently replacing it with new.

I have finally used all the instant brown rice and tomato paste that was on my "urgently needs to get used" list, so that is good. My chest freezer has descended into chaos once again, and I desperately need to do another inventory. Last night I planned to make salmon for dinner - had the rice cooking on the stove, then went out to the freezer to get the last salmon fillet... and no salmon. I think I used it last week and didn't realize it was all gone... sadness ensued. But then I remembered I had two cans of soup on my "urgently needs to get used" list so I heated those up and made some grilled cheese sandwiches. It was a lovely dinner on a cold, rainy night, and the soup is gone! Hooray :)

I have decided that January is going to be a pantry challenge month, and I will only buy fresh produce, dairy products (milk, eggs, yogurt, butter), and nuts. I'm working on a list of meals I can make from the things I currently have on hand, and finding that it is a very, very long list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 23, 2016, 07:37:49 PM
Made a double batch of broccoli mac and cheese to use up some pasta, breadcrumbs, and frozen broccoli. Froze one batch. I know making freezer meals isn't technically using things up, but one of my goals is to have a freezer full of meals rather than random ingredients before this baby gets here, so I'm counting it as a win.

I participated in a silly white elephant exchange the other day so I included several packs of ramen in my gift. It was quite popular lol.

Grocery spending was about normal for the week but that's mostly because we're hosting Christmas. Other meals for the week will mostly be Christmas leftovers or from the freezer/pantry.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on December 28, 2016, 06:20:38 AM
Red curry paste used up along with half cups of coconut milk and stock from the freezer and the leftover turkey we were sent home with.
Bag of polenta used up (which also used up 2 cups of stock) for cheesy spinach polenta.
Two cups of stock used up in a vaguely Asian soup with napa cabbage & chicken meatballs.

A coupe of chicken carcasses and a beef blade bone are simmering to make more stock.  Doh!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 28, 2016, 08:17:24 AM
Last of the kale and collards from the garden used up in a batch of green soup this week.

Leeks from the garden used up in a saute with mushrooms and carrots last night

I've been working away at the big winter squash by shredding it and having squash hashbrowns for breakfast most mornings.

Have been using some of the potatoes and sweet potatoes, but the carbs are kind of problematic after stepping on the scale post-holidays.  Ugh.  Some things might go to waste in the name of fitting back into my jeans...

Still have a bag of Swiss chard and two large cabbages to use, as well as a whole chicken
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 28, 2016, 08:50:24 AM
Officially joining in preparation for Uber Frugal January.  My main goal is to eat everything in my freezer & chest freezer so that by summer it's empty and ready for the new harvest.  There's also a few things languishing in the pantry that will be good to use up.

The trick will be to plan ahead and make some big meals every weekend so that it keeps things easy for me on weeknights.  I also want to turn my freezer full of ingredients (mostly veggies and meat) into a freezer full of ready-to-go single-serving meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on December 28, 2016, 09:20:29 AM
Vegetarian-friendly uses for salsa that don't involve eating lots of chips? I canned a LOT of salsa this summer. Too much, really. Should've done more diced/crushed tomatoes, which I'm nearly out of, and less salsa. Lesson learned for next year.

Lately I have been making taco "meat" by combining vegan ground "beef" crumbles with a jar of salsa and heating it up. It's tasty but I'm getting bored with this. Also, this does not work as well with green salsa (made with tomatillos). The recipe called for a lot of lime juice, I guess to get the acid up, and it just tastes.... strange. Not bad, just strange.

Also trying to decide on a use for about 1/3 of a bag of frozen fresh cranberries (which I don't really like; bought for a failed cranberry-red-wine jam recipe). Some sort of cobbler, maybe? Add enough sugar and I can probably get them down, haha.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on December 28, 2016, 11:11:34 AM


Also trying to decide on a use for about 1/3 of a bag of frozen fresh cranberries (which I don't really like; bought for a failed cranberry-red-wine jam recipe). Some sort of cobbler, maybe? Add enough sugar and I can probably get them down, haha.

Smoothies! I just add a small handful to a regular 2-cup smoothie so it's not too sour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on December 28, 2016, 11:49:04 AM
Ok, I've just done inventory of the freezer.  It is a bit overwhelming.

2 puff pastry sheets (expire Jan 2017)
17 cups of stock (mostly in 2 cup containers)
8 cups of pulled pork (1 cup containers)
2 cups of shredded balsamic beef
1 cup each - chickpeas, cream, mixed poultry fat, pork fat
1 bag shrimp
1 bag of chicken meatballs
8 packages of bacon
1 freezer bag of chicken breasts
1 freezer bag of pork tenderloin

3 sandwich ziplocks of roast peppers quarters
3 sandwich ziplocks of roast tomato quarters
1 freezer bag of spinach plugs
2.5 bags brussel sprouts
1 bag avocado

4 bags cranberries
2 bags mixed fruit
1 bag mango
5-6 bananas

Lower carb ideas greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on December 28, 2016, 02:31:16 PM
Vegetarian-friendly uses for salsa that don't involve eating lots of chips? I canned a LOT of salsa this summer. Too much, really. Should've done more diced/crushed tomatoes, which I'm nearly out of, and less salsa. Lesson learned for next year.



Salsa is good on plain old beans and rice. Just spoon some on top and eat. Works with red, black, or pinto beans (I prefer brown rice, but then I prefer it in all scenarios, so white might be fine.)


I make a soup with beans, a jar of salsa, and shredded chicken to eat with tortilla chips, but it's pretty good without the chicken, too, and would likely go well with your green salsa or with the two salsas together. I usually use a red salsa and add lime juice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 28, 2016, 02:56:12 PM
Have been working on Christmas leftovers:

Last Thursday's leftover restaurant prime rib made it to Friday brunch.

Made breakfast for dinner last night to use up Christmas morning's overnight French toast.

Ham has been made into sandwiches, wraps, on top of Triscuits, and last night's omelet.

Rolls have been used to make sliders and sandwiches.

Raw veggies have been supplementing meals, along with my mom's dip.

I've gained 5 pounds this season.  :S
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 29, 2016, 04:02:18 AM
Having friends over for NYE and planning to use up olives, three or four different types of cheese, tomato relish, frozen rolls, red wine vinegar, potatoes, and nuts in various recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on December 29, 2016, 05:11:01 PM
Vegetarian-friendly uses for salsa that don't involve eating lots of chips? I canned a LOT of salsa this summer. Too much, really. Should've done more diced/crushed tomatoes, which I'm nearly out of, and less salsa. Lesson learned for next year.

Lately I have been making taco "meat" by combining vegan ground "beef" crumbles with a jar of salsa and heating it up. It's tasty but I'm getting bored with this. Also, this does not work as well with green salsa (made with tomatillos). The recipe called for a lot of lime juice, I guess to get the acid up, and it just tastes.... strange. Not bad, just strange..

I make these Lentil Tacos (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/222610/tasty-lentil-tacos/) pretty frequently. I usually use red salsa though so I'm not sure how they'd be with green. But they are really good, even my ultra carnivorous husband enjoys them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 30, 2016, 12:36:25 PM
The Christmas Eve ham is officially gone as of lunch time.  :)

We have way too many holiday treats left, so I brought a cute penguin gift box full of Dove chocolates and Christmas Hershey's kisses to the Veteran's home this morning.  The gratitude shown made my heart swell.

Happy New Year, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GoConfidently on December 30, 2016, 01:45:18 PM
Vegetarian-friendly uses for salsa that don't involve eating lots of chips? I canned a LOT of salsa this summer. Too much, really. Should've done more diced/crushed tomatoes, which I'm nearly out of, and less salsa. Lesson learned for next year.

Lately I have been making taco "meat" by combining vegan ground "beef" crumbles with a jar of salsa and heating it up. It's tasty but I'm getting bored with this. Also, this does not work as well with green salsa (made with tomatillos). The recipe called for a lot of lime juice, I guess to get the acid up, and it just tastes.... strange. Not bad, just strange.

Also trying to decide on a use for about 1/3 of a bag of frozen fresh cranberries (which I don't really like; bought for a failed cranberry-red-wine jam recipe). Some sort of cobbler, maybe? Add enough sugar and I can probably get them down, haha.

I've been making beans and rice with onions, carrots, and sweet peppers and serving it over salad with a tomatillo salsa as dressing (sort of like a Chipotle salad bowl). It's an easy lunch and tasty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on December 30, 2016, 03:55:16 PM
Between hosting Christmas, preparing to host NYD brunch, and generally not being diligent, I'm pretty sure I made negative progress this week. I could barely close my freezer today (but I do have four freezer meals in there, which is still an improvement over random half-full bags of vegetables).

Back on track this week. DH is going out of town which should make it easier; he's a little less willing to eat random concoctions of pantry food than I am.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 31, 2016, 05:46:30 PM
I'm pretty sure I made negative progress this week.

Me too.

Back to the drawing board...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 31, 2016, 06:37:30 PM
It is NYE and I decided to look in the back of my liquor cabinet and start using the stuff I have bought that I either have no idea what to do with or that I thought I liked that is not wonderful.

So tonight instead of putting whiskey in my soda I found a Dr. Pepper of DH's and I poured some hot pepper vodka (that is too spicy to drink on the rocks) and a dash of lime. It tastes like chocolate. It is crazy good. It wont be be go to. But it is a good way to get through this bottle by the end of 2017.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 01, 2017, 03:50:53 PM
New Years Eve and Jan 1 dinner was very yummy fake empanadas - I defrosted one of the puff pastry packages and a cup of pulled pork (the label says it was frozen Jan 2016).  Sauteed the pork with some corn (freezer), shredded carrot (freezer), roast tomato (freezer), spinach (freezer), cauliflower puree (freezer), chipotle in adobe sauce (freezer), roasted garlic, sauteed onion, paprika, and cumin.  Then took it off the heat and stirred in some feta.

Rolled out half the puff pastry, cut into 5 pieces (one half cut into two, one half cut into three) and put a scoop of the pork mixture into each, and then folded the pastry over (into triangle turnovers for the quarters, and into rectangles for the thirds).  Cut a slit for steam to go out, and baked in a 425 oven for 22 minutes.

I ate mine with sour cream, the SO ate it with Nanny Hudson relish (https://www.foodiepages.ca/Nanny_Hudson/p/Nanny_Hudsons_Homestyle_Relish)

A great celebration meal and a good reminder of why I stock the freezer with these kinds of ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 01, 2017, 10:52:54 PM
Pulled a bunch of dry goods down from the highest shelf in my pantry to use up.
Assortment included: a bunch of tea, rye (to grind in grain mill), a cake mix, expired mustard, expired red pepper jelly and an empty jar for homemade hot chocolate mix.

I need to investigate how to make rye bread again. I think that bag has been there about 4 years.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 03, 2017, 01:10:23 PM
All right, things got a little crazy before Christmas, what with preparing for my parents coming to stay for a few days, but I feel like I've been nailing it the past week!


So, almost all the holiday leftovers have been dealt with. I believe I have enough turkey in the freezer and wild rice mix in the cupboard for one more batch of soup. The remaining turkey broth will get used in place of chicken broth in regular cooking.

We ran out of bread and fruit around Thursday/Friday, but I wanted to try and push grocery shopping off for a few days (embracing the whole pantry challenge mindset). So we used tortillas and had turkey wraps instead of sandwiches, and carrots instead of fruit. I used a carton of almond milk from the cupboard when the regular milk gave out.

I prepared a meal plan for this week based on what we had on hand, then made my shopping list with only fresh produce and some essentials that we were out of or almost out of (eggs, salt, bread). Did shopping on Sunday, and despite the many post-holiday markdowns I found, I adhered to the list and had a very short shopping excursion. I confess, I did buy a small box of cookies that were on clearance for .99, but really... they were double chocolate chip candy cane :) I'm content with one small splurge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on January 03, 2017, 08:28:33 PM
Looking for something in the freezer, discovered I somehow have three bags (two partially used, of course) of pearl onions. Any good recipe ideas to use those up? :-/

Bonus: have about 6 oz of high-quality unsweetened chocolate, purchased by accident (it was next to the dark chocolate and I thought I grabbed one of those - almost identical packaging). Lots of recipes only call for a couple of ounces, I'd love to find one that uses more - I live alone and really don't need to make and eat three chocolate desserts ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 03, 2017, 10:06:08 PM
Looking for something in the freezer, discovered I somehow have three bags (two partially used, of course) of pearl onions. Any good recipe ideas to use those up? :-/

Bonus: have about 6 oz of high-quality unsweetened chocolate, purchased by accident (it was next to the dark chocolate and I thought I grabbed one of those - almost identical packaging). Lots of recipes only call for a couple of ounces, I'd love to find one that uses more - I live alone and really don't need to make and eat three chocolate desserts ;-)

Chocolate mousse.

Double choc-dipped strawberries or cherries.

Chocolate ganache - equal parts cream and chocolate.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 04, 2017, 01:47:31 AM
Had celery left over from NYE cocktails so I made a harvest chicken salad for dinner.

I have enough leftover to take it in a pita for lunch tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 04, 2017, 02:39:36 AM
Went to use some stoneground mustard that I found in the cupboard that was way past date (like years and years past). I opened it and it was discoloured on top and smelled a bit off. Had to chuck it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 04, 2017, 07:12:00 AM
Looking for something in the freezer, discovered I somehow have three bags (two partially used, of course) of pearl onions. Any good recipe ideas to use those up? :-/
Beef Bourguignon is very good and uses plenty of pearl onion. Maybe not the most suitable after everyone is well fed on meat after the holiday, so ... a side of balsamic roasted pearl onion is probably good with frozen onion? (I've never tried).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 05, 2017, 08:01:03 AM
The never-ending balance of bringing in food vs. using it up continues! I'm pretty sure I'm just treading water.

I have started using a wipeboard on the fridge to track what needs to get used and have put it at eye level. That has really helped. I also have a designated shelf for things that have to be used up. That is also helping.

We hosted a family potluck on the 30th and are just finishing up all the leftovers people left with us. I haven't had to cook dinners, so I have been able to focus on using up some of the non-dinner stuff we have kicking around.

Christmas has left us with a ton more food items. I'm pretty much okay with this though, the amount of "stuff" has gone way down and most of the family opted for homemade food gifts. Given Hubs and I have pretty specific diets these days, it is really cool that people thought about that and gave us food gifts we will use, instead of having to regift or rehome.

Some highlights: My sister made some coconut oil/turmeric/chai spiced hot toddy mix, and a jar of browned butter ghee. We got pistachios in our stockings instead of candy, my sister also gifted us a bottle of homemade huckleberry mead. Mom gave us a bunch of her canning. We got tons of herbal teas, regular teas, spices of all kinds. Now we have plenty of these, but it is so much better than getting things we will never use and have to store.

Our gifts were homemade popcorn seasonings (BBQ, Sour Cream and Onion, Ranch, Sriracha) tri-colored popcorn from our stash and a molded beeswax candle, all inside a decorative record bowl. These were super fun to put together, everyone loved them and they did help put a dent in our spices and popcorn stores :)

There is still a ton of chocolate and snacky things like that, but we are hosting an open house gaming day this weekend which should help use it up. Everything food wise for that is from the pantry or freezer, except for the buns, since we don't eat them. I am going to see if I can try and make a BBQ sauce to go on the kalua pork out of things I have in the pantry.

My aunt gave us a HUGE bag of Lemongrass "tea" So I now have dried lemongrass in at least three different forms:) I did make some into a tea and threw in some freeze dried raspberries I found in the back of the pantry. It was pretty tasty. Unfortunately, it only used a couple of tablespoons. Onward and upward!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 05, 2017, 08:15:48 AM
Made a lentil loaf the other day with a pack of lentils I've had for ages, leftovers of a salad mix with seeds and cranberries, apples that weren't the best texture for snacking, and some panko that was about to expire. Also been using up coconut milk that's close to its expiration date in smoothies. Canned mushroom soup made a nice quinoa, mushroom, and broccoli casserole.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 05, 2017, 02:33:42 PM
Made a lentil loaf the other day with a pack of lentils I've had for ages, leftovers of a salad mix with seeds and cranberries, apples that weren't the best texture for snacking, and some panko that was about to expire. Also been using up coconut milk that's close to its expiration date in smoothies. Canned mushroom soup made a nice quinoa, mushroom, and broccoli casserole.

Do you have a recipe for the lentil loaf? I have read lentils, cranberries, seeds and some rice-crumbs (gluten free breadcrumbs - I think that is like panko?). I don't really like cranberries, I got them for a xmas cheeseboard so want to use them up. Do you serve it with gravy? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 05, 2017, 04:17:06 PM
Took everything out of the pantry and wrote down what we have.  Now time to eat it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 05, 2017, 06:12:56 PM
Made a lentil loaf the other day with a pack of lentils I've had for ages, leftovers of a salad mix with seeds and cranberries, apples that weren't the best texture for snacking, and some panko that was about to expire. Also been using up coconut milk that's close to its expiration date in smoothies. Canned mushroom soup made a nice quinoa, mushroom, and broccoli casserole.

Do you have a recipe for the lentil loaf? I have read lentils, cranberries, seeds and some rice-crumbs (gluten free breadcrumbs - I think that is like panko?). I don't really like cranberries, I got them for a xmas cheeseboard so want to use them up. Do you serve it with gravy?

It's based off of this one but I improvised with what I had on hand:

http://ohsheglows.com/2012/10/05/glazed-lentil-walnut-apple-loaf-revisited/

You can serve it with gravy, barbecue sauce, ketchup, cranberry sauce (maybe not in your case), apple sauce, whatever you feel like.

I also just saw this chili recipe with red lentils:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pmY9h51i1U
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 05, 2017, 06:30:29 PM
Having a lovely stir fry tonight courtesy of some really old freezer vegetables and some pantry/fridge staples.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 05, 2017, 06:31:18 PM
Wow, I am actually down to my last can of tuna! Today I topped a green salad with a tuna salad featuring artichoke hearts and capers I have in large supply (CostCo) and a little bit of diced ham.  Used up the last lettuce in the fridge.

Tomorrow I'll use up the last 1.5 cabbages making Unstuffed Cabbage.  On the weekend, the last chicken from the freezer will get roasted along with a big pile of root veggies.

Used up some milk kefir, egg protein and coconut flour in paleo pancakes this morning.

Just have two servings of homemade kombucha, which I'll drink before leaving as well.

Feels like I'm leaving DH with a bare cupboard, but I doubt he'll miss much of it (except maybe his mustards I threw out the other day because they had expired in 2015 - I know they were still probably fine, but he hoards mustard, so we always have like 7 kinds in the fridge).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 05, 2017, 08:04:46 PM
*Made blueberry juice today with 5 lb of frozen berries purchased 3 or 4 years ago. Tastes fantastic.

*Baked a very large gluten free blueberry crisp for dessert. Our house guest is gf. 

*Used up most of the Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes I froze over Christmas. They freeze great. Reheated thawed Pancakes in microwave and they tasted almost fresh off the griddle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 06, 2017, 01:28:24 PM
Just froze a litre of tomato juice (also leftover from NYE cocktails), and got out some taco mince to defrost for dinner.

While in the freezer I found two little dinner rolls with bad freezer burn, so I (guiltily) tossed those.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 06, 2017, 03:25:04 PM
I am leaving on Monday morning, so it is getting down to triage time.  I had half a Costco bag of garlic left, so peeled, minced and froze all of it in olive oil in ice cube trays.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 06, 2017, 03:43:35 PM
Used up the last of the turkey and some celery in a salad. Decided to use some gourmet flavored olive oils we were gifted to make a mayo dressing. I probably should have tasted the oil first it is HOT. I should have used 1/2 or less and more reg oil. Nope. Still going to eat it all. Darn hotness.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 06, 2017, 04:35:49 PM
I have deli-bought semi-dried tomatoes (in oil) leftover from NYE.

I've read a couple of posts online that says they should last in the fridge for up to six months stored in an air-tight jar.

Anyone have experience to the contrary?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 06, 2017, 04:49:04 PM
I have deli-bought semi-dried tomatoes (in oil) leftover from NYE.

I've read a couple of posts online that says they should last in the fridge for up to six months stored in an air-tight jar.

Anyone have experience to the contrary?

Becuase there are all sorts of different options for contamination for deli foods, and oil isn't that great for preserving, it would be better off if you use them. They can be blended into any tomato sauce, chopped up and added to stews (I always add a few to my lamb stews) added to the chickpeas to flavour a batch of hummus.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 06, 2017, 11:33:10 PM
Used up the cranberry sauce I made at Christmas with the two whole chickens I made for dinner tonite.

Tomorrow I need to cut up a bunch of apples and make apple dip for the kids. (Cream cheese, a little brown sugar and vanilla)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on January 07, 2017, 12:04:38 AM
I have deli-bought semi-dried tomatoes (in oil) leftover from NYE.

I've read a couple of posts online that says they should last in the fridge for up to six months stored in an air-tight jar.

Anyone have experience to the contrary?

I've found that they smell funky well before six months.

Why not just freeze them?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 07, 2017, 01:14:15 AM
I've got a version of the lentil loaf above in the oven :)

Was going to use buckwheat flour & rice crumbs but there were weevils and larvae, yuck! Great reasons to use up the pantry. I made normal breadcrumbs and used wheat flour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 07, 2017, 05:48:28 AM
I have deli-bought semi-dried tomatoes (in oil) leftover from NYE.

I've read a couple of posts online that says they should last in the fridge for up to six months stored in an air-tight jar.

Anyone have experience to the contrary?

I've found that they smell funky well before six months.

Why not just freeze them?

Yes, pop them in the freezer.  Botulism can be a problem with things stored in oil, so I wouldn't keep them around for ages.  More of a problem for garlic in oil, but still not worth it.  https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4385e/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on January 07, 2017, 09:29:50 AM
Took it too far with a tortilla past the expiration date last night and regretted it, though only in a discomfort way, not an oh-my-God way. But the rest of that package goes out. Actually thinking about it, it's the first time in a couple of months I've thrown food out (other than scraps to the compost when chopping veggies), so I'm proud of that progress.


Now I need some new tortillas so I don't throw out any black beans or sour cream in a couple of days. May try my hand at making some.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 07, 2017, 09:45:55 AM
Made "fit for you" bars- a modular granola bar recipe. Pick one ingredient per category.
https://www.hy-vee.com/mobile/curtis-stone-recipes/recipe-detail.aspx?recipe=7843

We also added toasted quinoa, because we had it.

These are always fun to make to use up a few pantry items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on January 07, 2017, 12:33:03 PM
Have a box of bran cereal expiring soon. Think I will make up a batch or two of muffins and freeze them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on January 07, 2017, 02:33:36 PM
Thanks to the inspiration from this thread, I listed food contents in my kitchen and meal planned around that. $21 spent on groceries this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 07, 2017, 03:15:05 PM
Made a smoothie for lunch. Although the bananas were new, the strawberries have been in the freezer for over a year and used some pantry milk powder.
Also ate another container of leftover stir fry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 07, 2017, 04:29:45 PM
iowajes, Thanks for the tip on the Fit for You bars. I had a similar base recipe but it required not-fit -for-you marshmallows!

In the last two days, we used up a giant 3 litre tin of olive oil, a bottle of avocado oil and a container of sunflower oil but now I actually have to buy oil :-/ since I make my own salad dressings and bread products every week plus a little baking here and there.

ETA: Tonite I made a dessert that used up a 1/4 bag of chocolate chips, 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, and 1/2 a bag of graham crumbs. Also amalgamated a bag and storage box of coconut into just the box. Pantry is finally looking reasonable which is now motivating me to get in there and organize it! Organized = frugal because I'm using up what I already have instead of buying new stuff
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 08, 2017, 12:25:47 PM
The weather and roads have been questionable during this winter storm. I really do not want to change out of my Pjs and fight the roads to go to the store. So this morning I worked in the kitchen to make food for the week.

I made some (stale) corn flake cookies using peanut butter and random chocolate chips I had in the pantry.

I made some lunch box snacks using up some oatmeal and other bits and random in the pantry and made it all stick together using coconut oil. My 6 year old should love them in her lunch this week...I used sprinkles and every little girly loves sprinkles.

I started a roast yesterday in the crock pot for dinners this week.

Baked up some sweet potatoes, some random frozen veggies.

Made a pot of lentils and will cook some salmon for my lunches for the next few days.

I need to figure out what to do with some corn and zucchini that are in my freezer.   

My pantry and bank account are both looking much better by this challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 09, 2017, 06:48:59 AM
Sitting at the airport, so I'm done with this challenge for awhile, except for ensuring that I only buy what I can use up over the next eight weeks.  Here are fridge and pantry pics.  The large containers just have a serving of leftovers each, which DH will probably eat for dinner tonight.  Feeling pretty good, though we didn't get through as many parsnips and sweet potatoes based I would have liked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 09, 2017, 06:56:13 AM
Not sure how to attach two pics to the same post
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 09, 2017, 08:30:50 AM
Yay for empty shelves, horsepoor!

Been working things down. Starting another round of Whole 30 today, so yesterday went through and gathered a box of stuff up (mostly given to us over Christmas) that we will not eat and giving some to the food bank and some to family members who will eat it.

We also boxed up anything that isn't Whole 30 complaint for the next month. That was another tote of food that we'll be moving to our cold room - but it was much less than I expected, so we are making progress!

I've got some chicken stock going in the crockpot so emptying a bit of freezer space.

I have a bit of a weird one I need some help with: Lamb Fat. We purchased a lamb from the farmer and it came with some fat. I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I rendered it and threw it in the freezer, I still don't know what to do with it :) Anyone have any suggestions?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 09, 2017, 10:18:23 AM
I have no idea what to do with lamb fat, but I'm sure you'll get great recommendations.

I used up a bag of egg noodles (chicken noodle soup) and a few containers of spices (we still have way too many).  I've also been drinking down my tea collection. I also grabbed a large bottle of Perrier from the back of our fridge that we have from a party last fall.  I'll drink it today during a boring meeting (bubbles make water fun!). 

I also made banana bread with 3 bananas that were past their best by date. 

I made stock with the chicken bone collection in our freezer.  Now I have delicious chicken noodle soup made with homemade stock and more room in my freezer! 

I also made a chicken and rice casserole (chicken breasts, rice, cream of soup, paprika and a little pepper).  I wasn't sure I'd like it, but my husband loves it.  We still have 4 cans of cream of chicken soup (WHY?!). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 09, 2017, 01:08:58 PM
RE lamb fat - I've never personally cooked with any kind of rendered animal fat, but I've seen other people just use it for normal frying... maybe some sautéed onions or other vegetables, or potatoes?

I had another good week in my pantry challenge and have done minimal grocery shopping:


Of most significance this week is the fact that HUBBY PITCHED IN! I explained to him at the onset that I'm trying to eat down what we have on hand and not buy anything more than absolutely necessary, and he said he was onboard. But what he says and what he does are often different things. But at the start of this week he asked if we had fresh celery so he could mix up a batch of tuna, and when I told him yes there was celery, he actually made tuna! And then he made another batch last night! This may not sound like a big deal, but believe me, it is. Usually he will go to great lengths to avoid exerting effort in the kitchen - putting pre-sliced lunch meat onto pre-sliced bread (he doesn't even use condiments, and only seems to want lettuce if someone else is making the sandwich) is about the extent of it. Two batches of tuna is pretty monumental.

Yesterday's shopping was very successful - I stuck faithfully to my list and got only eggs, produce, yogurt (bought enough for the rest of the month because it was on sale), and cheese sticks (on sale and I eat them every day in my lunch), and a couple of things I had free e-coupons for (tortilla chips, a sports drink for hubby, and salad dressing). I decided not to buy milk even though we're almost out - I have powdered milk at home so I'll just mix up a batch of that.

I added up my grocery totals and so far I'm at $57.44 for the month, which is awesome (my regular grocery budget is $300/month). I'm right on track for 50% of normal which is my goal :)

I had some plans to make hummus and do some baking to use up crap from the cupboard but as usual didn't get around to it :( I have a 3-day weekend coming up so maybe I can get to it then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 09, 2017, 02:35:05 PM
With the lamb fat I would make soap.

A while back I got annoyed with all of the bacon fat DH saves and I was determined to use it. With some effort I was able to turn it into wonderful soap.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 09, 2017, 04:38:19 PM
Made muffins with 2 c of leftover oatmeal. Froze 1/2 for an outing over lunch that we have on january 25 with 4 of the kids.

Put the rest "under glass" for snacking for the kids. My
Mom gave me this handy dandy thing a few years ago. It's great for the kids and teens to actually see what is out for snacks rather than digging through Rubbermaid containers in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on January 09, 2017, 04:43:11 PM
Lamb fat: roasted potatoes or any roasted vegetables.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 09, 2017, 07:47:43 PM
This thread is getting to me.

Last night I dreamed that I found mould on some hard cheese in the fridge and I was trying to work out if it could be salvaged.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on January 09, 2017, 07:54:22 PM
Got some odd flour to use or old banana's? These are good with almost any flour - they have not flopped on me yet (I have a lot a different flour). Tonight I used garbanzo bean flour.

Banana Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
 3 large bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 09, 2017, 10:29:53 PM
Got some odd flour to use or old banana's? These are good with almost any flour - they have not flopped on me yet (I have a lot a different flour). Tonight I used garbanzo bean flour.

Banana Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
 3 large bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.

This is similar to my banana cake recipe.

With that I've found I can freeze the old bananas (I squeeze them into a ziplock first) if I don't have time to bake before the bananas completely disintegrate. Then just defrost and toss into the mixing bowl.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nessness on January 10, 2017, 08:13:31 PM
Doing much better this week - only spent $35 on groceries! Dinner tonight was some parmesan pasta that had been in the pantry for way too long and some green beans from the fridge that were on their last legs. And finished up a bit of ice cream that had been in the freezer for a few weeks - quite a sacrifice, I know ;)

My mom's favorite kind of tea is only sold in my state, so last year I bought some for her and some for myself. I decided I don't really like it though, so it had just been sitting in the cabinet. She came to visit this weekend so I gave it to her and she was thrilled. Win/win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 11, 2017, 12:06:50 AM
Used up a bag of frozen corn today in a chicken chili. Hubby organized our two deep freezers for me and found multiple bags of frozen peas and corn ... at least I know this now and won't be buying any more for quite some time!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 11, 2017, 07:32:15 AM
I am almost done eating all the meat in the freezer. It is good to refresh the food in the freezer from time to time. We do write dates on the packages, but some types of meat just keep laying in the drawer for a long time. Our bread though, is always ass to the back of the freezer, so that the bread that was there comes to the front. That is a good working system.

We also need to get started on all the other stuff that is not in the fridge. I recently had to throw away some powders and stuff that was getting very old (were are talking a decade here). Which also reminds me that I should start baking bread from the bags of flour that have been standing in the same drawer for over a year of so. I usually presume that I can still eat stuff that isn't too much too old.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 11, 2017, 10:33:12 AM
With the lamb fat I would make soap.

A while back I got annoyed with all of the bacon fat DH saves and I was determined to use it. With some effort I was able to turn it into wonderful soap.

The next time your stash of bacon fat gets too large, mail it to ME.  The fat is almost as good as the bacon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 11, 2017, 11:11:55 AM
Thanks for the lamb fat suggestions! I guess I should just try roasting something in it for experiment sake. The only problem is I usually have too many other tasty fat sources kicking around that I know taste good. Nothing ventured, nothing gained though!

If it isn't as tasty (everyone always says lamb esp. the fat is gamey, I've never found it to be the case but I spent some time living in Turkey, so maybe I just got used to it) then I will make soap! I've done coconut oil soap, but not animal fat so it would be fun to try.

Made a Breakfast cobbler out of pantry/freezer ingredients that should feed as for breakfast for a couple of days. Emptied two bags of frozen fruit that had a bit left in each and used some of my poppyseeds we haven't been eating much since giving up added sugar.

Discovered that I had unknowingly used up my entire supply of frozen spinach, the horror!

My goal is to use up a lot of the "Ingredient" frozen things so I have room to add "Complete meal" frozen things.  Ideally, it would be great to have a blend of both.

How is everyone doing? What are your wins and challenges?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 11, 2017, 03:39:22 PM
Husband is coming home tonight after working overseas for 10 days. I know he will be horrified by how empty the fridge looks, but I've only been buying/defrosting enough for me, and I've been using up a lot of pantry ingredients as well.

My win: zero food waste since the start of the year.

This morning I used up four garlic cloves by poking them in the potting mix of my house plants. Apparently it combats the tiny bugs that occupy the soil.

I'm planning mini pizzas for the weekend. They will use up any combination of:
- wholemeal English muffins (freezer)
- cheese (fridge)
- marinated olives (fridge)
- semi-dried tomatoes (freezer)
- caramelised onion relish (fridge)
- pizza sauce (freezer)
- baked pumpkin (fridge)
- chicken breast (fridge)
- salami (freezer)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on January 12, 2017, 01:59:24 PM
I think I need this challenge. 

I noticed that my freezer inventory google spreadsheet had drifted far from actuals as I got more and more lax about updating it, so I asked my husband if he would help me do a complete freezer and pantry inventory.  Last night we made it through the pantry (it took so long we gave up on doing the freezers and put them off until tonight) and it was eye-opening.  I've got 150 line items, and that's not counting the entire trash bag of expired stuff we threw away while inventorying it all.  SO MUCH dried pasta.  SO MANY dried beans and lentils.  We'll do the freezers tonight, and then onto the fun part - mapping out meal plans to use it all.  There's at least 3 months worth of home cooked meal ingredients in there - probably lots of lentil/bean soups and pasta or pasta bakes.  Plus whatever is lurking in the freezers (main fridge + garage chest freezer).  I am prepared to be horrified.

Getting in the spirit, I've made from our stash :


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 12, 2017, 02:12:16 PM


How is everyone doing? What are your wins and challenges?


I have had a few fails trying to use up random stuff in the pantry. Using almond and coconut flour to make banana bread was bad...very bad.

I am getting down to the bare bones in the pantry. The freezers are pretty much empty other than tomatoes. I am not a huge tomato fan so that will still take a bit to get through.

I am not sure my pantry has ever been this empty. It feels pretty good knowing that the money is going to Vanguard than the store. I am looking at this challenge as cashing in on the investment of food. This month alone I should be able to send $250 additional to Vanguard. I figure I have saved us about a grand (if not more) in the last 7 months I have been really trying to lower our food bill and use what we have instead of buying something else.

I will have to go buy some meat and veggies for this next week. But I am hoping to up the rest of the pinto beans and make a large dent in the rice I still have.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 12, 2017, 08:02:58 PM
I made chili tonight with tomato sauce and beans from the freezer.

I just got an instant pot in November and my first batch of beans came our really mushy and overdone. I have been avoiding them, but mushy beans are ok in chili.

I don't keep a pantry or freezer as full as many of you but I did find a container of cider I froze a couple weeks ago.  Now I'm looking forward to hot cider this weekend. I figure if I'm forgetting what I have it's time to reassess what I'm doing.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 13, 2017, 03:43:17 AM
Yesterday I was a bit stressed about making food on short notice, because we had to leave soon. But I found some leftover mix of duck with mango and vegetables in the freezer. I also found frozen tortilla's. This was served with a left over portion of sweet and sour sauce from yesterday, to make it enough for 2 people.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on January 13, 2017, 09:26:51 AM
I need suggestions on how to make canned salmon taste good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 13, 2017, 09:36:30 AM
I need suggestions on how to make canned salmon taste good!

Nomnom Paleo Spicy Tuna cakes, just sub in Salmon! If the idea of sweet potatoes are weird to you, you can use reg mashed potatoes too. http://nomnompaleo.com/post/91332244628/spicy-tuna-cakes (http://nomnompaleo.com/post/91332244628/spicy-tuna-cakes)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 13, 2017, 07:04:46 PM
Used up all of our canned soup: mushroom soup in a casserole-ish dish with mushrooms, broccoli, quinoa, nutritional yeast, and some dried herbs; tomato soup mixed into rice with spices and served with red kidney beans. We're trying to cut back on the processed food so glad to be done with those. We have a couple of cans of refried beans to use but lots of options there.

Other than that, we're mostly through the things I wanted to use up in the pantry. I do want to make sushi at some point and there are a few jars of pickled beets to eat. Plus a massive jar of pickles in the fridge. Everything is so minimal and clean and organized. I love it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 13, 2017, 07:10:16 PM
Had awesome mini pizzas last night, as discussed above.

Then stretched the leftovers for breakfast this morning - smashed pumpkin and wilted spinach on a wholemeal English muffin. So good.

... massive jar of pickles in the fridge.

Time for cubanos!

It's a never-ending cycle in my house.

Buy pickles. Oh, we have a heap of pickles. Time for cubanos. Eat all the pickles. We need more pickles. Buy pickles...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lyngi on January 15, 2017, 02:32:52 PM
Made chocolate chip cookies.  Used old chocolate bars no one was going to eat(bittersweet), ground them in the food processor.   And old chocolate chips that were hidden.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on January 15, 2017, 02:38:44 PM
This is a great thread for me. I have a lot of food in my pantry and my freezer so I will be trying to get creative.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 15, 2017, 04:35:08 PM
I need suggestions on how to make canned salmon taste good!

My mother used to make a salmon quiche with cheddar, but I think she and I were the only people who actually liked it.

Today for lunch we were going to have grilled steak that I picked up at the grocery store for 50% off yesterday, but it was nowhere to be seen.  We must have left it on the conveyor.  I hope someone took it, and it didn't just end up in the garbage.  So instead we finished off the chicken meatballs that were in the freezer in a taco bowl with frozen corn, frozen spinach, onions, roasted tomato, cheddar, avocado, and a lime-sour cream sauce.

And this morning I used some more of the cranberries in an almond-flour & sour cream muffin recipe.  And for dinner we finished off the open bag of brussel sprouts and used a couple of the pork tenderloin pieces.

I know I'm doing a good job, because the freezer was feeling a bit bare, so I picked up a bag of frozen broccoli and one of mango because they were on sale. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 15, 2017, 05:04:46 PM
I need some ideas for mint sauce. I've got two bottles in the fridge, probably both years old. We rarely eat lamb. It's good on boiled potatoes and veg if you're having a meat and two veg dinner but that's pretty rare too. I've used a little bit of it in yoghurt for a potato salad and a minty dip.

Any ideas for using a large volume of the stuff?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 15, 2017, 05:51:58 PM
Made a banana bread in the bread machine with a very sad, squishy banana that was in the fridge and one from the counter that was spotty. We made this sign a few weeks ago to help us be more mindful of food waste:
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 15, 2017, 07:57:53 PM
I need some ideas for mint sauce. I've got two bottles in the fridge, probably both years old. We rarely eat lamb. It's good on boiled potatoes and veg if you're having a meat and two veg dinner but that's pretty rare too. I've used a little bit of it in yoghurt for a potato salad and a minty dip.

Any ideas for using a large volume of the stuff?

Is it like mint jelly?  Could you do a dessert with it? Chocolate and jam cookies?  Or use it with ice-cream, mint milk shakes? Those aren't exactly healthy options.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 15, 2017, 08:35:30 PM
I need some ideas for mint sauce. I've got two bottles in the fridge, probably both years old. We rarely eat lamb. It's good on boiled potatoes and veg if you're having a meat and two veg dinner but that's pretty rare too. I've used a little bit of it in yoghurt for a potato salad and a minty dip.

Any ideas for using a large volume of the stuff?

Is it like mint jelly?  Could you do a dessert with it? Chocolate and jam cookies?  Or use it with ice-cream, mint milk shakes? Those aren't exactly healthy options.

I've just realised it might not be something eaten in the US. It's like vinegar and chopped mint, but with sugar added. If you can have balsamic vinegar with strawberries maybe I should try a drizzle of mint sauce with them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 15, 2017, 08:43:23 PM
The web turns up all these so called useful ideas but they use one measly teaspoon at a time!! Luckily I found one which suggested pasta and sausages with mint sauce, I guess like pesto. Interesting, will try!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 16, 2017, 04:33:14 AM
I'm thinking greek (pasta) salad - things with feta, cucumber, tomato?  A marinade for chicken?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 16, 2017, 11:53:01 AM
I need some ideas for mint sauce. I've got two bottles in the fridge, probably both years old. We rarely eat lamb. It's good on boiled potatoes and veg if you're having a meat and two veg dinner but that's pretty rare too. I've used a little bit of it in yoghurt for a potato salad and a minty dip.

Any ideas for using a large volume of the stuff?

Is it like mint jelly?  Could you do a dessert with it? Chocolate and jam cookies?  Or use it with ice-cream, mint milk shakes? Those aren't exactly healthy options.

I've just realised it might not be something eaten in the US. It's like vinegar and chopped mint, but with sugar added. If you can have balsamic vinegar with strawberries maybe I should try a drizzle of mint sauce with them.

Could you use it as the beginning of BBQ sauce?  Or would that just leave you wondering what to do with BBQ sauce?  Or what BBQ sauce is?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 16, 2017, 12:01:19 PM
Sunday cooking:

baked beans using up all of our dried red kidney beans and some leftover barbeque sauce
quinoa with onion and some sad broccoli
roasted carrots and some potatoes that were starting to sprout

Grocery spending so far:
$71.47

Pantry inventory:
sushi rice
nori sheets
wasabi powder
pickled beets x 3
artichoke hearts
oatmeal
white rice
quinoa
spaghetti
penne
various pasta x 6
ramen
dried chickpeas
dried lentils
canned refried beans x 2
nutritional yeast
prunes

I didn't quite realize how much pasta we have. I'm going to make a big batch of pasta salad this week with the artichoke hearts and some other things from the fridge.

Fridge inventory:
jar of pickles
bell peppers x 6
carrots x 4
apples
lemons
ground flax seeds
chia seeds
hemp seeds
almonds
peanut butter
strawberry jam
butter
miso paste
feta
various condiments - mayo, vegan chipotle mayo, mustard, hot sauce, green tabasco sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, stir fry sauce 

Freezer inventory:
mango
blackberries
cherries
kale
spinach
ground beef
fish
chili
bread

.. I think that's it. I'm going to have to go through and test myself to see what I forgot! ;) My goal is to get to a point where I can easily remember all of the food that we have. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 16, 2017, 12:31:13 PM
I found a bag of cornmeal in the pantry so made some cornbread yesterday (which is really good with my homecanned strawberry butter). Planning on doing a mushrooms-and-polenta thing today. I've never had polenta so we'll see how this goes.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of flaxseed. I know you can put it in smoothies but I usually don't drink smoothies in winter. I think I originally bought this for some baked-good recipe that ended up being a failure.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 16, 2017, 01:11:48 PM
I found a bag of cornmeal in the pantry so made some cornbread yesterday (which is really good with my homecanned strawberry butter). Planning on doing a mushrooms-and-polenta thing today. I've never had polenta so we'll see how this goes.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of flaxseed. I know you can put it in smoothies but I usually don't drink smoothies in winter. I think I originally bought this for some baked-good recipe that ended up being a failure.

I usually use ground flaxseed mixed with water as an egg replacement, or alone as a mixer/replacement for flour/bread crumbs for breading or bulking. If they're whole, you could add them to salads, cereal, yogurt, into baking, or in a chili or stew.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 16, 2017, 02:13:04 PM
Everyone is doing an excellent job!  Way to stay the course.  Things are going well here:

Successfully cooked the old fashioned oatmeal before their end of the year expiration date last month.

Used the remaining 4 nori sheets in sushi last week.

Leftover Alfredo sauce was added to a ground beef and green bean skillet dish.

Chocolate chips leftover from Christmas baking will be added to a banana bread recipe tonight.  There are 3 very sad-looking bananas on our counter right now, LOL.

I'll soak another batch of pinto beans tonight to make the Budget Bytes not re-fried bean recipe.  DH really likes these and you cannot tell they aren't canned.  Plus, they freeze really well.

Also going to make my own taco spice blend tonight.

Freezer proteins were down to 1 chicken breast and 1 LB ground beef before I went shopping last week.

And, regarding my prior posts about refrigerated condiments, I used up one of the jars of cocktail sauce, and the jar of sugar free apricot preserves.  :)  I used several TBS sf strawberry preserves on top of crackers, and some of the soy sauce for last week's sushi.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 16, 2017, 02:42:46 PM
I'm thinking greek (pasta) salad - things with feta, cucumber, tomato?  A marinade for chicken?

Yep, good idea. I'm thinking wherever I'd use pesto (and that's a lot of things!) I'll use mint sauce. It will convert the dish from Italian to Greek, ta da!

I have beetroot and pumpkin I was going to roast and have with feta. I'll have a mint sauce dressing, awesome.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 16, 2017, 02:46:09 PM

Could you use it as the beginning of BBQ sauce?  Or would that just leave you wondering what to do with BBQ sauce?  Or what BBQ sauce is?

I have expired shop bought BBQ sauce too!! I thinking I'll use it anytime I use mint or vinegar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 16, 2017, 02:49:59 PM
Put the last of the big tub of yoghurt in a little container for husband to take to work today.

He's the only one who eats it, and he's travelling for work from tomorrow.

He's only recently agreed to buying the big tubs (much more economical than the little pots) and so far no problem.

ETA: It's also much easier to use up a handful of nuts or some leftover blueberries - just throw them in his yoghurt for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 16, 2017, 04:36:27 PM
Made a cake out of leftover oatmeal. It's a muffin recipe but I did it in an 8x8 glass pan instead. My big crew eat up stuff so fast that I figured "why bother with muffin tins and papers?" Seems I was right - 3/4 of the cake is already gone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 16, 2017, 04:49:57 PM
Made a cake out of leftover oatmeal. It's a muffin recipe but I did it in an 8x8 glass pan instead. My big crew eat up stuff so fast that I figured "why bother with muffin tins and papers?" Seems I was right - 3/4 of the cake is already gone!

This made me laugh :) I made some Spicy Tuna cakes - which call for cooking in a muffin pan. I am lazy, I opted for pan frying the cakes. That lasted for one batch, then i figured it is too much work to form them into cakes...Spicy Tuna hash for the win!

We've been making a conscious effort to use up our tea supply. Having a cup as an excuse to take a break from work and get up and stretch in the afternoon, and then hubs and I are having something non-caffeinated after supper instead of giving into the temptation of snacking in the evening.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on January 16, 2017, 05:00:08 PM
Got around to inventorying the freezers.  Most concerning is a whole turkey from several Thanksgivings ago.  Anyone know how old is too old with a frozen turkey?  The only convenience food in there is a few frozen pizzas, a container of lobster bisque, several packages of ravioli and tortellini, salmon and chicken burgers.  Plus a some meat we grilled and froze.   It's mostly meat, bread, shredded cheese, veggies, and some odds and ends. 

My current goal is to eat through enough stuff to be able to consolidate to just the under fridge freezer, so that I can defrost and clean the chest freezer in the garage, which I haven't done in some years.  This will probably require avoiding going to Costco.  :)

I've got a big crock pot full of red beans going, used 2 frozen smoked pork hocks, some frozen grilled garlic kielbasa, a pound of dried red beans, and some wilty celery and questionable green peppers lurking in the fridge.  The house smells good, and I'm drinking a homemade london fog (double strength earl grey, homemade vanilla syrup, and steamed milk) while browsing recipes based on my inventory.  Suggestions are welcome for recipes involving jarred roasted red peppers, penne pasta, canned chickpeas, grilled hot dogs, meatballs, chipotle in adobo, and jams/jellies/creamed honey. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 16, 2017, 05:14:37 PM
I have freed up enough room in the freezer to make ice cubes.  We are out of bread crumbs and have moved to matzoh meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on January 16, 2017, 08:00:39 PM
I found a bag of cornmeal in the pantry so made some cornbread yesterday (which is really good with my homecanned strawberry butter). Planning on doing a mushrooms-and-polenta thing today. I've never had polenta so we'll see how this goes.

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of flaxseed. I know you can put it in smoothies but I usually don't drink smoothies in winter. I think I originally bought this for some baked-good recipe that ended up being a failure.

Let me know how you like the polenta - I made it for the first time recently and was not impressed.

RE: flax seed, you can put it on/in anything. I add a spoonful to my oatmeal, cereal, soups, mashed potatoes, stirfries, on top of salad, etc.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 17, 2017, 12:16:53 PM

I've got a big crock pot full of red beans going, used 2 frozen smoked pork hocks, some frozen grilled garlic kielbasa, a pound of dried red beans, and some wilty celery and questionable green peppers lurking in the fridge.  The house smells good, and I'm drinking a homemade london fog (double strength earl grey, homemade vanilla syrup, and steamed milk) while browsing recipes based on my inventory.  Suggestions are welcome for recipes involving jarred roasted red peppers, penne pasta, canned chickpeas, grilled hot dogs, meatballs, chipotle in adobo, and jams/jellies/creamed honey.

I'd make an awesome pasta dish with the items in bold.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 17, 2017, 12:33:53 PM
Let me know how you like the polenta - I made it for the first time recently and was not impressed.

Things I learned about polenta.  Use stock, not water.  Make sure you cook it for longer than it calls for (I had a cookbook say 'until it stops tasting soapy', which was very useful).  Put really good tasting things on top that are adequately salted.  Discover whether you like it better soft or once it is set.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 17, 2017, 12:47:04 PM
I just put 4 lb of stew beef cubes in the crockpot and covered it with 2 X half full bottles of BBQ sauce (store bought...gasp! What was I thinking last summer??!!)

Will serve over homemade buns pulled from the deep freeze and cut up veggies.

Wish me luck!

ETA: turned out fine. Had to chop up the beef during last half hour of cooking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 17, 2017, 01:08:03 PM
All right! I had another good week in pantry challenge land and cleared out a few jars in the cupboard:

I made an executive decision and tossed out the 2.5 jars of Nutella that have been haunting me. I don't like it all that much and it's high sugar and I'm trying to cut back. So after seeing some news articles last week saying that it might contribute to cancer, I decided that was a good enough excuse to just toss it. Usually when I try a new product I'm pretty good about just getting 1 until I decide if I'm going to like it, but the Nutella purchase was fueled by seeing numerous recipe blog posts proclaiming it to be the greatest substance on the planet, and a good coupon/sale combination (I think I paid $1 per jar). Oh well, lesson learned.

I rocked the grocery shopping again - total spent was $29.11. and that included 5 dozen eggs (on sale for .99/dozen) and two 12-packs of toilet paper. Everything else was produce and a little bit of oatmeal that was on sale. This puts me at 86.55 for the month, so I'm right on track for my goal of $150 for the month.

Suggestions are welcome for recipes involving jarred roasted red peppers, penne pasta, canned chickpeas, grilled hot dogs, meatballs, chipotle in adobo, and jams/jellies/creamed honey.

Canned chickpeas + roasted red peppers = roasted red pepper hummus

Now to figure out what to do with the bag of flaxseed. I know you can put it in smoothies but I usually don't drink smoothies in winter. I think I originally bought this for some baked-good recipe that ended up being a failure.

I've got a jar of flax seeds I'm working on too. I grind the seeds up using a coffee grinder, then just add some (anywhere from a few tablespoons to 1/4 cup) to just about anything I'm baking - bread, muffins, cookies, granola bars... Voila! Now it's healthy and has Omega-3s :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 17, 2017, 02:39:38 PM
Thanks for the polenta and flaxseed suggestions! I didn't get to the polenta yet. Maybe tonight. The flaxseeds are ground - and I forgot they are egg replacement in vegan baking! I'm not vegan but can definitely use them up that way.

I take overnight oats to work every morning with a big gob of jam thrown in. This week I'm eating down my last jar of cranberry-orange jam, which I really did not like. Meh. It'll be done in 2 more days though and then I am not making that again!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 17, 2017, 03:00:08 PM
Cooking up the last of a jar of rice. It is a staple and I have another package I already opened, oops. It's nice to use up duplicates.

I'm soaking the last of my Garbanzo beans. I don't have a blender or anything but I'm thinking if I really overcook them I can still make them into hummus with a mixer. 

My jar of Tahini is ancient. Smells fine. Anybody have concerns about using old tahini? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on January 17, 2017, 03:05:01 PM
My jar of Tahini is ancient. Smells fine. Anybody have concerns about using old tahini?

I would think it's similar to (pea)nut butter. Should last a while but will eventually go rancid and/or separate.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 17, 2017, 03:06:12 PM
Cooking up the last of a jar of rice. It is a staple and I have another package I already opened, oops. It's nice to use up duplicates.

I'm soaking the last of my Garbanzo beans. I don't have a blender or anything but I'm thinking if I really overcook them I can still make them into hummus with a mixer. 

My jar of Tahini is ancient. Smells fine. Anybody have concerns about using old tahini?

Tahini can and will go rancid due to the oil. Give it a taste before you add it to the hummus. You'll know. It does last FOREVER in the fridge though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 17, 2017, 06:51:52 PM
Made steak sandwiches last night to use up caramelised onion relish.

The relish was so good I was torn between 'I want to eat this on everything, forever' and 'Nooo, we can't use it all up, then I'll have to buy more!'
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 17, 2017, 07:15:24 PM
I tasted the tahini. I think it's ok in spite of expiring in November 2015. Thanks for the advice all.

I have about a cup and half of barley grains in the fridge, several years old. I love beef and barley soup but I am almost vegetarian these days. I guess I could cook it like a pilaf. I'll do some googling but if anyone has any great barley ideas I'm interested.

I just popped all of the popcorn!  I went through this bag in about 6 weeks. The last bag took closer to 6 years to use.  I will definitely rebuy, but how quickly will I use it? Do I need the small bag or the big bag?!  Ah dilemma.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 18, 2017, 01:22:08 AM
<...>
This week I'm eating down my last jar of cranberry-orange jam, which I really did not like. Meh. It'll be done in 2 more days though and then I am not making that again!

Here in Norway we often use a berry called "tyttebær", quite similar in taste to the cranberry, to cook with sugar and serve with wild meat, like venison and moose. If we do it simple, we just buy a jar of jam, which is then only used for that. So that is another way of emptying your last jar, serve some spoons of it together with strong-tasting meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 18, 2017, 12:32:45 PM
Yesterday I bought a jar of sundried tomatoes and used up that plus the jar of artichoke hearts, two bags of pasta, and two of the bell peppers to make a massive amount of pasta salad to eat this week. There was also one less bag of pasta than I thought so we're down to 3 bags now plus the spaghetti and fettucine. We don't actually eat that much pasta so I don't know why I bought that 6-pack at Costco.. planning to finish that all off in the next couple of months and then focus on buying more whole grains.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on January 18, 2017, 01:19:23 PM
I've been trying to do this so far this year, our freezer is packed and the pantry has lots of stuff in it also.  I'm less concerned about the pantry as I like to have a stock of canned goods on hand for hurricanes, but the freezer is out of control.  There were stacks of $4 off any turkey coupons at the grocery store so I took a bunch and used them all up.  It saddened me to see coupons still there after the expiration date.  I probably ended up only spending around $15 and got two whole turkeys, three turkey breasts and several packs of turkey cutlets, turkey thighs and ground turkey.  In the freezer there is also several containers of chicken stock, as well as shredded chicken, It sausage, bratwurst, chicken breasts and tons of random items like diced onions, peppers and misc sauces.  Oh and a couple freezer meals and soups I have on hand for easy meals. Kind of scary when I type it out and know I've missed several items.   We already do all the normal stuff with shredded chicken/turkey - tacos, bbq, soup - any new ideas for using that up?

I took a turkey breast out of the freezer to cook for dinner on Friday and sandwiches the following week for lunches, but I'm feeling very uninspired.  Hoping this thread inspires me. 

Got around to inventorying the freezers.  Most concerning is a whole turkey from several Thanksgivings ago.  Anyone know how old is too old with a frozen turkey? 

I'd defrost it and see how it smells once it is defrosted and how much freezer burn there is. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 18, 2017, 05:51:07 PM
I buy hummus.  I admit it.  Now I'll be banned from this community! I don't have a blender and there are bigger things to worry about.

Right now I have vouchers for free Sabra hummus, so I picked up a tub today. I thought it was roasted garlic but no, it is extreme spice. Oops.

So I cooked up the last 1.25 cups of garbanzos I have.  I smushed them with a fork when they were still quite hot and was pleased with how well it worked.  I used a bit of the tahini I mentioned upthread and some garlic and mixed it all up with the extra spices store bought stuff. Now I've got enough for three weeks.

oops.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 18, 2017, 06:02:59 PM
I have a jar of chill jam and a jar of gravadlax sauce (from ikea, for salmon) that both say expiry 2013.

Will I die if I eat them do you think? They are both never opened.

I also have a bag of brown rice that I didn't know was opened and expired 2015. How do I know if it's ok? It smells ok, I think.

I also found a bag of potato flour (will use in stews and breadmaking) and so so many coriander seeds. No idea why.
And bags and bags of nuts, most of them opened. I guess I just need to taste test them all and see if they are ok? 

Excluding all that, going through my pantry properly has uncovered about 15 potential meals, so that's us sorted til the end of January.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 18, 2017, 08:20:13 PM
The rice should be fine.

Chili jam, also fine. 

What are the ingredients in the gravadlax sauce? 

Having done this challenge is making me much more accepting of my limited pantry in my temporary apartment.  Like, I have one can of tomatoes and that's OK.   I did buy lots of veggies and 5# of potatoes, so planning to make a creamy potato broccoli soup tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 18, 2017, 09:36:36 PM
So I had a proper go through and taste of everything once I had some time - hazelnuts and almonds fine, pistachios - nope, gone!

I looked carefully at the brown rice - gross! A little maggoty grub, must be from a pantry moth, was living at the bottom. So I chucked it. Everything that has been properly clipped is fine, anything where I relied on a zipper or seal that came with the bag is no good.

One partial bag of crumbed walnuts looked weird so I chucked it, but I kept another (why did I have two??)

I have such a large tub of desiccated coconut and it unfortunately seems to have lost its flavour. I will give it a go in some biscuits but I'm thinking it might just get chucked also.

Oh dear, what a waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 21, 2017, 12:08:45 AM
I've been catching up on this thread after a long absence, and I must say that there have been some very nice sounding meals made with some very odd ingredients!  And people talking about having spare space in their cupboards and freezers ...

I got inspired.

I have concluded that I should probably do a proper inventory.  But right now there's enough stuff in the freezer and one cupboard in particular that it would be a real pain in the neck!  I did take a look through most of my stocks, and made some mental notes about things I should try to make/use up.  One really obvious observation - I do not need to buy rice anytime soon!

Using up stuff can go slowly, as I work some different hours, and it's not unusual to be fed at work or sent home with leftovers from events.  A good chunk of my freezer stuff is individual portions of leftovers that I've brought home.  All mixed up with other stuff, and jam-packed in there, with mini-avalanches when you try to take something out.  But at least I have quite a few quick reheat meals to help keep me from stopping for fast food on the way home.

For tonight, to make some kind of forward progress, I took a jar of some unknown substance out of the freezer and defrosted it.  I have no idea exactly what it was meant to be - tomato sauce (too thin?), some kind of broth (but then why would it have rice in it?), or soup (but then why doesn't it seem to have anything BUT rice in it?)  Anyway, I added some chopped veggies from the freezer, and frozen spinach, and some dehydrated "soya chunks" and let it boil for a while.  Then threw in a little couscous.  There's still more - I tend to buy couscous, use one portion, then forget about it in the cupboard.  So now all those items have turned into a pretty healthy looking soup/stew.  If it tastes good - well, there's another jar in the freezer that looks like it's the same thing!

I also cooked up some quick oats tonight.  I am way overstocked, and have two unopened bags that are about to hit their best before dates.  I'm not eating hot cereal much these days, but I supplement the dog's food with some odds and ends of healthy people food, so she can have a blob of oatmeal on her evening kibble this week.  And I have a little more tidying to do of the fridge, then I'll move the rest of the oatmeal in there to keep it more safely.

Finally, my evening snack was a little Minigo (yoghurt/soft cheese type thing) that expired a leeettle while ago.  I was so sick over the holidays that some stuff just didn't get touched.  It tasted fine, and so far so good on the stomach front.  Still, there were 6 of them and I'm not going to want to keep them around much longer.  So the dog had some yoghurt tonight too.  She proceeded to lick her bowl so thoroughly that it slid all the way across the kitchen floor and down the hall!  LOL!  Guess she liked it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 21, 2017, 12:18:32 AM
Ha, my dog would do the same! He just had a tiny taste of cream from a dessert I just made and was v happy.

The chewy coconut cookies I made (to use up dessicated coconut) are awesome! The recipe made about 12 large cookies and used a third of the coconut tub, so after another two batches (2 weeks?) it will be gone. Yes!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 22, 2017, 12:40:06 AM
Today I made this:

http://www.theculinaryjumble.com/2015/07/07/blueberry-and-creme-fraiche-cake/

This cake helped me finish a bag of almond meal and used up ALL my hazelnuts and crumbed walnuts. Fantastic! I even put in a tiny bit of potato flour instead of wholewheat so used up a bit of that too. Also made some bread with a bit of potato flour substituted. Slow and steady with that one. Anyway, the cake is delish!! It turned out more of a slice since my dish must be bigger than theirs, but it's yummy and a lot nicer than it looks in the pictures.

I will make this one again to use up some hazelnut meal and get through some almonds. I realised my stick blender will easily make almond meal if I ever need it so there's no need to buy it while I still have a big bag of whole almonds.

We also used up the dregs of three bottles of spirits too this weekend in cocktails. We always drink beer but we should start a cocktail tradition as it was fun and weekend-y.

The pantry is looking very neat. Still to use:
chilli jam (in a stir fry)
gravadlax sauce (with salmon - it's really just mustard, oil, vinegar and dill - what else goes with dill I wonder? Potatoes?)
Icing sugar and horrible sugar free cacao spread (will combine with peanut butter to make fudge)
Ikea Glogg - a sort of spiced mix for mulled wine - (dunno... it's too hot for mulled wine, it's years old, full of additives, maybe I should just chuck it!)

I also have a lot of ancient herbs and spices but I suspect a lot have lost their aroma/flavour and will just chuck them if they have.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on January 22, 2017, 01:05:13 AM
I cut my grocery spending by 2/3 this month and still feel like I barely made a dent in the pantry/freezer situation. I think it's going to take me all year to clear them out but I am determined. Thanks for the great ideas here everyone!


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Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 22, 2017, 08:14:39 AM
Let me know how you like the polenta - I made it for the first time recently and was not impressed.

Things I learned about polenta.  Use stock, not water.  Make sure you cook it for longer than it calls for (I had a cookbook say 'until it stops tasting soapy', which was very useful).  Put really good tasting things on top that are adequately salted.  Discover whether you like it better soft or once it is set.
Another good tip for polenta: if you don't like it hot, try it cold. And if you have issues with the consistensy (it's not unlike porridge..) let it chil, cut it into cubes and put on the barbecue (or gridle).

Personally I use polenta for one thing only: making sure my bread does not stick to my pan when baking. It's fantastic. So if you don't like it prepaired there's that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 22, 2017, 01:29:53 PM
Never did get around to trying the polenta. It was supposed to be topped with mushroom ragout but I ended up using the mushrooms for something else. Maybe this week. The cornbread was really good though; going to make another batch this week.

Today we tossed the remains of a jar of tikka masala sauce from Aldi (and also the food we made with it; chicken for Boyfriend and lentils for me) because it had, uh, unpleasant consequences for both of us. I hate throwing out food but it made us both very unpleasant to be near....

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 22, 2017, 03:12:00 PM
The battle continues! Had another decent week and emptied some jars. I'm actually running into what I consider a Mustachian People Problem: I have WAY too many empty storage containers cluttering up the cupboards now. I use old glass spaghetti sauce jars to store things I buy from the bulk section. I've started just throwing the grubbier ones in the recycle bin as I use up the bulk products they once held. I still have plenty to use when I replenish my stores, and its not like its hard to get more if I need them.

Here's my accomplishments for the week:

Another low week for grocery shopping: $24.67. This includes an emergency 2-liter of ginger ale at the start of the week for hubby who had a stomach bug, and some cleaning stuff. The rest was produce, a gallon of milk (since I knew I'd be doing a lot of baking and other cooking requiring milk I splurged on real milk instead of using the powdered), and a package of chicken breasts for the casserole since I'm getting low on meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 22, 2017, 04:09:57 PM
The battle continues! Had another decent week and emptied some jars. I'm actually running into what I consider a Mustachian People Problem: I have WAY too many empty storage containers cluttering up the cupboards now.

Likewise!

Eat food, empty a jar = win for this thread.
Wash and keep jar = win for "what small thing" thread.
Put empty jar in cupboard = fail at decluttering thread.

Anyway, for dinner last night I defrosted a single portion of pulled pork and made a cuban sandwich for dinner, then froze the rest of the bread. Lunch today is leftovers from the weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 22, 2017, 04:29:05 PM
Fridge is looking pretty bare and we are out of most fresh produce. Figured we needed to go to the store for a few things. Decided we were lazy and instead came up with full meal plan for the next few days.

Breakfasts - made a pear/strawberry fruit cobbler with coconut flour topping. Used up the last pears from Grandma's tree, some frozen strawberries, coconut flour, poppyseeds, nut butter. I made a huge pan that will last for 3-4 days

Lunches - Hubby will take single serve portions of leftover dinners from the freezer. I have some avocados I need to use up which I'll turn into a guac and eat with some flax seed crackers I made. Otherwise, I have some tuna and celery I can make into tuna salad and I can graze on whatever else is around.

Dinners -

Tonight - Lamb ribs from the freezer in a garlic Rosemary (freezer) marinade, Brussels or asparagus (freezer) Roasted Butternut Squash.

Tomorrow - Pork roast (freezer) I thought it was beef until I thawed it, so I had to switch gears a bit :) With the last of the apples from Grandma's tree, Roasted Squash, Roasted cabbage (last of the fresh produce) and either Brussels or asparagus (freezer)

Wed - Leftovers

Thursday - Butter beef (butter chicken sauce, but I made it with ground beef because that's what we had) from the freezer over the last butternut squash spiralized into noodles.

Should be "actually" ready for a grocery shop Thurs or Fri evening :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 23, 2017, 02:32:23 AM
The battle continues! Had another decent week and emptied some jars. I'm actually running into what I consider a Mustachian People Problem: I have WAY too many empty storage containers cluttering up the cupboards now.

Likewise!

Eat food, empty a jar = win for this thread.
Wash and keep jar = win for "what small thing" thread.
Put empty jar in cupboard = fail at decluttering thread.

Anyway, for dinner last night I defrosted a single portion of pulled pork and made a cuban sandwich for dinner, then froze the rest of the bread. Lunch today is leftovers from the weekend.
Or: put homemade goodies in jar (my spesiality is strawberry-rhubarb jam) and give to friends and family. Never get cluttered up, plus, friends and family have started bringing me things in return. Like homegrown rhubarb. Fish. Shellfish. Tea they don't like. Sure: this temporarily fills my copboards, but it's also free food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 23, 2017, 03:02:09 AM
People who keep and re-use jars, how do you get rid of the smell of the pasta sauce or whatever? The jar itself is fine but the lid is always smelly no matter how much I wash it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 23, 2017, 03:56:19 AM
Just drank a chai latte made from a free sample of pre-mixed powder stuff delivered to my letterbox in 2011!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 23, 2017, 05:08:08 AM
I baked bread from a pack of flour that has been in the cupboard for quite some time. It made 2 wholegrain breads and was enough for 4 days breakfast and lunch. It tastes surprisingly well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on January 23, 2017, 05:23:45 AM
People who keep and re-use jars, how do you get rid of the smell of the pasta sauce or whatever? The jar itself is fine but the lid is always smelly no matter how much I wash it.
I just put it in the dishwasher. Comes out not-smelly unless it has contained chili-oil of some sort. Those I just recycle, no point trying to get that smell out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 23, 2017, 08:04:06 AM
People who keep and re-use jars, how do you get rid of the smell of the pasta sauce or whatever? The jar itself is fine but the lid is always smelly no matter how much I wash it.

I just run the jars and lids through the dishwasher and don't have any odor problems. You could try soaking the smelly parts in hot water with some baking soda overnight, that's how I get strong odors out of plastic containers, works great.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 23, 2017, 03:18:46 PM
I used two of three partial jars of homemade caramel bourbon sauce. I messed it up and the sugar is grainy and the the bourbon was a little too strong (gasp!). I saw a recipe for a caramel cookie bar, like a jam cookie, and the light bulb went off.  Of course that recipe was really butter and sugar heavy, so I found a slightly healthier recipe and added some yogurt, flax seeds and extra oats to it.  They look perfect. Just waiting for them to cool.

I'll use the tiny bits I couldn't scrape out of the jar in some caramel chocolate "lattes" later this week.  I got a clearance jug of chocolate milk that will be the perfect companion for a little coffee and caramel.

Thanks so much to those of you who keep pushing lentil tacos.  They taste like late night teenage Taco Bell minus the additives!  The lentils are so easy to make and reheat well.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 23, 2017, 03:35:53 PM
Well, I didn't eat it- but it went to someone who will!

My last pregnancy I had to drink boost shakes in a last ditch effort to gain any weight at all.  I had 3 left over after we lost the baby.  After about 6 months, I decided to try drinking one, just to note waste them. Those things are disgusting- so 2 sat in the fridge.

We noticed this weekend they expire Saturday. No way was I drinking them (especially since this pregnancy I don't need to gain any more or less than I am).

Posted on Buy Nothing and a woman who says she drinks 1 daily came and picked them up.  YAY for less food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 23, 2017, 08:31:10 PM
Sorry for your loss Iowajes.

We just finished a bottle of mint sauce on a lunch salad of roasted veg, feta and quinoa. Delish, once you've also added olive oil to balance it out. On Sunday night we had pasta with green beans, broccoli and tomato with mint sauce dressing. It was very light and summery, I recommend it.  I realised I actually had three bottles so still two left :/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalfelicia on January 23, 2017, 08:36:01 PM
Made salmon burgers tonight, not bad, but not sure I'd make them again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on January 23, 2017, 08:44:11 PM
Funny, I made salmon burgers tonight too. It was kind of a hodgepodge fish night since we had a little of this and that to use up. DH and DD1 had salmon burgers, I had a mahi mahi burger with pineapple salsa, and DD2 and DM (my dear mother who lives with us) had fish sticks.


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Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 24, 2017, 12:47:12 AM
Shortly before starting up on "eat all the food" again, I had bought a couple of taco kits marked down with a manager's coupon because they were about to expire.  Dozen hard taco shells, flavouring packet, and a small packet of salsa in each.  Not that I thought this was a very efficient way to buy salsa or spices, but thought the tacos might make a nice change from my usual meals.  I tend to buy taco/burrito kits once in a blue moon, usually when they come with a coupon for free grated cheese.  But these were cheap enough to go ahead and get them just for the fun of it.

I'm vegetarian, so I usually use the flavouring packets to make a kind of "Mexican rice," not necessarily to eat with the tacos.  I also had a taco sauce packet left over from a previous occasion, and I've got some more flavouring packets left too.  As soon as I eat down my freezer a bit, I'll make a batch of rice with one of them, and get it portioned away in single serve containers.

Anyway, had already finished one box of the tacos, and decided tonight was a good night to make a start on the other.  Took some cheese (cut up in small chunks and frozen, rescued from a cheese tray after a function months ago), and heated up a couple of tacos with the cheese inside.  Around Halloween got a good deal on several packages of veggie burgers, cooked them all up and froze them.  So I defrosted and chopped one of those up with some of the taco sauce.  A whole fresh avocado, and a big plate of salad (brought home from a function at work on the weekend) completed the meal.  So yummy.

Also took the time tonight to freeze one portion of the veggie/couscous/soya chunk stew that I made few days ago.  I packed all the remaining soya chunks in the freezer portion, and I have one portion left in the fridge, which I added another of the veggie burgers to, just to change things up a bit.  And I took a container of pumpkin puree out of the freezer, which I think has been there for quite a long time.  Still looks fine, not freezer burnt or anything.  I will use some on the dog's evening food, and will use some to make something else with later in the week - could add to another soup or stew, or, since I have a package of muffin mix that I bought on impulse a while back (and haven't opened!) I could probably use some to make slightly healthier convenience baked goods!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 24, 2017, 05:20:19 AM
I managed to not buy any food at all last week!  To be fair, I was traveling for work part of the week, but it still feels like a nice achievement.  Things are getting a little more bare (especially in the carbohydrate department), but I want to challenge myself even more to keep eating through my pantry and freezer.

Last night I finally made the soba noodles I bought about a year ago.  I made a dressing with black vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili-garlic paste, and then added roasted sweet potatoes and onions (cooked yesterday) and roasted eggplant and tofu (from the freezer) - yum!  I also used my InstantPot to cook some butternut squash and get it processed and into the freezer.  I'm totally converted to pressure cooking as the easiest way to cook squash if all you want to do is mash it and use it for baking, etc.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on January 24, 2017, 05:25:19 AM
Totally trying out lentil tacos tonight with the can that has been in my cupboard for two years. Thanks everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 24, 2017, 07:24:01 AM
I am finishing the bag of frozen peas in my lunch today. Planning to finish the puff pastry this week with a balsamic beef (also freezer), cheese & mushroom filling. Did not buy the frozen fruit on sale.  But added 9 cups of chicken/duck stock to the freezer. 

I got two bags of black chia seeds in a swag bag at a Christmas foodie event.  I see people make some kind of tapioca-type pudding with them, or sprinkle them on yogurt or salad.  Is there anything else I should be trying?  (I have already put the sampler of hemp seeds into my granola where I won't notice it.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: I'm a red panda on January 24, 2017, 08:58:17 AM
Had extra cream cheese after the people we do Christmas with requested pumpkin pie instead of a cheesecake. It was about to expire, so we made a fudge recipe.  Not exactly fudge, but very delicious treat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 24, 2017, 09:11:26 AM

I got two bags of black chia seeds in a swag bag at a Christmas foodie event.  I see people make some kind of tapioca-type pudding with them, or sprinkle them on yogurt or salad.  Is there anything else I should be trying?  (I have already put the sampler of hemp seeds into my granola where I won't notice it.)

These are a few of my favorite ways to use chia:

Chocolate Chia seed pudding. I usually sweeten with dates instead of what they suggest. Maple syrup works well too. I prefer this to the "Tapioca" style because sometimes chia seeds don't look all that appetizing, or I don't want to be picking them out of my teeth later.  Also this seems less healthy in pudding form :) http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/ (http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/)

Refrigerator Jam pretty much any fruit combo will work, so it is good for using stuff up. Don't always need the extra honey depending on the fruit you usehttp://thankfulexpressions.blogspot.ca/2013/07/strawberry-rhubarb-refrigerator-jam.html (http://thankfulexpressions.blogspot.ca/2013/07/strawberry-rhubarb-refrigerator-jam.html)

Rasinetes Protein bites - cuz, yum!  Alos handy to have on hand for grab and go snacks. http://teaspoonliving.com/2015/06/raisinets-protein-bites/ (http://teaspoonliving.com/2015/06/raisinets-protein-bites/)

Lemon Energy Bites - Also delish, I really like making them with Brazil nuts instead of almonds! http://www.theleangreenbean.com/lemon-energy-balls/ (http://www.theleangreenbean.com/lemon-energy-balls/)

Lemon Chia Pancakes (grain-free) Good if you have lots of coconut flour to use up. Again, use whatever sweetener you want, if any. http://www.anthonysgoods.com/blogs/recipes/102442374-lemon-chia-pancakes (http://www.anthonysgoods.com/blogs/recipes/102442374-lemon-chia-pancakes)

Chia Buckwheat Pizza Crust Okay this is a WEIRD one. My hubby made it while I was out of town and when he said he wanted to show me when I got back I was suspicious. I looked at the recipe and was even more suspicious. Then he made the "gloop" and I was thinking there is no way. Turns out I was wrong. It is surprisingly tasty. It is not really, yeast pizza dough, but it is the best gluten-free sub we have found and it is VERY filling. You just got to make sure you really bake it well before adding the toppings. We usually flip it over and bake for longer than it says. It might take some experimenting to figure out how you like it, but if you can't do gluten it is worth playing with. http://nyoutritious.com/grain-free-chia-buckwheat-pizza/ (http://nyoutritious.com/grain-free-chia-buckwheat-pizza/)

Instant oatmeal packets I use to make these up for Hubby to take to work or for mornings he started really early. I don't know if they call for Cia, but I always add some to the mix.http://www.theyummylife.com/Instant_Oatmeal_Packets (http://www.theyummylife.com/Instant_Oatmeal_Packets)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on January 24, 2017, 10:19:54 AM
I am finishing the bag of frozen peas in my lunch today. Planning to finish the puff pastry this week with a balsamic beef (also freezer), cheese & mushroom filling. Did not buy the frozen fruit on sale.  But added 9 cups of chicken/duck stock to the freezer. 

I got two bags of black chia seeds in a swag bag at a Christmas foodie event.  I see people make some kind of tapioca-type pudding with them, or sprinkle them on yogurt or salad.  Is there anything else I should be trying?  (I have already put the sampler of hemp seeds into my granola where I won't notice it.)

I like to let a couple tablespoons of them sit in a cup of water until they thicken up (you can leave it in the fridge overnight) and then add that to smoothies - it makes the smoothie thicker but doesn't change the taste. I've started substituting that for almond milk.

You can also make drinks with that mixture if you add it to juice - http://www.butteryum.org/blog/2016/6/23/chia-seed-drink. Delicious! Tastes like a jello drink. :) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 25, 2017, 10:47:03 AM
I got two bags of black chia seeds in a swag bag at a Christmas foodie event.  I see people make some kind of tapioca-type pudding with them, or sprinkle them on yogurt or salad.  Is there anything else I should be trying?  (I have already put the sampler of hemp seeds into my granola where I won't notice it.)
I use black chia seeds in my overnight oats.  I think it makes the dish feel more like dessert/pudding, which I like.  Kinda like http://wholefully.com/2016/03/07/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 25, 2017, 11:02:55 PM
Also took the time tonight to freeze one portion of the veggie/couscous/soya chunk stew that I made few days ago.  I packed all the remaining soya chunks in the freezer portion, and I have one portion left in the fridge, which I added another of the veggie burgers to, just to change things up a bit.  And I took a container of pumpkin puree out of the freezer, which I think has been there for quite a long time.  Still looks fine, not freezer burnt or anything.  I will use some on the dog's evening food, and will use some to make something else with later in the week - could add to another soup or stew, or, since I have a package of muffin mix that I bought on impulse a while back (and haven't opened!) I could probably use some to make slightly healthier convenience baked goods!

For supper, I finished the rest of the veggie/couscous stew (except for the one portion that I froze a couple days ago) along with the veggie burger patty I mentioned above.

I also came home for a late lunch before going back to work for an evening meeting.  I have ramen-like noodles that come in a package with multiples, but plain, no flavouring package and not individually wrapped.  I guess they're just chow mein noodles?  Anyway, I did a quick microwave of a handful of julienned broccoli/carrot/cabbage mix, then mixed with the noodles, added a spoon of peanut butter and a couple splashes of soy sauce and stirred it all up.  Quick, easy (especially using pre-chopped veggies) and yummy!

Went grocery shopping tonight and bought ONLY produce and bread (except for replacement bottle of multi-vitamin).  Will write more in the "Uber Frugal" thread, but just noting it here to celebrate the fact that I didn't even look at the cereal, granola bars, canned goods, etc.  Just fruit and veggies - oh, and a container of hummous.  I am so pleased with myself!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on January 26, 2017, 10:45:18 AM
Joining the party! I have a bunch of stuff in my pantry and freezer where I bought something for a recipe, used as much as the recipe called for, and now I have the rest just sitting there. Last night I made up a bunch of instant oatmeal packets from the link above, and DH (the oatmeal curmudgeon . . . who insists he likes oatmeal right up until the very moment someone offers it to him for breakfast) asked me to include him when I make oatmeal in the morning. We'll see, LOL.

Lots of frozen fruit in the freezer and protein powder in the cupboard - smoothies haven't sounded as appealing in cold dark December and January, but I'm going to start adding them to the mix again. My goal is to run through ALL the frozen fruit before I buy any more. Ditto dried fruit. Also lots of seeds and nuts - I may be making my own almond milk for a while.

Suggestions most welcome for using up coconut flour, almond flour, preserved lemons, and dried ancho chiles. Plus, we never manage to use up all the fresh cilantro or parsley before it gets wilted and sad (hello expensive compost pile), has anyone had luck with drying or freezing it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on January 26, 2017, 12:30:04 PM
Smartycat - Danielle Walker has some great coconut and almond flour recipes! Her website is called Against All Grain and her books (from the library, of course!) have many more as well!

Pulled a roast from the freezer for dinner two nights from now to thaw in the fridge. Found a big bag of frozen mixed veggies that will go with the roasted chicken I'm doing tonite in the Instant pot. Pulled a bag of bread ends that I've been saving to make stuffing in the crockpot as a side tonite.

Thinking two to three days ahead keeps me ahead with thawing meat for meals. We buy 2 sides of beef and 60 chickens every year from a farm so I have to be very intentional about using it up before it's time to get next year's meat. Chickens are in July and beef is the end of October, for us.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 26, 2017, 11:31:40 PM
Tonight I'm making this:

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/37178/pumpkin+spinach+and+lentil+lasagne

It uses up half a box of lasagne from the cupboard that's been there a while, but in honour of Ultra Frugal January, I'm using a lentil & ricotta recipe instead of buying meat. It's about half the price.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 27, 2017, 12:36:25 AM
Had to toss an expired bottle of salad dressing, a soggy cucumber and some pita bread that went mouldy in two days (we've had really hot weather here).

Portioned and froze the bacon I bought on sale.

Used up some bacon, eggs and veggies in fried rice, which will feed me for several days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on January 27, 2017, 03:28:39 AM
Any ideas for a 'gentleman's relish' that seems to be mostly anchovies (why yes, it was a Christmas present)?

Could I just add it to some pasta sauce with a tomato base. Or will DH notice and cry foul?!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on January 27, 2017, 08:47:07 AM
Plus, we never manage to use up all the fresh cilantro or parsley before it gets wilted and sad (hello expensive compost pile), has anyone had luck with drying or freezing it?

Yes, I rinse the parsley/cilantro and let it dry a bit in the colander. Slip into a freezer bag and freeze! It is fine for using in stocks, soups, or stews where you are going to cook it anyway and the texture is not so important.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 27, 2017, 08:59:51 AM
Any ideas for a 'gentleman's relish' that seems to be mostly anchovies (why yes, it was a Christmas present)?

Could I just add it to some pasta sauce with a tomato base. Or will DH notice and cry foul?!

I totally had to google. Never heard of this! The recipes I found had these serving suggestions:

Use right away as a spread on toast with sliced cucumber or watercress, or use as an additional ingredient to a cottage pie or scrambled eggs, or as a salty condiment for a baked potato, an addition to tomato-based sauces, and even as a topping for a seared steak. Gentlemen’s relish will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or wrapped in plastic and frozen for up to three months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on January 27, 2017, 09:14:31 AM
Thank you Swick. It is a bit of an unusual one, DH literally threw the container at me and said "WTF is this?"

Always a gracious and grateful present recipient, that one. (Thankfully this was not in front of the giver).

Thanks for all the suggestions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 27, 2017, 09:39:07 AM
Thank you Swick. It is a bit of an unusual one, DH literally threw the container at me and said "WTF is this?"

Always a gracious and grateful present recipient, that one. (Thankfully this was not in front of the giver).

Thanks for all the suggestions!

It is super interesting! Even a wikipedia article about the history of it. I don't think it is a gift I would make for someone unless I was *sure* it would be something that they would enjoy, it is definitely an odd one :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on January 27, 2017, 02:59:20 PM
Thanks for the suggestions on fresh herbs and coconut/almond flours!

After sorting the pantry and spice cupboard, I found a few things with both an oversupply AND recent still-unopened purchases (SmartyCat’s grocery store motto: as God as my witness, I will never run out of cumin again), so I returned a few things to Trader Joe’s today. Heh - it returned a whopping $7.47, but now my stores of tahini, cumin and TJ’s everyday seasoning are more reasonable.

Also down: 5 black tea bags in battered packaging plus some random whole spices-> Thai iced tea base, mirin -> homemade teriyaki sauce, and this week’s abundance of fresh herbs and lemons were made into chimichurri-inspired green sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 27, 2017, 02:59:50 PM


Suggestions most welcome for using up coconut flour, almond flour, preserved lemons, and dried ancho chiles. Plus, we never manage to use up all the fresh cilantro or parsley before it gets wilted and sad (hello expensive compost pile), has anyone had luck with drying or freezing it?

Do you drink gin & tonic?  I use a quarter of a preserved lime (just like preserved lemon except lime) instead of fresh lime in my G&T.  Or use a blender to get the preserved lemons into paste/slug.  Then you can toss a little in salad dressing,mix with veggies, or anywhere else salt with a citrus tang would be appropriate. 

When I have extra parsley, cilantro or other soft herbs I pulverize in the blender (including soft stems) and then mix with olive oil.  This will greatly extend the life of the herb.  Or mix with butter instead and call it a compound butter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 27, 2017, 04:39:06 PM
Any ideas for a 'gentleman's relish'

I really expected this to be something very different...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 27, 2017, 11:02:13 PM
As I logged out of my online banking website earlier today, there was a link to this article:

https://discover.rbcroyalbank.com/how-a-failed-thai-take-out-order-inspired-us-to-eat-the-house/ (https://discover.rbcroyalbank.com/how-a-failed-thai-take-out-order-inspired-us-to-eat-the-house/)

Now, if you ignore the fact that a family of 4 has a "usual" weekly grocery budget of $250 (and that the $250 doesn't include the kids' school lunches, or, presumably, a semi-regular habit of getting $60 of take-out), then this is a pretty awesome article!

A quote from the end of the article:

What’s more, I realized that I probably didn’t need to buy groceries as often as I had been — clearly we were stocking some serious surplus and had spent money in the past year on food we really didn’t need.

From our eat-the-house experiment, we became more diligent about what we bought, more disciplined about eating what we had on hand, and more conscious about spending money unnecessarily.

Your Challenge
So what’s in your cupboard? While you might not have a full week’s worth of food supplies stored up in your home, you probably have a few days’ worth of sustenance on hand. Why not challenge yourself to eat your house this week? The immediate savings will be a great plus, and the longer-term awareness of what you’re stocking is sure to mean lower grocery bills and less food waste down the road.


Can't quite believe that's from my bank...

Anyway, back to my personal "Eat the House" efforts over the last couple of days. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 28, 2017, 04:22:28 PM
Suggestions most welcome for using up coconut flour, almond flour, preserved lemons, and dried ancho chiles. Plus, we never manage to use up all the fresh cilantro or parsley before it gets wilted and sad (hello expensive compost pile), has anyone had luck with drying or freezing it?

For cilantro & parsley, have you tried making compound butters?  Apparently they freeze really well.  Otherwise, put it into the freezer for the next time you make stock.

For the alternative flours, I like http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2016/10/best-low-carb-cranberry-muffins.html (just make sure to add more cinnamon, cardamom and/or nutmeg).

Preserved lemons I use in lots of things.  Chop them up finely for roast vegetable salads with a tahini & lemon dressing.  Add them to zucchini fritters.  Mix it into a spiced eggplant shashuka with poached eggs and crusty bread.  Add to avocado toast.  Put into orzo salad and sprinkle with pine nuts.  Put it into couscous before you add boiling stock to re-hydrate.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: alexanderhamilton on January 30, 2017, 03:36:08 PM
I just joined the forum and am so excited to use up the stuff in our pantry and freezer. I am too cheap to throw things out so we are eating them!
I have had some won ton wrappers in the freezer (scared to know how long). Not a clue as to why I bought them but saw a recipe on smittenkitchen for wonton soup and voila! It made enough won tons to freeze some for another round of soup.
I look forward to stop hoarding food and buy what we will really use instead of shuffling it around or having piles fall because it gets so crammed but nothing to eat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on January 30, 2017, 06:08:44 PM
I had some mixed peas and carrots on the verge of freezer burn and some frozen turkey gravy leftover from thanksgiving, so I decided to make pasties (note to the Cornish and the Yoopers, these were not legit Cornish pasties). I used my grandma's famous pie crust recipe and a rotisserie chicken from Costco. Shredded the chicken, mixed with the gravy and peas/carrots. These are a big hit in my house because who doesn't like to eat pie for dinner? I will eat almost anything inside of a pie crust. As a bonus, I turned the bones of the rotisserie chicken into a delicious stock using veggie scraps that I keep in a bag in the freezer too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 30, 2017, 06:21:33 PM
Many of you talk about making stock from veggie scraps.  I've done a bit of googling, but it's still a mystery to me.  If I peel the carrot because I don't want to eat the pesticides and things on it, then I certainly don't want to use the carrot peel in stock.  But I could see using the tops and bottoms off onions, or onion skins?  Maybe the really leafy part of celery than can be a little too much leaf for raw eating or soup.  The bottom white pithy part of the celery.  Garlic peels.  Potato peels?  Again I run into the pesticide thing. 

What does your stock usually include?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 30, 2017, 06:33:48 PM
I don't think you are supposed to use potato skins, at least that is what I have always heard?

Basically, I use whatever veggie scraps I have on hand, but I only do it with organic veg so pretty much in the summer when we are growing our own or from our CSA.

Dinner tonight is a big pot of stew from fridge leftovers. Using up some leftover roasted squash, sweet potato, eggplant, some sad looking onions, some ground beef, some leftover tomato sauce. Looks good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on January 30, 2017, 07:20:19 PM
Many of you talk about making stock from veggie scraps.  I've done a bit of googling, but it's still a mystery to me.  If I peel the carrot because I don't want to eat the pesticides and things on it, then I certainly don't want to use the carrot peel in stock.  But I could see using the tops and bottoms off onions, or onion skins?  Maybe the really leafy part of celery than can be a little too much leaf for raw eating or soup.  The bottom white pithy part of the celery.  Garlic peels.  Potato peels?  Again I run into the pesticide thing. 

What does your stock usually include?

It's mainly carrot peels and tops, celery stalks and leaves, and onion layers and peels. All normally organic. I usually buy far too much celery and before it goes bad I freeze what I am not going to use immediately to use in my stock.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on January 30, 2017, 07:25:45 PM
Oop. Was grocery shopping night. Forgot my wallet. But a win because it veggie-hash skillet in my cast iron pan! Tonight's dinner was: kale, sweet potato, onion, garlic, ground sausage, and 1 egg. Flour tortilla. Cholula.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 30, 2017, 08:07:17 PM
Many of you talk about making stock from veggie scraps.  I've done a bit of googling, but it's still a mystery to me.  If I peel the carrot because I don't want to eat the pesticides and things on it, then I certainly don't want to use the carrot peel in stock.  But I could see using the tops and bottoms off onions, or onion skins?  Maybe the really leafy part of celery than can be a little too much leaf for raw eating or soup.  The bottom white pithy part of the celery.  Garlic peels.  Potato peels?  Again I run into the pesticide thing. 

What does your stock usually include?

It's mainly carrot peels and tops, celery stalks and leaves, and onion layers and peels. All normally organic. I usually buy far too much celery and before it goes bad I freeze what I am not going to use immediately to use in my stock.

This makes sense. Thanks. I often buy the organic carrots but then I don't peel them!  I can save tops though. I'll start a collection.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 30, 2017, 08:08:18 PM
Threw a few chicken breasts in my instant pot with some bbq sauce that has been on my shelf for a while. 
I also used up a container of steel cut oatmeal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on January 31, 2017, 09:56:31 AM
Thanks again for all the suggestions! I’m going to make compound butter with this week’s leftover cilantro.

Adding to the “used up” list: sunbutter, arrowroot (both went into no-bake sunbutter crunch bars from Against All Grain), about a million individual soy sauce and red pepper flake packets from all the takeout we used to order, homemade 7-spice blend, 1 lb raw almonds, and a few things I use all the time and will restock (soy sauce, chili oil, maple syrup).

Those oatmeal packets are the bomb! Once I’ve used up our stores of breakfast stuff, these are worth keeping on hand in the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on January 31, 2017, 10:08:02 AM
Thanks again for all the suggestions! I’m going to make compound butter with this week’s leftover cilantro.

Adding to the “used up” list: sunbutter, arrowroot (both went into no-bake sunbutter crunch bars from Against All Grain), about a million individual soy sauce and red pepper flake packets from all the takeout we used to order, homemade 7-spice blend, 1 lb raw almonds, and a few things I use all the time and will restock (soy sauce, chili oil, maple syrup).

Those oatmeal packets are the bomb! Once I’ve used up our stores of breakfast stuff, these are worth keeping on hand in the pantry.

Nice! Glad you are finding them handy :)

I think one of the best ways to stay on top of those little packages is to put them into a more useable or thought about form. I consolidate as much as I can, it creates space, makes things easier to find and allows me the satisfaction of getting rid of packaging :)  So for soy sauce, I just empty the packages into the soy bottle. Spices and such I just dump into whatever spice jar they belong with. All the little bits add up quick!

Re: Preserved Lemons - I use them in any savory dish that calls for regular lemon. This is one of my favorites:http://www.jaysbakingmecrazy.com/2016/01/06/paleo-lemon-butter-chicken/ (http://www.jaysbakingmecrazy.com/2016/01/06/paleo-lemon-butter-chicken/)

Also, I recently tried dehydrating some strips of preserved lemon. They turned out really well so I am going to dry a few more and put them in a salt grinder with some chunky salt and make a "Preserved Lemon Salt" for Christmas next year.

RE Herbs: If you happen to have a vacuum sealer with a wide mouth canning jar attachment, you can wash and spin dry your herbs and then vacuum seal them. As long as you reseal after you use them they can last for a couple weeks in the fridge.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 31, 2017, 10:17:45 AM
Many of you talk about making stock from veggie scraps.  I've done a bit of googling, but it's still a mystery to me.  If I peel the carrot because I don't want to eat the pesticides and things on it, then I certainly don't want to use the carrot peel in stock.  [...]
What does your stock usually include?

I initially put in carrot peels and onion skins.  Now I compost those - I feel that carrot skin has a taste I really dislike and onion skins weren't worth it.  I once put in bell pepper, and that was not a good taste either, almost as bad as the time I tried broccoli trimmings. 

I just put carcass, bones and meat trimmings into a big container in the freezer, and when it is full, I put that and a quartered onion into my pasta pot (using the insert) with salt and a bit of vinegar.  It usually is the last parts from a duck + a chicken, or 2-3 chickens.  I don't do garlic because it gives too strong a flavour.  Simmer for 2-3 hours.  Taste.  Then I just pull out the pasta insert that has all the bones and bits, and have stock left in the pot.  I do not skim, or pre-roast the bones, or make sure that it is all of one type of animal (I rarely have fish, but I don't make fish stock because of a bad experience).  I could then pull off the usable meat, but instead it just goes into the city green bin program.  Except if I have a duck neck.  I always pick at that - so yummy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on January 31, 2017, 12:41:33 PM
My pantry challenge month is just about over. I still have to total up my totals for the month but I'm pretty sure I'm right around $150 which was the goal. I have to admit I'm a little bit excited about doing a more normal shop next weekend - chicken breasts are on sale and I am totally going to stock up!

I had another good week on the clearing out old crap front:


I also finally did a freezer inventory, although I still need to type it up and make it pretty. I am pretty low on meat, hence the excitement for the chicken sale. The chest freezer is about 1/2 empty, and pretty much everything I have is in normal, rational person quantities. The only thing that I think is getting a bit old and screaming to get used are 2 bags of white chocolate chips, so I guess I'll have to make some cookies!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on January 31, 2017, 09:10:44 PM
For dinner tonight, I had a weird combo of leftovers:

1.  Small serving of boiled potato and onion
2.  Leftover "rice and peas" from a huge plate I was sent home with after a function yesterday
3.  Leftover coleslaw from the same function - it had so much dressing on it, I added an equal amount of shredded broccoli/carrot/cabbage mix from the fridge, for a gigantic serving of veggies - my mom would be so proud!

Also did some batch cooking today, with an emphasis on cooking up stuff that's overstocked or been hanging around for a while, as well as using some of the produce I've bought more recently:

1.  Pot of rice, using an Uncle Ben's herb and wild rice blend.  Added a handful of tiny red lentils (cook in the same amount of time as the rice), some exotic dried berries that look and taste kind of like cranberries, and also added a couple of small onions.

2.  Using three roti from the freezer (that were annoyingly stuck together until defrosted) and most of a can of fava and garbanzo beans, and part of a pkg of taco seasoning, plus some onion and a little salsa and taco sauce, I baked some burritos with potato and sweet potato chunks roasted in the pan alongside. 

3.  Excess potato and sweet potato roasted separately, stirred up with chopped garlic in oil.

4.  The rest of the can of beans, with some diced carrot/celery/red peppers from the freezer (salvaged from a veggie tray after a reception, and flash frozen), with the rest of the taco seasoning and some water and oil, also went in the oven at the same time.  When I took it out, there was too much water still, so I threw in a handful of couscous to soak it up. 

5.  Half a pkg of low fat banana muffin mix, with some rehydrated dried apple chunks that have been in my cupboard forever, and using a very liquid pumpkin puree from the freezer instead of the water.  I also wanted some raisins in them, but I seem to be out.  But someone gave me very fruit heavy trail mix for Christmas, so I picked enough raisins out to add to the muffin mix.  Baked in a cake pan instead of muffin tins for easier cleaning.

6.  In the morning, my dog gets 2 cups of a high quality dental/maintenance diet, but in the evening, when I'm going to be adding salt and water to her food (due to a medical condition) I give her a cheaper grocery store food.  Have been giving 1 cup, and supplementing with odds and ends of leftover people food.  Tonight the leftover food was:  lightly cooked sweet potato peels, some leftover rice and peas (I couldn't finish it all), scraps of roti left in the bottom of the bag, and all of that was topped with the liquid from the can of beans which already has salt in it, so no need to add more!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 01, 2017, 08:17:01 AM
Officially joining in preparation for Uber Frugal January.  My main goal is to eat everything in my freezer & chest freezer so that by summer it's empty and ready for the new harvest.  There's also a few things languishing in the pantry that will be good to use up.

The trick will be to plan ahead and make some big meals every weekend so that it keeps things easy for me on weeknights.  I also want to turn my freezer full of ingredients (mostly veggies and meat) into a freezer full of ready-to-go single-serving meals.

Had a great January!  I spent a total of $94.50 on groceries, which is at least $70 lower than my average from last year. Both of my freezers are still pretty much full, but I did make a little progress on the ingredients vs. finished meals ratio.

Wins: 

Defrosted and cooked a turkey that had been in my freezer for about 14 months.  Made some great turkey noodle soup and now have that, plus some turkey meat and turkey broth in the freezer.

Cooked and froze all of my squash and onions from last fall.  Now to tackle the potatoes, rutabaga, and beets!

New challenges for February:

I have lots of home-canned goods from a few years ago that need to get eaten.  I always get a little nervous about eating them, especially when they've been around for a few years, even though I followed all the proper food safety guidelines and they should be totally safe.  I think it'll be fine once I get back in the habit of using them.

I need to figure out how best to balance eating down my food stores with eating a healthy overall diet.  I think I just need to give myself permission to buy fruits and vegetables as needed to supplement what I have at home already.  (For example, I don't really have any green vegetables in the freezer, so will need to buy those.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 01, 2017, 10:52:38 AM
This morning's breakfast finished one of 4 jars of jam in my house.  Another (homemade and gifted to me) probably needs to be thrown out.  It is ... odd.  And now it's also quite old.  Realistically, I'm not going to eat it.  And I have two more jars that I will eat, so will try to remember to toss that one tonight, since I want to do a bit more fridge cleaning out anyway - assess what else is in there that needs to get used.

Also, yesterday I did a little re-org in my tea and coffee cupboard.  I'm out of regular ground coffee until I make it to Starbucks to get another pound ground (have a couple of pounds in stock - from my sister who works at Starbucks and gets free coffee but doesn't drink enough at home to use it all up).  Found a small sample type pack of "coconut coffee."  Not my favourite flavour. (Oh, the alliteration!  And the Canadian spelling two words in a row!)  Actually, not a huge fan of flavoured coffee at all.  But mixed half and half with unflavoured decaf, it'll do for a couple of days.  That will let me wait until I'm driving past a Starbucks before stopping in, rather than making a special trip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 01, 2017, 01:50:53 PM
Also did some batch cooking today, with an emphasis on cooking up stuff that's overstocked or been hanging around for a while, as well as using some of the produce I've bought more recently:

...snip

4.  The rest of the can of beans, with some diced carrot/celery/red peppers from the freezer (salvaged from a veggie tray after a reception, and flash frozen), with the rest of the taco seasoning and some water and oil, also went in the oven at the same time.  When I took it out, there was too much water still, so I threw in a handful of couscous to soak it up. 

Half of this mixture (taco bean couscous?) went into taco shells, along with some chunks of cheese from the freezer (salvaged from the same reception, as I recall!) and avocado slices.  I called that lunch, and it was delicious.  Though, between the packaged taco seasoning, and the packaged taco shells, it was certainly not low sodium!  Now that it's settled a bit, I'm more than ready for a great big glass of water!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on February 02, 2017, 11:57:18 AM
I was burrowing through a lower cabinet and found that I seem to buy a package of kidney beans every week, I don't cook a package of kidney beans every week.  This means I have 7 more bags than I need. So, chili will be on the menu soon!

My challenge this month is to plan 3 meals a week using items from the back of the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 02, 2017, 12:22:01 PM
Working on clearing out the freezer. 
I pulled out a package of chicken sausage to add to my dinner, lunch, and dinner tonight. 
Continuing to cook random pieces of chicken  (buy in bulk and don't use it all, so I freeze it) in my Instant Pot (SO amazing to cook from frozen in ~30 min)
Eating frozen vegetables (eating broccoli right now)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 02, 2017, 03:38:21 PM
I was burrowing through a lower cabinet and found that I seem to buy a package of kidney beans every week, I don't cook a package of kidney beans every week.  This means I have 7 more bags than I need. So, chili will be on the menu soon!

My challenge this month is to plan 3 meals a week using items from the back of the pantry.

Wowza.  That's a lot of kidney beans.  That will make a lot of chili.  And that will make a lot of ... "fresh air."

But I'm not that much better (though I have a bit more variety in the cupboard).  I know that I have some brown lentils, and some split peas, and some bean soup mix, and some canned beans of various kinds, and as well, the only thing I've really been using regularly, which is the teeny tiny little red lentils that I throw in almost every time I make rice, because they cook so quickly.

Anyway, for what was supposed to be a late lunch, I brought food to work with me.  The rest of the bean/veg/couscous mix, plus an olive focaccia roll toasted at home with mozzarella cheese.  Just getting around to eating it now (5:40 local time) before going to my evening function.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 02, 2017, 04:18:43 PM
On the menu for dinner is what my grandpa referred to as "Garbage Soup" 

Tonight's version includes some leftover Ham stock, some frozen spinach and shredded zucchini I had thawed for other meals but didn't end up using when our schedule got all messed up. Some instant veggie soup powder that my mom makes and I *think* I have some frozen meatballs somewhere in the freezer.

One thing that has helped is I have started a grocery list/price list and started keeping track of our staples. Our actual staples and not foods we *think* should be staples, but in reality, don't use often enough. Like no matter how great a deal that 50 lb of Pinto beans is, it isn't a staple we use often enough to justify getting it in that big of bag - although at one point it would have been.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 03, 2017, 12:49:15 AM
So, I dropped by my mom's place tonight, to carry in her new shredder from the car and set it up.  In passing (can't remember how it came up) I mentioned that I was overstocked on certain food items, and trying not to buy anything other than produce, dairy and bread.

Somehow this translated into her sending me home with:

A can of lentils of indeterminate age
An open box of Girl Guide cookies
A bag (2 cups?) of sesame seeds from the bulk store

Any suggestions for how to use the sesame seeds?  I don't really want to make a lot of baked goods (because then I will end up eating a lot of baked goods!) so would prefer suggestions of how I can use them up a little bit at a time.

For supper, I ate pretty light - coleslaw type salad, and roasted potato/sweet potato with garlic, cooked the other night.  Because it was all "fresh" type food, it doesn't really count toward eating all the food in my house.  Except for the salad dressing, which, it turns out, is expired.  Any thoughts on how long past expiry date you'd use salad dressing?  (It was creamy cucumber, if that matters.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 03, 2017, 10:12:00 AM

A bag (2 cups?) of sesame seeds from the bulk store

Any suggestions for how to use the sesame seeds?  I don't really want to make a lot of baked goods (because then I will end up eating a lot of baked goods!) so would prefer suggestions of how I can use them up a little bit at a time.


You could process the seeds in a blender or food processor until they turn into Tahini. Then you can use it in baked goods, on toast, in hummus (you can use other staples then chickpeas to make Hummus - maybe those lentils?)

I hit on this recipe to make nut milk out of nut butters:http://www.thepretendbaker.com/easiest-cashew-milk-ever/ (http://www.thepretendbaker.com/easiest-cashew-milk-ever/)

 and I have been making myself a "Helva" style hot chocolate by whizzing some water, tahini, cococa, a little vanilla and whatever sweetener you want in the blender and heating it up. I ususally use dates but if you want it even more Helva flavoured honey would be best!

Or, to be boring, you can store sesame seeds forever in the freezer and just take out some to toast whenever you need them :)

Ohh or toasted and tossed on these amazing chicken wings: http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/amazing-salt-and-pepper-chicken-wings/ (http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/amazing-salt-and-pepper-chicken-wings/) The recipe doesn't call for them but I always add them they make em look super extra fancy

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on February 03, 2017, 10:23:18 AM
Another idea for sesame seeds is a lot of Korean cooking. 

You can make  a simple marinade for pork chops, chicken, or thin strips of beef:
1/2 - 1 cup rice wine
couple tablespoons of soy sauce (less for chicken)
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp salt (a little more for chicken)
1/2- 1 tsp black pepper
1 or 2 Tbsp sugar, brown or white fine
chopped clove garlic
chopped white and light green parts couple of scallions
1 Tbsp sesame seeds

All measurements are approximate, adjust as you like. Soak meat in marinade for about an hour, then broil or bake according to thickness of meat.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 03, 2017, 10:31:16 AM
You've received better advice, but I like to toast sesame seeds and then toss them on everything.  If I make frozen broccoli, then I add some sesame seeds.  Bam! Tasty! On salads!  On savory overnight oats. 

We finished a package of chicken sausage last night (pulled from the freezer, 2 more to go). 
Used boxed dessert gift (from Christmas) to make a pie for a potluck tonight

I'm working on drinking down my tea collection.  Our dry goods are out of control, but our freezer looks a lot better.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on February 03, 2017, 11:38:40 AM
I made an ancient box of jello for the kids to snack on. (Now I make my own gummies but need to use up the old crap too I guess). One of the teachers at daycare is leaving and so we took a Christmas gift from 2 years ago - cookie mix in a mason jar- and made it into going away cookies. They tasted great, even though the mix was old. 2 more pantry items cleared.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on February 03, 2017, 11:58:29 AM
One more vote for turning the sesame seeds into tahini. That’s what I did with my surplus, and while it’s darker and more dense than commercial tahini (my recipe called for toasting the seeds first)  I’ve made some great hummus with it.

This week’s progress:
On a mission: chickpeas (made hummus and lemon-roasted garlic-chickpea soup, both excellent) and chlorella tablets (which had lived in my desk drawer waiting to be devoured as a healthy snack . . . right). These will both take a while to work my way through, but I got a good start this week.

Gone, baby, gone: the meat-spinach muffins that used up surplus taco bake, which in turn had used up surplus ground beef. The muffins were . . . acceptable, LOL. I finally ate the last one yesterday! Also finished up frozen lamb stock, which I mixed half and half with chicken stock in the chickpea soup.

Up for this weekend: making soup from two winter squashes my brother gave us during the holidays.

Any suggestions for frozen okra? I bought it to make gumbo then never got around to it. I’m thinking maybe Alton Brown’s fried okra recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 03, 2017, 02:22:57 PM
Wow, you guys are awesome! 

I should probably have mentioned that I'm vegetarian, so some of the suggestions won't work for me.  But maybe someone else also has a package of sesame seeds in their cupboards, and will benefit.

I'm wondering, if I do make tahini, how long does is last for?  It's just me here, and I already have a container of store bought hummous in the fridge.  (Also - the blender I got for my birthday 1.5 years ago is still in the box.  Which should tell you how often I make things like that...)

I also appreciate the suggestion of pre-roasting the seeds, so they're ready to add to all kinds of things, and the suggestion to freeze them.  Especially helpful since I realized I already had half a package of sesame seeds at home (tucked away in the fridge).

And oh, the lemon-roasted garlic-chickpea soup sounds great!  Made me think of a Lebanese lemon lentil soup I used to buy at a soup and sandwich place near a job, oh, 20 years ago.  I think I will use the lentils, along with the last bit of a bag of spinach I'd stuffed in the freezer, and some of my 10 lbs of onion, etc, to make something like that next week.  (I already have a couple of ready meals in the fridge to eat first.)

In other news, I had 2 single tea bags kicking around from years ago.  One was the last of a box of chocolate mint flavoured black tea that I'd bought.  The other some foreign (i.e. couldn't read anything on the label) but obviously bubble gum flavoured tea that someone sent me in a care package.

I tried the bubble gum stuff.  Which seemed to be bubble gum mint, or some equally strange tasting combination.  Not good.  I poured it out, and am drinking the chocolate mint right now instead.  Not my favourite, but hot and wet and not absolutely disgusting.  (Next up on the hit list - two hot chocolate packages from the same era!)

And did I also post about getting rid of the odd and old jar of jam earlier this week?  It was so hard and disgusting it was hard to get out of the jar.  I found several other odd and old preserves that people had given me, that either just weren't to my taste or that I doubted the safety of.  So a little extra room on my fridge door.  (Next up on the hit list - some old maraschino cherries, that I can use on the odd occasion I'm having a drink at home - I'll have brown cow with cherries, rather than a glass of wine - added bonus of using up some old liquor!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 03, 2017, 03:00:38 PM
I currently have barley in the pressure cooker and onions and mushrooms sautéing on the stove. I'm making a bit of beef broth gravy and will serve it over it.

The barley has been hanging out in my fridge for more than two years. Now the only ingredients that old are about 2 tbsp of peanut butter (in the fridge, I only use it for baking) and some sea salt. No need to rush the salt consumption.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 03, 2017, 03:50:30 PM
I tried the bubble gum stuff.  Which seemed to be bubble gum mint, or some equally strange tasting combination.
*Shudders*

Opps, sorry forgot about you being vegetarian, PJ. The chicken recipe would probably be relly good over tofu too...

I'm not sure if we have enough veggies to keep us from going to the store over the weekend, but we might try and see if we can stretch it out. Nothing like heavy snow and wind blowing everything sideways to make you not want to leave the house!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 03, 2017, 11:39:55 PM
I tried the bubble gum stuff.  Which seemed to be bubble gum mint, or some equally strange tasting combination.
*Shudders*

Opps, sorry forgot about you being vegetarian, PJ. The chicken recipe would probably be relly good over tofu too...

I'm not sure if we have enough veggies to keep us from going to the store over the weekend, but we might try and see if we can stretch it out. Nothing like heavy snow and wind blowing everything sideways to make you not want to leave the house!

LOL!  Yes, I took one sip, then poured it out.  I knew it was bubblegum something - the picture on the wrapper made that obvious.  But I was thinking like a "dessert tea," black tea plus berry flavour, or black tea with cinnamon.  But honestly, it was pretty foul!

And yes, I was thinking that a couple of the meat plus sauce plus sesame seed recipes would probably work with tofu substituted.  Don't think I have any on hand at the moment, but I think I'll check the prices when I grocery shop next.  Though it would defeat the purpose of Eat All The Food participation if I start buying things like tofu just to use up things like sesame seeds!

(Oh, and by the way - I wouldn't have expected you to remember that I'm veg!  But what a sweet response!  Stay warm!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on February 04, 2017, 05:09:37 AM
PJ, I sprinkle sesame seeds on dinner omlettes (usually seasoned with a little soy sauce, served with steamed veges and rice), on roast veges, and yes, on tofu. Yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on February 04, 2017, 08:55:16 AM
I made granola at the weekend and used part of a bottle of honey that had been in a plastic bottle with a cracked lid, so I had been storing it in the fridge. Because that had made it cristallize, I wasn't able to get it out of the bottle. Since it was a plastic bottle, I couldn't microwave thaw it so , I soaked the bottle in hot water until it softened enough for my recipe.

I then poured the remainder into a spare glass jam jar so I will be able to use the rest more easily.

For my granola recipe which called for 6 different seeds, I bought most of them from the bulk bins in just the amounts I needed, so I would save money, and not have partial bags of seeds left going stale.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 04, 2017, 10:48:47 AM
Surely, I'm not the only one here with a stupid amount of chia seeds, ground flax, and coconut?

Okay, maybe I am :)

Anyways. I found this oatmeal substitute that can be made in advanced like my packs of instant oatmeal. I did a test batch this morning, sauteed some apples and raisins in the pot first, but YUM!

I've always struggled with oatmeal for breakfast, I'll eat it in baking, I'll eat it once it cooled..but hot oatmeal doesn't do it for me.

This I can do! and Hubby likes it too, so WIN! Of course, this is more expensive than plain oatmeal, but we eat pretty close to Whole 30 style so this is a good sub for us, and will help me use up all chia/flax/coconut I have a surplus of.

http://www.paleostateofmindblog.com/blog/grain-free-oatmeal (http://www.paleostateofmindblog.com/blog/grain-free-oatmeal)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on February 04, 2017, 11:33:40 AM
I made granola at the weekend and used part of a bottle of honey that had been in a plastic bottle with a cracked lid, so I had been storing it in the fridge. Because that had made it cristallize, I wasn't able to get it out of the bottle. Since it was a plastic bottle, I couldn't microwave thaw it so , I soaked the bottle in hot water until it softened enough for my recipe.

I then poured the remainder into a spare glass jam jar so I will be able to use the rest more easily.

For my granola recipe which called for 6 different seeds, I bought most of them from the bulk bins in just the amounts I needed, so I would save money, and not have partial bags of seeds left going stale.

If you happen to have corn syrup hanging around add a tiny bit (1 tsp??) to your honey after the honey is at the right consistency.  For some chemistry/physics reason that will keep the honey from crystalizing  again.  Google could probably explain why (or debunk the myth). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on February 04, 2017, 01:07:30 PM
Surely, I'm not the only one here with a stupid amount of chia seeds, ground flax, and coconut?

Substitute hemp seeds for flax, and I'm right there with you. That recipe looks great, I'm going to try it!

The rest of the frozen nectarine slices and Thai iced tea (plus a few frozen mango pieces and some cashew butter) made for a delicious smoothie this morning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 04, 2017, 09:39:13 PM
Surely, I'm not the only one here with a stupid amount of chia seeds, ground flax, and coconut?

...snip

This I can do! and Hubby likes it too, so WIN! Of course, this is more expensive than plain oatmeal, but we eat pretty close to Whole 30 style so this is a good sub for us, and will help me use up all chia/flax/coconut I have a surplus of.

http://www.paleostateofmindblog.com/blog/grain-free-oatmeal (http://www.paleostateofmindblog.com/blog/grain-free-oatmeal)

I did wonder if I could find a recipe that calls for chia/flax/coconut and sesame seeds.  Thought maybe I could make my seed problem your seed problem through a "care" package.  But didn't find anything in a quick internet search...

Anyway, it can be a little bit hard to use up food when people continually send me home with food from the church.  Last night after an event, they sent me home with several servings of split pea soup.  Today, we had a funeral reception, and I brought home a plate of coleslaw, and rice and peas.  I added some more coleslaw veggies from the fridge, ate the rice and peas for dinner.  Went back a couple of hours after and ate a bowl of soup with toast.  Nothing used from stockpiles today... oh, except that a la 4alpacas, I sprinkled some sesame seeds into the split pea soup before I heated it up.  Actually, it added something to it, in an interesting way!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 04, 2017, 09:53:46 PM

I did wonder if I could find a recipe that calls for chia/flax/coconut and sesame seeds.  Thought maybe I could make my seed problem your seed problem through a "care" package.  But didn't find anything in a quick internet search...

Anyway, it can be a little bit hard to use up food when people continually send me home with food from the church.  Last night after an event, they sent me home with several servings of split pea soup.  Today, we had a funeral reception, and I brought home a plate of coleslaw, and rice and peas.  I added some more coleslaw veggies from the fridge, ate the rice and peas for dinner.  Went back a couple of hours after and ate a bowl of soup with toast.  Nothing used from stockpiles today... oh, except that a la 4alpacas, I sprinkled some sesame seeds into the split pea soup before I heated it up.  Actually, it added something to it, in an interesting way!

Hah! I have a bit of a sesame seed problem too, but I don't consider it a problem :D Actually, I came across a small amount of toasted sesame seeds while I was cleaning the kitchen and thought of you! Then I thought well, if I just dump em in my mouth I can clean the dish! So I did! As I was chewing em I thought they tasted like the best part of sesame snax just without all the sugar! Although I've been sugar-free for a while so the lack of sugar didn't seem weird to my taste buds. YMMV.

I suppose the good thing about bringing food home from work is your overall food budget should be lower? I imagine you get some strange leftovers though.

Ended up using some turkey bacon from the freezer and had 2nd breakfast for dinner. I took out some Turkey pieces from a bird I had cut up and froze about a year ago to thaw for dinner tomorrow. Will do some sort of crockpot shredded turkey.

I've moved all are various dried fruit into one place so we know where it is and can grab some to snack on whenever we want. I finished the last of our dried plums and I am super sad. They were chewy and tangy and sort of reminded me of dino sours.  I'm going to dry as many as I can next year!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on February 04, 2017, 09:56:16 PM
@SmartyCat

Made this dish with frozen okra:
https://youtu.be/wWn45WE4DgE (https://youtu.be/wWn45WE4DgE)

Topped with yogurt and cilantro. Served mine w rice. Mmm. 

I always turn my lonely ingredients into Indian food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 04, 2017, 10:11:22 PM

I did wonder if I could find a recipe that calls for chia/flax/coconut and sesame seeds.  Thought maybe I could make my seed problem your seed problem through a "care" package.  But didn't find anything in a quick internet search...

Anyway, it can be a little bit hard to use up food when people continually send me home with food from the church.  Last night after an event, they sent me home with several servings of split pea soup.  Today, we had a funeral reception, and I brought home a plate of coleslaw, and rice and peas.  I added some more coleslaw veggies from the fridge, ate the rice and peas for dinner.  Went back a couple of hours after and ate a bowl of soup with toast.  Nothing used from stockpiles today... oh, except that a la 4alpacas, I sprinkled some sesame seeds into the split pea soup before I heated it up.  Actually, it added something to it, in an interesting way!

Hah! I have a bit of a sesame seed problem too, but I don't consider it a problem :D Actually, I came across a small amount of toasted sesame seeds while I was cleaning the kitchen and thought of you! Then I thought well, if I just dump em in my mouth I can clean the dish! So I did! As I was chewing em I thought they tasted like the best part of sesame snax just without all the sugar! Although I've been sugar-free for a while so the lack of sugar didn't seem weird to my taste buds. YMMV.

I suppose the good thing about bringing food home from work is your overall food budget should be lower? I imagine you get some strange leftovers though.

I think that the reason my mom had all those sesame seeds is because she was going to make peanut brittle, but with sesame seeds.  AKA sesame snax.  Yum.  But that would be a baaaaad way for me to use them.  (Mmm.  Sesame snax.  Sugar that I can justify on the grounds that sesame seeds are nutritious!  Yeah, no, baaaaad idea!  Sprinkling them on salad or tofu would be much better for me!)

Yes, in theory the food coming home from work should help with the budget.  But it's not always (usually) very balanced nutritionally (cake and other baked goods feature prominently), and it's very sporadic.  So what happens is that it contributes to my food waste problem.  i.e. I have no food in the house, so I go shopping and buy all kinds of fruit and veg, and then I get sent home with a bunch of stuff the next day, enough to last me for several days, and delays me getting into the stuff that I bought.  From functions, what I can eat is often the rice dish, so I try to pop some portions into the freezer right away rather than letting them sit in the fridge.  That helps.  It also helps if I eat the salad right away, that day, or else it can end up sitting there long enough to go bad.

@SmartyCat

Made this dish with frozen okra:
https://youtu.be/wWn45WE4DgE (https://youtu.be/wWn45WE4DgE)

Topped with yogurt and cilantro. Served mine w rice. Mmm. 

I always turn my lonely ingredients into Indian food.

I forgot we were supposed to be thinking of okra suggestions...

When I make soup, it's usually "a little bit of this, a little bit of that."  A couple of years ago I finished up a bag of frozen okra that way, over the course of several pots of veg soup.  Can't tell you exactly what was in them, but usually I start with a can of crushed tomato, and some extra water to start the base, then add various flavourings - veg bouillon cube, splash of red wine, apple cider or balsamic vinegar, garlic or ginger or chili powder or whatever herbs and spices I'm in the mood for.  Maybe tofu or beans or some kind of meat substitute.  Onion, carrot, potato, celery, frozen corn would be common, depending on what's on hand.  And yeah, a handful of okra in every pot, until the bag was gone.  (Can't remember now, what did I originally buy the okra for???)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 06, 2017, 12:45:23 PM
Well it was kind of a slow week on the using stuff up front. I feel like I've taken most of the easy wins so progress may be a little slower going forward. My current battle is to use up the freezer bananas and last of the chocolate protein powder by making peanut-butter banana chocolate smoothies for breakfast this week. There's not too much of the protein powder left, but there was originally FIVE POUNDS of the stuff, so it is in an absolutely enormous plastic jar which I will be very happy to be rid of. I could repackage it to save space, but having that behemoth in the cupboard is encouraging me to use it up so I will leave it.

I wanted to do some baking this weekend to use up some stuff but didn't get around to it, hopefully next weekend!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 06, 2017, 08:20:45 PM
Found half a jar of (commercially made) sundried tomato pesto, forgotten in the back of the fridge.  It's definitely been months, rather than weeks, since I opened it.  Smells and looks ok, but I've had pesto get moldy when I left it too long in the past.

Thoughts on using it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 06, 2017, 11:40:45 PM
Never mind my question above ... I decided not to risk it.

In other news, I made two pots of food tonight, for meals this week and for the freezer.

1.  Jar of pasta sauce, with veggies added, plus soya chunks (to act sort of like "meatballs") and some extra water (because the soya chunks were going to absorb some).  Closer to the end of the cooking time, I added whole wheat pasta.  Result - 5 servings of pasta with lots of veggies and protein.  And I still have more soya chunks and 3 jars of pasta sauce and 2.5 boxes of pasta to use...

2.  White kidney beans, onion, garlic, potato, and various herbs and spices for flavour.  I added way to much water and had to cook it a long time!  But one more can of beans out of the cupboard.  And I saved the bean water from the can, to pour over the dog's food tomorrow (it has some salt in it, and she needs her food salted due to a medical condition, so it's worth taking the time to save it.)

Also finished up an old old bottle of Kahlua, and used a few old old maraschino cherries in a nice little drink before bed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on February 07, 2017, 02:54:05 AM
Found half a jar of (commercially made) sundried tomato pesto, forgotten in the back of the fridge. 


Just a tip for next time - wipe out the sides of the jar with a napkin or similar so that there is nothing clinging to the sides of the jar. Then pour olive oil on top of the pesto, enough so that no pesto is sticking up above the surface. It makes a seal so nothing is exposed to the air. Lasts ages this way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 07, 2017, 08:43:19 AM
Just a tip for next time - wipe out the sides of the jar with a napkin or similar so that there is nothing clinging to the sides of the jar. Then pour olive oil on top of the pesto, enough so that no pesto is sticking up above the surface. It makes a seal so nothing is exposed to the air. Lasts ages this way.

Yep, I do this with my tomato and pepper paste that comes in massive jars.

Going pretty good on the "eat it up" front. Working through nuts, teas, extra oils, meat. We didn't do our weekly grocery shop on the weekend and looks like we are not going to get to the store before this weekend.

Last night I had Turkey Salad for supper,  using some turkey parts I found in the freezer and crock potted. Used some poppyseeds in homemade dressing, some cranberries, the last of the pumpkin seeds, some pecans, apple, celery that was on its last legs. It was super yum. I tend not to make creamy dressed salads because Hubs isn't a fan. I forgot how much I like them!

Hubs had some of the instant not oatmeal with apples and raisins for dinner. I'm lucky he's pretty easy going and not attached to certain ideas around what is a "proper" dinner :) Having done Whole 30 so many times we now tend to think in "Meal 1" Meal 2"... instead which makes it much easier.

I actually have room in my freezers now, so that is exciting! Also starting to price out staples for when we do want to refill.

One item I'm a little bit stumped with is Smoked Olive oil. We got it for Christmas, but it is almost too aggressively smoked. Like the Harissa olive oil that is too damn hot (even for us chili heads) So other then using it in tiny doses and cut with other oils, I'm not sure if there is a better idea.

So today is our last day of this round of Whole 30, which means I also have a tote of non-complaint foods to either put BACK into the pantry or decide not to, we know all our food issues so know everything we took out can easily be incorporated into our diet. OTOH, it's (mostly) stuff we haven't missed at all so not going to be replacing it once we use it up. Onward and Upward!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 07, 2017, 10:18:40 AM
Found half a jar of (commercially made) sundried tomato pesto, forgotten in the back of the fridge. 


Just a tip for next time - wipe out the sides of the jar with a napkin or similar so that there is nothing clinging to the sides of the jar. Then pour olive oil on top of the pesto, enough so that no pesto is sticking up above the surface. It makes a seal so nothing is exposed to the air. Lasts ages this way.

Thanks, great tip!

Can I also freeze it?  Anyone know?  I have two more jars, one of sundried tomato, one regular pesto.  They were (duh!) on sale, why else would I have bought so many.  (Why did I buy so many, even on sale?!?!?  Pasta isn't even one of my most common dishes.  What did I think I was going to use them for/on????)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 07, 2017, 10:26:06 AM
Found half a jar of (commercially made) sundried tomato pesto, forgotten in the back of the fridge. 


Just a tip for next time - wipe out the sides of the jar with a napkin or similar so that there is nothing clinging to the sides of the jar. Then pour olive oil on top of the pesto, enough so that no pesto is sticking up above the surface. It makes a seal so nothing is exposed to the air. Lasts ages this way.

Thanks, great tip!

Can I also freeze it?  Anyone know?  I have two more jars, one of sundried tomato, one regular pesto.  They were (duh!) on sale, why else would I have bought so many.  (Why did I buy so many, even on sale?!?!?  Pasta isn't even one of my most common dishes.  What did I think I was going to use them for/on????)
We go through pesto quickly because we use it on everything.  We make pizzas from tortillas and use pesto as a sauce.  Use pesto instead of mayo/mustard on sandwiches. 

EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH PESTO!

I made an overnight oats recipe last night (and I doubled it, so it's for 4 days), and it's HORRIBLE.  It's too sweet, and I can't eat it.  I ate a few bites before my workout just to get through it.  Now it's sitting on my desk next to me.  I'm going to dump the entire batch out tonight.  AH! I hate to waste food, but I'm trying not to beat myself up over the waste. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 07, 2017, 10:28:41 AM

I made an overnight oats recipe last night (and I doubled it, so it's for 4 days), and it's HORRIBLE.  It's too sweet, and I can't eat it.  I ate a few bites before my workout just to get through it.  Now it's sitting on my desk next to me.  I'm going to dump the entire batch out tonight.  AH! I hate to waste food, but I'm trying not to beat myself up over the waste.

Can you "dilute" it with more oats? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 07, 2017, 10:32:10 AM
Found half a jar of (commercially made) sundried tomato pesto, forgotten in the back of the fridge. 


Just a tip for next time - wipe out the sides of the jar with a napkin or similar so that there is nothing clinging to the sides of the jar. Then pour olive oil on top of the pesto, enough so that no pesto is sticking up above the surface. It makes a seal so nothing is exposed to the air. Lasts ages this way.

Thanks, great tip!

Can I also freeze it?  Anyone know?  I have two more jars, one of sundried tomato, one regular pesto.  They were (duh!) on sale, why else would I have bought so many.  (Why did I buy so many, even on sale?!?!?  Pasta isn't even one of my most common dishes.  What did I think I was going to use them for/on????)
We go through pesto quickly because we use it on everything.  We make pizzas from tortillas and use pesto as a sauce.  Use pesto instead of mayo/mustard on sandwiches. 

EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH PESTO!

I made an overnight oats recipe last night (and I doubled it, so it's for 4 days), and it's HORRIBLE.  It's too sweet, and I can't eat it.  I ate a few bites before my workout just to get through it.  Now it's sitting on my desk next to me.  I'm going to dump the entire batch out tonight.  AH! I hate to waste food, but I'm trying not to beat myself up over the waste.

LOL ... I think the key there might be the word "we."  It's just me, so I'd have to literally use it on everything.  But I don't really use much in the way of condiments on my sandwiches.  Though pizza is a good idea, even if it's "pizza on toasted bread."  That's one of my quick and easy dinners when I have leftover pasta sauce to use up, so I could substitute the pesto (especially the sundried tomato one.) 

There's more urgent things to use than my two unopened jars of pesto, but I'll keep that in mind.

Also - your oatmeal.  Oatmeal is pretty cheap, so don't sweat it too much if you dump it out. 

But a couple of suggestions - you could make more oatmeal (plain) and mix it up together to cut the sweetness.  If you have a dog, and there are no raisins in it or other pet prohibited items in it, you could feed a bit to the dog on top of their food.  There are bread recipes out there that call for cooked oatmeal, that you could use it in (adjusting the rest of the sugar in the recipe, of course).  You could freeze in smaller portions and add a bit at a time to well-blended smoothies. 

That's all I got, off the top of my head!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 07, 2017, 10:47:10 AM
I did try to add more oats and chia seeds, and it isn't helping.  I think it's because the recipe called for maple syrup (instead of the honey I normally use).  Blech. 

I do have a dog, but she won't eat things like oatmeal.  Meat, cheese, and plain yogurt.  That's it. 

With the talk of PJ's pesto, I have a serious craving for a turkey pesto sandwich on a pretzel bun.  Not healthy, but SO MUCH BETTER WITH PESTO!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 07, 2017, 10:58:43 AM
I tried overnight oats and just thought they tasted strange and had such a weird texture.  I keep seeing them on blogs and I wonder how many of the writers actually consistently eat them.  Another one is the chia seed drinks and puddings.  I add them to oats and salads, but since the overnight oats fail I am less excited about trying a mushy globby dish of gelatinous "healthy pudding!"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 07, 2017, 11:21:32 AM
I am less excited about trying a mushy globby dish of gelatinous "healthy pudding!"

If you happen to have a high-speed blender, whizzing it up does make it more pudding like, chocolate helps too!

I did try to add more oats and chia seeds, and it isn't helping.  I think it's because the recipe called for maple syrup (instead of the honey I normally use).  Blech. 


*gasp* I think we may have to pull your "Honourary Canadain" card! ;)

PJ - you can definitely freeze all types of pesto. I usually freeze them in ice cube trays and pop them into a ziplock so you have a perfect couple of TBS. portion ready to go. You can toss these into the pan when you are sauteeing veggies, add them to soups or stews. I'll add a sundried tomato pesto block to pretty much anything I am making that is tomato based. You can add a cube to rice, lots of options when it is in a portioned out, frozen serving.

I'm thinking next time I go to the store I'll pick up some extra eggplant and try and make a dip with the smoked olive oil.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 07, 2017, 11:22:38 AM
I am less excited about trying a mushy globby dish of gelatinous "healthy pudding!"

If you happen to have a high-speed blender, whizzing it up does make it more pudding like, chocolate helps too!

I did try to add more oats and chia seeds, and it isn't helping.  I think it's because the recipe called for maple syrup (instead of the honey I normally use).  Blech. 


*gasp* I think we may have to pull your "Honourary Canadian" card! ;)

PJ - you can definitely freeze all types of pesto. I usually freeze them in ice cube trays and pop them into a ziplock so you have a perfect couple of TBS. portion ready to go. You can toss these into the pan when you are sauteeing veggies, add them to soups or stews. I'll add a sundried tomato pesto block to pretty much anything I am making that is tomato based. You can add a cube to rice, lots of options when it is in a portioned out, frozen serving.

I'm thinking next time I go to the store I'll pick up some extra eggplant and try and make a dip with the smoked olive oil.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 07, 2017, 11:32:07 AM
Chocolate Chia seed pudding. I usually sweeten with dates instead of what they suggest. Maple syrup works well too. I prefer this to the "Tapioca" style because sometimes chia seeds don't look all that appetizing, or I don't want to be picking them out of my teeth later.  Also this seems less healthy in pudding form :) http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/ (http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/)

I made this over the weekend, and the flavour is fine, but the texture is quite loose.   It is nice with plain balkan style yogurt.  it could just be me having trouble with the expectations I have with the term pudding. Should I have let it sit longer? Used more?  Something else?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 07, 2017, 11:54:58 AM
Chocolate Chia seed pudding. I usually sweeten with dates instead of what they suggest. Maple syrup works well too. I prefer this to the "Tapioca" style because sometimes chia seeds don't look all that appetizing, or I don't want to be picking them out of my teeth later.  Also this seems less healthy in pudding form :) http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/ (http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/chocolate-carob-chia-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/)

I made this over the weekend, and the flavour is fine, but the texture is quite loose.   It is nice with plain balkan style yogurt.  it could just be me having trouble with the expectations I have with the term pudding. Should I have let it sit longer? Used more?  Something else?

Well, it is more like "instant" pudding then the texture you would get with a proper cooked pudding. I would add more chia seeds, Honestly, I never measure anything so I just keep experimenting until I find what I like :)

Edited to add: I've also been dairy/wheat and mostly sugar-free for so long, that those who are used to the regular versions of everything may be disappointed. It is close enough to what I remember though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on February 07, 2017, 12:49:49 PM
So far this month, we've only needed perishable staples from the grocery store - onions, garlic, carrots, celery, eggs, milk, and OJ, plus some green veg.  I was able to get the veggies from produce stalls at our City Market for <$10. 

I took the last 5 pound pork shoulder out of the freezer and adapted a recipe for the crockpot that involved 14 cloves of garlic, maple syrup, malt vinegar, and Matilda (beer), all of which I had lurking around.  Cook that all day while at work, alongside a second crockpot full of Christmas lima beans from Rancho Gordo.  This was incredibly delicious crisped together in a skillet, and I have tons of leftovers.

Made a batch of lentil soup that's an Amy's brand copycat - enough for both of our lunches this week. 

I invited some friends over for dinner tomorrow - will be serving pork chops, mushroom risotto, and roasted brussel sprouts with sweet potato.

Filled in with adhoc meals using what we had on hand - red curry chicken, pasta with roasted broccoli and chickpeas, one of the 6 frozen pizzas, even did hot dogs with (pouch) lentil chili while watching the super bowl.

Next on the agenda, I will defrost, spatchcock, and roast the whole turkey lurking in the bottom of the chest freezer, make some dinners out of it, and make stock and soup from it.  After that, lasagna with ground turkey and chicken Italian sausage.  For that will need to buy some ricotta, but that's it. 

I've even got Valentine's day dinner covered - grilled bone-in ribeyes, shrimp stuffed twice baked potatoes, and either creamed spinach or green beans with bacon.  I'll only have to buy a couple potatoes. 

Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be condensed into just the fridge freezer - so I can defost and clean the chest freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 07, 2017, 02:08:10 PM
Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be condensed into just the fridge freezer - so I can defost and clean the chest freezer.

Well done, dividend!  That's quite an accomplishment.

PJ - you can definitely freeze all types of pesto. I usually freeze them in ice cube trays and pop them into a ziplock so you have a perfect couple of TBS. portion ready to go. You can toss these into the pan when you are sauteeing veggies, add them to soups or stews. I'll add a sundried tomato pesto block to pretty much anything I am making that is tomato based. You can add a cube to rice, lots of options when it is in a portioned out, frozen serving.

I'm thinking next time I go to the store I'll pick up some extra eggplant and try and make a dip with the smoked olive oil.

Thanks for the confirmation.  I'm not actually sure if I have ice cube trays???  I have sensitive teeth, stopped keeping ice in the freezer because it always tasted so gross after sitting there so long between uses.  But I'm guessing I could put some blobs of pesto on waxed paper on a cookie sheet and flash freeze them, then pop into a ziplock bag.  Or just use as much of the jar as I can over the course of the first week when I open it, then freeze the 2nd half in the jar until a little while later.

Also, that's a great idea, to make baba ghanoush (sp?) with the smoked olive oil.  I have a bottle of "hickory smoke" kicking around, and often add a drop or two to soups, (veggie) stews, baked beans, etc.  Might take you a while to use it up, but it could become part of your "add a little of this, add a little of that" routine.

With the talk of PJ's pesto, I have a serious craving for a turkey pesto sandwich on a pretzel bun.  Not healthy, but SO MUCH BETTER WITH PESTO!

Sorry/not sorry.  Now go get yourself some pesto...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 07, 2017, 02:14:19 PM
Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be condensed into just the fridge freezer - so I can defost and clean the chest freezer.

Well done, dividend!  That's quite an accomplishment.

PJ - you can definitely freeze all types of pesto. I usually freeze them in ice cube trays and pop them into a ziplock so you have a perfect couple of TBS. portion ready to go. You can toss these into the pan when you are sauteeing veggies, add them to soups or stews. I'll add a sundried tomato pesto block to pretty much anything I am making that is tomato based. You can add a cube to rice, lots of options when it is in a portioned out, frozen serving.

I'm thinking next time I go to the store I'll pick up some extra eggplant and try and make a dip with the smoked olive oil.

Thanks for the confirmation.  I'm not actually sure if I have ice cube trays???  I am sensitive teeth, stopped keeping ice in the freezer because it always tasted so gross after sitting there so long between uses.  But I'm guessing I could put some blobs of pesto on waxed paper on a cookie sheet and flash freeze them, then pop into a ziplock bag.  Or just use as much of the jar as I can over the course of the first week when I open it, then freeze the 2nd half in the jar until a little while later.

Also, that's a great idea, to make baba ghanoush (sp?) with the smoked olive oil.  I have a bottle of "hickory smoke" kicking around, and often add a drop or two to soups, (veggie) stews, baked beans, etc.  Might take you a while to use it up, but it could become part of your "add a little of this, add a little of that" routine.

With the talk of PJ's pesto, I have a serious craving for a turkey pesto sandwich on a pretzel bun.  Not healthy, but SO MUCH BETTER WITH PESTO!

Sorry/not sorry.  Now go get yourself some pesto...

Yep you can spoon blobs onto a cookie sheet and freeze them and pop them into a bag, I've done that several times too :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 07, 2017, 03:21:36 PM

Yep you can spoon blobs onto a cookie sheet and freeze them and pop them into a bag, I've done that several times too :)

I like to freeze pesto (I make a ton every summer) in snack-size ziploc bags, smushed flat.  You can also freeze it in larger bags (sandwich or quart), also pressed flat, and then just break off a chunk when you want to use some.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 07, 2017, 05:16:16 PM

Yep you can spoon blobs onto a cookie sheet and freeze them and pop them into a bag, I've done that several times too :)

I like to freeze pesto (I make a ton every summer) in snack-size ziploc bags, smushed flat.  You can also freeze it in larger bags (sandwich or quart), also pressed flat, and then just break off a chunk when you want to use some.


 That latter technique works great for curry paste, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 07, 2017, 06:12:11 PM
Wow, amazed how much traction my little question about pesto has gotten!  I posit that people are passionate about pesto!

Dinner report - ate a big bowl of split pea soup (sent home with me from work last Friday night after a function) and some toast.  About to heat up a final cup of tea from this afternoon's pot, to fuel me for some more work on my computer this evening.  I kind of forgot about the soup when I cooked last night, so now thinking that I should put more of last night's cooking into the freezer.  (I still have two servings of soup, and will want to eat it within a week of it being made, so that means tomorrow and Thursday I need to use it up!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 08, 2017, 01:24:43 PM
One item I'm a little bit stumped with is Smoked Olive oil. We got it for Christmas, but it is almost too aggressively smoked. Like the Harissa olive oil that is too damn hot (even for us chili heads) So other then using it in tiny doses and cut with other oils, I'm not sure if there is a better idea.

swick, someone posted a link to this website in another thread, and I got to wandering around looking at recipes. 

Came across this one, which calls for cooking oil, and "smoked paprika" and I wondered if that kind of smoked flavour profile would work for your smoked olive oil. 

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/ (https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/)

Some suggestions in the comments to make it wheat/GF too, if that matters.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 08, 2017, 03:29:51 PM
One item I'm a little bit stumped with is Smoked Olive oil. We got it for Christmas, but it is almost too aggressively smoked. Like the Harissa olive oil that is too damn hot (even for us chili heads) So other then using it in tiny doses and cut with other oils, I'm not sure if there is a better idea.

swick, someone posted a link to this website in another thread, and I got to wandering around looking at recipes. 

Came across this one, which calls for cooking oil, and "smoked paprika" and I wondered if that kind of smoked flavour profile would work for your smoked olive oil. 

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/ (https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/)

Some suggestions in the comments to make it wheat/GF too, if that matters.

neato! Of all the veggie "Sausage" recipes out there, this is by far the most interesting blend of ingredients I've come across! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 08, 2017, 07:18:48 PM
One item I'm a little bit stumped with is Smoked Olive oil. We got it for Christmas, but it is almost too aggressively smoked. Like the Harissa olive oil that is too damn hot (even for us chili heads) So other then using it in tiny doses and cut with other oils, I'm not sure if there is a better idea.

swick, someone posted a link to this website in another thread, and I got to wandering around looking at recipes. 

Came across this one, which calls for cooking oil, and "smoked paprika" and I wondered if that kind of smoked flavour profile would work for your smoked olive oil. 

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/ (https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2015/07/25/smoky-dogs-vegan-10p/)

Some suggestions in the comments to make it wheat/GF too, if that matters.

neato! Of all the veggie "Sausage" recipes out there, this is by far the most interesting blend of ingredients I've come across! Thanks for sharing!

Cool!  It seems like a bit too much effort for me - I'll just splurge on my occasional package of veggie sausages during BBQ season, but it was intriguing.

Ok, while browsing recipe sites earlier, I found a suggestion to make grilled cheese sandwiches using mayo instead of butter or margarine.  I always have trouble finishing up a jar of mayo in a reasonable period of time (I don't use a lot of condiments) so thought it was worth trying.  Jury is out.  I used some different kinds of cheese than I normally would, and a rosemary focaccia type bun, and it all seemed a little bit greasy and not what I expected tastewise.  Not bad, just not like a grilled cheese.  But I will try to remember to try it again sometime, with plain old cheddar and my plain old hearty whole wheat bread. 

It did leave a bit more of a mess than usual on my sandwich grill, which is a bummer.  I'm used to just being able to quickly wipe it off with a paper towel. :-(

Anyway, ate some more of my kidney bean/potato/onion soup/stew type thing alongside.  Sort of a grilled cheese and soup dinner.  It was all warm, and greasy, and carb-y.  Perfect with all the ice outside.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 09, 2017, 10:07:35 AM

What do you do with olive tapenade?  We have a few jars from gift baskets. 

Also, it's lemon season at our house.  Anyone have any interesting uses for Meyer lemons?  ~250 pounds.  Yes, I give as many away as I can, but most people want a few pounds of lemons.  Not 50.

Eat with crackers, or turn into your own crackers? Use as a filling for chicken?

Lemons - send them to me!! Or you could make a whole bunch of Preserved lemons for Christmas gifts. If you start them now, they'll be ready for Christmas.  Make lemon curd? Okay, you probably shouldn't be eating THAT MUCH lemon curd.... Freeze or can the juice for off-season use?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 09, 2017, 10:18:04 AM

Also, it's lemon season at our house.  Anyone have any interesting uses for Meyer lemons?  ~250 pounds.  Yes, I give as many away as I can, but most people want a few pounds of lemons.  Not 50.

I just spent kind of a lot of money buying 10 lbs of Meyer lemons from an orchard in California.  Well worth it.  I made preserved lemons, Meyer lemon salt, and lemon curd with my share of the box.

Have you seen this?  Some good ideas from one of my favorite canning blogs:

http://foodinjars.com/2013/02/eight-ways-to-preserve-meyer-lemons/ 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 09, 2017, 10:54:20 AM
Love the idea in the link of a Meyer limoncello. It makes it seem extra fancy-pants!

I was thinking it didn't seem like I was making much progress, but then I realized that I emptied a jar of nut butter this morning that we wouldn't buy again, so that is a win!

ohh we are making a pretty good dent in the flax/chia/coconut department. I finally used up the last of our small shredded coconut and had to break up some flakes in the food processor to get the right consistency for the recipe I was making.

Also continuing to go through our tea, DH got some herbal sampler boxes in a gift basket at work over Christmas and we have been slowly going through those. They are drinkable nothing to write home about, although with the weather we have been having it doesn't matter what we drink after taking the pups out for their nightly walk as long as it is hot!

I did combine spices (again) and was able to clear a couple of jars out of our spice cabinet :)

What is everyone focusing on using up this week?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 09, 2017, 11:09:56 AM
What is everyone focusing on using up this week?
I've been focused on our freezer (and made a ton of progress).  Now I'm going to move onto our pantry.  We have a ton of stuff that I don't know how we acquired (gift baskets, impulse shopping, one-off recipes).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on February 09, 2017, 11:20:23 AM
Here's some meyer lemon recipes:

http://www.farmgirlfare.com/2017/01/classic-scone-recipe-meyer-lemon-or-regular-lemon.html

I'm not sure how much of a dent it will make in 250 lbs.




Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 09, 2017, 11:28:38 AM
Here's some meyer lemon recipes:

http://www.farmgirlfare.com/2017/01/classic-scone-recipe-meyer-lemon-or-regular-lemon.html

I'm not sure how much of a dent it will make in 250 lbs.
Thanks!  The scones sound delicious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 09, 2017, 12:12:02 PM
Oooh I am loving all the lemon recipes. My neighbors have a lemon tree that overhangs our back fence and they have told us to help ourselves. I usually just grab one at a time as needed, and the rest end up falling off and rotting. I know I'm missing a great opportunity and I want to step up my game.

Question for you all - what exactly do you do with lemon jelly? I'm not a big jelly eater so I'm not inclined to spread it on toast or something, but I love lemon so I'm sure there's something I would enjoy.

And while I'm soliciting advice, I found this recipe for Loaded Dill Pickle Soup (http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a51111/loaded-dill-pickle-soup-recipe/) which has piqued my interest as I have a jar of dill pickles I've been very remiss in using up. I do like pickles, and this soup sounds... interesting, but pickle soup?? I'm skeptical. Has anyone ever had it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 09, 2017, 12:16:13 PM
Oooh I am loving all the lemon recipes. My neighbors have a lemon tree that overhangs our back fence and they have told us to help ourselves. I usually just grab one at a time as needed, and the rest end up falling off and rotting. I know I'm missing a great opportunity and I want to step up my game.

Question for you all - what exactly do you do with lemon jelly? I'm not a big jelly eater so I'm not inclined to spread it on toast or something, but I love lemon so I'm sure there's something I would enjoy.
I've never had lemon jelly.  I use lemon curd in plain greek yogurt (it tastes like lemon Noosa) and on pancakes.  I was thinking about making some sort of doughnut with lemon curd filling.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 09, 2017, 04:32:43 PM
Anyway, ate some more of my kidney bean/potato/onion soup/stew type thing alongside.  Sort of a grilled cheese and soup dinner.  It was all warm, and greasy, and carb-y.  Perfect with all the ice outside.
Sounds amazing.  Do you know what would have been delicious on your grilled cheese?  Pesto.  ;)

...

What do you do with olive tapenade?  We have a few jars from gift baskets. 

Also, it's lemon season at our house.  Anyone have any interesting uses for Meyer lemons?  ~250 pounds.  Yes, I give as many away as I can, but most people want a few pounds of lemons.  Not 50.

LMAO!  I sincerely hope that you have had something pesto-y this week, and every week, because you obviously love it a lot!

(Argh.  I made you a pesto picture, and want to add it, but I can't figure out how.  I know how to add pictures from the internet, but not from my computer.  Anyone able to help?)

You have also reminded me that I have a jar of tapenade.  I think you could use it almost anywhere you would use pesto.  With cheese on crackers or on pizza, in a sandwich (thinly - a little goes a long way).  You could probably mix a little bit into various soups and stews, to add to the "depth of flavour," especially those with a tomato-y base. 

Oooh I am loving all the lemon recipes. My neighbors have a lemon tree that overhangs our back fence and they have told us to help ourselves. I usually just grab one at a time as needed, and the rest end up falling off and rotting. I know I'm missing a great opportunity and I want to step up my game.

Question for you all - what exactly do you do with lemon jelly? I'm not a big jelly eater so I'm not inclined to spread it on toast or something, but I love lemon so I'm sure there's something I would enjoy.
I've never had lemon jelly.  I use lemon curd in plain greek yogurt (it tastes like lemon Noosa) and on pancakes.  I was thinking about making some sort of doughnut with lemon curd filling.

The lemon curd in yoghurt and on pancakes sounds good! 

My aunt once made a super simple but delicious dessert when I was visiting.  She barbecued slices of fresh pineapple, and served them with a dollop of lemon curd on top.  So fresh and delicious.

And now I want a lemon tree hanging over into my backyard!  (Wrong climate.  Our neighbours do have a mulberry tree, and I have been warming myself up to using more and more of them each year.  My mom's place - which is also my old place, but she wasn't living there at the time - they have a cherry tree hanging into the yard.  But it seems a lot trickier to time the harvest between when they are finally ripe, and when the birds have eaten them all.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 09, 2017, 06:02:09 PM
Continuing the mission to eat down the pantry/freezer and not wanting to go out in the snowpocalypse I am making Tacos for supper.

Coleslaw with limes that had gone rock hard but still had a little bit of juice left in em, some carrots and cabbage. Corn tortillas dredged from the bottom of the freezer, Turkey breast (freezer) with some homemade taco seasoning - yay for using up spices! Some refried beans from bean flakes I have had in the pantry forever (Which hubby uses all the time, I just thought buying a lot was a good idea) and some home canned salsa from the pantry.

Actually stoked I was able to pull it all together because after Whole 30, tacos was the single thing Hubby said he really missed and wanted to have. He'll be thrilled!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 09, 2017, 06:37:38 PM
I have three weeks left in temporary housing, so I need to work towards using everything up:

Basmati rice
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Raisins
Avocado oil
Butter
Coconut milk
Tuna
Kippered herring
Sardines
Salmon
Ground beef
Sausages
Chicken
Frozen blueberries
Grapefruit
Ginger
Garlic
Beets
Frozen peas
Frozen pearl onions
Baby carrots

I think I might have enough meat to last me the rest of my time here, or at least close to it.  Curry over rice will definitely be on the menu, perhaps with some of the chicken thighs for dinner tomorrow night and over the weekend.  Will do a shepherd's pie again - might experiment with sweet potato instead of white potato for the topping. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on February 09, 2017, 06:41:46 PM
Used up three different random containers of soups that were hanging out in the freezer - a leftover vegetable and noodle soup and a chicken and rice soup. The freezer is slowly getting emptier!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 09, 2017, 06:54:28 PM
Eating down the freezer, some of the portions of pork tenderloin that I got on sale a few months back.  And I'm almost done the various Christmas granolas and will go back to my homemade version.

This week I think I will focus on either the raspberry vinegar that my parents gave us a while back or the bbq sauce we got on a screaming deal when the grocery store stopped carrying the brand.  I really should deal with the bag of cornmeal which is now off the list for family dinners.  I found a yummy looking recipe for cornmeal muffins, and I'm hoping that they will freeze well (I may modify it and add cranberries too).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 09, 2017, 08:06:07 PM

This week I think I will focus on either the raspberry vinegar that my parents gave us a while back or the bbq sauce we got on a screaming deal when the grocery store stopped carrying the brand.  I really should deal with the bag of cornmeal which is now off the list for family dinners.  I found a yummy looking recipe for cornmeal muffins, and I'm hoping that they will freeze well (I may modify it and add cranberries too).

I really like this recipe, if you want to do cornmeal and cranberries:  http://joythebaker.com/2009/12/honey-cranberry-cornmeal-quick-bread/

I'm sure it would freeze just fine if you cut slices and then froze them.  Actually, I also have cranberries and cornmeal to use up, so maybe I'll make some this weekend too :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 09, 2017, 09:14:18 PM
This morning I added rocky road to my shopping list, something sweet to go with my mum's birthday present.

This afternoon I realised I have half a kilo of marshmallows that expire in March.

*lightbulb*

Homemade rocky road it is!

I also topped up the barbecue sauce bottle, rice canister and a few other bits and pieces and tossed the emptied bottles and packets.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 11, 2017, 12:47:01 AM
Today I finished off the last of some scones given to me last Sunday (for breakfast/lunch, warmed up and topped with homemade - not by me - raspberry jam).  For supper, I had a nice big bowl of split pea soup sent home from work with me last Friday.  Do you sense a trend?

Have a couple of servings of white kidney bean/potato/onion stew left in the fridge, everything else got eaten through the week or put in the freezer to stop it from going bad.  So I either needed to pull from the freezer, or make something else.  I have a couple packages of boil in bag rice that expired months ago, really want to use them up.   So made a batch of yellow split peas with veg (onion from my 10 lb bag, celery, red pepper, and carrot from the reception-salvaged veg platter stock in the freezer).  Added Mexican type spice mix, since once of the rice dishes has a similar flavour profile.  This way I can have complementary proteins, rice and legumes, for several meals this week.  Will probably still stash one or two containers in the freezer, and pull out an older dish or two, just for some variety.  I also have some hummous, cheese, bread, that I should alternate with my hot meals.  But will need to do a quick stop in the grocery store for some fresh veg - maybe tomato and cuke for the cold dishes, and some avocado for sure!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 11, 2017, 03:22:46 PM
So, I was going to pop out to the grocery store today, but decided not to.  I will wait until I'm going past there, either tomorrow or Monday.  Or Tuesday or Wednesday, if I can hold out that long.

I had toast with peanut butter and honey for a late breakfast.  Then had some instant noodles (but the kind without seasoning, when you buy 8 or 10 "blocks" of noodles only in a package), with half a bag of broccoli slaw steamed on top.  More veggies than noodles!  Poured off most of the water, mixed in some peanut butter, some soy sauce type marinade (both the marinade and my regular soy sauce have been around for a long while) and a little oil.  Simple and tasty.  Couple of (finally ripening!) kiwi for dessert.

Later, I'll have a couple of tacos shells with melted cheese and my white kidney/potato/onion mixture on top.  Wishing I had some avocado slices to go with it, but even if I'd gone to the store today, you can pretty much guarantee the avocados wouldn't be ripe for a few days. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 11, 2017, 05:07:11 PM
I had friends over for last night. Put together an awesome cheese plate with what I had in the house.

I'm going to make rocky road for my mum's birthday, that will use up marshmallows, nuts, and chocolate. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 11, 2017, 05:12:51 PM
Finished the jug of apple cider vinegar that has been in the pantry for a very long time.  Now we have pickled red onions.

I did _not_ buy maple syrup even though it was on sale today because we have at least two containers in the pantry. Plus honey, and jam, and dulce de leche.

I really like this recipe, if you want to do cornmeal and cranberries:  http://joythebaker.com/2009/12/honey-cranberry-cornmeal-quick-bread/

Today we bought eggs, so I will make the cornbread muffins tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 11, 2017, 05:18:54 PM
I did _not_ buy maple syrup even though it was on sale today because we have at least two containers in the pantry. Plus honey, and jam, and dulce de leche.

Well done, plainjane!  I have been surprised lately by how often I need to remind myself that things will be on sale again in the future, and therefore I do not need to buy it all now!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 11, 2017, 08:06:07 PM
I want to join in!  I am relatively new to posting, but have been working on the freezer and pantry for a while.  But I find it's really slow going because I a) have a preference for following recipes, so I only use up an ingredient or two at a time, and b) keep buying more food!

I have stopped buying anything I don't have plans to use that week, with a few exceptions.  At some point we will have eaten down the meat enough to need to restock, but it hasn't happened yet!

Things I plan to use this week:
-mahi mahi from the freezer
-some stewed tomatoes
-a can of black beans and a bag of black beans
-some frozen asparagus
-a half finished box of pasta
-a half a jar of pasta sauce that's in the fridge
-two cans of tuna
-some frozen peas

However, I did buy a big bag of frozen green beans, a Costco quantity of shredded cheese, 8 chicken thighs, and 2 lbs of chorizo, all of which went into the freezer.  I have a hard time balancing wanting to use up/clear out with not wanting to pass up a good deal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 11, 2017, 08:34:56 PM
Welcome, Simplecycle!


We finally went in and stocked up today, chicken was on sale (as much as it ever goes on sale here) so we got a bunch of breasts, wings, and thighs. Also got really good deals on all of our regular veggies, lots of unadvertised sales and good selection, yay!

So we have a bunch of fresh stuff to use up now that will also help us use up some pantry/freezer stuff.

Planning to make: (PJ, you might want to skip reading this, it is mostly meat)

Breakfast fruit cobbler with coconut flour
Butter chicken - going into the freezer in lunch size portions for Hubby
Thai style roasted eggplant and chicken curry - going into the freezer in lunch size portions for Hubby
Kahlua pork (got a good deal on a roast, going to cook it and portion it into freezer bags)
I have a package of bacon and a lamb roast I took out of the freezer, not expecting to find a good deal on meat, so will have to cook those up too. Luckily Monday is a holiday here in Canada so I have some extra help in the kitchen :)

Oh WIN!! I made coconut milk out of some flaked coconut we had in the pantry. It was way, way better than the canned stuff. We sat down and did the math on it and it is significantly cheaper than buying cans of it (we are dairy-free)  plus the pulp leftover makes a really good oatmeal substitute, especially with some chia and flax. It is a little bit more work but will save us a ton of $$ in the long run.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 11, 2017, 10:01:54 PM
However, I did buy a big bag of frozen green beans, a Costco quantity of shredded cheese, 8 chicken thighs, and 2 lbs of chorizo, all of which went into the freezer.  I have a hard time balancing wanting to use up/clear out with not wanting to pass up a good deal.

Welcome SimpleCycle!  And join the "rotate stock versus good deal" balancing act club - see below!

I did _not_ buy maple syrup even though it was on sale today because we have at least two containers in the pantry. Plus honey, and jam, and dulce de leche.

Well done, plainjane!  I have been surprised lately by how often I need to remind myself that things will be on sale again in the future, and therefore I do not need to buy it all now!

Sometimes you decide to walk away, sometimes you decide to buy.  It's all a calculation in which you weigh how much stuff you have at home, with how good a sale it is!  The thing I find valuable about these gauntlet challenges is that it helps me find a better balancing point between the two points.  Like, for example, I won't be buying any more "instant rice side dishes" for a while!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 11, 2017, 10:04:29 PM
Luckily Monday is a holiday here in Canada so I have some extra help in the kitchen :)

swick, you totally confused me with this comment, and sent me running to google.  I thought I had gone crazy - how could I forget that we have a holiday on Monday? 

But no - turns out we celebrate Family Day at different times across the country!  Ours is the next Monday (3rd Monday in Feb).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LMBB on February 12, 2017, 02:29:20 AM
File this one under a cross between "homemade christmas" and "eat down your pantry", but I used the remaining roasted peanuts in our pantry and some ~1,000 year old karo to make my husband's birthday present of peanut brittle. He seriously loves the stuff. I had no idea it was so easy to make. I feel like I'm winning X100 right now.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 13, 2017, 12:41:00 PM
Weekly check-in time, had a respectable week:

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 13, 2017, 06:54:51 PM
File this one under a cross between "homemade christmas" and "eat down your pantry", but I used the remaining roasted peanuts in our pantry and some ~1,000 year old karo to make my husband's birthday present of peanut brittle. He seriously loves the stuff. I had no idea it was so easy to make. I feel like I'm winning X100 right now.

Way to go! MAJOR winning :D

DTaggart - Love your updates!

Dinner tonight: Lamb leg roast from the freezer with Rosemary (freezer), garlic, homemade preserved lemon, roasted sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes (salvaged the last few potatoes that were sprouting) and some frozen roasted Asparagus (freezer) I don't know how the asparagus is going to be, I had a lot to deal with and roasted a bunch last spring and threw some in the freezer as an experiment. I just found it :D

Using up the flax/chia/coconut at a pretty good clip. But...I found a 5 lb sack of whole flax seeds in my freezer I didn't know I had. How does one not notice a 5 lb bag of seeds? Ahh well....

We did go on a grocery shop, and a bunch of chicken has been added to the freezer. I also have an abundance of fresh veggies and fruit and after having shopped from my pantry for a while, I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have a plan for most of it, but it almost seems *Harder* to figure out what to make with so many options and possibilities.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 14, 2017, 12:37:19 PM
Update from yesterday:

Finished up the last of my potato/white kidney bean/onion mixture, on the last of my "manager's discount because they were expiring" taco shells.  With some more of the freezer cheese salvaged from a reception months ago. 

I have a couple of servings of boil in bag rice, plus split pea/veg stew in the fridge to eat.  And I bought tofu, but I think I might put that in marinade and freeze it so it's ready to cook in a week or two.  Because I've realized that when I batch cook, I really do need to freeze some each time so that I can rotate dishes for variety.  Which means that I should eat down my freezer a bit before I cook anything else, since so far I've been putting more in than I've been taking out.  Well, at least in terms of main dishes.  I can and should still cook up some more veggies as side dishes.

AND, I need to make sure that what I eat from my freezer for a little while is the oldest stuff, rather than the stuff that's at the front.  So sometime this week, a "pull everything out and reorganize" moment is going to need to happen...

Also.  My cream (expiry date mid-March) has gone off, and there's still half a carton.  I will do some very sparing fruit and veggie shopping today or tomorrow, and will take it back to exchange it.  In the meantime, I have been making "lattes" - heating up some milk in the microwave to add to my home-brewed coffee.  Which has the advantage that I might actually use up my whole bag of milk before it goes off, for a change!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on February 14, 2017, 06:07:08 PM
Hi all! I haven’t been as focused on this challenge lately, but the refrigerator, freezer and pantry are all looking more spacious so progress is ongoing if a bit slow.

Last week’s wins: used up partial bags of chocolate chips and some rock-hard brown sugar to make a batch of cookies for a Superbowl party.

This week: finally! ate the last chewy granola bar from a huge Costco box DH bought and then discovered he didn’t like them very much.  Also discovered that the Thai red curry paste in the fridge is really good in peanut sauce, which in turn was delicious on some otherwise ho-hum veggies. The frozen fruit all fits in its designated freezer drawer now, and it’s all getting used up before I buy any more.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 14, 2017, 08:26:22 PM
I paired an orphan carton of heavy cream with some Aldi chocolate chips for chocolate fondue tonight.  But I don't have a problem using up chocolate chips!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 14, 2017, 08:33:05 PM
... used up partial bags of chocolate chips and some rock-hard brown sugar to make a batch of cookies for a Superbowl party.

I paired an orphan carton of heavy cream with some Aldi chocolate chips for chocolate fondue tonight.  But I don't have a problem using up chocolate chips!

I've had a hankering for chocolate chip biscuits for days, and you lot aren't helping!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 14, 2017, 11:59:58 PM
Amazingly (and maybe because I'm reporting so much of what I eat, here on the forum?) I still have chocolate left over from Christmas.  I ate some of them today though - sort of fake Lindt balls, with a hazelnut filling.  I prefer plain milk or dark chocolate, but they certainly weren't bad...

(Sorry, mustachepungoeshere, that's probably not helping much either.)

I have been craving HARD for pizza the last few days.  There's a Pizza Pizza right where I turn off the main road to come home, and it's not uncommon for me to pick up a med or large walk-in special ($5 and $8 respectively) cheese pizza with one topping, then eat off it for several days.  Not awful, financially, but no help when it comes to eating food I already have.  I have been resisting.

And, I stopped at the grocery store on the way home tonight, replenishing milk and cream (exchanged with a bit of a hassle for the cream that still had a month left before expiry but curdled already), and fruit and veg.  The only "re-stocking" type item was a few cans of Campbell's soup, which was on for a particularly good price.  And I thought I was totally out of emergency cans of soup (I was wrong, I still had one left) so I didn't think it was awful to spend a couple bucks on an assortment of soup to have on hand for a quick meal.

But anyway, back to the pizza.  Again, as I drove past, it was like the neon sign was flashing my name.  I steeled my nerve and kept going.

And when I got home, I made mini pizzas on toasted rosemary focaccia bun, with freezer mozzarella (finished one package, yay!) and salsa, and also, as my freezer has slightly diminished I found a bag of basil leaves that I froze at the end of the season.  So yummy basil crumbled over the top, and everything under the broiler for a bit.  Plus celery and hummous. for the extra green, and the extra protein.  Great dinner, really hit the spot.  And I might have another bottle of salsa in the cupboard - in any case, I eat it slowly enough that it wouldn't hurt for me to try to cycle through this jar before it goes off.  In other words, mini bread pizzas whenever I feel the craving, rather than having to resist.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 15, 2017, 12:45:28 AM
Amazingly (and maybe because I'm reporting so much of what I eat, here on the forum?) I still have chocolate left over from Christmas.  I ate some of them today though - sort of fake Lindt balls, with a hazelnut filling.  I prefer plain milk or dark chocolate, but they certainly weren't bad...

(Sorry, mustachepungoeshere, that's probably not helping much either.)

You kill me!

:D

All good. I actually shopped this afternoon and forgot all about them until I got home. Probably for the best.

Ps. Your pizzas sound amazing. I try to keep English muffins in the freezer for this purpose. Great for using up odds and ends of deli meat, cheese and veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 15, 2017, 12:48:52 AM
Ps. Your pizzas sound amazing. I try to keep English muffins in the freezer for this purpose. Great for using up odds and ends of deli meat, cheese and veggies.

Yup!  Delish!  I would have them more often, but I often get stuck in thinking that I need to open up a jar of spaghetti sauce, or buy pizza sauce for them.  And even the pizza sauce (in smaller jars) wouldn't get finished up by one evening of one person eating mini pizzas.  But I almost always have salsa in the house, and it makes a great substitute pizza sauce.  Don't know why I don't think of it more often, but hopefully now I will...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 15, 2017, 12:52:40 AM
Ps. Your pizzas sound amazing. I try to keep English muffins in the freezer for this purpose. Great for using up odds and ends of deli meat, cheese and veggies.

Yup!  Delish!  I would have them more often, but I often get stuck in thinking that I need to open up a jar of spaghetti sauce, or buy pizza sauce for them.  And even the pizza sauce (in smaller jars) wouldn't get finished up by one evening of one person eating mini pizzas.  But I almost always have salsa in the house, and it makes a great substitute pizza sauce.  Don't know why I don't think of it more often, but hopefully now I will...

I freeze pizza sauce if I have leftovers.

Or we will use barbecue sauce, satay sauce (highly recommend satay chicken and snowpea pizza!), or my most recent favourite is caramelised onion relish as a pizza sauce.

But now you've got me wanting salsa and corn chips... I'm just too suggestible today!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 15, 2017, 01:08:56 AM
Ps. Your pizzas sound amazing. I try to keep English muffins in the freezer for this purpose. Great for using up odds and ends of deli meat, cheese and veggies.

Yup!  Delish!  I would have them more often, but I often get stuck in thinking that I need to open up a jar of spaghetti sauce, or buy pizza sauce for them.  And even the pizza sauce (in smaller jars) wouldn't get finished up by one evening of one person eating mini pizzas.  But I almost always have salsa in the house, and it makes a great substitute pizza sauce.  Don't know why I don't think of it more often, but hopefully now I will...

I freeze pizza sauce if I have leftovers.

Or we will use barbecue sauce, satay sauce (highly recommend satay chicken and snowpea pizza!), or my most recent favourite is caramelised onion relish as a pizza sauce.

But now you've got me wanting salsa and corn chips... I'm just too suggestible today! 

Yeah, but I don't tend to remember to use it when I do that - I look in the freezer for single serve portions of meals that I can just heat 'n eat, not for ingredients to make a meal with.  Spaghetti sauce is the latter.  So I'm better off using the rest of the jar to make something with - a pasta dish, or thinning it for soup, or adding some to a stew, or something.  But the kind of night that lends itself to mini bread pizzas is not the kind of night to do batch cooking!  :-)

Ok, so I will stop posting (and go to bed!) so I stop putting ideas in your head.  Have a good day/night!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 15, 2017, 09:47:50 AM
 I just use tiny cans of tomato paste for pizza sauce, then sprinkle on spices and garlic. It really comes out well, strong tomato flavor, and the spices blend fine in baking the pizza.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on February 15, 2017, 09:59:51 AM
This thread is so motivating. I have stopped eating out, buying takeout and anything convenience. So now I am eating all meals at home and my goal is to definitely eat down the food stores.

Tomorrow I am making slow cooker soup which is two packages of ground chicken and a ton of frozen veggie odds and ends. I will add some chicken broth and spices. Easy and will use up a lot of small items.

I also have a ton of tea to use, so I am making cold tea brews daily (no sugar) to help kick my habit of drinking store bought ice tea with sugar. I figure in four months if I use 4 bags a day I will use up all my tea. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 15, 2017, 12:09:08 PM
Wins today:

Had Nope-meal for breakfast using up more chia/flax/coconut pulp (leftover from making coconut milk)

Eggdrop soup using up some frozen homemade stock and homemade veggie soup mix powder

Took out some frozen berries to thaw for a snack later.

Challenges: Using up fresh stuff. I have a pork roast sitting in the fridge that needs to go into the crockpot but I felt like S**t last night, and forgot the night before so need to get it in TONIGHT, no matter what!

Weird Ingredients to use up:
Dry Lupini beans - I didn't realize how intense the soaking/cooking process needs to be to make them not poisonous. No wonder they are traditionally soaked for a week in a stream first.

Tigernut flour - Gifted to me, have tried it in a couple of things but it is a kind of gritty texture that even when further blended kind of remains. I am sure there is a use for it that would highlight the flavor and minimize the texture?

Dry peppers of all kinds - We make our own chili powders and will occasionally feel ambitious enough to make a mole, but we just have too many. The are pretty bulky so I'd love to start using them but again, at a bit of a loss (or just uninspired in general due to not feeling well)

Ohh and one more super odd one: Glucomannan Powder AKA Konjac root. Also given to me, I am at a total loss.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 15, 2017, 01:26:08 PM
Tigernut flour - Gifted to me, have tried it in a couple of things but it is a kind of gritty texture that even when further blended kind of remains. I am sure there is a use for it that would highlight the flavor and minimize the texture?

Never tried it myself, but... Maybe you could use it in something that should have a kind of crisp/sandy texture, like a cookie-crumb style crust? Might mask the grittiness.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 15, 2017, 01:39:29 PM
Tigernut flour - Gifted to me, have tried it in a couple of things but it is a kind of gritty texture that even when further blended kind of remains. I am sure there is a use for it that would highlight the flavor and minimize the texture?

Never tried it myself, but... Maybe you could use it in something that should have a kind of crisp/sandy texture, like a cookie-crumb style crust? Might mask the grittiness.

Yeah, I've never had it (or even heard of it before today) either, but the first thing that popped into my head is granola bars. Of course, I think granola bars are the solution to pretty much everything :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 15, 2017, 01:40:23 PM
I had to look up to see what a tigernut was ... surprise!  It's not a nut!

https://www.glutenfreeliving.com/blog/what-is-tigernut-flour/ (https://www.glutenfreeliving.com/blog/what-is-tigernut-flour/)

The link suggests that the nutty flavour goes well with veggie or black bean burgers.  Maybe that's also not an awful place for a bit more "texture" as well?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 15, 2017, 02:02:56 PM
Thanks, everyone! I did try it in granola bars and to make GF pancakes. Wasn't a fan of it in either.

So...I am totally noticing a pattern which I never consciously noticed before. My mom buys weird stuff she wants to try. Buys an extra one for me, gives it to me because she knows I'll figure out *something* to do with it and tell her about it, so she doesn't have to do all the experimenting herself.

So I end up with a LOT of odd food odds and ends. I don't really mind, at least it means this overflowing pantry isn't JUST my fault :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 15, 2017, 03:00:00 PM
Thanks, everyone! I did try it in granola bars and to make GF pancakes. Wasn't a fan of it in either.

So...I am totally noticing a pattern which I never consciously noticed before. My mom buys weird stuff she wants to try. Buys an extra one for me, gives it to me because she knows I'll figure out *something* to do with it and tell her about it, so she doesn't have to do all the experimenting herself.

So I end up with a LOT of odd food odds and ends. I don't really mind, at least it means this overflowing pantry isn't JUST my fault :D

LOL!  Whereas my mom just gives me old stuff that she's not going to eat, but figures I will, or will at least give to the dog...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 15, 2017, 03:18:17 PM
PJ, thank you for your pesto wishes.  I had pesto last night! It was homemade--basil from our plant, pine nuts, and a bit of parmesan. 

Last night, we used up a package of panko (still have half a bag of bread crumbs) and a bag of frozen broccoli.  Over the weekend, I used 3 bananas to make banana bread.  I also used a bag of raisins in one of the loaves. 

I've been eating PB&J for lunch this week because I've been lazy, but I've also been using all of the jam that I have.  SO MUCH JAM!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 15, 2017, 08:51:46 PM
I only used up half a bag of asparagus tonight, so I have to work it into another meal before I declare victory.

I am thinking about going after a "zone" at a time.  We have the kitchen cabinets, a few pantry shelves (our pantry mostly holds cookware/household goods/random storage), the fridge, the regular freezer, and our upright deep freeze.  I'm wondering if this exercise might be easier if I set a goal to EMPTY the regular freezer and then actually did it.  I suppose to some extent I already do this mentally - I have mostly been focused on the kitchen cabinets.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 15, 2017, 10:36:00 PM
PJ, thank you for your pesto wishes.  I had pesto last night! It was homemade--basil from our plant, pine nuts, and a bit of parmesan. 

Last night, we used up a package of panko (still have half a bag of bread crumbs) and a bag of frozen broccoli.  Over the weekend, I used 3 bananas to make banana bread.  I also used a bag of raisins in one of the loaves. 

I've been eating PB&J for lunch this week because I've been lazy, but I've also been using all of the jam that I have.  SO MUCH JAM!

Yay for 4alpacas' pesto!  And panko.  And PB&J.  Pesto sounds delicious, and the other stuff is about working through the stockpile, right?  It's all good!

I finished off my boil in bag rice with my split pea/veg stew for dinner tonight, except for the couple of servings I shoved in the freezer earlier this week.  Sometime in the next few days I'll have to dig through and re-organize the freezer to use up some of the older stuff that's in there.  I have a couple of things in mind to eat soon, to free up some space.  Once I eat down some of the freezer, I can start targeting the cupboards again (as SimpleCycle described) because then when I do a batch cook from the cupboards, I'll have room in the freezer left to stash away more individual portions. 

Man, with just me working at this, and with the contribution of the food people send me home with from work, I will be working this thread in perpetuity, it feels like!  Here I am celebrating one package of rice gone, and there are ... I don't want to count how many more in the cupboard!

Oh well, onwards and upwards!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 16, 2017, 06:13:18 AM
I defrosted the bag of bacon ends from our local butcher, and froze them separately except for one piece for Friday's ravioli dinner.  Having meal sized portions will make it more likely that I will pull them out over the next few weeks.

Two frozen cubes of cauliflower in my lunch to go with pasta and peanut sauce.  This bag of pasta is taking a long time with me just using it for work lunches, but that is fine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 16, 2017, 08:24:52 AM
DH is coming for the long weekend, then I have just two short weeks remaining.  One week will be a butternut squash chili, and the other week will be Shepherd's pie.  Tonight I'm going to make fried rice with egg.  I also need to use up beets, so red flannel hash is going to be on the menu. 

I'm suddenly realizing that I need to double down to use my remaining food up as much as possible!  I still have a can of tuna, some sardines and kippers I brought from home, a can of coconut milk, a couple sweet potatoes and a small wedge of Romano cheese.  No groceries except green veggies from here on out.  Hmm, the shepherd's pie would require buying white potatoes, but I might need to sub rice and make it more of a casserole.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 16, 2017, 05:07:22 PM
DH is coming for the long weekend, then I have just two short weeks remaining.  One week will be a butternut squash chili, and the other week will be Shepherd's pie.  Tonight I'm going to make fried rice with egg.  I also need to use up beets, so red flannel hash is going to be on the menu. 

I'm suddenly realizing that I need to double down to use my remaining food up as much as possible!  I still have a can of tuna, some sardines and kippers I brought from home, a can of coconut milk, a couple sweet potatoes and a small wedge of Romano cheese.  No groceries except green veggies from here on out.  Hmm, the shepherd's pie would require buying white potatoes, but I might need to sub rice and make it more of a casserole.

Or use sweet potato on the shepherd's pie. Topped with some of the romano. Mmm....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 16, 2017, 08:27:32 PM
Tonight we finished the asparagus, a jar of capers, some stewed tomatoes, and a bag of rice.  We're also down to a single mahi mahi fillet in the freezer (we had a whole bag of them).

Tomorrow we were supposed to have curried tuna, but we've accumulated a ton of leftovers so we're going to have them instead.  I need to perk up some lentil salad so it's a bit more exciting as a leftover.

Saturday we're going to our church's chili cookoff, and I chose a chili recipe that uses up a bunch of things we have on hand.  Win win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 16, 2017, 08:56:50 PM
Nice job, everyone!

mmm sweet potato topped shepherd's pie! SOmeohow I missed the fact that you had sweet potatoes, horsepoor. I scrolled trough your response going, if only she had sweet potatoes! Derp.

Dinner tonight was Kahlua pork tacos. Hubby used some corn tortillas from the freezer (I had a taco salad) some home canned salsa, some pinto bean flakes and spices used up. 

I'm collecting lots of odds and ends in the fridge so I have to go through tomorrow and see what needs to be frozen or used up ASAP.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 16, 2017, 11:02:59 PM
I failed to plan (and planned to fail).  I didn't take lunch to work, ended up making a run to Tim Horton's mid-day for a sandwich, donut and coffee.  Plus hot chocolate for our administrative assistant.

But, I had breakfast at home, and dinner too.  Pulled out some pholourie and potato balls from the freezer (bought at a local roti shop a while back, but my plans changed so I stashed 'em in the freezer, along with the little containers of tamarind sauce).  While they defrosted/heated, had some celery sticks with garlic hummous to tide me over.  Between the garlic and the spice in the potato balls - my stomach got its limit of heat!

Also pulled out a couple extra containers from the freezer for meals over the next week or so.  A single serving of peas and rice, which will go nicely with the rest of the pholourie and one remaining potato ball.  Though, yes, I realize there are really no veggies in that meal.  I'll have fruit for dessert, I promise.

Also, a mystery dish.  I've passed that container over several times when searching for dinner in the freezer.  It is vaguely yellow-ish.  Could be split pea?  Or chickpea/curry?  Or something with corn?  Not sure.  Will let you know when it defrosts.  I'm ... not really looking forward to it.  Hope it's not awful. 

Also, have earmarked the next two things to come out of the freezer, next time I want to turn on the stove.  Pre-packaged cheese cannelloni, and a small apple pie bought last spring at The Big Apple:

(https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.q0OoQh_zFCfRoDo00NjX6QDIEs&w=146&h=208&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7)

When I make the apple pie and cannelloni, I will also make some roasted potatoes and/or other veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 17, 2017, 06:21:39 AM
I failed to plan (and planned to fail).

This was on the wall of my high school calculus teacher's classroom.  Today I plan to eat lunch provided by work because I have a training. 

This week I'm struggling with eating down the freezer vs. taking advantage of sales.  Pork tenderloin is down to $3/lb this week, which is on the lower end of the cycle (we sometimes get 2.88).  And I only have two or three servings left.  But I do have chicken, and bacon, and other cooked meets. 

I will be taking advantage of the the peanut butter ($3/kg), and yogurt ($2/750ml) sales.  They do not sit on my shelves for long.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 17, 2017, 09:08:30 AM
So, I realize this is totally putting food INTO your freezer, but hubby came across this series on Making Restaurant style Indian food at home. http://glebekitchen.com/2016/12/24/indian-restaurant-curry-base/ (http://glebekitchen.com/2016/12/24/indian-restaurant-curry-base/) and he really wants to try it.

Since I've had to go dairy/wheat-free he has really missed the very occasional dinners at our favorite Indian place. I've come up with some really good dairy-free approximations, but having flavour bases on hand would make it MUCH easier. Would also be a tasty way of using up some of our lamb over the next couple of months.

Also, there is a lot of issues being raised right now about food security in the Interior of BC because the roads to the mainland and Alberta have been closed due to the weather. Stores are running out of food. They have basically said that most small communities have about 3 days worth of food at any given time available for purchase.

I'm not too concerned because we do tend to keep a fairly large stock since we use to live up north where there was one highway and it could be washed out for months at a time, and realistically if the trucks didn't make it through, even though we have been eating everything up, we still have a few months of food on hand (provided we had electricity) but it really does make you think. Especially this time of year where not much is growing. I would like to come up with an actual stock rotation system. Have to ponder this a bit.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 17, 2017, 10:26:53 AM
I failed to plan (and planned to fail). I didn't take lunch to work, ended up making a run to Tim Horton's mid-day for a sandwich, donut and coffee.  Plus hot chocolate for our administrative assistant.

But, I had breakfast at home, and dinner too.  Pulled out some pholourie and potato balls from the freezer (bought at a local roti shop a while back, but my plans changed so I stashed 'em in the freezer, along with the little containers of tamarind sauce).  While they defrosted/heated, had some celery sticks with garlic hummous to tide me over.  Between the garlic and the spice in the potato balls - my stomach got its limit of heat!

Also pulled out a couple extra containers from the freezer for meals over the next week or so.  A single serving of peas and rice, which will go nicely with the rest of the pholourie and one remaining potato ball.  Though, yes, I realize there are really no veggies in that meal.  I'll have fruit for dessert, I promise.

Also, a mystery dish.  I've passed that container over several times when searching for dinner in the freezer.  It is vaguely yellow-ish.  Could be split pea?  Or chickpea/curry?  Or something with corn?  Not sure.  Will let you know when it defrosts.  I'm ... not really looking forward to it.  Hope it's not awful. 

Also, have earmarked the next two things to come out of the freezer, next time I want to turn on the stove.  Pre-packaged cheese cannelloni, and a small apple pie bought last spring at The Big Apple:

(https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.q0OoQh_zFCfRoDo00NjX6QDIEs&w=146&h=208&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7)

When I make the apple pie and cannelloni, I will also make some roasted potatoes and/or other veggies.
That happened to me yesterday too!  I packed my breakfast, but I left my lunch at home.  Oops!  I did have a nice lunch out with a coworker, and it was nice to get away from work for an hour.

I'm going to try to get a bunch of stuff cooked this weekend.  Right now, we have a lot of ingredients, but not much to eat.  On the list: cornbread muffins (so much cornmeal), banana bread (will use up the last of the yogurt and bananas), chickpea shawarma (http://minimalistbaker.com/chickpea-shawarma-sandwich/), black bean quesadillas (canned black beans, half an onion in the fridge, tortillas), and biscotti (use up some of the dried fruit).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 17, 2017, 11:50:18 AM
I'm going to try to get a bunch of stuff cooked this weekend.  Right now, we have a lot of ingredients, but not much to eat.  On the list: cornbread muffins (so much cornmeal), banana bread (will use up the last of the yogurt and bananas), chickpea shawarma (http://minimalistbaker.com/chickpea-shawarma-sandwich/), black bean quesadillas (canned black beans, half an onion in the fridge, tortillas), and biscotti (use up some of the dried fruit). 

Mmm.  Let me know when the baking is happening ... I'll come right over!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on February 17, 2017, 12:55:11 PM
Last weekend I made chickpea mash (think tuna salad but with chickpeas) to eat on sandwiches with cucumber and sprouts. Also made a big cabbage salad with peanut dressing, and some breaded and baked brussel sprout 'tots.'

This week has been slow. Sickness at our house so lots of canned soup and crackers.. hopefully that's almost done!

Yesterday I got around to peeling and freezing two bunches of bananas and made banana bread with a few of them.

I need to deal with some leftover cabbage in the fridge from last weekend. It's already chopped up but I'm sure it will be fine. I'm going to make another peanut dressing and throw in some carrots, red peppers, and chopped almonds.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 17, 2017, 02:13:56 PM
recklessly, there's a virus going around these parts, too.  I had it for 2.5 weeks.  :(

~~~~~~~~~~
I was out of town for a week, and DH did a really good job at eating leftovers from the freezer:

A stuffed chicken breast
Beef and cabbage chili style
Burrito filling

Monday I used 1/2 of a leftover container of Ragu in these:  http://www.djfoodie.com/Pizza-Cups (http://www.djfoodie.com/Pizza-Cups)

This weekend I'll make more Budget Bytes Not Refried Beans, some oatmeal for DH, and use the remaining half bag of frozen strawberries as a low carb pancake topping, and dessert.

Added:  Thanks to Dtaggart's idea a few weeks ago (I'm playing catch up here), instead of plain oatmeal, I'm going to make this for DH.  It will use the remaining bits of white chocolate chips from Christmas baking:  https://cutefetti.com/2013/11/oatmeal-bars-with-white-chocolate-chips-recipe.html (https://cutefetti.com/2013/11/oatmeal-bars-with-white-chocolate-chips-recipe.html)

Happy weekend, everyone.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 17, 2017, 10:49:54 PM
I'm going to try to get a bunch of stuff cooked this weekend.  Right now, we have a lot of ingredients, but not much to eat.  On the list: cornbread muffins (so much cornmeal), banana bread (will use up the last of the yogurt and bananas), chickpea shawarma (http://minimalistbaker.com/chickpea-shawarma-sandwich/), black bean quesadillas (canned black beans, half an onion in the fridge, tortillas), and biscotti (use up some of the dried fruit). 

Mmm.  Let me know when the baking is happening ... I'll come right over!
Sunday! Fly out to the Bay Area!  We have a guest bedroom.

LOL!  I will try to remember that the next time that I can afford to go visit my friend in Santa Cruz!  Right now I am working on paying off some CC debts, and then am going to look into CC travel hacking.  But Canadian so not as good, I think! 

Plus, alas, Sunday is a work day...

But I'm going to put cornbread on my list of things that I should make sometime soon!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 18, 2017, 12:05:51 PM
So, last night I ate the rest of my pholourie and potato balls with about half of the rice and peas I pulled out the freezer the other day.  Finished it with an orange for dessert. 

There was a little bit of tamarind dipping sauce left, so I pulled the container of tofu out of the freezer (I think I forgot to post the other day that I mixed up some oil and melted peanut butter and soy sauce and a splash of balsamic vinegar and chopped up the tofu into chunks and threw it in the freezer for easy cooking already spiced another day).  Anyway, I just dumped the tamarind sauce in there, and stuck it back in the freezer right away.  When I defrost the tofu down the road, it'll all add up to more flavour.

Since I was still pretty low on fruit and veg (and dairy) for the day, when I went scrounging for a late night snack later, I decided on cereal with a banana and milk.  Finished up a box of Honey Nut Cheerios.  Only 6 million boxes of cereal left to go...

For breakfast this morning I toasted up a couple of slices of sweet bread (coconut type bread with little bits of dried fruit) that were intended as dessert for the lunch they sent me home from church with last Sunday.  I'd forgotten about them in the fridge, and they were a bit stale, but toasted with peanut butter and a nice cup of coffee to wash them down, they were pretty good!

I took a peek at my mystery container of food pulled from the freezer earlier in the week, the unknown yellow-ish stuff.  Still too frozen to tell what it is, but it looks like it might have rice, and some bits of veg.  Still unclear on what it is or where/when it came from.  Still hoping it's not too awful.  I should probably steel myself to eat at least some of it for dinner tonight, before I work myself into too much antipathy about it.

A reflection:  I understand now, really, why I've never managed to keep up with eating down my stores for very long.  It's because with just one person, and with food coming home from work on a semi-regular basis, it just takes SO long to see any noticeable difference.  One box of cereal from among many.  One package of rice from among many.  A little dent in a bag of split peas.  One container of mystery food comes out of the freezer, but I put two more split pea stew meals back in so I don't have to eat it every day for a week.  I am really hoping that the next couple of weeks will tip the scale between "Eh, still looks the same in here," and "Oh, there's light at the end of the tunnel.  Or at least, at the back of the fridge."  In any case, my budget is definitely showing the difference.  The money I take out of the bank is lasting longer, since I'm not popping in and out of Tim's or other fast food places more than once a week or so, and also, since I'm only spending about half of what I normally would on groceries.  Hopefully that will help me keep going even in the face of the seemingly self-replenishing shelves.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on February 18, 2017, 01:21:14 PM
Thanks, everyone! I did try it in granola bars and to make GF pancakes. Wasn't a fan of it in either.

So...I am totally noticing a pattern which I never consciously noticed before. My mom buys weird stuff she wants to try. Buys an extra one for me, gives it to me because she knows I'll figure out *something* to do with it and tell her about it, so she doesn't have to do all the experimenting herself.

So I end up with a LOT of odd food odds and ends. I don't really mind, at least it means this overflowing pantry isn't JUST my fault :D

I was curious, so I nosed around Google for tigernut flour. "Gritty" is a common complaint. One person put it through a sieve and got the gritty bits out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 18, 2017, 01:26:29 PM

A reflection:  I understand now, really, why I've never managed to keep up with eating down my stores for very long.  It's because with just one person, and with food coming home from work on a semi-regular basis, it just takes SO long to see any noticeable difference.  One box of cereal from among many.  One package of rice from among many.  A little dent in a bag of split peas.  One container of mystery food comes out of the freezer, but I put two more split pea stew meals back in so I don't have to eat it every day for a week.  I am really hoping that the next couple of weeks will tip the scale between "Eh, still looks the same in here," and "Oh, there's light at the end of the tunnel.  Or at least, at the back of the fridge."  In any case, my budget is definitely showing the difference.  The money I take out of the bank is lasting longer, since I'm not popping in and out of Tim's or other fast food places more than once a week or so, and also, since I'm only spending about half of what I normally would on groceries.  Hopefully that will help me keep going even in the face of the seemingly self-replenishing shelves.  :-)

I definitely share your experience with the difficulty of eating down your food stores as a single person.  I feel like year-round I'm planning my meals based on what's in my pantry & freezer, but my total amount of food never seems to go down.  I did up my effort by a notch starting in Uber Frugal January, and have noticed a decrease in my grocery bill at least, though I still seem to have just as much food as before. 

This weekend my focus is finishing up all of my stored produce from last fall - specifically by making potato-leek soup with my aging potatoes and applesauce with my hopefully not all rotten apples in the back of the fridge.  After those are gone, I think I might finally see my freezers slowly start to empty out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on February 18, 2017, 01:31:45 PM
I bought some meats today that were on crazy sale. In my defence with the exception of bacon and meats in already cooked and frozen homemade meals, I have eaten up my meat stores! I am down to basically oodles of frozen veggies, hummus and some pasta. Woohoo! My pantry is also beginning to look a little cleaned up, but I still have lots of things to use up.

Pretty sure my March grocery budget will be about 50% of my regular monthly budget because I have meal planned most of the foods I have and have become quite organized. Totally pleased with myself, can you tell?  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 18, 2017, 04:10:27 PM
I definitely share your experience with the difficulty of eating down your food stores as a single person.  I feel like year-round I'm planning my meals based on what's in my pantry & freezer, but my total amount of food never seems to go down.  I did up my effort by a notch starting in Uber Frugal January, and have noticed a decrease in my grocery bill at least, though I still seem to have just as much food as before. 

This weekend my focus is finishing up all of my stored produce from last fall - specifically by making potato-leek soup with my aging potatoes and applesauce with my hopefully not all rotten apples in the back of the fridge.  After those are gone, I think I might finally see my freezers slowly start to empty out.

Yes!  That is exactly my experience.  I started UFJ late, so have just hit about the one month mark, and with one month of really diligently buying only produce and milk/cream, I can see a difference in my grocery bill, but no really obvious movement in the cupboards and freezer.  I know there has been, indiscernible though it is, and that the reason it isn't more obvious is because small amounts of ingredients have become larger amounts of cooked food into the freezer.  But like you, I have a plan.  With the next couple of things that I'll be taking out of the freezer, I expect to see a little corner open up.  And I think there are a few more smallish quantities of things in there that will be finished up soon too.  That's what I'm aiming for, anyway!

I bought some meats today that were on crazy sale. In my defence with the exception of bacon and meats in already cooked and frozen homemade meals, I have eaten up my meat stores! I am down to basically oodles of frozen veggies, hummus and some pasta. Woohoo! My pantry is also beginning to look a little cleaned up, but I still have lots of things to use up.

Pretty sure my March grocery budget will be about 50% of my regular monthly budget because I have meal planned most of the foods I have and have become quite organized. Totally pleased with myself, can you tell?  ;) 

Well done, LindseyC!  50% budget savings is nothing to sneeze at!
__________________________________

In other news, I ate half of the mysterious yellow dish.  It was indeed rice based.  With split peas.  And some other beans.  And some veggies.  It was ok - not awful.  Sogginess was the biggest problem.  When I made it, I probably put too much water in for the rice, to compensate for the addition of the split peas.  So it's not like rice.  And it's not like soup.  And it's not creamy enough to be risotto.  It's just ... soggy rice.  Eh.  At least the flavour was ok.  I melted a little cheese on top (freezer stash of reception salvaged cheese - one of the things that will probably get used up in the next couple weeks) and ate it with some toast on the side (because everything is better with toast).  And I will do the same again, tomorrow or the day after, to finish it up.  (Unless, horrors!  I could uncover more as I continue working my way through the freezer!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 18, 2017, 07:10:47 PM
In other news, I ate half of the mysterious yellow dish.  It was indeed rice based.  With split peas.  And some other beans.  And some veggies.  It was ok - not awful.  Sogginess was the biggest problem.

Could you puree it and call it soup?  Eat it with grilled cheese?

Today we finished the freezer bag of corn, some of the freezer avocado & peppers, and some matzoh meal in a fish taco salad.  I am sweetening my evening tea with small spoonfuls of maple whisky caramel sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 18, 2017, 07:41:29 PM
small spoonfuls of maple whisky caramel sauce.
The sauce wouldn't make it to my tea...straight to my mouth!

I've picked out the recipes for the big bake-fest tomorrow.  We are leaving for a few days next week, so I don't want to buy any excess groceries. 
Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 18, 2017, 08:04:53 PM
We cooked up a big batch of chili for our church's chili cook off.  It was vegetarian black bean chipotle chili, and I used 4 cans of tomatoes, 3 cans of green chilis, and all the black beans left in the house.  Quite the use up success.

I also had tuna and crackers for lunch and used up two tiny portions of crackers, plus another box of those drink mix packets.

Meal planned and my wife shopped for the week.  I don't love it when she shops because she doesn't pay much attention to prices.  She came home with expensive organic yogurt and brand name Parmesan, but it was $49 including a 12 pack of beer, so not bad.  I plan to use the following this week:
-two lbs of great northern beans
-a bunch of odds and ends from the fridge
-some chicken thighs from the freezer
-arborio rice
-a bag of frozen peas
-half a jar of marinara
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 18, 2017, 08:10:13 PM
PJ and SquashingDebt, I have a hard time seeing the progress I'm making even feeding three people.  I imagine one person is really hard.  I feel like every meal I cook creates freezer leftovers and I'm totally out of freezer space.  We should eat some of the freezer meals, but I'm pregnant and want to save them for when baby is here.  It feels like moving a mountain one rock at a time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 18, 2017, 08:16:38 PM
Thanks plainjane, for the suggestion.  Probably not quite soggy enough to make into soup, without adding some more liquid.  But just enough for there to be a puddle of liquid on the plate, circling the pile of rice/split peas. I can't be bothered doing anything special with it - I'll just eat it up in one more sitting with lots of cheese melted on the top again, and pray there's no more in the freezer!  It's obviously got all kinds of "good for me" ingredients, including zucchini, red peppers, tomato, and the rice and split peas.  So it's a bit like taking medicine with jam or a spoonful of yoghurt.  Not particularly tasty, but made more so by what you add to cover the taste :-)

In other news, I had to go into the office for a bit and I have been eating up mint M & M's leftover from Christmas.  Way too many in one sitting, and am starting to feel sick.  So right now, I'm going to roll up the bag and wrap an elastic around it, and stick it back in my purse to take home.  And then end my little forum break and get the last few things done so I can go home!

And thanks, SimpleCycle.  That's exactly what's happening!  So I'm going to eat up some freezer meals, to free up some space to cook more of the ingredients that are in the cupboard, which will fill up the freezer again.  Check with me in a month or two to see if I'm seeing more progress?!?  A few more cycles of that should make a visible dent, I think!

(Just goes to prove that I/we really needed to do this challenge, right???)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on February 19, 2017, 03:43:20 PM
I have been slowly eating down the house and doing pretty well. Today is a good day. I am making fish pie to use up the odd pieces of fish I have in the freezer.(a lemon here) We made lemon drizzle cake to use up the lemons that needed to be used now or thrown away, I made spicy tuna cakes but using some salmon (thanks for the recipe swick) (another lemon) and the dogs will eat royally off some very old bacon and rice tonight. The only thing I needed to accomplish this was the potatoes to put on top of the pie. I call this a win day! Thinking about it - can I add Farro to the fish pie?????
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 19, 2017, 11:19:11 PM
So, as usual, I brought home some food from work.  I haven't even opened all the containers to see what's there, but I know there's some soup, and some fruit.  I ate a plate of salad and cheese and cucumber sandwich right away for lunch.  Later, had some of the fruit, plus a bowl of cereal.  I usually do really well with eating my stash of cereal within best before dates, but I did get carried away with buying Weetabix (on sale, and with a coupon) a while back.  So I have almost 2 full boxes expiring this month.  I'll try to focus on eating mostly that until it's gone, whenever I'm in a cereal mood.  But it doesn't always strike the spot, because I like my Weetabix with warmed up milk and mushy, and sometimes I want that cold flakey crunchiness of cereal for breakfast or an evening snack.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 20, 2017, 10:15:54 AM
I'm slowly eating down my pantry.  I've used half of a bag of dried fruit that we were gifted.  The biscotti turned out well, so I might make more to give away (and get rid of all of the dried fruit).

Things I used up in my bake-a-thon yesterday:
Carrots (I had a bag and a half)
Box of cornmeal
One bag of flour (we still have 3 more)
1 can of chickpeas
Bottle of vanilla extract

I'm planning to make pasta for dinner tonight, which will finish off a box of pasta. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on February 20, 2017, 10:31:58 AM
Made chicken curry over rice with coconut milk on Saturday. I have one more can of coconut milk and just enough spices for another round.

Also used up the last bag of pasta from the Costco 6 pack!!! I made the beef pasta dish we like with mushrooms, broccoli, mushroom soup, and sour cream. We're down to one meal each of spaghetti and fettucine, a bag of egg noodles, and I bought another 12 pack of ramen from Costco since they dropped the price.

I'm also learning to bake my own bread. Round one wasn't quite right but still delicious enough that we ate the whole loaf yesterday.. ;) Maybe this wasn't such a great idea..

I made another batch of salad with the leftover cabbage from last week. Trying to finish that up this week, plus the leftovers from the weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 20, 2017, 10:42:45 AM
I had a false start yesterday on some baked beans when the beans cooked way faster than the recipe indicated and they came out as mush before I even put the sauce on them and baked them.  So I turned two cups into hummus and froze another 4 cups for future hummus or something else that takes overly mushy white beans.  Am trying the baked beans again today with another pound of white beans.

DD had overnight oats for breakfast this morning and seemed to like them.  It only uses up a tiny bit of oats at a time, but at least she's eating stuff we have in the house rather than baby cereal I have to buy.  And I had two single serve cups of mandarin oranges that were past their "best by" date with breakfast this morning.

Does anyone else use a pantry inventory app?  I have a smartphone (for shame!) and I've been using one I am happy with, but it doesn't have multiple "places" to put things, so I've only done the pantry and not the freezer and fridge.  Thinking about checking out a few other choices.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 21, 2017, 01:04:18 PM
I did it you guys! I finished off the bottomless bag of stale puffed rice cereal! Yesterday I made a double batch of granola bars which finished off the cereal (yay), the last of a jar of crunchy peanut butter (yay), and the last of the oatmeal in the house (kind of sad about that, I'll have to buy more soon). I put a bunch in the freezer so hopefully we'll have snacks for a couple of weeks.

Other accomplishments for the week:

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 21, 2017, 02:14:19 PM

  • Finished the enormous bottle of chocolate protein powder and several bags of frozen bananas making smoothies. Since then I've been trying to make smoothies using some unflavored whey protein, frozen berries, and frozen bananas, but finding it tastes like ass. Then I remembered I used to make these types of smoothies using OJ, not milk, and they tasted much better, so I think I need to get some OJ.

Awesome progress! Could you approximate your own chocolate flavored pp using cocoa powder and your sweetener of choice?

I've been using a splash of some specialty balsamic vinegars we were gifted into bubbly water from our soda stream to make a sort of shrub. Very pleasant. I've been at a loss what to do with them. Espresso, Vermont maple, and Cara cara orange and vanilla flavours.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 21, 2017, 03:22:49 PM
Last night I finished the last piece of the birthday cake I made for marty998.

That counts, right?

Also, the cake helped use up a few baking ingredients: eggs, dark chocolate, bourbon...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Secretly Saving on February 21, 2017, 03:47:19 PM
We need to get back to this.  The pantry is overflowing.  Consider me back on the bandwagon!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 21, 2017, 03:57:20 PM

Awesome progress! Could you approximate your own chocolate flavored pp using cocoa powder and your sweetener of choice?


That's a good idea, but we'll have to see how ambitious I'm feeling at 5:45am before drinking my coffee :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 21, 2017, 04:05:52 PM
I did it you guys! I finished off the bottomless bag of stale puffed rice cereal! Yesterday I made a double batch of granola bars which finished off the cereal (yay), the last of a jar of crunchy peanut butter (yay), and the last of the oatmeal in the house (kind of sad about that, I'll have to buy more soon). I put a bunch in the freezer so hopefully we'll have snacks for a couple of weeks.

Congrats on conquering the puffed rice!  And, you don't live anywhere near me, right?  'Cause I got some oatmeal you could have!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 21, 2017, 04:07:09 PM
I got a tub of creme fraiche marked down 85% to 50c, which means I need to summon the motivation to make another blueberry creme fraiche cake. That will use up the wholemeal flour, the hazelnut meal and some almonds. Then if I do one more batch of coconut biscuits and some muesli bars and that's all the ancient nuts and nut products finally used up.

I found a pantry moth in my rice the other day - bleurgh. Used it anyway - if it was moth larvae that would have turned my stomach, but a moth I can deal with! I reckon people somewhere probably eat fried maggots and moths so they are unlikely to kill me. The rice is in an air tight jar but for a while it was in a not well sealed bag so I guess that's how it got in. I REALLY need to find something suitable to store my breadflour - I buy it in 5kg bags so I need something big. I think Bunnings have food grade buckets.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 21, 2017, 04:20:55 PM

Awesome progress! Could you approximate your own chocolate flavored pp using cocoa powder and your sweetener of choice?


That's a good idea, but we'll have to see how ambitious I'm feeling at 5:45am before drinking my coffee :)

I was actually thinking pre-mix it ahead of time so you don't have to balance it without having had caffeine :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 22, 2017, 04:20:35 PM
I'm only here for nine more days and starting to get worried that I won't be able to eat everything (first world problems).

I'm working on one of eight beers leftover from the weekend. Three of them are barleywine that DH bought, and I question the wisdom in drinking any of those on a weeknight, or more than one on a weekend.  This beer might just go up by the apartment mailboxes with a "FREE" sign, but it's fancy shit and  I hate to give it away!

My house guest left a box of green tea that I gave away to a co-worker today (I have a nicer container of green tea I'll bring home, but my suitcase capacity is limited)

Big batch of chili is going in the Instant Pot with a package of ground beef an onion, beans and two cans of tomatatoes.  That will be lunches the next two days, and I'll pretty much eat nothing else over the weekend.

Next week will be more of a beef curry type stew using a butternut squash, frozen peas and pearl onions and can of coconut milk.  Much of the remaining rice can be eaten with that.

Still have eggs, fancy cheeses (can come home in suitecase), nuts (ditto) and the veggies I bought yesterday (green onions, salad, bell peppers, avocados, canned tuna/sardines/kippers.  I've done a pretty good job on the oils and spices I brought with me though, so I should have some space to bring home the less perishable things.

Crap, there are three sausages left in the fridge too!  They're uncooked, so I think I'll take them out of their casings and cook up breakfast sausage patties or make a fritatta with the eggs or something. 

Apparently I over-bought on the protein.  It seemed the first 3 weeks I was here, I was constantly running out of everything and spending a shit-ton at the grocery store, then suddenly, I had way too much despite making smaller shopping trips.  Kind of baffling how that works, but there it is. I think partly it's because I was doing Whole30 at first, and then decided to add back in rice and beans to reduce food costs, and that really stretched out all the other ingredients.  Welp, no excuses for going out to eat at all before I leave!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on February 22, 2017, 04:43:26 PM
I rarely eat cereal but a few months ago I bought two family size boxes of Cheerios that were on a crazy sale and I had a coupon. I am only now almost done box number one. Lesson learned, not really savings if I don't eat the food.

I had a huge quantity of apples and I am down to 7 which will last me exactly a week with my current meal plan. 

This weekend I am planning on making some puffed quinoa peanut butter balls to use up a lot of quinoa I have. I also am planning on making a tuna casserole as I have the ingredients in bulk which I need to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on February 22, 2017, 06:04:46 PM
I did it you guys! I finished off the bottomless bag of stale puffed rice cereal! Yesterday I made a double batch of granola bars which finished off the cereal (yay), the last of a jar of crunchy peanut butter (yay), and the last of the oatmeal in the house (kind of sad about that, I'll have to buy more soon). I put a bunch in the freezer so hopefully we'll have snacks for a couple of weeks.

Congrats on conquering the puffed rice!  And, you don't live anywhere near me, right?  'Cause I got some oatmeal you could have!

LOL no, I haven't fled to Canada yet (I'm in the US), but I'm keeping my options open... we'll see how things progress down here over the next 4 years 3 years and 11 months :) I am a huge Rush fan, so I think I get extra points on my application for that.


Awesome progress! Could you approximate your own chocolate flavored pp using cocoa powder and your sweetener of choice?


That's a good idea, but we'll have to see how ambitious I'm feeling at 5:45am before drinking my coffee :)

I was actually thinking pre-mix it ahead of time so you don't have to balance it without having had caffeine :)

Yeah once I figure out the right formula that could work, maybe I'll try and do that this weekend!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 22, 2017, 11:15:33 PM
A few successes:
 - Finished a box of tea
 - Bag of chia seeds
 - Bag of cashew pieces
 - Bag of pine nuts from the freezer (this took me 4 years to finish!)
 - Lamb roast from the freezer
 - Bag of frozen cherries
 - I'm actually starting to run out of some spices. Have been making a bunch of Indian-ish curries lately, and ran out of homemade spice mix and some of the spices to go in it. But I discovered some spice mixes we have been given that I forgot about and am aiming to use all of them up before I go buy and spices :)
 - Consolidated my stashes of dried fruit and found some I didn't even know I had. Making our own trail mix.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 22, 2017, 11:25:15 PM
I did it you guys! I finished off the bottomless bag of stale puffed rice cereal! Yesterday I made a double batch of granola bars which finished off the cereal (yay), the last of a jar of crunchy peanut butter (yay), and the last of the oatmeal in the house (kind of sad about that, I'll have to buy more soon). I put a bunch in the freezer so hopefully we'll have snacks for a couple of weeks.

Congrats on conquering the puffed rice!  And, you don't live anywhere near me, right?  'Cause I got some oatmeal you could have!

LOL no, I haven't fled to Canada yet (I'm in the US), but I'm keeping my options open... we'll see how things progress down here over the next 4 years 3 years and 11 months :) I am a huge Rush fan, so I think I get extra points on my application for that.

You sure do!

How funny, I was exchanging posts with someone over in the journals, about music.  Reminiscing about one of my fave teenage bands (Skinny Puppy!) and found someone else who likes them too!  And that got me started looking up videos on youtube, so I've been listening to all kinds of stuff I haven't listened to in years, while getting caught up on the forums after last night's enforced hiatus.

Anyway, yes to Rush as well.  I've been to a bunch of their concerts over the years, because I had a friend who REALLY loved them, and I liked them too, so he always made sure we went when they had a big tour.

But that doesn't have anything to do with eating down the pantry, so in order to drag myself kicking and screaming back on topic:

I haven't made much progress since I last posted, and eating out twice today didn't help.  Bought a bagel at Timmy's on the way to work, then ate leftover pasta from Mom for lunch.  Then Mom and sister and I went to see A Dog's Purpose, and I ate nachos at the movie theatre for dinner. 

Needed a big more produce in the house, but confined myself to just a couple apples and bananas, plus some berries, and one jar of peanut butter at my "buy now" price (2.99 for 1 kg of Kraft is as low as it ever goes).

Also, I'm host for a meeting in the morning, so applied my price matching and buying only what I need strategies to that shopping as well to keep the costs down.  Will get reimbursed for it, but still need to keep it reasonable, both for the sake of the organization's budget, and because I have to front the cost.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 23, 2017, 02:20:26 AM
The last few days I ate another bag of selv picked wild mushrooms (Russula type) that I blanched and froze last autumn. With some garlic and pepper, it got a lot of good taste. I also poured in some self-made mushroom soya (made of Sarcodon Squamosus).

Pity with Russula is that the pretty hat colours dissolves into the dish, so that the originally white stems and all the different colour hats all get the same vague colour, like mixing different paint colours.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 23, 2017, 06:59:11 AM
So a kind friend gave us a container of Torani bacon syrup because the SO likes bacon.  I had considered doing something with banana & bacon syrup cheesecake, but this is a very smokey syrup, and I don't like the idea of potentially wasting a full brick of cream cheese.  Plus the SO is low carbing, so I'd be feeding the office.

Any other ideas?  Most of the things on the internet are for alcohol, and we don't drink.

My freezer is starting to look a bit bare.  I finished another container of frozen fruit.  Also used up the tamarind chutney & the orange bbq sauce by making braised chicken thighs. I started on the roasted garlic oil.  The list for pantry replacements now includes rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, fried onions, and baking soda.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 23, 2017, 12:58:19 PM
So a kind friend gave us a container of Torani bacon syrup because the SO likes bacon.  I had considered doing something with banana & bacon syrup cheesecake, but this is a very smokey syrup, and I don't like the idea of potentially wasting a full brick of cream cheese.  Plus the SO is low carbing, so I'd be feeding the office.

Any other ideas?  Most of the things on the internet are for alcohol, and we don't drink. 

I don't have a recipe, so this definitely falls in the category of an "idea."  At the movie theatre last night, I noticed that the Poptopia counter was featuring a maple bacon popcorn.  If one can make one's own caramel corn, then I suppose one could make one's own maple bacon popcorn?  Or at least, something similar?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 23, 2017, 11:57:35 PM
Well, happy to post that I have finished up the yellowish soggy rice, split pea and veg dish from the other day, and also, finished up one ziploc bag from the freezer of cheese that I had salvaged from a reception over a year ago.  Am almost finished another but it will probably survive one or two more meals.  Then I can start work on the bag of pre-shredded cheese I got for free with the purchase of an Old El Paso taco kit, which has also been in the freezer for a long time.  Or another package of mozzarella from the freezer, also from over a year ago.

In addition to the rice and split pea dish, and the cheese, I had to cook up the last little bit of a bag of broccoli slaw from the fridge, and feed it to the dog.  It was getting a bit too dried out for my taste, but she happily ate it! 

In other news, I'm making too good progress on some chocolate that is still around from Christmas.  Going to try to slow down on that one.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 24, 2017, 02:22:42 AM
I'm unclear on how chocolate can last in the house from Xmas to end of Feb??!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 24, 2017, 02:45:03 AM
I'm unclear on how chocolate can last in the house from Xmas to end of Feb??!!

There was a lot of it???

(And I've been trying to be good!  You know, eat a little bit at a time, savour it, rather than plowing my way through a whole box of Lindt in one night.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on February 24, 2017, 07:17:17 AM
+1 on chocolate consumption. I don't think anything ever survives past the first week of January for us.. no matter what the amount!

I finished two boxes of pasta yesterday! Spaghetti for dinner and fettuccine for lunches today. I made a huge batch of sauce with veggies and lentils. It was a big hit, even with my former carnivore. Adding that into our recipe rotation. I'm excited to be done with all of that pasta. We still have one bag of egg noodles and one bag of ramen that I just bought, but that's it!

I have more lentils to get through so I think I'm going to make lentil tacos next.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 24, 2017, 09:10:14 AM
Finished up an open bag of brown rice pasta. My body was not a fan. Won't be restocking.

In restocking news, we are picking up a bulk order of nuts and pantry staples. The good thing is this time around we have stuck to staples and didn't add anything that we didn't have a specific purpose for. ...but....I still ordered a 25 lb sack of coconut. I know we'll use it up, I'm just not sure where I will store it...Lucky there is room in the pantry (somewhat!)

I have a cup or two left of herbal tea and I can get rid of the sampler box given from us from TJ's. It was a set of glass test tubes, cute...but takes up a LOT of room.  Once it is gone from the pantry I can reuse the test tubes for homemade Christmas presents, win!

What is everyone else working on using up?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: StarBright on February 24, 2017, 09:46:30 AM
I'm aiming for a v. low spend march so am jumping on this thread!

Next week I'm planning to use up:
frozen beef stock
bag of frozen corn
and a few cans of beans to make some taco soup.

I also have some cans of Skyline chili that someone gave me ages ago and I'm not sure what to do with them since I'm trying to really watch pasta intake - Maybe I can eat it over spaghetti squash?

re: bacon syrup. We're really into breakfast casseroles at our house so I would probably add some to an egg mixture in a breakfast casserole. I think it could work particularly well if you were actually out of meat but had lots of veggie odds and ends that you wanted to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 24, 2017, 11:04:44 AM
+1 on chocolate consumption. I don't think anything ever survives past the first week of January for us.. no matter what the amount!

Oh, I realized another (partial) explanation for how the chocolate lasted so long.  I was really sick.  From before Christmas, until past mid-January.  First the flu, then as I was recovering from that after 2 weeks, I developed bronchitis.  Antibiotics and the whole bit.  I distinctly remember one night, eating a couple of really nice chocolates, because I wanted to eat all the chocolate in the house.  I was craving them so much.  But I realized I couldn't taste them at all, so it really wasn't worth eating them until I got better.

Other than that, yes, I have just been uncharacteristically restrained! 

Semi-keeping track of everything I eat here helps too!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 24, 2017, 11:20:43 AM

re: bacon syrup. We're really into breakfast casseroles at our house so I would probably add some to an egg mixture in a breakfast casserole. I think it could work particularly well if you were actually out of meat but had lots of veggie odds and ends that you wanted to use up.

Good idea! The only thing I cold think of was bake something, cupcakes, sugar cookies, bars etc bring them into work with the rest of the bottle and challenge a coworker to take it, make something to bring in with whatever is left of the bottle and take turns seeing what you can all come up with.

Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on February 24, 2017, 06:22:25 PM

re: bacon syrup. We're really into breakfast casseroles at our house so I would probably add some to an egg mixture in a breakfast casserole. I think it could work particularly well if you were actually out of meat but had lots of veggie odds and ends that you wanted to use up.

Good idea! The only thing I cold think of was bake something, cupcakes, sugar cookies, bars etc bring them into work with the rest of the bottle and challenge a coworker to take it, make something to bring in with whatever is left of the bottle and take turns seeing what you can all come up with.

Hmm. Bacon syrup. Mac and cheese, bloody marys, eggs benedict, barbecue sauce, bacon-flavored mayonnaise, mustard or ketchup, caesar or ranch dressing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 24, 2017, 07:14:44 PM
I am struggling to imagine what bacon syrup *IS*....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 24, 2017, 07:17:33 PM
I am struggling to imagine what bacon syrup *IS*....
http://shop.torani.com/Bacon-Flavored-Syrup/p/TOR-431248&c=Torani@Syrups#sm.00001ayyf0fsj8flhu7ywj1swjfb3 (http://shop.torani.com/Bacon-Flavored-Syrup/p/TOR-431248&c=Torani@Syrups#sm.00001ayyf0fsj8flhu7ywj1swjfb3)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 24, 2017, 07:31:09 PM
I am struggling to imagine what bacon syrup *IS*....
http://shop.torani.com/Bacon-Flavored-Syrup/p/TOR-431248&c=Torani@Syrups#sm.00001ayyf0fsj8flhu7ywj1swjfb3 (http://shop.torani.com/Bacon-Flavored-Syrup/p/TOR-431248&c=Torani@Syrups#sm.00001ayyf0fsj8flhu7ywj1swjfb3)

Ok, more specifically, I'm struggling to imagine the flavour! This is like one of those 'only in america' moments!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 25, 2017, 07:39:06 AM
Finished up an open bag of brown rice pasta. My body was not a fan. Won't be restocking.

In restocking news, we are picking up a bulk order of nuts and pantry staples. The good thing is this time around we have stuck to staples and didn't add anything that we didn't have a specific purpose for. ...but....I still ordered a 25 lb sack of coconut. I know we'll use it up, I'm just not sure where I will store it...Lucky there is room in the pantry (somewhat!)

I have a cup or two left of herbal tea and I can get rid of the sampler box given from us from TJ's. It was a set of glass test tubes, cute...but takes up a LOT of room.  Once it is gone from the pantry I can reuse the test tubes for homemade Christmas presents, win!

What is everyone else working on using up?

Swick, is this like coconut flakes?  I assume you're making your own coconut milk out of it?  I might need to give that a go, but have several cans of coconut milk at home since I stocked up when I found a deal a few months ago.

In the last couple days, I've used up two tins of sardines in a simple pate.  I'll definitely be putting that in my lunch rotation since I would like to eat less tuna and more sardines, and it's pretty tasty scooped onto crackers or veggie slices.  I also used up the apple cider vinegar, frozen blueberries, coconut milk, lard and rooibos tea. 

I'm trying to decide what I'll want to restock when I get home.  I don't think there will be much.  Living with a limited pantry for several weeks has been good for me; there's still plenty of variety and very little going to waste.  Of course I was just adjusting to cooking for one and need to get back to cooking for two. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 25, 2017, 11:43:42 AM

Swick, is this like coconut flakes?  I assume you're making your own coconut milk out of it?  I might need to give that a go, but have several cans of coconut milk at home since I stocked up when I found a deal a few months ago.


Yep, but I ended up getting the regular shredded coconut because it is cheaper (although  think it is common for desiccated coconut in the US to be sweetened? ours isn't) I've been looking for deals on canned coconut milk, but somewhere along the way my tastes changed and they all taste "dirty" to me, even the brand I liked. I am one of those people who are hyper sensitive to the taste of "Can" though. 

I also use the pulp to make paleo oatmeal so no waste. If you make a lot of nut milks, This thingy is awesome: http://www.chufamix.co.uk/ (http://www.chufamix.co.uk/) I got it as a gift, thought it was totally silly and didn't see the point...but I use it everytime I make milk, which is a few times a week at least.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rachellynn99 on February 25, 2017, 11:56:21 AM
Any ideas for using up these items?
-Dijon mustard
-Rice vinegar
-Worcestershire sauce

I love using canned black eyed peas, chopped onions and peppers and rice vinegar. It makes a great salsa type dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 25, 2017, 12:17:09 PM

Swick, is this like coconut flakes?  I assume you're making your own coconut milk out of it?  I might need to give that a go, but have several cans of coconut milk at home since I stocked up when I found a deal a few months ago.


Yep, but I ended up getting the regular shredded coconut because it is cheaper (although  think it is common for desiccated coconut in the US to be sweetened? ours isn't) I've been looking for deals on canned coconut milk, but somewhere along the way my tastes changed and they all taste "dirty" to me, even the brand I liked. I am one of those people who are hyper sensitive to the taste of "Can" though. 

I also use the pulp to make paleo oatmeal so no waste. If you make a lot of nut milks, This thingy is awesome: http://www.chufamix.co.uk/ (http://www.chufamix.co.uk/) I got it as a gift, thought it was totally silly and didn't see the point...but I use it everytime I make milk, which is a few times a week at least.

Thanks!  Yeah, there are some brands of coconut milk that really have a funky can flavor.  It's getting easier to find coconut flakes/shreds here that aren't sweetened, but they aren't cheap enough to warrant buying them to make coconut milk, so buying in bulk piqued my interest.  That device looks kind of neat, but also sort of like a glorified strainer?  Maybe I will experiment with using my cold brew coffee pitcher for straining a small batch.  I do use coconut flour now and then, so if the pulp can be dried out and ground finely, that could be a double win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 25, 2017, 01:06:32 PM
Ha, yes glorified strainer it is. But it allows you to do it fast since you squeeze it with the plunger thingy and it is much easier to deal with and clean then nut milk bags or cheese cloth. If I wasn't dairy-free and had to buy it I wouldn't have. But since I have it and I am, I love it.

It's like anything, for us a high powered blender is worth it, but we use it every day or two. You can definitely dry out coconut pulp and use as flour. I tend not to bother since we make the paleo oatmeal a few times a week for breakfasts, I just pop the pulp in the fridge for a day or two until I'm ready to make the next batch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on February 25, 2017, 03:33:18 PM
So this section of the board includes the only people who will understand the shame I felt this morning when I went into my freezer for one of my cornmeal & cranberry muffins and discovered there was a full bag of frozen corn that had fallen behind the frozen fruit.  On the plus side, I had been looking for a sale, because I do like having corn in the freezer, so at least I didn't buy a duplicate.  A whole bag!  This is a normal NA sized fridge with top freezer - there is no excuse.

Tonight is polenta (using up more of the old cornmeal & 2 cups of stock), balsamic beef (from the freezer), and some spinach (freezer).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 25, 2017, 04:13:39 PM
I cleaned out and inventoried the regular freezer and the deep freeze.  Honestly, I can't believe how we came to have this much food in the house.  Apparently we're food hoarders!

We ended up eating leftovers and odds and ends a lot this past week, so some of our planned meals got bumped to this week.  Things on the plan to use up:
-pasta
-half a jar of pasta sauce
-italian sausage from the freezer
-some vegetable baby food
-some canned pumpkin
-a box of coconut milk (the beverage kind not the super rich kind)
-some super dark chocolate bars
-a bunch of random frozen foods for "appetizer night" on Friday
-some frozen meals for lunches this week

I also pulled a loaf of Ezekiel bread out of the freezer and will use it for breakfasts and maybe some lunches.  And the toddler is so close to finishing up a batch of frozen meatballs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on February 25, 2017, 06:08:58 PM
I have several large freezer containers of rich turkey stock, courtesy of our Thanksgiving turkey. Any suggestions for using it that do NOT involve carbs? DH needs to control carbs for his blood sugar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 25, 2017, 06:31:22 PM
I have several large freezer containers of rich turkey stock, courtesy of our Thanksgiving turkey. Any suggestions for using it that do NOT involve carbs? DH needs to control carbs for his blood sugar.

Maybe soup that is heavy on the vegetables and has a bit of brown rice or wild rice?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 26, 2017, 10:54:20 AM
Today eating some slices moose meat that I froze from a big chunk some months ago. Together with self picked cantharels. Served with sourkrout that was one extreme sale in the shops around Christmas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 26, 2017, 01:32:19 PM
I have several large freezer containers of rich turkey stock, courtesy of our Thanksgiving turkey. Any suggestions for using it that do NOT involve carbs? DH needs to control carbs for his blood sugar.

Maybe soup that is heavy on the vegetables and has a bit of brown rice or wild rice?

Yeah, I make a lot of soups with homemade stock. If the stock is good you can put almost anything in and it will be delicious. You could make a lot of different traditional soups and sub in zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice, or do a search for "low carb soup" and I bet there are websites with great recipes.

Homemade stock is also great for braising meats (beef stew, short ribs, pot roast, pulled pork, lamb shanks, etc.) especially if you want to make the cooking liquid into a gravy/sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 26, 2017, 07:45:05 PM
I have several large freezer containers of rich turkey stock, courtesy of our Thanksgiving turkey. Any suggestions for using it that do NOT involve carbs? DH needs to control carbs for his blood sugar.

Maybe soup that is heavy on the vegetables and has a bit of brown rice or wild rice?

I've found that good homemade turkey stock really elevates butternut (or other) squash soup.  Not the sweet kind - think onions, garlic, sage, squash, turkey stock - then blended.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 27, 2017, 02:37:20 PM
I have several large freezer containers of rich turkey stock, courtesy of our Thanksgiving turkey. Any suggestions for using it that do NOT involve carbs? DH needs to control carbs for his blood sugar.

Maybe soup that is heavy on the vegetables and has a bit of brown rice or wild rice?

I've found that good homemade turkey stock really elevates butternut (or other) squash soup.  Not the sweet kind - think onions, garlic, sage, squash, turkey stock - then blended.
YUM!

I regularly make soup with no noodles but usually shredded chicken and vegetables.

This weekend, I'm planning to make chicken stock with all of the bones in my freezer (I have a LOT stored up).  Then I'll make two kinds of soup. 
I will probably make a few cornmeal muffins to go with the soup too. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 27, 2017, 02:45:04 PM
Bacon flavored syrup would be divine on pancakes or waffles, IMO.  :D

We're back to freezing temps which had me feeling domestic yesterday so I made the following:

Low Carb blueberry pancakes used up most of the fresh blueberries
Flax muffins-almost out of flax seed now
A strawberry dessert used up another pound frozen strawberries
Browned ground chuck for today's lasagna and I used up leftover Ragu spag sauce from the freezer, a remaining container of cottage cheese, a zucchini, and the rest of the fresh spinach
Enchiladas for last night's supper used some of the spinach and I served it with Budget Bytes not refried beans.  Only 3 more frozen containers of the latter!
Homemade low carb "Doritos" used more flax seed and coconut flour

I need to refocus on the vast array of condiments again.  Last week's pork roast did use the mango chutney...

I love this thread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 27, 2017, 02:58:15 PM

Flax muffins-almost out of flax seed now
Homemade low carb "Doritos" used more flax seed and coconut flour


You know we are going to be asking for recipes, so I'll go first! :) The above sounds awesome and I have a lot of flax...

Fished out some frozen asparagus for dinner tonight. Also making crashed spuds which will use some frozen rosemary.

Took out a couple of lamb shanks from the freezer, will make a lamb ragu for dinner tomorrow night. I never use a recipe but it is great for using up spices, tomatoes, condiments, left over stock, open bottles of wine...

Over the weekend we used up the last of our bag of rice, used to be a staple, now eaten very rarely. Felt great getting it used up and NOT going to run out and restock!

Hubs has asked for me to make granola, so that'll be good to use our bulk oats that we purchased before switching to lower carb.

Onward and emptier :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 27, 2017, 04:31:31 PM

Flax muffins-almost out of flax seed now
Homemade low carb "Doritos" used more flax seed and coconut flour


You know we are going to be asking for recipes, so I'll go first! :) The above sounds awesome and I have a lot of flax...



Thank you for asking, Swick!

http://ditchthewheat.com/low-carb-chili-doritos/ (http://ditchthewheat.com/low-carb-chili-doritos/)

To me they taste cracker like.  I baked them for 8 minutes, but we are at high altitude (over 5,300 feet).  Next time I'll bake them slightly longer for a crispier version. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 27, 2017, 04:54:26 PM
Last night I made a pot of curry with my last package of ground beef, last can of coconut milk, last onion, last garlic and ginger, chili paste, some bell pepper, part of a cauliflower and roasted butternut squash.  Will be eating leftovers of that the next few days.  Dinner tonight was some crumbled up sausage with cabbage, bell pepper and a little sweet potato, and fried egg on top.  Coworker wants to go out to dinner this week which:  a) spendypants, and b) cuts into my ability to eat up all my food.

Used the last of my coffee this morning, and thought about buying some on the way home, but I'm just going to be fancy and buy coffee on my way to work for the next four days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on February 27, 2017, 08:49:00 PM
So far so good this week.  Saturday night we had pasta, sauce, and sausage all from our stock.  Yesterday I managed to use up some ice cream (haha) and a box of coconut milk.  Tonight we used two cans of tuna.

I pulled a couple things out of the freezer to use this week.  The freezer is much harder for me than the pantry for whatever reason, so it's super full.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 27, 2017, 11:00:07 PM
As already confessed in UFF, I got take-out twice this weekend (which stretched into multiple meals).  Even though I had "food from work" to eat, and stuff on my pantry/freezer hit list.  So today, I finished up my take-out pizza for lunch, but had veggie soup from last Sunday, and salad and cherry cheesecake from Friday night (house blessing - I had to leave early, but they packed up food for me to take).

Tomorrow night is Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at the church, so I'll definitely have to take some more of the Friday night leftovers to eat for lunch, or else I'll never get all this food eaten!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 28, 2017, 05:47:21 AM
I completely forgot to pack my lunch this morning.  It's such an ingrained habit, I can't believe I did this.  Grrr.  I think I was fixating on the novelty of getting coffee on the way to work.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 28, 2017, 09:23:45 AM
I completely forgot to pack my lunch this morning.  It's such an ingrained habit, I can't believe I did this.  Grrr.  I think I was fixating on the novelty of getting coffee on the way to work.

Oh dear!  We understand the gravity of the situation.  That means not only the expense of getting lunch, but also impacts your goal of finishing up the food before you leave.  :-(

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on February 28, 2017, 09:35:11 AM

I pulled a couple things out of the freezer to use this week.  The freezer is much harder for me than the pantry for whatever reason, so it's super full.

I find using up things from the freezer takes more forward thought and planning then opening the pantry and seeing what can be combined with what to create at least a decent meal.

Last night's dinner plans got derailed, so will have sausages from the freezer tonight and the lamb ragu maybe tomorrow? I'll crock put it today so it is at least ready to go. We did use up some pinto bean flakes and other assorted leftovers for quick tacos, so I still consider it a win :)

Thnks for the doritos recipe, MoutnainGal! I'll have to give them a try this weekend!

Hubby is going to be away next week for work Mon-Wed-ish (depending on flights getting in, which our area is notoriously bad for) So he could be gone all next week. Will be a good time to use up some of the foods I like but he doesn't.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 28, 2017, 11:33:14 AM
You're welcome, Swick!  Let us know how it goes!

~~~~~~~~~~
I was going to combine another meal into the Crock Pot this morning, but we've got a house showing this evening (fingers crossed it sells quickly!), so I didn't want to offend potential buyers who might be vegetarian, etc.

So instead, I'll make this Thursday:

Chicken breasts and broth from the freezer, and chilies and enchilada sauce from the pantry served on low carb tortillas w/ cheese.  A side of Not Refried Beans for DH from the freezer. :)

I love coming home from work to the yummy smell of a completed slow cooker meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 28, 2017, 04:41:33 PM
Remembered to use some butter with cilantro frozen in it that I made in August!  I only used about a tablespoon, maybe 4 tablespoons left. I'm determined not to forget it.

Used it and a little chicken fat to make veggie fajitas. This was weird and scared. I've never saved and cooked with animal fat.  I'm almost vegetarian and just don't use much meat, but when I sick last week te boyfriend brought over a chicken (partly because he wanted to see how it cooked in my pressure cooker). When I put the broth away I couldn't bring myself to throw out the fat. So... will see.  Not going to be a habit, but I'll respect this bird by not wasting it.

I also ate part of a (free from Kroger) can of refried beans that was a candidate to live in the cupboard forever.  I ignored the ingredients list.  Largely motivated by wanting the can to plant flowers in.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rebecca527 on February 28, 2017, 04:47:06 PM
Found a little pearl barley and a little quinoa in the pantry - not enough of either to use on its own, but I'm going to cook both up and combine them with pesto from the freezer and some of the sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese in the fridge, and maybe some canned chickpeas if I decide I want more protein. Bam, fancy pesto grain salad for lunches the next couple days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on February 28, 2017, 10:02:10 PM
Found a little pearl barley and a little quinoa in the pantry - not enough of either to use on its own, but I'm going to cook both up and combine them with pesto from the freezer and some of the sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese in the fridge, and maybe some canned chickpeas if I decide I want more protein. Bam, fancy pesto grain salad for lunches the next couple days.

Anyone have other recommended uses for barley? Looks like I have a couple of cups that are about to expire.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on February 28, 2017, 11:02:37 PM
Found a little pearl barley and a little quinoa in the pantry - not enough of either to use on its own, but I'm going to cook both up and combine them with pesto from the freezer and some of the sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese in the fridge, and maybe some canned chickpeas if I decide I want more protein. Bam, fancy pesto grain salad for lunches the next couple days.

Anyone have other recommended uses for barley? Looks like I have a couple of cups that are about to expire.

Soup would be my go-to for just a little bit of barley.  Goes nicely in a variety of soups, I think.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 01, 2017, 01:39:19 AM
We have sprint unions in the house. My stomach reacts badly on eating onions, so I follow the tip to only eat the green part of spring onions and drop any other onions. Based on advice elsewhere on this forum, we saved the white leftovers (5 cm) and put it in a glass of water. Now, a few days later, there is new green stuff growing out of it. Maybe I can soon be self sufficient in spring unions. ;-)

We also had coriander with roots still on them. These have been planted in some earth in the living room, as we had a pot standing there for some other purpose that didn't quite work. That coriander also seems to grow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 01, 2017, 10:58:00 PM
Linda_Norway, in the summer I get some spring onions (sprint unions - autocorrect LOL, right?) early in the season, eat some right away, plant them, and just keep harvesting all through the summer.  You can for sure be self-sufficient in that area!

_______________________________

So, tonight my dinner tried to kill me. 

I was using up the last of the rice, corn and carrots that a church member sent home with me from a house blessing on Friday night.  I was eating in dim light, while I caught up on the forums.  My church member is Caribbean, and likes a bit of spice.  So do I.  But not to chew on a hot pepper, which had obviously been scooped up out of the pot and into my take-out container.

Yowza.  I have never experienced such burning.  Milk, brushing my teeth twice, more milk did nothing to soothe the pain.  I know I'm a lightweight, but that was one hot pepper!  I ended up looking online, and based on advice I found, resorted to eating spoonfuls of peanut butter right out of the jar.  Eventually it subsided. 

So then I had to decide what to do with the rest of the rice/corn/carrots, and what to do about getting a proper dinner into me!

After checking it over carefully for any further offenders, I ate it all up.  That's what MMM would do, right?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 02, 2017, 03:09:51 AM
I'm trying not to go shopping until end of week. So yesterday I had breaded cod for dinner, only I didn't have breadcrumbs, so I used desicated coconut mixed with oat instead. I "bread" my fish with anything at hand, but this was really, really good. Plus: that coconut will never be used for anything else.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 02, 2017, 08:36:45 AM
Aww, PJ that sounds horrible!

Hope your mouth is feeling better today! I suppose maybe it's not so frugal to use stuff up if you have to drink up a ton of milk and peanut butter to recover!

Frugal Fail: I decided to make a second batch of chicken stock from my bones. The second one comes out quite a bit lighter, but still useable, the dogs really like it. But I was super tired and forgot about it and left it out overnight. Then I wasn't sure if the pups would be okay with it, so I tossed it. Hmm I should have double checked. Anyone know if it would have been okay for them? I suppose then gnaw on old bones...

Wins:
 - I found a couple of packages of asparagus in the freezer I have been thoroughly enjoying them! Sauteed with some sausage crumbles leftover from making soup (freezer) and the little end of chorizo my hubby left. devided into two and had one portion with scrambled eggs for lunch yesterday and will finish it off today.
 - Sausage, chorizo, beans, chicken stock, spices, homemade instant soup mix with a bit of asparagus thrown in made a really tasty soup! Everything was freezer/pantry staples to use up.
 - Lamb shanks turned out awesome! Was able to use up a bottle of wine that had ben gifted to us and opened probably a little too long ago.

Challenge: Going through the pantry to figure out what oddball ingredients I can use up next week while Hubby is out of town.  I must keep in mind I'm only cooking for one though :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 02, 2017, 09:42:15 AM
Frugal Fail: I decided to make a second batch of chicken stock from my bones. The second one comes out quite a bit lighter, but still useable, the dogs really like it. But I was super tired and forgot about it and left it out overnight. Then I wasn't sure if the pups would be okay with it, so I tossed it. Hmm I should have double checked. Anyone know if it would have been okay for them? I suppose then gnaw on old bones...   

Depending on temperature in the house and how many hours left out, I might have been inclined to heat it up to boiling again for a little while, then give them a small bit (cooled!) today and see if there were any untoward reactions.  But, eh, maybe not worth taking the risk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on March 02, 2017, 10:01:59 AM
http://www.thekitchn.com/soup-left-out-overnight-is-it-still-safe-to-eat-178685
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 02, 2017, 10:22:50 AM
http://www.thekitchn.com/soup-left-out-overnight-is-it-still-safe-to-eat-178685

Good link, thanks! I liked these lines: "A reboiled three-day-old stock may be safe to eat, but it is now seasoned with millions to billions of dead bacteria and their inactivated toxins. It's conceivable that they might add an interesting flavor, but more likely that the bacteria have feasted on the stock's sugars and savory amino acids, the air has oxidized and staled the fat, and the stock has become less tasty."

I think just overnight would have been ok, from about 9-6, but I already tossed it. Good info though!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 02, 2017, 11:05:40 AM
I seem to have forgotten to eat breakfast today.

But, I'm working from home, so had breakfast for lunch.  Finished a box of cereal.  Now only 637 more boxes of cereal left in the cupboard.  (Not quite.  But feels like it.)  There wasn't quite enough cereal for a filling meal, so I added some raw oatmeal to it.  I still have lots of oatmeal to use - I should maybe do this more often.  I have to be "in the mood" for cooked oatmeal, but could make a dent by throwing a handful on top of whatever kind of cereal I'm going to eat cold.  And apparently, raw oatmeal is healthy!

http://www.livestrong.com/article/412378-is-eating-uncooked-oatmeal-healthy/ (http://www.livestrong.com/article/412378-is-eating-uncooked-oatmeal-healthy/)
http://www.md-health.com/Raw-Oatmeal.html (http://www.md-health.com/Raw-Oatmeal.html)

Cereal-wise, for the next little while I need to focus on eating the 1.5 boxes I have of Weetabix, which expired in February, before I open any other boxes of cereal.  They are another "in the mood" food, but I would really like to eat them before they go too much longer past date.  Not that I'm overly worried about them going bad, but they aren't going to improve in tastiness as they get older.  (It's probably a best before date, rather than an expiry date, but you know what I mean.)

@swick - "A reboiled three-day-old stock may be safe to eat, but it is now seasoned with millions to billions of dead bacteria and their inactivated toxins..."  - Ewwwww!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on March 02, 2017, 12:09:38 PM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 02, 2017, 02:13:10 PM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/

Ok, that is intriguing.  And it uses both Weetabix and oats!  I don't have any bananas right now, but that's going on the "to make soon" list!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on March 02, 2017, 04:19:00 PM
Found a little pearl barley and a little quinoa in the pantry - not enough of either to use on its own, but I'm going to cook both up and combine them with pesto from the freezer and some of the sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese in the fridge, and maybe some canned chickpeas if I decide I want more protein. Bam, fancy pesto grain salad for lunches the next couple days.

Anyone have other recommended uses for barley? Looks like I have a couple of cups that are about to expire.

Soup would be my go-to for just a little bit of barley.  Goes nicely in a variety of soups, I think.

I have some barley in the freezer, and am planning to try Alton Brown's barley water recipe. I have no idea what it tastes like, but I've had good luck with his recipes and like the Mary Poppins reference. :) I'll post after I try it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SmartyCat on March 02, 2017, 04:19:56 PM
Frozen watermelon and frozen strawberries are all GONE!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shelley on March 02, 2017, 04:28:48 PM
I need to join! We are trying to clear out the cupboard to make way for a new two week meal plan that will cut our grocery bill in half. So it will go from $303 Australian a week to $150 for all food, pet food, toiletries etc. until I get the cupboard cleared I'm spending $75 a week on fruit and veg, milk, bread and meat, and using the cupboard stock.

Last night we had chicken and lentil tacos, I have about ten old El Paso dinner kits I got half price a while back. So the red lentils, a chicken breast, can of tomatoes and smoky BBQ seasoning from the taco kit in the slow cooker with some water. It was so good, one of the yummiest meals in a long time!

Today I made coconut and raspberry Muffins with some old shredded coconut and frozen raspberries, and I'm going to use my last can of chickpeas to make some hummus.

Weird things to use up are
Glacé cherries
Weetabix crumbs
Apricot jam
Rice bubble cereal

There is tons of other stuff but it's mostly meal sachets and jars, plus all the Mexican kits. So that's just going to take time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 02, 2017, 05:03:18 PM
I need to join! We are trying to clear out the cupboard to make way for a new two week meal plan that will cut our grocery bill in half. So it will go from $303 Australian a week to $150 for all food, pet food, toiletries etc. until I get the cupboard cleared I'm spending $75 a week on fruit and veg, milk, bread and meat, and using the cupboard stock.
Welcome!
Quote
Today I made coconut and raspberry Muffins with some old shredded coconut and frozen raspberries
YUM!
Quote
Glacé cherries
Weetabix crumbs
Rice bubble cereal
You could use the three of these to make a sort of granola bar-esque thing.  I use honey to bind my bars together.

I've been doing well cleaning out my freezer, and I've started on my pantry.  This week, I pulled out a frozen chicken curry I made last month, and I've been eating it all week for lunch and dinner.  I made the last of our brown rice.  We have A LOT of white rice to go through. 

I gave away a few jars of jam because I can't eat all of the jam.  We have way too much!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 02, 2017, 05:41:07 PM
Finished up a jar of wheat germ. I don't plan to replace it unless I find it almost free again. I like flax meal better. I'll stock one, not both.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 02, 2017, 06:21:20 PM
Cereal-wise, for the next little while I need to focus on eating the 1.5 boxes I have of Weetabix, which expired in February, before I open any other boxes of cereal.  They are another "in the mood" food, but I would really like to eat them before they go too much longer past date.

...
Weird things to use up are
...
Weetabix crumbs

3 Weetbix, crushed*
1 cup SR flour
1 cup dessicated coconut
3/4 cup brown sugar
125g butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla essence

1. Preheat oven to 180 C.

2. Grease and line a lamington tin.

3. Combine Weetbix, flour, coconut and sugar in a bowl. Mix melted butter and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix.

4. Spoon into lamington tin and press down with back of spoon.

5. Bake for 20 mins.

6. Ice with melted chocolate or icing.


*Can crumble whole Weetbix or use crumbs if you already have them on hand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 02, 2017, 08:44:24 PM
Thank you all.  I was just planning to eat my Weetabix as, you know, Weetabix.  Bowl, cereal, milk, sprinkle of sugar, 2 mins in the microwave.  Who knew there were so many Weetabix Recipes out there?!?

For anyone else who might be interested, more:  http://www.weetabix.ca/recipes (http://www.weetabix.ca/recipes)

I have not made anything with the Weetabix, but tonight I have been "In the Kitchen."

Someone gave me a big jar of homemade "soup mix" a couple of years ago.  You know.  Lentils, split peas, and various beans, plus a flavouring package.  I never find those work well, since everything takes such different lengths of time to cook.  So, I sorted them out into a few categories!  Crazy, I know, but it was kind of fun in a soothing, meditative way.  They have sensory play bins with rice for kids, this was like an adult version, not just with texture but with colour, size, shape. 

So, there are 3 small pots of bean in the oven.

1.  Standard "baked beans" type recipe - made with all the smaller white beans (black eyed peas/pigeon peas and so on) plus molasses, dry mustard, onion, ketchup and a couple drops of hickory smoke.

2.  Black beans and adzuki beans - simmering in red wine and salsa, with garlic, onions, celery, carrots and red peppers (carrots and red pepper from the freezer - some of my "salvaged from a veggie tray" supply), with various spices, including a dash of nutmeg and allspice.  Hoping it will turn out all warm and sweet and savoury.

3.  White and red kidney beans plus a mottled reddish bean of a similar size (I can't think of the name) and a tiny number of garbanzos with lots of celery and onion and water, plus a small jar of 4 pepper and olive antipasto for flavouring.  Hoping for an Italian-ish flavour.  The antipasto was left over from Christmas 2015 gift giving - not something I would normally open at home by myself, and hadn't gotten around to giving it to anyone else.  Figured it might as well get used somehow!

Lentils and split peas of various types were returned to the jar and will be cooked another time.

Also, I've been wanting to get some stuff out of the freezer.  One, a family size tray of cheese cannelloni went in the oven with the beans, and there is a small apple caramel pie in now.  The cannelloni had been in the freezer for a long time - I think I bought it when someone was going to be coming over for dinner, and that didn't happen so it stayed there.  I've turned 6 cannelloni into 4 servings, had one for dinner and put the other three in the fridge for meals over the next couple of days.  The dog licked the cardboard tray VERY thoroughly clean!  The pie is from The Big Apple, and was bought on the way home from Montreal last spring.  But I bought too much other stuff to eat all at once, so I stashed it in the freezer and forgot about it.  I will eat some for dessert in a little while - yum!

And finally, I made hot crash potatoes!  Lots of oil, a little black pepper, and a generous sprinkling with some fancy garlic basil sea salt (given to me Christmas 2015, and I'm making very slow progress with it!)  Plus some extra basil to crank up the flavour.  So good.  I am definitely going to introduce some people to this way of making potatoes.  I had 2 on the side with my cannelloni, and a couple more servings in the fridge to eat this week.

While the oven is hot, I also threw in some oatmeal, which I'll use on top of the dog's evening meal over the next little while.  Tonight, in addition to licking the cannelloni tray, she got all the off-cuts of celery from all my chopping of veg, which made her very happy.  She loves getting some people food, I like her getting something every day that's not just dry kibble (even though I accept it as nutritionally balanced, it's not fresh!) and she helps me use up stuff that otherwise would go to waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 02, 2017, 10:09:23 PM
And ... since the oatmeal didn't take long to cook, and the oven was staying on for the beans a little while longer, I mixed up a very simple cornbread (cornmeal, flour, baking soda and powder, salt, milk) and popped that in as well. 

Everything is now out, and once it's all had a bit of time to cool down so I can pack it up and put it away, I will be heading to bed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on March 02, 2017, 11:10:18 PM
I expect a report on all the improvised bean dishes!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 03, 2017, 09:31:13 AM
I expect a report on all the improvised bean dishes! 

Will do! 

I basically put several containers of each thing in the freezer, and left out one serving per type in the fridge for this week's meals.

Breakfast update.  Weetabix.  What else?!?!  With a little oatmeal sprinkled on top, and a little brown sugar.  And blackberries still left from last week's shop.  It was 3 small containers for $5 - I'm down to half of one container left.  I like blackberries over raspberries because they hold up better over time.  Plus, you can rinse them without them turning to mush.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 03, 2017, 02:07:47 PM
As promised, a report.

I had baked beans on toast for lunch.  The baked bean recipe is one that I've used before, from the Mennonite cookbook "More With Less."  Though I've never cooked a pound of navy beans all at once, so I just estimate the rest of the ingredients.  Flavour profile was just perfect, once I added a teeny bit of ketchup to the bowl (which I would normally do with canned baked beans too).  The beans were not super soft, and the sauce is more runny than creamy like Heinz, but it was tasty and filling and I was satisfied.

But, a no vegetable lunch, except for the little bit of onion in the beans.  So afternoon snack was a granny smith apple, quartered and smeared with peanut butter.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 03, 2017, 05:43:20 PM
As promised, a report.

I had baked beans on toast for lunch.  The baked bean recipe is one that I've used before, from the Mennonite cookbook "More With Less."  Though I've never cooked a pound of navy beans all at once, so I just estimate the rest of the ingredients.  Flavour profile was just perfect, once I added a teeny bit of ketchup to the bowl (which I would normally do with canned baked beans too).  The beans were not super soft, and the sauce is more runny than creamy like Heinz, but it was tasty and filling and I was satisfied.

But, a no vegetable lunch, except for the little bit of onion in the beans.  So afternoon snack was a granny smith apple, quartered and smeared with peanut butter.  Yum!

Hmm. I consider dried beans a vegetable.  Though I also consider them a protein and I don't think they should take the place of a fresh vegetables too often, but except for the added sugars in BBQ i don't consider it much different from any kind of dried beans, in my region that includes long green beans.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 03, 2017, 05:56:33 PM
Yay, going home tomorrow!  I ended up throwing out:  1/3 bag frozen peas, 1/3 bag frozen pearl onions, some crumbled sausage, a very small sweet potato, and about a cup of shredded cabbage. That's pretty much it.  I am bringing along an unopened tub of hummus, sliced bell peppers, crackers, salami and odds and ends of cheeses.  Some of that will be eaten on my 11 hour trip tomorrow.  I also have some rice and dried beans in my suitcase, but they'll be the first thing in the bin if my suitcases are overweight.  I could have just about zeroed everything out if I hadn't forgotten my lunch on Tuesday, and gone out with a coworker last night, but the waste is within acceptable limits. Oh, I also left three bottles of beer for the neighbors; hopefully they enjoy them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 03, 2017, 08:49:39 PM
Finished off a can of soup for dinner.  Only 6 more to go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 03, 2017, 10:47:54 PM
As promised, a report.

I had baked beans on toast for lunch.  The baked bean recipe is one that I've used before, from the Mennonite cookbook "More With Less."  Though I've never cooked a pound of navy beans all at once, so I just estimate the rest of the ingredients.  Flavour profile was just perfect, once I added a teeny bit of ketchup to the bowl (which I would normally do with canned baked beans too).  The beans were not super soft, and the sauce is more runny than creamy like Heinz, but it was tasty and filling and I was satisfied.

But, a no vegetable lunch, except for the little bit of onion in the beans.  So afternoon snack was a granny smith apple, quartered and smeared with peanut butter.  Yum!

Hmm. I consider dried beans a vegetable.  Though I also consider them a protein and I don't think they should take the place of a fresh vegetables too often, but except for the added sugars in BBQ i don't consider it much different from any kind of dried beans, in my region that includes long green beans. 

Good point, PMG.  I guess I tend to classify them as a protein source, rather than in the vegetable category.  Hey, my veggie count for the day just went up!

Anyway, attended a joint "World Day of Prayer" service organized by a few churches in our area tonight.  There was food afterward, so no need for supper when I got home!

I ate some cheese and crackers, some veggies and dip, samosas, spinach fritters of some kind (like pakora but without onion or other veggies?)  And a small piece of chocolate cake, and one chocolate chocolate chip cookie, and a teeny tiny piece of nanaimo bar.  Certainly not what I would call healthy, but there were a couple of bits of vegetable in all of that!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on March 03, 2017, 11:19:59 PM
Made some lentil tacos tonight: onion, mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes and lentils sauteed with paprika, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. On corn tortillas with a mix of avocado, lime juice, and cilantro on top.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 04, 2017, 08:50:49 PM
I've been cooking! 

I finished:
2 cans of chickpeas. 
container of tahini
bag of gifted dried fruit
a chicken carcass from the freezer
2 chicken breasts from the freezer

I made hummus, chickpea shawarma (http://minimalistbaker.com/chickpea-shawarma-sandwich/) over romaine, biscotti, chicken stock, and shredded chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 04, 2017, 10:24:18 PM
Way to go, 4alpacas!

I meant to ask you guys the other night, when I did my big cooking marathon ... because I made cornbread, I was rooting around in my baking supplies.  And since I was looking at my baking supplies, and since I was talking in another thread about trying to get going with using my bread machine again, I checked the expiration date on my jar of yeast.  2015.  You guys think that it's still worth trying?  Maybe with a small loaf with no fancy ingredients, so if it doesn't rise much I've not wasted a lot of stuff (though I'd probably eat it anyway!)

In other news, tonight for dinner I had a serving of the black bean/adzuki beans that were cooked in red wine and salsa, with some added veggies and spices.  Very nice, and cornbread on the side didn't hurt either.  It didn't taste "like" anything that I could compare it to, but it was kind of sweet, and a little bit spicy, and generally very pleasant to eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 04, 2017, 10:58:29 PM
You can test your yeast (http://redstaryeast.com/yeast-baking-lessons/yeast-shelf-life-storage/yeast-freshness-test/).  Just do it when you're ready to bake. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 04, 2017, 11:21:49 PM
You can test your yeast (http://redstaryeast.com/yeast-baking-lessons/yeast-shelf-life-storage/yeast-freshness-test/).  Just do it when you're ready to bake. 

Oh good, very helpful, thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on March 05, 2017, 12:05:55 PM
You can test your yeast (http://redstaryeast.com/yeast-baking-lessons/yeast-shelf-life-storage/yeast-freshness-test/).  Just do it when you're ready to bake. 

Oh good, very helpful, thanks!

For the future if you keep it your freezer it will last (apparently) forever.  I bought the Costco-sized bag (2 1lbs??) of yeast more than 5 years ago.  Still going strong.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 05, 2017, 11:11:22 PM
Hey horsepoor, there's a thread in Ask a Mustachian, about maxing out a per diem.  I remembered that you'd been eating well while away, and thought you might have some good suggestions for the fellow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 06, 2017, 05:19:29 AM
Two whole empty shelves in the pantry! I can certainly use them for overflowing serveware and vases. This is making my life so much easier - less shifting of stuff from one place to another while I look for things. I also used up a boxed cake mix someone bought me. It was, alright, but still has an 'artificial' taste to me. At least it's gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 06, 2017, 08:01:11 AM
Hey horsepoor, there's a thread in Ask a Mustachian, about maxing out a per diem.  I remembered that you'd been eating well while away, and thought you might have some good suggestions for the fellow.

Hi PJ - thanks, I will take a look.  I had an apartment with a full kitchen, so I was pretty much cooking like normal, but I do have some hacks for shorter trips involving hotel stays. 

Even with eating everything (I thought) down before leaving in January, I was really surprised at how little I wanted to buy when I got home.  DH and I went and bought salad and eggs on Saturday, and yesterday I went to WinCo and stocked up on my preferred butter and canned tuna, and bought a few more veggies.  Made a nice soup last night with white beans (have two canisters full!), chicken breast from the freezer, onions from storage, and a jar of soup base and salsa from the canning stocks.

Last year I bought an immersion circulator with Christmas gift cards, and recently came across instructions for knock-off Starbuck's sous vide egg bites.  Yesterday I made four servings in mason jars with some bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper and Swiss cheese.  These are good!  I think they could be made on the stove top with a little rack to hold the jars off the bottom of the pot, and kept at a bare simmer (90 minutes).  Anyway, great way to use up some random scraps of veggies and have breakfasts ready to grab all week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 06, 2017, 08:54:28 AM

Last year I bought an immersion circulator with Christmas gift cards, and recently came across instructions for knock-off Starbuck's sous vide egg bites.  Yesterday I made four servings in mason jars with some bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper and Swiss cheese.  These are good!  I think they could be made on the stove top with a little rack to hold the jars off the bottom of the pot, and kept at a bare simmer (90 minutes).  Anyway, great way to use up some random scraps of veggies and have breakfasts ready to grab all week.

These sound great. Can I ask do you just keep them in the fridge for the rest of the week? Do you reheat (and if so, how?) or eat cold. Thanks. Really looking to expand my 'eat on the go' breakfast repertoire.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 06, 2017, 11:02:12 AM
Hey horsepoor, there's a thread in Ask a Mustachian, about maxing out a per diem.  I remembered that you'd been eating well while away, and thought you might have some good suggestions for the fellow.

Hi PJ - thanks, I will take a look.  I had an apartment with a full kitchen, so I was pretty much cooking like normal, but I do have some hacks for shorter trips involving hotel stays. 

Cool.  I don't travel for work, but will look forward to stashing away ideas for keeping food costs low when travelling in general.

In other news, today I ate apple pie for breakfast.  Am going to bake my own bread this month, so all my grocery money can go to produce (and cat litter!).  But I probably won't get to that for a day or two, and my supply is running low.  I haven't been excited to eat the rest of the pie (which had been in the freezer) for dessert after dinner, mainly because it tasted a tiny bit stale/freezer burnt.  So as I peered into my fridge this morning, I thought, oh, just eat the darned thing and get it out of here.  It was fine.  Not to self.  Do not freeze non-commercial pies for months on end without at least trying to wrap the darned thing in an extra layer of protection against freezer smell contamination. 

Today I *must* go grocery shopping, and before I can do that, I need to figure out what I'm going to bring to the Toronto MMM meet-up tomorrow.  We're going uber frugal, meeting in the food court area of the underground shopping mall system downtown, and bringing our own meals, plus some folks will probably bring a little bit to share.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 06, 2017, 11:30:46 AM
Yay, going home tomorrow!  I ended up throwing out:  1/3 bag frozen peas, 1/3 bag frozen pearl onions, some crumbled sausage, a very small sweet potato, and about a cup of shredded cabbage. That's pretty much it.  I am bringing along an unopened tub of hummus, sliced bell peppers, crackers, salami and odds and ends of cheeses.  Some of that will be eaten on my 11 hour trip tomorrow.  I also have some rice and dried beans in my suitcase, but they'll be the first thing in the bin if my suitcases are overweight.  I could have just about zeroed everything out if I hadn't forgotten my lunch on Tuesday, and gone out with a coworker last night, but the waste is within acceptable limits. Oh, I also left three bottles of beer for the neighbors; hopefully they enjoy them!

What a nice neighbor!  :D

PJ, good job finishing the pie!

~~~~~~~~~~
I am happy to report other than frozen veggies, proteins, and a bag of blueberries, all the frozen leftovers are gone, except for 2 containers of Budget Bytes Not Refried Beans (which used up the remaining dried beans last month)!  I used the last lb strawberries in low carb crepes yesterday, and last year's garden tomatoes are going into tonight's ground turkey chili.

I also tossed about 3 dozen very old take out condiment packets, and washed out the mason jar they were in.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 06, 2017, 11:59:38 AM
Thanks MountainGal,

I guess I did a good job of making it sound like eating apple pie for breakfast was a real chore, eh?  ;-P

You, on the other hand, have accomplished a real feat!  I can't imagine how long it will take to get to the point you described, in my freezer.  I think I would start filling it back up with new stuff before I got there!

Also, I keep my condiment packets in an old coffee can, repurposed from a copious number of them Dad used to keep various screws, nails and washer in, in the basement workroom.  But I try to keep them circulating, and I really only have vinegar and ketchup, and the occasional other odds and ends.  When it builds up too much, I actually take a minute and empty them all into the ketchup and vinegar containers, and throw out any I'm not likely to use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on March 06, 2017, 12:37:13 PM
I am going to do this this week. I don't want to buy groceries until my credit card statement rolls overs since I've had a spendy month. So I just made a list of all the food I have in my house and I'm planning out the best way to eat it all so I don't have to buy anything. Should force me to be more creative with my cooking this week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 06, 2017, 12:40:38 PM
So I just made a list of all the food I have in my house and I'm planning out the best way to eat it all so I don't have to buy anything. Should force me to be more creative with my cooking this week!

Feel free to share your list to crowd-source some ideas! We like playing Iron Chef or, I suppose it is more like Chopped? on this thread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on March 06, 2017, 01:03:35 PM
Well, the week before last, work got crazy busy so I was largely in survival mode for a while. Things are settling down (I hope?), so this past weekend I was playing catch-up, did a large "start of the month" grocery shopping, and prepped a ton of food. The freezers are now *packed*. 

I have used up all of the freezer bananas in smoothies, but still have some more protein powder (and I still need to try making a homemade chocolate protein mix). Saturday I made a double batch of lentil tacos and mexican rice, so we had tacos for dinner, then I made up 21 burritos for the freezer (used up all the flour tortillas I had on hand and 8 cups of frozen chicken broth), and still had enough for another taco dinner night. This is my problem in using up lentils... all of that was from only TWO CUPS of dry lentils. I still have 6 jars!! I also chopped up a red bell pepper and bunch of celery and froze them before they started suffering from being in the fridge too long.

I used 1 cup of bread crumbs (so I'm almost down to only 2 giant bags) making a giant batch of turkey meatballs for the freezer (7 dinners worth). Since ground turkey was on sale this week I had bought a ton, so I also made a dozen turkey burger patties and a batch of baked pasta for the freezer, plus 2 more 1 lb packages of ground turkey went straight into the freezer. And I made 30 breakfast sandwiches to freeze for hubby to help him resist the temptation of McDonalds breakfasts.

And since I was spending so much time shifting stuff around the chest freezer, I did Future Me a favor and made sure the things I would need to access for dinners this week were on top so I can grab them easily. Thank you Weekend Me!

Sooo in all... used up some stuff but have a lot of new stuff too :) We're hopefully doing Fun Things next weekend so I don't want to feel obligated to do a bunch of work in the kitchen, which is why I prepped so much stuff yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 06, 2017, 01:06:27 PM

Last year I bought an immersion circulator with Christmas gift cards, and recently came across instructions for knock-off Starbuck's sous vide egg bites.  Yesterday I made four servings in mason jars with some bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper and Swiss cheese.  These are good!  I think they could be made on the stove top with a little rack to hold the jars off the bottom of the pot, and kept at a bare simmer (90 minutes).  Anyway, great way to use up some random scraps of veggies and have breakfasts ready to grab all week.

These sound great. Can I ask do you just keep them in the fridge for the rest of the week? Do you reheat (and if so, how?) or eat cold. Thanks. Really looking to expand my 'eat on the go' breakfast repertoire.

This is the first time I've made them, but yes, I just popped them in the fridge.  I used wide-mouth pint mason jars, so there was a lot of empty space.  Wide mouth half pints would be better, but I was worried about water seeping in, so I went with the taller jars (I can, so I have a million jars).  I had one for breakfast this morning that was gently reheated with 30 seconds in the microwave.  It had a couple cold spots, but I think they'd get rubbery if microwaved too long.  They would probably be good cold, too.  These are the general instructions I used, though I used about 1/3 c heavy cream instead of cream cheese since that's what I had on hand.  https://anovaculinary.com/easy-homemade-sous-vide-egg-bites/

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 06, 2017, 02:25:51 PM
I have used up all of the freezer bananas in smoothies, but still have some more protein powder (and I still need to try making a homemade chocolate protein mix). Saturday I made a double batch of lentil tacos and mexican rice, so we had tacos for dinner, then I made up 21 burritos for the freezer (used up all the flour tortillas I had on hand and 8 cups of frozen chicken broth), and still had enough for another taco dinner night. This is my problem in using up lentils... all of that was from only TWO CUPS of dry lentils. I still have 6 jars!! I also chopped up a red bell pepper and bunch of celery and froze them before they started suffering from being in the fridge too long. 

Your post reminded me of something I read in another thread, where someone was complaining about the way red lentils seem to disintegrate when cooked.  And then my brain put together your comment about too many lentils, and your comment about making chocolate protein mix for smoothies, and then I googled, and sure enough!  Did you know that lentils in smoothies is something people do?  Obviously, if you did make up a batch of some kind of lentil chocolate mix (I found mostly recipes for lentil/berry smoothies or lentil/green smoothies) you'd need to refrigerate or freeze it.  But maybe when you do a big batch of lentil cooking, you could put some of them aside to experiment with lentils as your smoothie protein source?

FYI, if your search engine does predictive text stuff, once you start typing "chocolate lentil..." you may find some autofill options that include muffins, cookies, and cakes.  So, there are lots of other options for eating your lentils, apparently!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on March 06, 2017, 06:27:11 PM
Kale-mushroom-carrot potato cakes. Got 3 patties out of 1 left over baked potato.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on March 06, 2017, 07:03:30 PM
I have used up all of the freezer bananas in smoothies, but still have some more protein powder (and I still need to try making a homemade chocolate protein mix). Saturday I made a double batch of lentil tacos and mexican rice, so we had tacos for dinner, then I made up 21 burritos for the freezer (used up all the flour tortillas I had on hand and 8 cups of frozen chicken broth), and still had enough for another taco dinner night. This is my problem in using up lentils... all of that was from only TWO CUPS of dry lentils. I still have 6 jars!! I also chopped up a red bell pepper and bunch of celery and froze them before they started suffering from being in the fridge too long. 

Your post reminded me of something I read in another thread, where someone was complaining about the way red lentils seem to disintegrate when cooked.  And then my brain put together your comment about too many lentils, and your comment about making chocolate protein mix for smoothies, and then I googled, and sure enough!  Did you know that lentils in smoothies is something people do?  Obviously, if you did make up a batch of some kind of lentil chocolate mix (I found mostly recipes for lentil/berry smoothies or lentil/green smoothies) you'd need to refrigerate or freeze it.  But maybe when you do a big batch of lentil cooking, you could put some of them aside to experiment with lentils as your smoothie protein source?

FYI, if your search engine does predictive text stuff, once you start typing "chocolate lentil..." you may find some autofill options that include muffins, cookies, and cakes.  So, there are lots of other options for eating your lentils, apparently!

Interesting! I've always described lentils as "tasting like whatever you cook them in" so this seems plausible (although my initial instinct was "EWW" since I usually cook lentils in chicken broth and so envisioned that mixed with chocolate... no, just no). Between the protein powder and the lentils, I think I have some serious smoothie experimenting to get to.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 07, 2017, 12:54:37 AM
Good luck, DTaggart, let us know how it goes!

So, if I thought there was anyone else around here who got as much food as I do from work, I'd probably start my own gauntlet thread called "Eat All the Food You Bring Home from Work!"

This weekend, because of the leftover pancake mix and eggs from Shrove Tuesday's pancake supper (it was open to the community and we weren't sure how many would show up - bought extra just in case) the hospitality team decided to make eggs and pancakes for everyone after church.  I had some after the early service, and was handed a take out container with another serving of 3 pancakes and more like 2 servings of eggs after the late service.  So, for lunch today, I toasted a rosemary focaccia roll from the freezer, spread a little mayo, and half the eggs (warmed up).  Served with the last of the crash hot potatoes I made the other night.  Dinner was corn bread, tomato and cucumber, and an orange for dessert.  Too healthy!  So evening snack of pancakes with syrup.  ;-)

Nothing from pantry or freezer today, plus I went grocery shopping, so I actually brought more food in.  But I only spent $22, on produce, plus eggs, cream and pita bread.  Price matched and got some really good prices on some of the produce.  Got a bag of avocados again, at my "not great but ok to buy" price - has been a few weeks since I bought any, and I've been missing them.  They won't be ripe for a few days though.  2 Bananas, 2 Apples, box of 10 kiwi (rock hard - will take weeks to ripen all of them, probably), 1 cucumber, 2 red peppers, 1 cabbage, 2 clamshells of tomatoes at 1 lb each, 1 bunch green onions.

Planning to take some food to the Toronto MMM meet-up tomorrow, so did a little cooking when I got home.  Going to do some more cooking later this week, hoping to make quiche or muffin tin type egg patties with veg and cheese later this week (for the freezer) as well as getting started on chopping up and cooking the cabbage I bought tonight.  Some for freezer just as plain cabbage to add to later recipes, but I'll also probably make a dish with cabbage in it, and some coleslaw.  And just because I like cabbage, but find it hard to use a whole one by myself, will also feed some of that to the dog!

Tonight I fed the dog the last of the oatmeal that I cooked the other night - I think that means I'm down to 2.5 packages!  Also gave her the off cut ends of the cucumber, and surprisingly, she also gobbled up the whitish ribs from inside the red pepper that I chopped up tonight (seeds removed). 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 07, 2017, 02:37:58 AM
About this protein powder... Is this cheap?
On TV some time ago they had a guy who trained weight lifting and at almost only protein shakes. They tested his values and found out that he actually had a lack of proteins in his body. They changed his food to normal healthy food and after some time his health was normal again. It was said that people who train normally don't need protein powders.
What is the reason some of you eat it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on March 07, 2017, 03:41:13 AM

This is the first time I've made them, but yes, I just popped them in the fridge.  I used wide-mouth pint mason jars, so there was a lot of empty space.  Wide mouth half pints would be better, but I was worried about water seeping in, so I went with the taller jars (I can, so I have a million jars).  I had one for breakfast this morning that was gently reheated with 30 seconds in the microwave.  It had a couple cold spots, but I think they'd get rubbery if microwaved too long.  They would probably be good cold, too.  These are the general instructions I used, though I used about 1/3 c heavy cream instead of cream cheese since that's what I had on hand.  https://anovaculinary.com/easy-homemade-sous-vide-egg-bites/

Thanks for the info and recipe. 30 secs in the microwave is something even I can manage in the morning! I don't have the equipment to sous-vide, but i may try baking the mix in a muffin tray, I think that would work and be quite portable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on March 07, 2017, 07:33:17 AM
PJ- then you'll need to eat all the kiwis all at one due to becoming ripe at the same time :-)


Breakfast: Multigrain pancakes with frozen berries and walnuts. Topped with cinnamon and PB.

Lunch will be left over oatmeal or chili.

Tonight I have some wontons in the freezer. I can add.... a soba noodle soup. Maybe with kale and carrots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on March 07, 2017, 08:12:49 AM
About this protein powder... Is this cheap?
On TV some time ago they had a guy who trained weight lifting and at almost only protein shakes. They tested his values and found out that he actually had a lack of proteins in his body. They changed his food to normal healthy food and after some time his health was normal again. It was said that people who train normally don't need protein powders.
What is the reason some of you eat it?

I bought it when I was doing a lot of strength training and wanted an easy to prepare, high(er) protein food I could have for breakfast. I don't have time to cook real food before work, so my breakfast options are usually re-heated pancakes or waffles, or a smoothie. Smoothies are good because you can vary them a lot and usually get lots of nutrients in there with little effort - Want more vitamins? Add spinach or kale. More protein? Add protein powder. More fiber? Add some oatmeal, wheat germ, or flax meal. I certainly don't think eating them for every single meal is desirable though!

Now I'm just trying to use it up, because I got tired of getting up at 4am to work out :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on March 07, 2017, 09:03:29 AM
So I just made a list of all the food I have in my house and I'm planning out the best way to eat it all so I don't have to buy anything. Should force me to be more creative with my cooking this week!

Feel free to share your list to crowd-source some ideas! We like playing Iron Chef or, I suppose it is more like Chopped? on this thread!

Ok here goes!
eggs, potatoes, chicken breast, frozen corn, peas & carrots, rice, popcorn, pasta, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, frozen blueberries, oatmeal, yogurt, tuna, crackers, lasagna noodles, black beans, flour, sugar, baking soda & powder, various condiments & spices. There might be some more random stuff hidden away in my cupboards but pretty sure that's most of it. I have a few ideas for simple meals but if anyone has creative ideas I'd love to hear them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 07, 2017, 09:41:41 AM
PJ- then you'll need to eat all the kiwis all at one due to becoming ripe at the same time :-)
Kiwi day sounds AMAZING! 

My DH ordered Indian food for dinner, so I have leftovers for lunch (and we still have more in the fridge).  I have all of the ingredients to toss together posole (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/12/30-minute-posole/) for dinner tonight.  I've been kicking butt at cleaning out my freezer, and I have made slow progress on our pantry.  However, I did notice a difference last night.  The pantry is full, but not overflowing anymore. 

My grocery bills have been slightly lower than usual, and we are eating out less than normal.  I'm also proud of moving out of my comfort zone in cooking. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 07, 2017, 09:47:53 AM
So I just made a list of all the food I have in my house and I'm planning out the best way to eat it all so I don't have to buy anything. Should force me to be more creative with my cooking this week!

Feel free to share your list to crowd-source some ideas! We like playing Iron Chef or, I suppose it is more like Chopped? on this thread!

Ok here goes!
eggs, potatoes, chicken breast, frozen corn, peas & carrots, rice, popcorn, pasta, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, frozen blueberries, oatmeal, yogurt, tuna, crackers, lasagna noodles, black beans, flour, sugar, baking soda & powder, various condiments & spices. There might be some more random stuff hidden away in my cupboards but pretty sure that's most of it. I have a few ideas for simple meals but if anyone has creative ideas I'd love to hear them!

A few things came to mind:

Mexican-Style Lasagna:  chicken breast, frozen corn, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, lasagna noodles, black beans, spices - or all of these minus the lasagna noodles (unless they were broken up) would make a good soup too.

Fish cakes: potatoes, tuna, peas & carrots, crackers (for coating) Spices - I usually go Indian flavours, curry, turmeric, cumin etc.

Black bean brownies?

Blueberry oatmeal bars? Or muffins...

I made some fantastic, extra mushroomy risotto using up a package that apparently expired in 2012 (oops) But it was delish and I used a couple of containers of Turkey stock and an onion. Served with some fresh Asparagus because I got to the bottom of my stash without realizing it, so progress!

Hubby looked in the freezer and said" Hey, I see the bottom! Oh wait...there is a shelf in there? I didn't know that!"

I still haven't found a great way of storing my 25 lbs of coconut. The box is sitting on my counter.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on March 07, 2017, 10:31:29 AM
So I just made a list of all the food I have in my house and I'm planning out the best way to eat it all so I don't have to buy anything. Should force me to be more creative with my cooking this week!

Feel free to share your list to crowd-source some ideas! We like playing Iron Chef or, I suppose it is more like Chopped? on this thread!

Ok here goes!
eggs, potatoes, chicken breast, frozen corn, peas & carrots, rice, popcorn, pasta, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, frozen blueberries, oatmeal, yogurt, tuna, crackers, lasagna noodles, black beans, flour, sugar, baking soda & powder, various condiments & spices. There might be some more random stuff hidden away in my cupboards but pretty sure that's most of it. I have a few ideas for simple meals but if anyone has creative ideas I'd love to hear them!

A few things came to mind:

Mexican-Style Lasagna:  chicken breast, frozen corn, tomato sauce, onions, garlic, lasagna noodles, black beans, spices - or all of these minus the lasagna noodles (unless they were broken up) would make a good soup too.

Fish cakes: potatoes, tuna, peas & carrots, crackers (for coating) Spices - I usually go Indian flavours, curry, turmeric, cumin etc.

Black bean brownies?

Blueberry oatmeal bars? Or muffins...

I made some fantastic, extra mushroomy risotto using up a package that apparently expired in 2012 (oops) But it was delish and I used a couple of containers of Turkey stock and an onion. Served with some fresh Asparagus because I got to the bottom of my stash without realizing it, so progress!

Hubby looked in the freezer and said" Hey, I see the bottom! Oh wait...there is a shelf in there? I didn't know that!"

I still haven't found a great way of storing my 25 lbs of coconut. The box is sitting on my counter.
Oooh I really like these ideas, especially the mexican-style lasagna. I think I'll try that tonight, will let you know how it goes. The only thing it's going to lack is cheese.. oh well. I don't think I have enough oatmeal to make bars, and I'm not sure how to make fish cakes but I can probably find a recipe or at least some general instructions.
What do you plan on doing with 25 lbs(!) of coconut?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 07, 2017, 10:36:41 AM
I'm not sure how to make fish cakes but I can probably find a recipe or at least some general instructions.
What do you plan on doing with 25 lbs(!) of coconut?

Fish cakes are dead simple. Boil potatoes, mash them. Add any spices you like. Add the drained tuna, frozen veggies (I usually just use peas) any aromatics you like. From into patties - if it isn't sticking, you can use an egg to bind. Coat in crushed crackers (or bread crumbs or whatever you have) and pan fry them till golden brown and crispy. Works with Salmon as well, or any other white fish.

I can't do dairy so I make my own coconut milk, it was just so so so much cheaper to buy the big box :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on March 07, 2017, 11:25:11 AM
I'm not sure how to make fish cakes but I can probably find a recipe or at least some general instructions.
What do you plan on doing with 25 lbs(!) of coconut?

Fish cakes are dead simple. Boil potatoes, mash them. Add any spices you like. Add the drained tuna, frozen veggies (I usually just use peas) any aromatics you like. From into patties - if it isn't sticking, you can use an egg to bind. Coat in crushed crackers (or bread crumbs or whatever you have) and pan fry them till golden brown and crispy. Works with Salmon as well, or any other white fish.

I can't do dairy so I make my own coconut milk, it was just so so so much cheaper to buy the big box :)
Sounds pretty easy, will give it a try. Much better than my uninspired idea to eat the tuna on the crackers haha
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 07, 2017, 11:33:44 AM
PJ- then you'll need to eat all the kiwis all at one due to becoming ripe at the same time :-)
Kiwi day sounds AMAZING! 

Yes, I have had this happen.  But usually, if I eat a couple before they are *perfectly* ripe, and a couple after they are a little *too* ripe, then I can spread it out over 4 or 5 days.  That's what I'm hoping for anyway.  Ditto on the bag of 5 avocados, actually!

swick, LOL at your hubby and the shelf in the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 07, 2017, 11:36:09 AM
About this protein powder... Is this cheap?
On TV some time ago they had a guy who trained weight lifting and at almost only protein shakes. They tested his values and found out that he actually had a lack of proteins in his body. They changed his food to normal healthy food and after some time his health was normal again. It was said that people who train normally don't need protein powders.
What is the reason some of you eat it?

I bought it when I was doing a lot of strength training and wanted an easy to prepare, high(er) protein food I could have for breakfast. I don't have time to cook real food before work, so my breakfast options are usually re-heated pancakes or waffles, or a smoothie. Smoothies are good because you can vary them a lot and usually get lots of nutrients in there with little effort - Want more vitamins? Add spinach or kale. More protein? Add protein powder. More fiber? Add some oatmeal, wheat germ, or flax meal. I certainly don't think eating them for every single meal is desirable though!

Now I'm just trying to use it up, because I got tired of getting up at 4am to work out :)

Ditto.  I don't know if I'll buy more once my current supply is gone, but especially in summer, a smoothie with fruit and protein is an easy, portable meal replacement.  I don't think it's good to rely on them too much though.  As with anything, stick with whole foods as much as possible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 07, 2017, 01:06:43 PM
I can spread it out over 4 or 5 days.  That's what I'm hoping for anyway.  Ditto on the bag of 5 avocados, actually!

For the avocado, have you tried making guacamole and freezing it in ziploc bags?  Our favourite Mexican stand at the market used to defrost them and then just cut off the corner like you would for a pastry piping bag, and it was great for stopping the avocado from oxidizing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 07, 2017, 01:42:13 PM
I can spread it out over 4 or 5 days.  That's what I'm hoping for anyway.  Ditto on the bag of 5 avocados, actually!

For the avocado, have you tried making guacamole and freezing it in ziploc bags?  Our favourite Mexican stand at the market used to defrost them and then just cut off the corner like you would for a pastry piping bag, and it was great for stopping the avocado from oxidizing. 

Great tip!  I'll keep it in mind next time I have too many to eat at once. 

Normally though I'm pretty much a minimalist cook.  Slicing the avocado onto a sandwich or dropping chunks on the side of my plate to eat as part of a salad or a cooling bite between hot stew is about where I'm at.  Mashing?  Mixing in other ingredients?  Sounds like a lot of work ... ;-P

The other thing I do is wait for them to hit ripeness and then throw them whole into the fridge.  That seems to slow down the ripening enough to buy me an extra day or two to get them into my tummy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shinplaster on March 07, 2017, 02:14:09 PM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/

Ok, that is intriguing.  And it uses both Weetabix and oats!  I don't have any bananas right now, but that's going on the "to make soon" list!

I thought the recipe looked great, and I had all the ingredients, so gave it a try this afternoon.  Nope, nope, nope.   Even the Mister didn't like them, and he likes all baked goods! 

Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic - I thought it would be sort of like banana bread, with more texture and a bit of peanut taste.  They just didn't seem to bake in the center, so the banana is sort of slimy, and there's a weird aftertaste.   YMMV, but for us, it was just a waste of bananas.

I might try a recipe I saw for Weetabix/cinnamon cookies though - I still have ton of Weetabix to use up.  (Husband does not particularly like Weetabix!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on March 07, 2017, 04:59:06 PM
Oh well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 07, 2017, 08:37:53 PM
PJ- then you'll need to eat all the kiwis all at one due to becoming ripe at the same time :-)
Kiwi day sounds AMAZING! 

My DH ordered Indian food for dinner, so I have leftovers for lunch (and we still have more in the fridge).  I have all of the ingredients to toss together posole (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/12/30-minute-posole/) for dinner tonight.  I've been kicking butt at cleaning out my freezer, and I have made slow progress on our pantry.  However, I did notice a difference last night.  The pantry is full, but not overflowing anymore. 

My grocery bills have been slightly lower than usual, and we are eating out less than normal.  I'm also proud of moving out of my comfort zone in cooking. 
I'm killing it!  I made shredded chicken in my instant pot (~4 pounds), which is now portioned out for my lunch tomorrow and for random meals for the rest of the week. 

I also made the posole recipe from Budget Bytes for dinner, and it's really tasty.  I made cornbread to accompany the soup.  Super yum! I had a cup of hot cocoa for dessert.  :D

My lunch is a few cups of broccoli, shredded chicken, and the leftover rice from the Indian food delivery last night. 

I used up a few cans from the pantry and polished off a bag of flour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 08, 2017, 12:16:08 AM
Even though I recently bought new meat, I still try to empty the freezer. Yesterday we ate some slices of roast beef from the freezer for dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 08, 2017, 01:24:24 AM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/

Ok, that is intriguing.  And it uses both Weetabix and oats!  I don't have any bananas right now, but that's going on the "to make soon" list!

I thought the recipe looked great, and I had all the ingredients, so gave it a try this afternoon.  Nope, nope, nope.   Even the Mister didn't like them, and he likes all baked goods! 

Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic - I thought it would be sort of like banana bread, with more texture and a bit of peanut taste.  They just didn't seem to bake in the center, so the banana is sort of slimy, and there's a weird aftertaste.   YMMV, but for us, it was just a waste of bananas.

I might try a recipe I saw for Weetabix/cinnamon cookies though - I still have ton of Weetabix to use up.  (Husband does not particularly like Weetabix!). 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  That's a disappointment, but I will (soon) either try another Weetabix recipe out of the many that I found online, or see if I can adapt that one at all based on your feedback.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 08, 2017, 01:57:03 AM
Used up this week:
-bag of frozen cod (thai fish cakes)
-rice (fried rice)
-pasta (salad)
-all the frozen black beans (chili)
-2 boxes of tea (I have been known as a tea-hoarder, so this is good)

Now have, due to cooking new, previously untried food:
sechuan peppercorns - like 100 g of them (that's probably like a decade worth of tingly pepper - luckily I like it)
sumac - again, they sell sumac in big packs, don't know how I will ever get through it all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 08, 2017, 07:38:09 AM
Today I brought leftover salad from home and put in a little-used refrigerator at work. When I went to collect it at lunch time, I saw a can of quark with my own initials written on it. It is also my favorite type and therefore it was very likely that it was indeed mine. It was still closed. The best-before date was in August 2015, about 1 and a half year ago.

I took it to the cafeteria and after eating my salad, I opened it. It looked normal and smelled normal. My colleagues and my boss were explicitly warning me not to eat it, because they were concerned I would get sick. I couldn't help tasting a tiny bit of 1 half spoon. It even tasted normal! Had I been at home, I would probably have tasted a much bigger spoon. Now I didn't. I guessed that if I would indeed get sick, that my boss would not appreciate it after giving me various warnings.

But it really makes me think. Can you really eat vacuum packed quark that has been standing cool all the time one and a half year after best-before date?

I often eat food after the best before date when it comes to dried food, like rice, pasta, outdoor food, my own dried mushrooms. I use my eyes and nose to check whether it is still OK.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 08, 2017, 09:18:51 AM
Anje - Sumac is one of my go-to spices. I use it pretty much anywhere yu would want a citrusy or slightly tart note. I use it in rubs, in stews, in soups, salad dressings...pretty much everywhere the flavour will match.

Linda_Norway - I'd personally pass on the quark. Unaged dairy goes faster than aged, and I was extremely sick once from wheel of Gouda that has been stored properly, but a little too long. I wouldn't wish that form of food poisoning on anyone!

4alpacas - Awesome progress, you are rocking it!

I haven't been using up as much as I like, the risotto made way too many servings. So I have been eating it, but probably won't get to most of the other stuff I was plotting to eat before Hubby comes home.

As I use stuff up, I am writing it on a list. SOME of it we may choose to restock on, but  I'm finding it useful to write down everything so we have a record and can be mindful of the types of things we buy that we think we need, but probably don't :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 08, 2017, 10:29:45 AM
As I use stuff up, I am writing it on a list. SOME of it we may choose to restock on, but  I'm finding it useful to write down everything so we have a record and can be mindful of the types of things we buy that we think we need, but probably don't :)

Yes, I'm starting to develop a tiny list too.  Am resisting the re-stocking of some stuff (like salsa, for example) because it is already a "more commonly used" condiment in my house, and I want to push myself to use the "less commonly used" stuff up.  But then, it will be the salsa that gets restocked and not the other stuff!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shinplaster on March 08, 2017, 03:58:08 PM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/

Ok, that is intriguing.  And it uses both Weetabix and oats!  I don't have any bananas right now, but that's going on the "to make soon" list!

I thought the recipe looked great, and I had all the ingredients, so gave it a try this afternoon.  Nope, nope, nope.   Even the Mister didn't like them, and he likes all baked goods! 

Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic - I thought it would be sort of like banana bread, with more texture and a bit of peanut taste.  They just didn't seem to bake in the center, so the banana is sort of slimy, and there's a weird aftertaste.   YMMV, but for us, it was just a waste of bananas.

I might try a recipe I saw for Weetabix/cinnamon cookies though - I still have ton of Weetabix to use up.  (Husband does not particularly like Weetabix!). 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  That's a disappointment, but I will (soon) either try another Weetabix recipe out of the many that I found online, or see if I can adapt that one at all based on your feedback.

I wasn't upset - sometimes the recipes that start out disappointing end up favourites.  I think if I try it again, I will eliminate the banana and substitute other fruit.  I was thinking cranberries/raisins, and honey in addition to the 'syrup' it calls for to replace the moisture of the bananas. (I used maple syrup).  DH suggested some dried apples too.   And he said today that after being refrigerated overnight, they taste better.  He's eating them, anyway.  : )
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SingleMomDebt on March 08, 2017, 06:30:10 PM
Had corn tortillas and ripe avocados. Yes, chips and guacamole were made.

Creative cooking at it's best. Woohoo!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 09, 2017, 01:29:48 AM
http://lilinhaangel.com/2014/12/peanut-butter-and-banana-weetabix-breakfast-bar-recipe/

Ok, that is intriguing.  And it uses both Weetabix and oats!  I don't have any bananas right now, but that's going on the "to make soon" list!

I thought the recipe looked great, and I had all the ingredients, so gave it a try this afternoon.  Nope, nope, nope.   Even the Mister didn't like them, and he likes all baked goods! 

Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic - I thought it would be sort of like banana bread, with more texture and a bit of peanut taste.  They just didn't seem to bake in the center, so the banana is sort of slimy, and there's a weird aftertaste.   YMMV, but for us, it was just a waste of bananas.

I might try a recipe I saw for Weetabix/cinnamon cookies though - I still have ton of Weetabix to use up.  (Husband does not particularly like Weetabix!). 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  That's a disappointment, but I will (soon) either try another Weetabix recipe out of the many that I found online, or see if I can adapt that one at all based on your feedback.

I wasn't upset - sometimes the recipes that start out disappointing end up favourites.  I think if I try it again, I will eliminate the banana and substitute other fruit.  I was thinking cranberries/raisins, and honey in addition to the 'syrup' it calls for to replace the moisture of the bananas. (I used maple syrup).  DH suggested some dried apples too.   And he said today that after being refrigerated overnight, they taste better.  He's eating them, anyway.  : ) 

Can't have been too bad, then! ;-)

Had corn tortillas and ripe avocados. Yes, chips and guacamole were made.

Creative cooking at it's best. Woohoo! 

Sounds great to me!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 09, 2017, 01:40:35 AM
Oh!  Almost forgot to say ... used up a bottle of salad dressing (balsamic vinaigrette) on some veggies I took to work for lunch today. 

I have another unopened bottle of some kind of fancy vinaigrette, part of a gift of fancy foodstuffs for my birthday or Christmas - 2 years ago.  Plus I have some creamy kind of dressing in the fridge too.  Should still take me a long time to get through those bottles.  I don't use very much dressing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 09, 2017, 02:21:07 AM
Hmmm, with dairy I usually would bin it, but with anything dry I have no qualms.. Best before is 'best' before but definitely still edible after (whereas  'use by' means use by).  If the lid was not raised at all I'd say it was safe but who knows.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Epor on March 09, 2017, 07:44:50 AM

You are all so inspiring! I have been here for about a couple weeks only and my outlook is so much different now. I'm still eating the fridge - we ate leftovers two evenings instead of just tossing it out on garage day (Sat).  I used up some strawberries that were starting to get soft and made some fridge jam last night - without your inspiring ideas, that also would end up in the garbage also.

This weekend I'll pay super attention at groceries, getting just some veggies/fruit. I think I'll start with the freezer next week.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 09, 2017, 10:12:51 AM
<...> and I was extremely sick once from wheel of Gouda that has been stored properly, but a little too long. I wouldn't wish that form of food poisoning on anyone!

Really, this is shocking to hear. I am Dutch and have lived in Gouda and I always buy that cheese in Norway in pretty large quantities at a time. In the Netherlands we used to just cut of a chuck of the cheese if there is any green or blue growth on it and then we eat the rest. The older the cheese the safer this is to do, from what I have understood. Although I have not eaten cheese that have been in my fridge for more than 4-5 months. Usually it is eaten long before that.

well, I guess I should say *I* stored it properly, But I got it from a possibly not entirely legal expat Christmas Market in Turkey. The things one will do for good cheese :) By the time it gave me food poisoning, I had been rationing it out for 4 months or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 10, 2017, 01:49:16 AM

You are all so inspiring! I have been here for about a couple weeks only and my outlook is so much different now. I'm still eating the fridge - we ate leftovers two evenings instead of just tossing it out on garage day (Sat).  I used up some strawberries that were starting to get soft and made some fridge jam last night - without your inspiring ideas, that also would end up in the garbage also.

This weekend I'll pay super attention at groceries, getting just some veggies/fruit. I think I'll start with the freezer next week.

Well done, Eporedia!  Jumping right in with making fridge jam = awesomesauce!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 10, 2017, 05:51:08 AM
Swick: thank you for the tip. I tested it out with (store bought) pizza last night. It goes with pizza.

And on that note: the sad pizza is now no longer filling up my freezer..

But tonight I'm making okonomiyaki, and so the new ingredients keep coming in. Dried fish and seaweed can't be too bad, right?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Epor on March 10, 2017, 04:11:33 PM

Well, weekends are my grocery time! I promised myself that I will look in the fridge, freezer and pantry before heading out. I'll let you know how it goes.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 10, 2017, 05:18:38 PM
We're going to a friend's house tonight for "happy hour," and I made a few things to bring over.  I made caramel corn, which used some of the corn syrup leftover from the pecan pie I made at Thanksgiving. I also made a savory popcorn with parmesan and parsley. 

I also made more chicken stock.  I've cleaned out all of the chicken bones from the freezer!  Woohoo!  Our freezer is now somewhat organized and not overflowing with stuff. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 10, 2017, 05:38:53 PM
Finished the last of the cardamon syrup in the last of the almond milk.  Flavoured steamed milk was a great reward for walking home in -10C today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 10, 2017, 05:41:55 PM
We're going to a friend's house tonight for "happy hour," and I made a few things to bring over.  I made caramel corn, which used some of the corn syrup leftover from the pecan pie I made at Thanksgiving. I also made a savory popcorn with parmesan and parsley. 

I also made more chicken stock.  I've cleaned out all of the chicken bones from the freezer!  Woohoo!  Our freezer is now somewhat organized and not overflowing with stuff.

WHOOT! Way to go!

Dinner tonight is http://www.myfoodstory.com/spicy-korean-chicken-thighs-recipe/ (http://www.myfoodstory.com/spicy-korean-chicken-thighs-recipe/)  with a Asian-ish cabbage slaw using up odds and ends from the crisper, some corn tortillas that need using up and some homemade kimchi. Using up lots of little bits of things :)

Instead of ginger "paste" I grated some fresh stuff, the fiberous bits I tossed into a hot of water, added some cinnamon and made a tea out of it.

Finished the last of the cardamon syrup in the last of the almond milk.  Flavoured steamed milk was a great reward for walking home in -10C today.
Sounds like a great reward! Warming and getting that awesome "Using Up All The Things" feeling :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on March 10, 2017, 05:46:51 PM
I ate some noodles from the pantry and thinly sliced roast from the freezer. Kinda a fake pho with a can of broth added to the mixture and some chives on top. Then I munched on frozen strawberry slices from the summer.

I am down to five cans of tuna in the pantry, normally I'd panic and stock up ASAP but I'm resisting the urge. :) Like others have mentioned, I have a list of items I am out of (like salsa ha!) but I am holding out until April before I grab one of each item on my list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 10, 2017, 11:20:30 PM
I don't feel as though I've been posting my own food in here the last few days, just commenting on other people's progress.  I think that's partly because once again I was mostly eating through food that I'd brought home from work.

Anyway, today I ate the kidney beans I cooked last week with olive and red pepper antipasto.  Out of the 3 different flavour profiles and bean combinations that I made last week, this one tied with the standard baked beans.  Quite nice, especially with the last of the corn bread, and a whole avocado cut up in chunks and served on the side.  I have single serve containers of all 3 different types of beans in the freezer - I'll look forward to having this one another time or two.

That was lunch.  For dinner I made a baked potato in the microwave, and had the last of the scrambled eggs they sent me home with from church on Sunday, on a pita, and put under the broiler with some green onions, some crumbled up basil leaves from the freezer (frozen from my balcony garden at the end of last summer) and cheese. 

Now, this is more freezer cheese, but not the freezer cheese I've posted about before.  I want you all to have this straight in your minds.  When I re-joined this challenge there were two Ziploc bags of cheese that I'd cut up and frozen after a reception a year or so ago.  I've posted about those before.  Those are both gone.  And there were 3 mozzarella balls in the freezer, bought for $1 each at Shoppers Drug Mart because they had a "manager's special" markdown on them due to close expiry date.  I've mentioned these before, and one of them is gone, two more in the freezer.  But there was also a bag of pre-shredded cheese, free with purchase of an Old El Paso taco kit and jar of salsa, if you'd previously bought an Old El Paso taco kit that had the special coupon "free cheese with your next purchase" on it.  What I tend to do is go through the cash with the box with the coupon on it, put the groceries away in the car, then cut or tear out the coupon from the box, go back and get my 2nd kit and free cheese right away, and go through the cashier a second time.  So now, I'm working on using up that cheese.

So, now I feel better.  I see I am actually making progress after all.  Two ziplocs of cheese and one cheese ball are gone from the freezer.  Another bag of cheese is underway.  And, dare I say it?  It seems like the great wall of frozen food/cold Tetris of storage containers seems a teeeeny bit less formidable when I open the freezer door...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 11, 2017, 08:34:17 AM
PJ's comment in the Frugal March thread inspired me to make baked beans.  I've got tons of legumes in the house, and have also had sliced pork belly in the freezer for several months (asked DH to buy it at CostCo, expecting a slab, not slices).  I'm thinking I'll do a big batch and freeze since I'm traveling for work again this week.  The baked beans will also use some of my huge store of home-canned tomato sauce.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 11, 2017, 09:02:01 AM
I don't feel as though I've been posting my own food in here the last few days, just commenting on other people's progress.  I think that's partly because once again I was mostly eating through food that I'd brought home from work.

Hey PJ - I like hearing about using up your church leftovers and making progress on your stash. I will point out that the name of the thread is "Eat all the food in your house" So...it doesn't really matter where it comes from, once it crosses that threshold it is part of the challange! Don't want you to get discouraged, especially because free food means you have a lower grocery bill overall and are making great progress towards your debt. Keep on rocking it!

Hubby had to work this morning, so I sent him off to work with a full belly of Buckwheat bananna pancakes made from the giant bag of buckwheat flour I may have started this challenge with. Ya know, baby steps :)

Oh dinner last night was AWESOME! I ended up shredding the chicken thighs and reducing the sauce to a sticky glaze and tossing in the chicken and then having it as  tacos. so so good - and really hit that going out for dinner for something new itch we have been trying to avoid.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 11, 2017, 03:59:04 PM
PJ's comment in the Frugal March thread inspired me to make baked beans.  I've got tons of legumes in the house, and have also had sliced pork belly in the freezer for several months (asked DH to buy it at CostCo, expecting a slab, not slices).  I'm thinking I'll do a big batch and freeze since I'm traveling for work again this week.  The baked beans will also use some of my huge store of home-canned tomato sauce. 

Awesome! 

I didn't think about the possible pork-ish additions people might want to make, as I'm vegetarian.  But I do keep a bottle of "hickory smoke" around, and usually add a few drops to my baked beans to help compensate.  Also, next time I make them I think I'm going to use a bit more tomato paste/sauce/ketchup...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 11, 2017, 04:05:17 PM
I don't feel as though I've been posting my own food in here the last few days, just commenting on other people's progress.  I think that's partly because once again I was mostly eating through food that I'd brought home from work.

Hey PJ - I like hearing about using up your church leftovers and making progress on your stash. I will point out that the name of the thread is "Eat all the food in your house" So...it doesn't really matter where it comes from, once it crosses that threshold it is part of the challange! Don't want you to get discouraged, especially because free food means you have a lower grocery bill overall and are making great progress towards your debt. Keep on rocking it!

Hubby had to work this morning, so I sent him off to work with a full belly of Buckwheat bananna pancakes made from the giant bag of buckwheat flour I may have started this challenge with. Ya know, baby steps :)

Oh dinner last night was AWESOME! I ended up shredding the chicken thighs and reducing the sauce to a sticky glaze and tossing in the chicken and then having it as  tacos. so so good - and really hit that going out for dinner for something new itch we have been trying to avoid. 

Sorry for double-posting, I hit send before remembering that I wanted to respond to swick too.  Seemed just as easy to start another post as to edit the first one...

Naw, not discouraged, just not feeling like I was contributing much to this thread.  But am chuffed that I inspired horsepoor, so feeling better now!  And yeah, I do really feel like I'm making progress on my debt right now, which is awesome, and it's amazing how much my grocery bill is contributing to that!  Even though as a single person I don't spend *that* much on food anyway, I think it has a ripple effect because it's been a good exercise for reflection on all my spending.  And also because by being conscious about using up food from the church or my pantry, it's keeping me from spending money eating out as well.

I love that you're having fun trying new recipes/flavour profiles to scratch that desire for new foods itch that eating out using satisfies!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 11, 2017, 07:13:09 PM
PJ's comment in the Frugal March thread inspired me to make baked beans.  I've got tons of legumes in the house, and have also had sliced pork belly in the freezer for several months (asked DH to buy it at CostCo, expecting a slab, not slices).  I'm thinking I'll do a big batch and freeze since I'm traveling for work again this week.  The baked beans will also use some of my huge store of home-canned tomato sauce. 

Awesome! 

I didn't think about the possible pork-ish additions people might want to make, as I'm vegetarian.  But I do keep a bottle of "hickory smoke" around, and usually add a few drops to my baked beans to help compensate.  Also, next time I make them I think I'm going to use a bit more tomato paste/sauce/ketchup...

Well, they ended up being more pork and beans in the Instant Pot, but eating them now with a baguette and I'm quite happy.  One of the incendiary chocolate habaneros I have tucked away in the freezer provided just enough heat.  Used an 8 oz jar of tomato sauce and a 24 oz jar of crushed tomatoes, plus cranberry beans and several strips of the pork belly.  That and salad will feed us tomorrow, then I'm heading out of town again Monday morning.

I'm really amazed at how little grocery shopping has happened since I returned home.  Today we spent about $21 at Fred Meyer for some fresh fruit, an organic sweet potato to start plants with, the baguette and DH's peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 11, 2017, 09:11:43 PM

...snip

I'm really amazed at how little grocery shopping has happened since I returned home.  Today we spent about $21 at Fred Meyer for some fresh fruit, an organic sweet potato to start plants with, the baguette and DH's peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Isn't it amazing how much food we have stockpiled in our homes?  I'm actually overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, and the awareness of just how privileged I am, really.  Made me think about a little sidebar in my favourite cookbook ... so I went to look it up, so I can share it with all of you!

The More With Less Cookbook was produced in the 1970's by the Mennonite Central Committee.  It was published in response to a challenge issued by the MCC - a quote to explain:

MCC has asked each constituent household to look at its lifestyle, particularly food habits.  Noting the relationship between North American overconsumption and world need, a goal has been set to eat and spend 10 percent less.

The book is packed with good basic recipes from ordinary people, farmers, etc, as well as missionaries in various parts of the world.  And as well, little brief stories and comments collected as they sent in their recipes for the book.  Here's the one I was thinking about:

In the short term, there is probably nothing anyone can do to forestall mass starvation in some rice-dependent areas.  But the very least we can do is to take a symbolic stand and cook rice with reverence, taking care that each precious grain swells to its fullest but stays firm and separate from the rest.  Perhaps we could even inaugurate our own rice ritual: a moment of silence for those who are not getting enough.  - Raymond Sokolov

Meal reports:
This morning, I had a couple of cups of coffee, and whole wheat toast with vanilla hazelnut spread (the spread is from a foodie type Christmas gift basket I received).  I only have 2 pieces of bread left in the loaf, plus some pita (some of which I plan to stash in the freezer - I should do that tonight!) so I will be dusting off the bread machine soon!

For a late lunch/early dinner, I had the last serving of cheese cannelloni that I cooked last week.  To amp up the vegetable count, I added a healthy sprinkling of green onion, and a couple of chopped up tomatoes before I heated it up, and an avocado cut up in chunks on the side.

Shortly, I'm going to scrounge for a snack.  Don't want to eat anything too heavy, but on the other hand I've only had 2 meals today so I'm hungry!  Whatever I decide on, I'll include either the ripe banana that's in the fruit bowl, or an apple.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 11, 2017, 10:24:07 PM
I made another big pot of soup today.

I used up:
a can of green chilies,
a bag of frozen corn,
a half used can of tomato paste

I've made a lot of progress in cleaning out the freezer and pantry.  Thank you everyone in this thread for the continued support and advice.  I couldn't do it without you all!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 11, 2017, 10:29:34 PM
PJ I am going to make some beans tmrw.
 I made some pasta sauce using some frozen tomatoes (I am not a tomato fan) and random veggies from the freezer and the stuff that was looking a bit sad because I bought it discounted. We ate it with pasta one night last week. I did not like it and of course I made a mountain of it in my big crockpot. So I sent DH to work with leftovers and took the leftover pasta sauce dumped pretty much a little of this and that from the fridge door, a root beer I found, and I am not sure what else. But I am going to use this sauce to make my beans. I have some pintos that need to be used up. So those are just going to have to work. And the next day I will make some bread and we can have leftovers on top.

But it turned out so good that I canned up 4 pints of the stuff for this summer BBQ's.

I have $178 left in the grocery budget and ideally I want to have at least $78 to be able to send extra to Vanguard for the Month of April.

Thank you so much for the inspiration.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 11, 2017, 11:06:36 PM
All these beans being cooked and eaten!

I think I forgot to post earlier this week, when I mixed up a can of chickpeas, some tomatoes, red peppers, and a peanut-y sauce.  To be honest, it's not the best, and I couldn't quite figure out what it "needed" flavour wise.  But with some toasted pita bread it's been warm and filling and hearty, so enjoyable enough for several meals this week. 

But 4alpacas has reminded me that I meant to make soup, with the can of lentils my mom gave me, and potato, and spinach from the freezer ... this week sometime, I swear!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 12, 2017, 10:17:47 PM
Sunday update...

Dinner tonight was a tasty grilled cheese sandwich that they made me for lunch at work, but since I went into a meeting right after church, I brought it home and toasted it up in the toaster oven for a late dinner.  Plus an orange for dessert.  I might yet still eat that ripe banana too, as it's getting a little too ripe.  Or maybe that will be for breakfast, with cereal.

Other than that, I ate cake and cookies with coffee for lunch, during my meeting. 

Overall, not what I would describe as a "balanced diet" today!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 13, 2017, 02:47:40 AM
I have some bags of beans in a drawer at home, that have been there for years. If I remember tonight, I will make a plan of what to do with them. We found out that my DH doesn't tolerate the big white beans very well. So I should probably prepare some portions for me alone to eat, for example as lunch at work or for dinner when I'm alone. I might also have some smaller beans that I guess I might find some Indian recipes for.

Today the weather is somewhere between snow and rain, very depressing. So there is a good excuse of spending the evening at home in the kitchen, after being done at work.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 13, 2017, 04:48:08 AM
On the side of incoming food: my family has been supplying me with a steady flow of seafood over the last weeks. Seafood is really good but rather expensive, so this makes me very happy.

And on the sides of beans: got a new batch of black beans soaking in the kitchen, will cook and freeze tonight for future use.

Cleaned out my cupboard yesterday and normally it's a matter of "stuff and hope it doesn't tumble out". Now there's room for more. And apart from some dried fruit and nuts (for my standard homemade "I'm starving on the go-mix") I'm all stocked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 13, 2017, 06:35:56 AM
I might yet still eat that ripe banana too, as it's getting a little too ripe.  Or maybe that will be for breakfast, with cereal.

Or put it into the freezer and make it into "icecream" later.

I finished the container of raspberry vinegar and and one serving of pulled pork over the weekend.  But I made two servings of a braised soy beef for the freezer (too salty, it's going to need to be served with eggplant or squash to calm it down), so I'm probably unchanged overall. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 13, 2017, 09:35:29 AM
Banana was eaten with cereal and milk for a hearty breakfast today.

And I'm looking forward to reaching this point:

On the side of incoming food: my family has been supplying me with a steady flow of seafood over the last weeks. Seafood is really good but rather expensive, so this makes me very happy.

And on the sides of beans: got a new batch of black beans soaking in the kitchen, will cook and freeze tonight for future use.

Cleaned out my cupboard yesterday and normally it's a matter of "stuff and hope it doesn't tumble out". Now there's room for more. And apart from some dried fruit and nuts (for my standard homemade "I'm starving on the go-mix") I'm all stocked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on March 13, 2017, 10:30:20 AM
Used a huge pile of leftover roasted potatoes, leftover tomato paste, 1 can of chickpeas, 1 can of tomatoes, and a bag of frozen spinach in a lovely curry last night. Served it over couscous, of which we still have two big jars. At least now the sad fridge bits are mostly used up, and should be completely finished as of tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SuperSaver on March 13, 2017, 03:53:09 PM
My 10# bag of rice officially fits in 1.4 mason jars now!!! I cleared out a ton of packaged, canned, boxed food that we don't eat and am going to try to donate them somewhere. We 're in the process of drastically changing our diets. Will be doing a Whole30 for May hopefully and my body does better on fat and veg than grains and sugar.
I just found out our best friend couple is coming over the first weekend in April to cook down the pantry and freezer! Last September we made a serious dent because their amazing cooks and next level frugal. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 13, 2017, 11:12:24 PM
Did I say upthread that my chickpea, red pepper and tomato stew with peanut-y sauce wasn't very good?  I was wrong.  Either it's taken a whole week for the flavours to mellow and blend together just right, or all it needed was the creamy brightness of avocado chunks, with the earthy crunch of toasted pita bread.  Because it tasted AMAZING tonight for dinner.  I have a couple more servings but they should probably go in the freezer because I might not get to eat the rest for a couple of days.

It was good that I ate at home this morning and tonight, because I visited the zoo with a friend today (we both have memberships) and he convinced me (easily, I have to admit!) to go out for lunch afterward.  I had a veggie burger and fries at Swiss Chalet.  Not crazy expensive, but not particularly cheap either.  But their fries are SO good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 14, 2017, 01:40:46 AM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 14, 2017, 03:12:16 AM
For dinner I made a very strange lentil and chilli soup in the slow cooker. Strange because I'd added a heap of random chopped greens that were wilting in the fridge - bok choy, lettuce, kale, silverbeet. It does not taste good at all and it's an ugly brown colour, so I grated a ton of cheese for on top to make it edible. Luckily we also have some leftover cottage pie that I didn't have time to eat for lunch to round it out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 14, 2017, 10:18:29 AM
Glad to hear your stew turned out better with a little melding time, PJ!

Hoping your bean experiment goes well, Linda! I have actually had bans that were too old and just never really cooked no longer how much I boiled them. Hoping you have better results!

Freshwater - Greens can be tricky to use up! Sounds like you had the making for Kimchi as well. It's one of those things you will either love or hate, but it is a great way to use stuff up!

I cleared out a ton of packaged, canned, boxed food that we don't eat and am going to try to donate them somewhere. We 're in the process of drastically changing our diets. Will be doing a Whole30 for May hopefully and my body does better on fat and veg than grains and sugar.

I had quite the struggle reconciling this thread with Whole 30. I ended up gifting lots of stuff to friends and family and donating some unopened things. I decided that if I know it is stuff I don't want to have in my body, then it shouldn't be in the house and I shouldn't be using stuff up because I feel obligated too, even though I know it is not what I want to be fueling myself with. It's still hard though.

If this is your first Whole 30, what I would suggest is grab a tote and put in it everything that isn't compliant (so your not tripping over it all month, or accidently using things like sauces) and then reevaluating during your reintro. There are things like beans you may choose to keep in your regular rotation and there may be things you no longer want, but that decision is way easier at the end of your Whole 30 once you have the knowledge to back up your decisions. This also works with cookbooks. Those were the hardest for me, all my beautiful amazing baking books. I found good homes for those :)

Dinner last night was a curry with romano beans, roasted eggplant and Indian spices (trying to use up some of the various mixes people have given us) I used up a jar of passata and a container of curry base from the freezer and some cashews for the sauce. It was very similar to a butter chicken sauce. Yummy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 14, 2017, 10:54:02 AM
For dinner I made a very strange lentil and chilli soup in the slow cooker. Strange because I'd added a heap of random chopped greens that were wilting in the fridge - bok choy, lettuce, kale, silverbeet. It does not taste good at all and it's an ugly brown colour, so I grated a ton of cheese for on top to make it edible. Luckily we also have some leftover cottage pie that I didn't have time to eat for lunch to round it out.

Cheese can cover up a multitude of (culinary) sins, can't it?

One thing I have done with greens that are wilting in the fridge, though not often enough, is to chop them up and throw them in the freezer.  The trick is to do it early enough, while they still seem worth saving, rather than letting them get to the point where you feel like you MUST cook and eat them now, or else throw them out.  That way you can use a more reasonable amount in whatever you're cooking that night, and spread the rest out throw several meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 14, 2017, 12:05:03 PM
For dinner I made a very strange lentil and chilli soup in the slow cooker. Strange because I'd added a heap of random chopped greens that were wilting in the fridge - bok choy, lettuce, kale, silverbeet. It does not taste good at all and it's an ugly brown colour, so I grated a ton of cheese for on top to make it edible. Luckily we also have some leftover cottage pie that I didn't have time to eat for lunch to round it out.

Cheese can cover up a multitude of (culinary) sins, can't it?

One thing I have done with greens that are wilting in the fridge, though not often enough, is to chop them up and throw them in the freezer.  The trick is to do it early enough, while they still seem worth saving, rather than letting them get to the point where you feel like you MUST cook and eat them now, or else throw them out.  That way you can use a more reasonable amount in whatever you're cooking that night, and spread the rest out throw several meals.
I do the same thing.  I have a bag of spinach in the freezer right now.  I'll toss it in eggs or smoothies a handful at a time. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 14, 2017, 12:11:50 PM
For dinner I made a very strange lentil and chilli soup in the slow cooker. Strange because I'd added a heap of random chopped greens that were wilting in the fridge - bok choy, lettuce, kale, silverbeet. It does not taste good at all and it's an ugly brown colour, so I grated a ton of cheese for on top to make it edible. Luckily we also have some leftover cottage pie that I didn't have time to eat for lunch to round it out.

Cheese can cover up a multitude of (culinary) sins, can't it?

One thing I have done with greens that are wilting in the fridge, though not often enough, is to chop them up and throw them in the freezer.  The trick is to do it early enough, while they still seem worth saving, rather than letting them get to the point where you feel like you MUST cook and eat them now, or else throw them out.  That way you can use a more reasonable amount in whatever you're cooking that night, and spread the rest out throw several meals.
I do the same thing.  I have a bag of spinach in the freezer right now.  I'll toss it in eggs or smoothies a handful at a time.

Exactly!  And with the bags of spinach, you don't even have to pre-chop, because when you pull out a handful of frozen leaves, you can just crumble them up into whatever you're making.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 14, 2017, 12:24:07 PM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 14, 2017, 12:29:25 PM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.

That is too bad, but at least you tried and either way they are out of your house now :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 14, 2017, 12:47:44 PM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.

I soak them overnight, cook until soft (takes several hours), then make these:  https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/ (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 14, 2017, 01:04:58 PM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them. 

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.

Linda_Norway, what kind of beans are they?  Different types do take different amounts of time to cook.  This site, for example, says that soybeans may need to be boiled 3 hours, though it lists black beans as only needing 1-1.5 hours.  Another site I checked said black beans might need up to 2.5 hours.  Also, multiple sites (I was double checking bean cooking instructions recently too!) said not to add salt or any acidic foods until after the beans are already tender, because both can impede softening.

https://whatscookingamerica.net/Vegetables/driedbeantip.htm (https://whatscookingamerica.net/Vegetables/driedbeantip.htm)

Of course, swick is right, sometimes they just don't seem to soften, and you can feel free to throw them out, knowing you gave it a good try.  But if you want to salvage them, you can do as MountainGal suggested, and use them in recipes where you can mash or puree them.  Again, depending on the type, hummous or other bean dips/spreads, as refried beans, as a meat extender in meatloaf or chili all come to mind.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 14, 2017, 07:31:33 PM
I am attempting to make some roasted veggie dip using some freezer burnt zucchini and kale from last summer and some soy beans that were in the back of the pantry. I figure add some tahinni and seasonings it should be okay dip. I have some dehydrated cucumber chips from last summer that I need to eat up and of course I am the only one that will eat them. I also have some carrots and celery that I just got because I was out of fresh veggies and needed a veggie for girly's lunch. All though she just looks at veggies in her lunch and ignores them....hummm gotta get the 6 year old to eat more veggies.

Hubby has been such a help eating leftovers at lunch time. I told him every time we eat leftovers we are that much closer to FIRE. I am in charge of all food in our house. And it is time to get our food bill as low as it can go without giving up nutrition.

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 14, 2017, 10:34:58 PM
I am attempting to make some roasted veggie dip using some freezer burnt zucchini and kale from last summer and some soy beans that were in the back of the pantry. I figure add some tahinni and seasonings it should be okay dip. I have some dehydrated cucumber chips from last summer that I need to eat up and of course I am the only one that will eat them. I also have some carrots and celery that I just got because I was out of fresh veggies and needed a veggie for girly's lunch. All though she just looks at veggies in her lunch and ignores them....hummm gotta get the 6 year old to eat more veggies.

Hubby has been such a help eating leftovers at lunch time. I told him every time we eat leftovers we are that much closer to FIRE. I am in charge of all food in our house. And it is time to get our food bill as low as it can go without giving up nutrition.

seemsright, you aren't really "selling" your roasted veggie dip with that description, but I've been there a couple of times lately myself, with things that turn out "meh," or like Freshwater above, have required liberal applications of cheese to encourage myself to eat them.  That's ok, they don't all have to be perfectly balanced gourmet meals, right?  Sometimes it's healthy but not excessively appetizing, other times it's delicious but not excessively nutritious, if you know what I mean.

Tonight for a late but light-ish dinner, I defrosted one of my ciabatta rolls from the freezer (bought from reduced price rack a little while back).  Yummy one - poppy seeds and something else, maybe onion or garlic?  Toasted with a little mayo, lots of sliced cucumber.  Sliced tomato with a little cilantro lime dressing on the side.  I'm not sure it was quite enough to tide me over to bed, I might need a nibble more.

Lunch today was some chickpea/potato curry (channa) with roti that a church lady brought for me.  With an avocado on the side.  Had a very healthy breakfast of an apple and some greek yoghurt.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 15, 2017, 06:41:05 AM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.

I soak them overnight, cook until soft (takes several hours), then make these:  https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/ (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/)

They are Alubia beans. They became tender at the end of the evening. Now waiting in the fridge for what to do with them.
Yasterday I tasted 5-6 of them so check if they were ready and I have had stomach cramps at night. Might have been the beans. So I want to test eating a few more to see if the pain repeats. If not, I'll check out various recipees.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 15, 2017, 10:08:38 AM
Ended up being home for dinner yesterday, so I stretched the defrosted ground beef with a serving of the soy braised beef & an onion.  Put it on top of roasted squash I did on Sunday.  It worked really well to cut down on the excessive salt, and it tasted yummy.

Today's lunch was chicken (freezer), bell pepper (freezer), cauliflower (freezer) roasted eggplant (Sunday prep), and the last of some miso dressing, which I'll count as a win even though I still have most of the container of miso.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 15, 2017, 10:40:03 AM
Well done on salvaging the too salty meal, plainjane.

And Linda, yes, do another little taste test, if you're concerned.  Making yourself sick with old food is not warranted!  Did you eat anything else that could have made you kind of gassy?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 15, 2017, 11:44:52 AM
I am attempting to make some roasted veggie dip using some freezer burnt zucchini and kale from last summer and some soy beans that were in the back of the pantry. I figure add some tahinni and seasonings it should be okay dip. I have some dehydrated cucumber chips from last summer that I need to eat up and of course I am the only one that will eat them. I also have some carrots and celery that I just got because I was out of fresh veggies and needed a veggie for girly's lunch. All though she just looks at veggies in her lunch and ignores them....hummm gotta get the 6 year old to eat more veggies.

Hubby has been such a help eating leftovers at lunch time. I told him every time we eat leftovers we are that much closer to FIRE. I am in charge of all food in our house. And it is time to get our food bill as low as it can go without giving up nutrition.

seemsright, you aren't really "selling" your roasted veggie dip with that description, but I've been there a couple of times lately myself, with things that turn out "meh," or like Freshwater above, have required liberal applications of cheese to encourage myself to eat them.  That's ok, they don't all have to be perfectly balanced gourmet meals, right?  Sometimes it's healthy but not excessively appetizing, other times it's delicious but not excessively nutritious, if you know what I mean.

Tonight for a late but light-ish dinner, I defrosted one of my ciabatta rolls from the freezer (bought from reduced price rack a little while back).  Yummy one - poppy seeds and something else, maybe onion or garlic?  Toasted with a little mayo, lots of sliced cucumber.  Sliced tomato with a little cilantro lime dressing on the side.  I'm not sure it was quite enough to tide me over to bed, I might need a nibble more.

Lunch today was some chickpea/potato curry (channa) with roti that a church lady brought for me.  With an avocado on the side.  Had a very healthy breakfast of an apple and some greek yoghurt.

I just made the dip, I added some olive oil, some sea salt,  tahinni and cider vinegar. And it is crazy good. Sometimes working with what you have is interesting. But yes the starts of the dip were in sad shape. I will have to figure out better way to preserve the excess veggies from the garden and CSA this coming season.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 15, 2017, 11:58:24 AM
I am attempting to make some roasted veggie dip using some freezer burnt zucchini and kale from last summer and some soy beans that were in the back of the pantry. I figure add some tahinni and seasonings it should be okay dip. I have some dehydrated cucumber chips from last summer that I need to eat up and of course I am the only one that will eat them. I also have some carrots and celery that I just got because I was out of fresh veggies and needed a veggie for girly's lunch. All though she just looks at veggies in her lunch and ignores them....hummm gotta get the 6 year old to eat more veggies.

Hubby has been such a help eating leftovers at lunch time. I told him every time we eat leftovers we are that much closer to FIRE. I am in charge of all food in our house. And it is time to get our food bill as low as it can go without giving up nutrition.

seemsright, you aren't really "selling" your roasted veggie dip with that description, but I've been there a couple of times lately myself, with things that turn out "meh," or like Freshwater above, have required liberal applications of cheese to encourage myself to eat them.  That's ok, they don't all have to be perfectly balanced gourmet meals, right?  Sometimes it's healthy but not excessively appetizing, other times it's delicious but not excessively nutritious, if you know what I mean.

I just made the dip, I added some olive oil, some sea salt,  tahinni and cider vinegar. And it is crazy good. Sometimes working with what you have is interesting. But yes the starts of the dip were in sad shape. I will have to figure out better way to preserve the excess veggies from the garden and CSA this coming season. 

Hey, that's great!  Glad to hear it turned out yummy :-)

And yeah, not letting the produce go to waste is a huge money saver.  I'm doing better these days, but still some things slip past me.  When they're unappetizing but not actually too bad to eat, I can feed them to the dog.  She doesn't care if things are wilty!  But that's not the most economical use of my "people food," it's just slightly less wasteful.  Recognizing when you're not going to get to something in time, and getting it cooked up into something for the freezer, or just straight up prepping and freezing it, seem to be the keys.  Unless you're a canner, in which case that opens up another option.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on March 15, 2017, 03:24:02 PM
At this point in the year, we are able to shut down one of the deep freezers and combine two into one. Always a happy day for me. Good electricity savings anda good indication that we are using up our 2 sides of beef and 60 chickens!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 15, 2017, 05:17:14 PM
This morning I opened a several year old pack of dried beans, washed it and set it to soak. I will cook them tonight and make some different recipes with them. I bought some fresh coriander that I hope will go well together with them.

It's not going so well. I put the beans to soak before going to work. I started cooking them 1 and a half hour ago and they are still not soft. I will let them cook some time more. But if it doesn't work out today, I'll throw them away.

I soak them overnight, cook until soft (takes several hours), then make these:  https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/ (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/08/not-refried-beans/)

They are Alubia beans. They became tender at the end of the evening. Now waiting in the fridge for what to do with them.
Yasterday I tasted 5-6 of them so check if they were ready and I have had stomach cramps at night. Might have been the beans. So I want to test eating a few more to see if the pain repeats. If not, I'll check out various recipees.
Glad they became tender, but sorry for your discomfort.  :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 16, 2017, 02:34:31 AM
At this point in the year, we are able to shut down one of the deep freezers and combine two into one. Always a happy day for me. Good electricity savings anda good indication that we are using up our 2 sides of beef and 60 chickens!

Good idea to shut it down when empty.

My follow up question in a separate thread as it is a bit off-topic in here:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/does-it-pay-off-to-buy-a-separate-deep-freeze/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 16, 2017, 12:35:31 PM
Hey Linda_Norway, inquiring minds want to know ... what was the final verdict on the beans?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 16, 2017, 12:54:11 PM
*Blinks* I felt the bottom of my 25 lb bag of buckwheat flour this morning! I can't quite believe it! I also used up a bag of frozen peas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 16, 2017, 01:52:40 PM
Congratulations, Swick!  <<high fives>>

Did my monthly grocery shopping trip last night (saved 25% using coupons, woot!).  I refrained from buying stockpile items, regardless of the fact I had coupons.  I was going to buy teriyaki for some ribs bought on sale, then I decided I can make some sort of homemade sauce using a combination of the plethora of condiments we still have in the fridge door.

The potential buyers who looked at our home this morning called our realtor asking for a second viewing this afternoon.  Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on March 16, 2017, 02:31:54 PM
The other half is away for a week so I'm working on completely clearing out the kitchen while he's gone before I buy any groceries. Day 1 (yesterday) was $0 and I've finished: salami, provolone, and some wilted green onions. I'm working on the bread, eggs, and produce first. Then I have some canned soup and a few things in the freezer that I can go through.

Inventory:
fridge: eggs, bread, salami, provolone cheese, green onions, tomatoes, avocadoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, purple cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, kiwis, apples, cucumber, pickled beets, pickles, dates
freezer: kale, spinach, mango, cherries, bananas, chili, chicken nuggets and fries (yay!), ground beef, tomato sauce
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 17, 2017, 03:06:08 AM
Hey Linda_Norway, inquiring minds want to know ... what was the final verdict on the beans?

Although they did finally become "well done" they still didn't taste good. Then (a bit late) I checked the date on the package and the last use date was in 2008. I also read somewhere that beans do not become very good with years. So I decided to ditch the cooked beans.

At least the are now in the composting bin and will turn into earth.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 17, 2017, 06:56:00 AM
Last night I used up a bit more of the flopped caramel sauce (uh, from november...) to make a caramel corn, I melted the last two squares of chocolate over it.  Delightful.  The caramel still isn't right, but it's good.

I recently got chili out of the freezer, only to discover when it thawed that it was chocolate milk. hah! 

Other than that my cupboards are pretty bare. In addition to using up foods I don't like this thread has helped me eliminate duplicates and keep stock items fresh.  I know what I have and I know I can run out of certain things and still have enough food. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 17, 2017, 07:00:53 AM
Hey Linda_Norway, inquiring minds want to know ... what was the final verdict on the beans?
Although they did finally become "well done" they still didn't taste good. Then (a bit late) I checked the date on the package and the last use date was in 2008.

I'm a big believer that some things can go past their use by date, but even _I_ agree 2008 is pushing it.  The caramel sauce I'm using in my tea right now is best before Feb 2016, but it's caramel and still tastes yummy.

I bought more curry paste yesterday as we were out, and the SO bought curry paste yesterday because we were out.

This week I am committed to working through more of the sweet red chili sauce.  Maybe fish cakes?  Other suggestions welcome.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 17, 2017, 07:26:11 AM
I found out yesterday that we'll probably be getting a 1/4 beef.  I've been sort of rationing the beef in the freezer thinking we wouldn't get another until fall, but now that's changed.  Going to pull a roast out to make this weekend.

In the meantime, I think I might make more pork and beans.  I bought a big bag of cranberry beans from a farmstand while driving through Washington State last summer, and they are wonderful for that type of dish.  There was actually nothing left to freeze from the big batch I made last week, but I have lots more dried beans and lots more sliced pork belly. 

Smoothies are going to be on the menu too.  Still have a large jar of blueberries and an equal jar of cherries from my tree sitting in the freezer.  Also impulsively grabbed a 6 pack of coconut milk (the thinner kind) that was on sale at CostCo right after I got home from DC, and then discovered that I already had a 6-pack in storage.  Oh well, needed to finish off the protein powder anyway.

Grocery bill last night was around $40 for eggs, bacon, cheese, some veggies to make kimchi, and four bottles of Sriracha, because it was on sale 2/$5.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 17, 2017, 07:44:32 AM
Hey Linda_Norway, inquiring minds want to know ... what was the final verdict on the beans?
Although they did finally become "well done" they still didn't taste good. Then (a bit late) I checked the date on the package and the last use date was in 2008.

I'm a big believer that some things can go past their use by date, but even _I_ agree 2008 is pushing it.  The caramel sauce I'm using in my tea right now is best before Feb 2016, but it's caramel and still tastes yummy.

I bought more curry paste yesterday as we were out, and the SO bought curry paste yesterday because we were out.

This week I am committed to working through more of the sweet red chili sauce.  Maybe fish cakes?  Other suggestions welcome.

I am not a date freak either. But this was so many years. But I was mostly sceptic for the taste. I am not very fond of beans to start with. And eating beans 7 years after the best before date will not give me the best bean experience. I rather stick to kidney beans from a pack, which I do like.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 17, 2017, 08:55:25 AM

This week I am committed to working through more of the sweet red chili sauce.  Maybe fish cakes?  Other suggestions welcome.

Sweet red chili sauce can be a great addition to a Thai peanut sauce! Before I went (mostly) sugar-free I use to use it anywhere that sweet/spicy flavour made sense. A dollop in a tomato sauce works to round out the acidity and bring out the flavour of the tomatoes.  Poured over a brie and baked or on top of cream cheese instead of pepper jelly as an appetizer. Added to anything stir-fried.

Dinner last night: Sausages (freezer) with a hash made from some caramelized onions (from a bag that really needed using up) some red pepper, white beans (pantry) spices and some Vermont maple syrup flavored balsamic vinegar we were given as a gift. Was super tasty and we have enough leftover I don't have to cook tonight!

Despite thinking we were mostly out of fresh fruits and veggies last weekend, I have managed to make do. Mostly because I had a supply of homemade frozen meals hubs could take for lunches. That supply is dwindling so I'll have to restock this weekend, but having them means I don't have to worry about stretching all my dinners out for an extra lunch so allows me to use up stuff that might not stretch or reheat at work as well and still provide some variety :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on March 17, 2017, 12:42:35 PM
The other half is away for a week so I'm working on completely clearing out the kitchen while he's gone before I buy any groceries. Day 1 (yesterday) was $0 and I've finished: salami, provolone, and some wilted green onions. I'm working on the bread, eggs, and produce first. Then I have some canned soup and a few things in the freezer that I can go through.

Inventory:
fridge: eggs, bread, salami, provolone cheese, green onions, tomatoes, onions, avocadoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, purple cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, kiwis, apples, cucumber, pickled beets, pickles, dates
freezer: kale, spinach, mango, cherries, bananas, chili, chicken nuggets and fries (yay!), ground beef, tomato sauce

Day 2 - $0

Used up a few more things yesterday and am on track to spend $0 today. The weekend should be fairly easy. I'm planning on making a tomato sauce with most of the leftover vegetables tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 17, 2017, 01:08:29 PM
The other half is away for a week so I'm working on completely clearing out the kitchen while he's gone before I buy any groceries. Day 1 (yesterday) was $0 and I've finished: salami, provolone, and some wilted green onions. I'm working on the bread, eggs, and produce first. Then I have some canned soup and a few things in the freezer that I can go through.

Inventory:
fridge: eggs, bread, salami, provolone cheese, green onions, tomatoes, onions, avocadoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, purple cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, kiwis, apples, cucumber, pickled beets, pickles, dates
freezer: kale, spinach, mango, cherries, bananas, chili, chicken nuggets and fries (yay!), ground beef, tomato sauce

Day 2 - $0

Used up a few more things yesterday and am on track to spend $0 today. The weekend should be fairly easy. I'm planning on making a tomato sauce with most of the leftover vegetables tomorrow.

Good job! So my brain totally missed the comma and a space, and I was excited to ask you what pickled dates were :) I'm intrigued.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on March 17, 2017, 01:17:10 PM
The other half is away for a week so I'm working on completely clearing out the kitchen while he's gone before I buy any groceries. Day 1 (yesterday) was $0 and I've finished: salami, provolone, and some wilted green onions. I'm working on the bread, eggs, and produce first. Then I have some canned soup and a few things in the freezer that I can go through.

Inventory:
fridge: eggs, bread, salami, provolone cheese, green onions, tomatoes, onions, avocadoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, purple cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, kiwis, apples, cucumber, pickled beets, pickles, dates
freezer: kale, spinach, mango, cherries, bananas, chili, chicken nuggets and fries (yay!), ground beef, tomato sauce

Day 2 - $0

Used up a few more things yesterday and am on track to spend $0 today. The weekend should be fairly easy. I'm planning on making a tomato sauce with most of the leftover vegetables tomorrow.

Good job! So my brain totally missed the comma and a space, and I was excited to ask you what pickled dates were :) I'm intrigued.

Yum! I'm sure someone out there somewhere has tried it. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 17, 2017, 04:52:43 PM
This thread is so great.

I've been pondering the Great Grocery Bill Mystery lately -- why, after carefully trimming so many of our expenses and changing many of our worst shopping habits, do our grocery bills seem to still be coming in so high? So, along with itemizing receipts from last month to better understand our spending, I'm spending a couple of weeks eating ALL the food in the house (or at least all the weird stuff that's accumulated in odd corners of the pantry/freezer).

Dinner tonight is starting off easy: fritatta (potatoes, onion, pepper, frozen corn, eggs). It'll become breakfasts for the weekend too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 17, 2017, 05:08:25 PM
Making corn chowder tonight using summer corn from the freezer. I just enough corn for next week for making black beans and corn salsa.

I still have a crazy amount of tomatoes to use up in the next month or so. I may cook some down for pasta sauce for this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 17, 2017, 06:42:18 PM
Tonight we had shashuka - roasted tomato, roasted peppers & roasted cauliflower puree from the freezer, and the second last bacon end.  Plus some eggs, manchego cheese, and spices.

That used up three small ziplocks of vegetables which I roasted and froze in the fall when veggies were cheap and the whole meal really simple to prepare.  Win-win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 17, 2017, 07:22:00 PM
Made sort of an Italian rice casserole tonight:  1/2 package spicy Italian sausage, salvaged onion that was starting to spoil, a cube of garlic from the freezer, a jar of tomatoes and half jar of beef stock from the canning stores, plus some of the rice I bought on clearance last fall, and a good bit of Romano cheese brought home from DC.  I want my rice gone because I'm now obsessed with the basmati rice from Trader Joe's and want all the Calrose rice gone so I can get basmati instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 17, 2017, 10:48:22 PM
Wow ... busy thread today!

swick, congrats on getting so far with the buckwheat flour.  I'm not the biggest fan, so when I've bought it I've had to mix very small amounts with other flour for baking.  I can't imagine how long it would take me to use up 25 lbs!

Linda_Norway, like plainjane, I will usually go well past an expiry date.  But I also would be likely to have second thoughts about 10 year old beans!  And plainjane, at least you guys both obviously like things made with curry paste!

PMG, hilarious about the defrosted chili/chocolate milk!  I do hope you weren't totally counting on that chili for an emergency meal when you defrosted it, and that you had enough time left to make something else.

lentil, I just posted for Linda_Norway in another thread, a possible explanation for the Great Grocery Bill Mystery.  If you've been working hard to eliminate other spending, such as eating out, you may well see your grocery bill hold steady, or even rise, as you are providing for even more meals in that area of your budget.  Just one possible explanation...

I'm kind of scared to admit this to the "Food Safety Comes First" folks around here, but on Wednesday, I took a container of homemade mac and cheese from the freezer to work with me.  It spent a good chunk of the day in my car, in the freezing cold parking lot of the hospital.  Then, I was running late for my evening meeting, and I knew I wasn't going to have time to heat it up and eat it, so I grabbed a bagel to eat in the car.  I took the container into the church though, and ended up forgetting it, sitting in the bag in my office.  I wasn't back to the church until Thursday evening, so I brought it home with me late last night.  And heated it up really well, and went ahead and ate it.  It was really good mac and cheese!  I didn't want to waste it.  And my office isn't that warm, so I figured that it would have taken quite a while to finish thawing.  But I'm sure it did break all kinds of food safety rules - it was out at room temperature for 24 hours or so.  :-/ 

Anyway, no ill effects today, so I seem to have dodged a bullet.  I promise I won't make a habit of it though!

Today, I had Weetabix with a little oatmeal for breakfast (almost finished one box - one more box to go!)  Then I didn't eat, other than a snack and coffee, for hours and hours.  I was starving when I got home, and only barely resisted Pizza Pizza on the way.  So I made a pita break pizza in the toaster oven, with the last of my jar of salsa, sliced tomato, green onions, red pepper, and mozzarella cheese from the freezer, and a little of the pre-grated cheese mixture from the freezer for a little more flavour.  Topped with some crumbled up frozen basil.  It was ... oh, I can't describe it.  It was so good.  Had a little glass of port after dinner. 

But I was still hungry.  I waited a couple of hours after eating it, then had some water.  Still hungry.  Made myself some popcorn, using plain kernels and a paper bag in the microwave, with a tiny little bit of melted margarine and salt.  And another little glass of port.  Am working on the popcorn and the port as I type.  I'm feeling very happy and relaxed...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 18, 2017, 09:14:31 AM
I'm kind of scared to admit this to the "Food Safety Comes First" folks around here, but on Wednesday, I took a container of homemade mac and cheese from the freezer to work with me.  It spent a good chunk of the day in my car, in the freezing cold parking lot of the hospital.  Then, I was running late for my evening meeting, and I knew I wasn't going to have time to heat it up and eat it, so I grabbed a bagel to eat in the car.  I took the container into the church though, and ended up forgetting it, sitting in the bag in my office.  I wasn't back to the church until Thursday evening, so I brought it home with me late last night.  And heated it up really well, and went ahead and ate it.  It was really good mac and cheese!  I didn't want to waste it.  And my office isn't that warm, so I figured that it would have taken quite a while to finish thawing.  But I'm sure it did break all kinds of food safety rules - it was out at room temperature for 24 hours or so.  :-/ 

Hmm, I probably would have eaten it too, but just made sure to heat it up really well first to kill anything that might have been brewing.  Glad you're feeling well today. :)

This weekend I'm doing the sous vide egg thing again to use up some ham I froze around the holidays, and some bell peppers I bought too many of last week because they were crazy cheap. A couple of my hens have started laying again, so eggs are definitely on the menu. That should handle lunch for the whole week. Breakfast will be smoothies with frozen fruit and protein powder. I've got a container of frozen red chile I brought home from New Mexico last year, so that is going to turn into chile colorado with a couple packages of beef from the freezer.  Beans are soaking to make another nice pot of beans (emptied the canister of cranberry beans!).  Adding in some salads, meals should be handled for the week almost entirely from storage.

Went into Mint and reduced the grocery budget for the month by $100, and don't think it will even be a problem.

@lentil - I agree with PJ - if you're in the process of cutting down on going out to eat, it might help to look at the net reduction on food for now, and not worry to much as long as the overall trend is downward.  OTOH, it can be easy to "reward" yourself at the grocery store by buying high-end/prepared foods because you're eschewing restaurants.  Also, it can be a process to drive costs down.  For instance, if you get into making your own condiments, which tend to have a long shelf life, that can drive your grocery costs down over time as you develop an inventory of condiments and stop buying them.  Making condiments sounds complicated at first, but IMO, it's simplified my life because I don't have half-empty containers of stuff I don't like (because I make it to our exact tastes), and grocery shopping is limited to having basic ingredients bought in bulk.  No futzing around in the middle of the store looking at the 15' shelf of BBQ sauce trying to find a kind you like for the best price.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 18, 2017, 02:34:44 PM
About eating leftover portions in room temperature, I have some bad experience with rice. We always used to freeze in leftover portions of rice with veggies and later warm it up in the microwave to eat it directly. One day, I took a such a leftover portion out of the freezer and into the fridge. There it was for 3 days. The I heated it well and ate it. I became very sick in my bowels. I looked it up on the internet and read that cooked rice and also cooked pasta at room temperature can grow bacteria that are resistant to heat. These bacteria, also known as China restaurant syndrome, either make you spew or cause diarea. If they get the chance to develop, there is nothing you can do to kill them bybheating the food.
Therefore: keeping cooked rice or pasta at room temperature for a long time: don't do it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: geekette on March 18, 2017, 02:49:35 PM
I got sucked in to Costco's samples and ended up with some potato and spinach Pierogi and don't know how they're served!  Side dish? Main dish?  Served with what?  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 18, 2017, 03:20:05 PM
I got sucked in to Costco's samples and ended up with some potato and spinach Pierogi and don't know how they're served!  Side dish? Main dish?  Served with what?  Any ideas?
I like to eat them with caramelized onions.  YUM!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 18, 2017, 04:28:09 PM
Currently making cheese cookies from leftover chunk of old cheese. And making foccacia from ingredients we have in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on March 18, 2017, 11:37:43 PM
About eating leftover portions in room temperature, I have some bad experience with rice. We always used to freeze in leftover portions of rice with veggies and later warm it up in the microwave to eat it directly. One day, I took a such a leftover portion out of the freezer and into the fridge. There it was for 3 days. The I heated it well and ate it. I became very sick in my bowels. I looked it up on the internet and read that cooked rice and also cooked pasta at room temperature can grow bacteria that are resistant to heat. These bacteria, also known as China restaurant syndrome, either make you spew or cause diarea. If they get the chance to develop, there is nothing you can do to kill them bybheating the food.
Therefore: keeping cooked rice or pasta at room temperature for a long time: don't do it. 

Who was it that previously posted about food poisoning from rice?  And said it was really dire.

Yes, I agree, I probably shouldn't have eaten it.  But I do seem to have escaped unscathed, thank goodness!

I got sucked in to Costco's samples and ended up with some potato and spinach Pierogi and don't know how they're served!  Side dish? Main dish?  Served with what?  Any ideas? 

I'm a bit of a lazy cook, so I'm not much for making main dishes plus side dishes.  If I can turn something into a main dish, I will.  I also like pierogi with caramelized onions, like 4alpacas said.  I also like to lightly boil the pierogi, and then pan fry them with the onion.  I have a preference for food that is well browned, so though I will eat them only boiled, I much prefer them pan fried.  You can also toss other veggies in with them, I suppose - greens, or something like asparagus might be nice.  Peppers?  Zucchini?  Anyway, I also really like them with sour cream (or plain yoghurt, in a pinch) on the side for dipping, or just globbed on top of a plateful of the pierogi.  Those pierogi are a weakness for me when I go to Costco with my old neighbour...

Updates from PJ's Pantry: Did I mention I cooked one of the packages of microwave in a bag rice and grains earlier this week?  It was pretty good.  That was the last of the really long expired packages of convenience rice in the pantry.  (I'd started the challenge with two packages, both expired last spring.  Now I just have 14 packages of convenience/flavoured/quick cook rice and rice/grains left to go.  Some of which have not expired, but I think about half a dozen of them just expired in January.  Ugh.  Anyway, I had the last of that rice for a late dinner tonight, heated up in the microwave with some green onion, and a couple of eggs mixed in for some protein.

Also, I do seem to have had a little stash of dessert stuff in the freezer.  I already ate my apple pie a couple weeks ago, yesterday I pulled out a cherry cake.  Small loaf, but I had a couple of pieces last night, and a couple of pieces for dessert tonight, and it's half gone already.  Oops.  Better slow down a little on that.

In other news, I went out for the day and took snacks with me for the road.  Couple pieces of cheese, a granola bar, an applesauce cup, and a bottle of water.  Along with the free samples at the Home Show (free tickets given to me by a Real Estate agent friend) that was enough to stop me from buying any food "out" today, and tide me over until I got home.  Yay, for Uber Frugal wins!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 19, 2017, 06:25:52 AM
I'm having a mini challenge this week since a week from today I'm heading out of town for 14 days.  On Thursday I did a fridge inventory for things that needed to get eaten before I left.  There wasn't much, but I still only bought milk and egg noodles at the grocery store yesterday.

The plan for the week is to start by making turkey noodle soup today with turkey, broth, onions, and celery from the freezer, carrots from the fridge, and the egg noodles I just bought. That'll provide me with dinners for the week, and then for lunches I'm going to focus on eating all my random single-serving leftovers in the freezer.  Breakfast smoothies will use up my bananas, milk, and yogurt, and then I should be set to head out on my trip without wasting any food or even spending much money this week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 19, 2017, 06:59:19 AM
Thanks PJ and Horsepoor! Cutting down on restaurant spending is definitely playing a role in driving up some of our grocery costs. And this is definitely a factor!:
Quote
OTOH, it can be easy to "reward" yourself at the grocery store by buying high-end/prepared foods because you're eschewing restaurants.
Still trying to find the right balance, and I appreciate the input!

Made a tasty lentil soup last night, and am going to dig through the pantry shelves to try to get more creative for tonight's meal. I'll have the house to myself for a couple of days this week too -- perfect opportunity to eat up some random odds & ends!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 19, 2017, 05:39:58 PM
I finished off:
1 can of black beans,
1 small bag of rice (still so much rice left!),
2 chicken breasts from the freezer*, and
1 block of cheddar cheese.

I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things last night.  $15 spent.  I think we should be able to hold out until next weekend. 


*I think I finally finished all of the chicken from the freezer.  I keep finding more!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 19, 2017, 07:53:29 PM
I finished the caramel sauce that I'd been using in my tea.  But do not fear.  I have a dulce de leche sauce that I bought at the same time which I trust will also do well (0.99 expired Feb 2016).

Tonight's dinner was a peanut butter/sweet chili sauce/hummus dressing with chicken & roasted broccoli.  Finished the container of rice vinegar but I still have a couple more meals before the sweet chili sauce will be done.

Did I mention that we also did tuna cakes and put the sweet chili sauce on top this weekend?  Really yummy and moved us closer to finishing the matzoh meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on March 19, 2017, 08:00:54 PM
OK I've been slacking a bit over the past couple of weeks and not making as much progress as I'd like. Just busy, and tired, and screw you Daylight Savings Time, I can't figure out what time it is :)

But I did finally finish off the last box of black/green tea a couple of weeks ago, which makes me happy. I still have a LOT of plain black tea to get through, but I really don't like it hot, so will probably wait until the weather gets a tad warmer and start making some iced tea. With free lemons from the neighbors tree!

I'm trying to get back with the program, so today I made crockpot chicken and dumplings, which used 1 ancient can of cream of celery soup and 1 can of cream of chicken soup, and some baking mix for the dumplings. It was really pretty good, although I felt the dumplings tasted a bit off (the baking mix is very old...). I know it won't kill us but I decided to toss the mix anyway, there's no sense in making otherwise good food taste funky, and there was only probably about 1/4 of the box left.

And more smoothies are coming my way this week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 19, 2017, 09:16:03 PM
Instead of buying salad and French bread today, made cornbread and coleslaw with ingredients on hand.  Finished off the cranberry beans, a jar of tomato sauce and more of the pork belly.  Progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 20, 2017, 02:15:31 AM
The meat drawer in the freezer has become a lot emptier. We still have some portions of minced meat and pork cuts, but those are good to have for a quick meal if nothing else was taken out of the freezer.
In a few weeks the fishing season starts for sea trout fishing. In worst case we'll catch cod. At least now we have room to store fish in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 20, 2017, 09:18:12 AM
Lots of weekend progress made by everyone!

I took a pack of bacon and my last chicken out of the freezer to thaw for dinner at some point this week.

Seeing the bottom of my freezer was short lived :) There was a really good sale on frozen veggies and we have been pretty depressed by the selection and price! of fresh veg at the store lately.

I made some granola and emptied a few stray bags of nuts and seeds. Also used up an ancient package of date pieces in it.

I found some Semolina and other wheaty flours in the very bottom of my freezer. I'm going to be passing them on to family as I can't have it anymore.

I discovered (after going to the store, boo!) that I am out of frozen spinach. I like to keep the blocks of frozen chopped spinach on hand to add a little extra good stuff to curries and such.

Used up some curry paste, frozen ground beef and coconut milk and made a Thai curry over roasted sweet potatoes and squash for hubby to have for lunches.

Chicken bones are in the crockpot for bone broth.

I'm not making as much progress on Tea as I would like. I have a herbal sleep tea blend that we have been remembering to make in the evenings, but I still have a ton of bulk black and green tea that I always seem to forget about when I am making myself more coffee.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 20, 2017, 09:43:48 AM
*I think I finally finished all of the chicken from the freezer. 
I found more chicken in the freezer.  I'll probably defrost it tonight for dinner tomorrow. 

Does anyone have a good recipe for pumpkin muffins?  I have a can of pumpkin, and I don't really know what to do with it. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 20, 2017, 09:54:31 AM
4alpacas, pumpkin muffins are a staple in my house.  Here is my recipe as I sent it to my mother with wayyy too many words for someone who already knows how to bake.

----
I've not sent this because I didn't know which version to send, or how to write it up without overwhelming you.  I think I've broken it down pretty simply, read my notes and then you can decide.  Just trust me, delicious.

Pumpkin Muffins
 
Original Recipe:
 
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 can (16 oz) pumpkin
1 ½ c oil
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
 
Optional: add raisin, chocolate chips, nuts, top with cinnamon and sugar
 
In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil until smooth.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.
 
Fill muffin tins ¾ full.  Makes 24, regular cupcake sized muffins, not huge bakery muffins.
 
Bake at 350* for 16 to 20 minutes.
 
Now…. The  healthier version:
 
4 eggs – I use ground flax seed.  1 tbsp of flax seed and 3 tbsp of water = 1 egg.  So, a total of 4 tbsp of flax seeds and 12 tbsp of water (12 tbsp = ¾ cup).  Put it in the blender for about 45 seconds.  I use heaping tablespoons, just cuz the flax seed is really good for you and adds good flavor to the muffins.  Don’t be fooled by whole flax seed in things, your body can’t digest it as well and usually just passes it.  The ground is where you actually get the nutrients.  I buy whole (bulk section at Stauffers) and grind it in my coffee grinder.
 
2 cups sugar – I often use a combination of sweeteners, part honey, measured cup for cup, part sugar, and I under measure, closer to 1 ½ to 1 ¾ cup sweetener.  Wish I could use all honey, too expensive.
 
1 16 oz can of pumpkin is 1 16 oz can of pumpkin.  Or about 2 cups of home cooked pumpkin, juices drained.
 
1 ½ cup oil – I use an equal amount of yogurt.  Most people use plain yogurt to bake, but I always have vanilla yogurt in the fridge, so that’s what I use, the flavor only adds to this.
 
3 cups flour – I use whole wheat flour.
 
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
 
 
The original recipe has a lighter, cake like texture, my version is a bit denser and more muffin-y.
 
The best thing about all of this is that you can take any 1 or 2 of my adjustments and insert them into the original.
 
I always make half a recipe and freeze half the can of pumpkin for a week or two until I make them again.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 20, 2017, 10:06:45 AM
I ate the last serving of gross risotto* from the freezer this morning. That's the last of the unpalatable leftovers (for now!), so all the remaining frozen leftovers are things I really don't need to worry about clearing out. Progress!


*Gross risotto is a dish I made a month or two ago, which turned out terrible, yet not completely inedible. Drenched in hot sauce & cheese, it's really almost tolerable, but I'm so glad it's gooooooone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Epor on March 20, 2017, 10:26:08 AM

Lentil: Yep - leftovers are a struggle at my house too. I'm the only one that eats them. So now I make much smaller portions, if husband/kids are still hungry, they can eat some bread and butter. Actually, I'm not even hungry and I can eat bread and butter right now - I love it.

Progress this weekend: Made some of my sushi rice (using rice cooker) - still over a pound to go. I'm planning to eat that at least once a week until is gone. Also used some frozen ground beef for a sloppy joe. (Still have 3 other cans in the pantry).

Freezer: I have a whole ham that I want to get out... not sure how long I need to keep it in the fridge to defrost. Maybe a couple days, so I have to remember to get it out by Friday evening.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 20, 2017, 11:37:25 AM
Here is my recipe as I sent it to my mother with wayyy too many words for someone who already knows how to bake.
Thank you!  I need all of the extra details because I am not a great baker/cook. 

gross risotto*
I've given myself permission to toss leftovers if I didn't like the recipe the first time.  It is wasteful, but I was filling my freezer with stuff I didn't want to eat.  :|

Tonight, I'm going to make chicken fried rice with a bunch of stuff that I have in the fridge.  It's definitely not healthy, but my DH loves it.  My DH has fallen into getting delivery (2x last week!), so I need to be more vigilant about making stuff he wants to eat.*

*My DH is not a mustachian.  Instead of converting him, I just make the less expensive choice the tastier, more fun, etc. option.  So far, we've cut our food expenses (grocery and dining out) by ~$1000/month.  We have a lot of fat in our budget, but my DH has no desire to retire.  Luckily, my DH is overworked and tired, so easy options are the most straightforward way to get him to stop spending money.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 20, 2017, 05:52:13 PM
Quote
I've given myself permission to toss leftovers if I didn't like the recipe the first time.  It is wasteful, but I was filling my freezer with stuff I didn't want to eat.  :|

I agonize too much over wasting food, I know. But hot sauce is a real saver ;-)

Found a big bag of mung beans in the pantry (a friend gave them to me, and I've never cooked with them before), so I am making mung bean coconut curry (http://themuffinmyth.com/2015/01/22/mung-bean-and-coconut-curry/ (http://themuffinmyth.com/2015/01/22/mung-bean-and-coconut-curry/)), adapted just slightly so I wouldn't need to do any shopping. It smells so good it's making it impossible to get anything done tonight...I just keep staring longingly at the kitchen. Hope it tastes half this good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: recklesslysober on March 20, 2017, 05:59:07 PM
The other half is away for a week so I'm working on completely clearing out the kitchen while he's gone before I buy any groceries. Day 1 (yesterday) was $0 and I've finished: salami, provolone, and some wilted green onions. I'm working on the bread, eggs, and produce first. Then I have some canned soup and a few things in the freezer that I can go through.

Inventory:
fridge: eggs, bread, salami, provolone cheese, green onions, tomatoes, onions, avocadoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, purple cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, bell peppers, kiwis, apples, cucumber, pickled beets, pickles, dates
freezer: kale, spinach, mango, cherries, bananas, chili, chicken nuggets and fries (yay!), ground beef, tomato sauce

I used up almost everything, but I went shopping yesterday for fresh produce for this week instead of waiting until Tuesday. 5/6 $0 days. Partial success. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 20, 2017, 06:01:39 PM
Quote
I've given myself permission to toss leftovers if I didn't like the recipe the first time.  It is wasteful, but I was filling my freezer with stuff I didn't want to eat.  :|

I agonize too much over wasting food, I know. But hot sauce is a real saver ;-)
Haha!  Some of my dishes cannot be saved by Sriracha alone ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 21, 2017, 02:47:56 AM
This week: eating from my freezer stash.
I made minestrone soup on a hen from the freezer this weekend. Still got enough stock and meat for another soup - I'm thinking maybe tom kha gai.
Last night I made breaded fish from the free fish (yay for free food), and later this week I'm going to make those very good thai fish cakes again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 21, 2017, 07:29:50 AM
Chile Colorado using three packages of stew beef, last container of red chile from New Mexico, some concentrated beef stock cubes and garlic cubes from the freezer, and two aging onions went in the Instant Pot this morning.  Tonight I'll make Mexican rice to go with it, using up a jar of salsa that came out more like spicy tomato sauce. 

Just went in to Mint and ratcheted the grocery budget down to $250 (it's usually $400++), leaving $63 through the 29th (leaving on a trip the morning of the 30th).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 21, 2017, 02:19:34 PM
Well drat, I discovered another cache of tea I didn't know I had.  Okay, my new rule is one cup of coffee a day and then I have to switch to tea.

Dinner tonight is Turkish red lentil soup using up some bone broth, red lentils, preserved lemons and spices and some roasted Brussels using up some bacon and fancy balsamic vinegar. I'll also throw in some onion and apple cuz I like em that way.

I've got 20 bucks left in the budget for this month, and won't be doing any grocery shopping before April. I want to save up as much as possible in April as we are planning on a trip stateside in May and want to be able to restock a few things. I'm feeling good about knowing what our staples are and what we will need to restock on and what we need to pass on even though it might be tempting.

I do have to tackle some of the weirder stuff I have accumulated. Shall be an adventure :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 21, 2017, 08:07:39 PM
PMG, I have a half batch of your pumpkin muffins in my oven! 

For dinner, I made vegetable fried rice (recipe from Run Fast, Eat Slow) with all of the frozen vegetable remnants from our freezer.  We also finished off the shredded chicken I made a few days ago.  I defrosted a few drumsticks that we can eat for the next few meals. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on March 21, 2017, 09:48:23 PM
For dinner tonight I ate the last serving of pea soup that's been languishing in my freezer for over a year. It was terribly freezer burned - all dry and leathery on top. But it reconstituted perfectly when I reheated it with some extra water. All the carrots totally broke down, so it ended up being orange-colored pea soup. I threw in some extra veg (cauliflower from the freezer) because I have not been getting enough vegetables the last few days.

Lesson learned that those screw-top containers are not really as air-tight as I was hoping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 22, 2017, 08:10:56 AM
Ended up making some GF cornbread last night to go with the lentil soup. Used up the last of a smallish bag of buckwheat flour some old rice flour and cornmeal I have had for ages stashed in the freezer.

Also starting to put a dent in some elderberries and echinacea I have had forever, guess one doesn't think to use them unless sick and we haven't been sick in ages. Ahh well. Guess it is time :S

Our last chicken is in the crock pot, not sure what I am going to do with it all yet. Planning a "scrounge from the fridge" dinner as we have lots of little bits of leftovers and cooked veggies that need using up. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 22, 2017, 08:13:47 AM
Swick, at least I know I'm not alone in having a lifetime's supply of unwanted tea squirreled away. I think I'm going to go through my stash and donate a bunch to a nearby community center...there's just no way I'm going to ever drink it all.

Pantry here is much more organized, and the freezer is down to a single shelf of random crap (plus lots of shelves of tasty leftovers, which do not require special attention!). Found a bunch of frozen blueberries, so I'll combine those with the overripe contents of the fruit bowl and make blueberry banana bread tonight. And I think there are a half dozen burritos just begging to be made with the mostly-empty bags of frozen veggies. I feel so much tidier!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 22, 2017, 08:35:22 AM
Swick, at least I know I'm not alone in having a lifetime's supply of unwanted tea squirreled away. I think I'm going to go through my stash and donate a bunch to a nearby community center...there's just no way I'm going to ever drink it all.

Pantry here is much more organized, and the freezer is down to a single shelf of random crap (plus lots of shelves of tasty leftovers, which do not require special attention!). Found a bunch of frozen blueberries, so I'll combine those with the overripe contents of the fruit bowl and make blueberry banana bread tonight. And I think there are a half dozen burritos just begging to be made with the mostly-empty bags of frozen veggies. I feel so much tidier!

Awesome progress!

Re Tea: Yes, it is an ongoing struggle. Most of our tea is loose leaf or home blended herbal. I have tried to give some to people I think will enjoy it, but most of the time they can't be bothered to actually brew it, so it sits around at someone else's house. I am determined to use it up! Also, we don't eat sugar and are apparently hard to buy gifts for, so many of our family members gift us more tea, so it seems like every bit of progress we make gets regularly undone. Looking forward to warmer weather when I can start making big jugs of iced tea daily :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 22, 2017, 08:46:34 AM
I'm a little jealous of these tea stashes. I've been on the "how low can it go" budget for several years and only stocked the cheapest black tea (and foraged mint).  I did start getting creative with spices and fruit in tea, but it got really boring.

Recently I've added some splurge room to my food budget and now have three (!) kinds to choose from... and no longer any cause to be jealous!  I think that denying myself for that time really increased my appreciation and my enjoyment of what I have now. (And there definitely are some kinds of tea that I would find a burden as well.)


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 22, 2017, 09:25:20 AM
Lesson learned that those screw-top containers are not really as air-tight as I was hoping.
For liquids, I put them in freezer bags on a cookie sheet to freeze.  Then I position them upright* when they're solid. 

*YMMV.  Our freezer is a drawer, so it might be easier to just stack them in a regular freezer situation.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on March 22, 2017, 09:58:44 AM
Lesson learned that those screw-top containers are not really as air-tight as I was hoping.
For liquids, I put them in freezer bags on a cookie sheet to freeze.  Then I position them upright* when they're solid. 

*YMMV.  Our freezer is a drawer, so it might be easier to just stack them in a regular freezer situation.

I don't think any of my cookie sheets would fit in my freezer. I'd originally been thinking "future work lunch" so I put it in the sort of container I could take to lunch and nuke in the microwave.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 22, 2017, 10:08:53 AM
Lesson learned that those screw-top containers are not really as air-tight as I was hoping.
For liquids, I put them in freezer bags on a cookie sheet to freeze.  Then I position them upright* when they're solid. 

*YMMV.  Our freezer is a drawer, so it might be easier to just stack them in a regular freezer situation.

I don't think any of my cookie sheets would fit in my freezer. I'd originally been thinking "future work lunch" so I put it in the sort of container I could take to lunch and nuke in the microwave.
Maybe a cutting board?  Any flat surface would work. 

I've tried a lot of containers for the freezer, but I didn't find anything that kept away the freezer burn except for putting the container in a gallon size freezer bag. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 22, 2017, 12:04:09 PM
I wish all of you with the tea-stashes were my friends: I can always be bothered to brew good tea and have adopted many a bag of loose leaf tea.

I mean: I have (far, some might say) too much tea myself most of the time, but I started a test brew of combucha this weekend and ... it's fermented, fizzy tea: what's not to like? It also uses up a lot of tea.

Though: I've never tried it before, so I might end up with 2-3 litres of mouldy, stinky tea. There is that..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 22, 2017, 06:51:08 PM
Lesson learned that those screw-top containers are not really as air-tight as I was hoping.
For liquids, I put them in freezer bags on a cookie sheet to freeze.  Then I position them upright* when they're solid. 

*YMMV.  Our freezer is a drawer, so it might be easier to just stack them in a regular freezer situation.

I don't think any of my cookie sheets would fit in my freezer. I'd originally been thinking "future work lunch" so I put it in the sort of container I could take to lunch and nuke in the microwave.
Maybe a cutting board?  Any flat surface would work. 

I've tried a lot of containers for the freezer, but I didn't find anything that kept away the freezer burn except for putting the container in a gallon size freezer bag.

You can always just use the bottom of your freezer or another frozen object as a flat surface.  I do a ton of freezing in quart bags and usually stack 4 or 5, move them to the freezer, kind of mush them to level them out on top of either the bottom of the freezer or another frozen quart bag, and let them freeze.  They don't look totally perfect, but they're even enough to stack easily afterwards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 23, 2017, 07:22:22 AM
I wish all of you with the tea-stashes were my friends: I can always be bothered to brew good tea and have adopted many a bag of loose leaf tea.

I mean: I have (far, some might say) too much tea myself most of the time, but I started a test brew of combucha this weekend and ... it's fermented, fizzy tea: what's not to like? It also uses up a lot of tea.

Though: I've never tried it before, so I might end up with 2-3 litres of mouldy, stinky tea. There is that..

It can take a bit to hit on the kombucha formula you like, so don't give up if you're not happy with your first try.  I've settled on doing half black and half green tea in my continuous brew system, but have done a lovely herbal kombucha as well (can't remember what kind of tisane I used).  Coincidentally, elderberry is a good 2F flavoring for kombucha.  You might not get the fizziness if you just do the first fermentation, or the fizz might be very mild.  I don't mind that, but some insist on lots of carbonation.  The secondary fermentation is the fun part though; experimenting with different flavorings and getting that surprise geyser when an extra fizzy bottle is opened. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Awka on March 23, 2017, 01:08:59 PM
Square cake pan instead of cookie sheet? You'd have the edges as well, just in case anything toppled over and leaked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 24, 2017, 09:02:35 AM
Square cake pan instead of cookie sheet? You'd have the edges as well, just in case anything toppled over and leaked.
I just use a plate if I'm worried about liquids.. Same to freeze individual spring rolls, cookies etc - pop on a plate, balance plate in freezer, wait, bag when frozen.

Horsepoor: thank you for the advice about kombucha. Any advice as to the smell? None of the online articles I read mentioned the stuff filling my entire apartment with the scent of yeasting matters. It's not by any means unpleasant, it's just rather (a lot) stronger than expected..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 24, 2017, 09:12:37 AM
Ugh, we are sick. I had the energy to make some chicken soup, since I had to deal with the broth and meat from my crockpotted chicken anyways, but that's about as creative as I have been. Luckily we had some cornbread left over and I had made granola for hubs earlier in the week. Present me is grateful past me made it.  I've got a couple extra containers of stock, and the chickens went in for a round two, which produces a much much lighter stock, but a little flavour is better than plain water :)


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 24, 2017, 01:09:21 PM
I made my second batch of pumpkin muffins.  I used up a can of pumpkin, a jar of cinnamon, and Greek yogurt. 

I'm also making chicken stock in my instant pot.  I used the last chicken bones from my freezer, the last onion (purchased a few months ago), and celery that is a little soft.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 24, 2017, 01:49:34 PM
Hope you all fell better quickly, Swick!


We had leftover night last night:  DH ate the rest of Monday's (we were out of town camping St. Patrick's Day weekend) corned beef, and Tuesday's fried eggplant Parmesan and I had a leftover wrap from the camping trip.  Today for lunch I had a remaining half wrap and Tuesday's leftover green beans.  Let's hear it for no food waste!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 24, 2017, 01:59:45 PM
Square cake pan instead of cookie sheet? You'd have the edges as well, just in case anything toppled over and leaked.
I just use a plate if I'm worried about liquids.. Same to freeze individual spring rolls, cookies etc - pop on a plate, balance plate in freezer, wait, bag when frozen.

Horsepoor: thank you for the advice about kombucha. Any advice as to the smell? None of the online articles I read mentioned the stuff filling my entire apartment with the scent of yeasting matters. It's not by any means unpleasant, it's just rather (a lot) stronger than expected..

I haven't really noticed a smell, but then we have a big, drafty house.  Or maybe our house stinks anyway, so I don't notice ;-).  My continuous brew system lives on top of the fridge in a 2 gallon jar with a coffee filter over the top.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 24, 2017, 07:17:14 PM
Dinner tonight used up a spaghetti squash, remainder of a bag of peas, an aged onion, jar of garden tomatoes, some frozen pesto and a good bit of Romano cheese.

Hoping to stay out of the grocery store the rest of the month!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 25, 2017, 01:22:33 AM
I have a nice tin Amaretto box standing on the kitchen top, filled with a little remaning Durum wheat. On my way to becoming a minimalist, I think it't time to throw away the 20+ year old Amaretto box and with that declutter th kitchen. I guess I should make some fresh pasta later this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 26, 2017, 08:28:19 PM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them.  I went a little cray when I got a really good deal on gunpowder matcha about a year ago, and have a ton of it.  Perhaps I need to commit to doing matcha smoothies and forgoing coffee once the weather warms up.

Today's dinner did well on the food stash:  1.5 c. red lentils cooked into a dahl with a quart jar of tomatoes, lamb curry using ground lamb and a can of coconut milk I stocked up on a few months ago.  Used two of the elderly onions, a cup of pork stock from the freezer, and the remaining frozen garlic cubes, as well as two packages of riced cauliflower from last spring's harvest.  I've been avoiding the red lentils lately because they fall  apart so readily when cooked, but the ended up rather thick this time and I remarked that they were like Indian refried beans, which seemed better than a runny dahl with no texture.  Also used up a jar of apricot chutney between the cauli-rice and the curry.

After dinner a brownie recipe showed up on my Facebook feed and inspired me to make brownies to bring to work, but I don't keep baker's chocolate around.  A quick Google got me a cocoa powder brownie recipe, so I whipped that up using some of the frozen cherries from my tree, and walnuts that have been hanging around for a while.

Breakfasts this week will be homemade yogurt with some chia seeds I'm trying to finish, and fig jam I canned in 2014.

My pantry cupboard now has enough space that I was able to move all my boozy infusions and fermies  from under the sink.  Using those up is a rather scary prospect.  I have peaches in vodka, cherry jump, cherries in vodka, rum raisins, josta berries in pisco, as well as some fire cider, a gallon of homemade apple cider vinegar, and a jar of garlic in honey. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 26, 2017, 08:48:12 PM
The jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  I repeat, the jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  It has been washed and is now in the recycling bin.  Now I just need to remember that I do not need to replace it despite finding all these ways to use it in our meals. 

Unfortunately the dulce de leche is not as good in my tea as the caramel sauce was.  Maybe I need to try it in another type of tea.  I have three or four other options I could try instead of finishing off the current main box.

This week I've decided I'm going to finish one of the containers of NZ honey in the pantry, and one of the packages of bacon from the freezer.  I'll be finishing the last of the roasted bell peppers in the freezer in my lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on March 26, 2017, 10:25:52 PM
I am getting better about not bringing home weird ingredients that I then have to use up, but that means fewer contributions to this thread.

I did try out a recipe for baked falafel that let me use up a can of chickpeas floating around in the cupboard for way too long. Also made a nut butter and jelly coffee cake that used up a half-jar of jam as well as making a dent in the container of cashew butter. That recipe is a keeper...I always end up with jams and jellies because people know I am a foodie, but I don't eat them very often.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 27, 2017, 04:21:43 AM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them.  I went a little cray when I got a really good deal on gunpowder matcha about a year ago, and have a ton of it.  Perhaps I need to commit to doing matcha smoothies and forgoing coffee once the weather warms up.

I put it in tins. But I've stopped hoarding loose tea and have started to concentrate on the few types that I like best. We do still have a small tin with smoked tea that we drink seldom. Normally we found out that the standard Ceylon tea that can be bought in big bags is cheapest and also tastes good. I pour an amount of it in a bigger tin and seal the rest of the bag. The tin is used for daily drinking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Epor on March 27, 2017, 07:59:22 AM
I have peaches in vodka, cherry jump, cherries in vodka, rum raisins, josta berries in pisco, as well as some fire cider, a gallon of homemade apple cider vinegar, and a jar of garlic in honey.

OMG!!! What a treasure! I wish I would find stuff like that vs old packages of dry beans...

This weekend I made some frozen meatballs and took the ham out of the freezer. That should keep me busy for the week. I'm thinking of making some beans/lentils/whatever soup where I can add ham to it. I finished the balsamic vinegar and the white wine vinegar too (about a 1/4 cup in each bottle) - Now I'm working on the coconut vinegar... but that will take a while - I still have another bottle of red-vinegar too! Oh well.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 27, 2017, 10:20:29 AM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them.  I went a little cray when I got a really good deal on gunpowder matcha about a year ago, and have a ton of it.  Perhaps I need to commit to doing matcha smoothies and forgoing coffee once the weather warms up.

I put it in tins. But I've stopped hoarding loose tea and have started to concentrate on the few types that I like best. We do still have a small tin with smoked tea that we drink seldom. Normally we found out that the standard Ceylon tea that can be bought in big bags is cheapest and also tastes good. I pour an amount of it in a bigger tin and seal the rest of the bag. The tin is used for daily drinking.
I receive a lot of tea gifts, so I usually keep the tea in the original packaging.  I organize it in a velvet box that originally held monogrammed wine glasses.  I reuse tins, use mason jars of all sizes, and use freezer bags.  If I have a tea that I don't like hot, I try it iced (and usually I like it).  If I don't like the tea at all, then I bring it to work and leave it in the shared tea and coffee area. 

I FINALLY cooked all of the chicken in the freezer.  I also made another 14 cups of chicken stock, which is now in the freezer.  Now, I need to figure out what I want to do with all of the stock. 

I need to start working my way through all of the frozen fruit in the freezer.  Any recommendations?  I have a lot of half open bags.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 27, 2017, 10:34:54 AM
Quote
I need to start working my way through all of the frozen fruit in the freezer.  Any recommendations?  I have a lot of half open bags.

I'm working on this too! So far, I made some blueberry banana bread (http://therecipecritic.com/2016/04/blueberry-banana-bread/) that was tasty, but might have been even better with some nuts. What sort of fruit do you have?

My other major item to use up this week is a tin of steel cut oats. So I could use the rest of my frozen berries as a topping for oatmeal, or I could make some more desserts. Honestly, I am probably going to go the dessert route, and use my steel cut oats for some experiments with savory breakfasts (since I'd actually like to find a long-term breakfast option that's a little cheaper than my current staple). Win-win ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 27, 2017, 10:51:19 AM
Quote
I need to start working my way through all of the frozen fruit in the freezer.  Any recommendations?  I have a lot of half open bags.

I'm working on this too! So far, I made some blueberry banana bread (http://therecipecritic.com/2016/04/blueberry-banana-bread/) that was tasty, but might have been even better with some nuts. What sort of fruit do you have?
Pineapple, blueberries (thanks for the recipe!), strawberries, peaches, mangos.
Quote
My other major item to use up this week is a tin of steel cut oats. So I could use the rest of my frozen berries as a topping for oatmeal, or I could make some more desserts. Honestly, I am probably going to go the dessert route, and use my steel cut oats for some experiments with savory breakfasts (since I'd actually like to find a long-term breakfast option that's a little cheaper than my current staple). Win-win ;-)
I use my steel cut oats for overnight oats recipes.  I usually do a chocolate peanut butter variation.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on March 27, 2017, 11:08:01 AM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them.  I went a little cray when I got a really good deal on gunpowder matcha about a year ago, and have a ton of it.  Perhaps I need to commit to doing matcha smoothies and forgoing coffee once the weather warms up.

I put it in tins. But I've stopped hoarding loose tea and have started to concentrate on the few types that I like best. We do still have a small tin with smoked tea that we drink seldom. Normally we found out that the standard Ceylon tea that can be bought in big bags is cheapest and also tastes good. I pour an amount of it in a bigger tin and seal the rest of the bag. The tin is used for daily drinking.

I work on 3 teas and try to ignore the rest.  This helps to finally finish something rather than having the same number of tea containers with just smaller amounts in all.  For me the 3 are:  plain black tea, something without caffeine and speciality tea (earl grey, smokey, green, etc.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 27, 2017, 01:36:31 PM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?

I keep all my dry goods in wide mouth mason jars - vacuum sealed if they are going to be stored for longer.


My pantry cupboard now has enough space that I was able to move all my boozy infusions and fermies  from under the sink.  Using those up is a rather scary prospect.  I have peaches in vodka, cherry jump, cherries in vodka, rum raisins, josta berries in pisco, as well as some fire cider, a gallon of homemade apple cider vinegar, and a jar of garlic in honey. 

Aww crap. I totally forgot I should be taking my fire cider, being sick and all. I don't know how I forgot about it!  Thanks for the reminder! ohhh what are josta berries?

Way to go on your progress, sound slike you are getting creative and making some great meals!

The jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  I repeat, the jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  It has been washed and is now in the recycling bin.  Now I just need to remember that I do not need to replace it despite finding all these ways to use it in our meals. 

WAHOO!! Way to go! Doesn't it feel awesome to finally get it finished?

- Now I'm working on the coconut vinegar... but that will take a while - I still have another bottle of red-vinegar too! Oh well.

Inasal chicken uses a bunch of coconut vinegar and is amazing on the BBQ, I tried to find the specific recipe I have used in the past but didn't have any luck, here is a search with a few versions. https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal (https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal)



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 27, 2017, 01:54:00 PM
Yesterday I was feeling rather domestic and baked the following:

Homemade pizza with homemade pizza sauce which used a can of tomato paste, and nearly finished up a bag of pepperoni.

Flax muffins, which used up a box of flax.  :D

Almond flour dark chocolate chip cookies used an 86% Cacao Bar from Christmas.

I'll use more of the everlasting fridge condiments in a chicken recipe tomorrow.

And I'm happy to report our dried beans have been used up.  :)

Our pantry stash is dwindling... Now if the house would sell...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 27, 2017, 02:03:44 PM

Aww crap. I totally forgot I should be taking my fire cider, being sick and all. I don't know how I forgot about it!  Thanks for the reminder! ohhh what are josta berries?


They are a cross between a gooseberry and a currant.  I'm actually not a fan, and will leave them for the birds from now on.  However, there were gooseberries in pisco everywhere we went in Peru, so it seemed like a logical place to put a fruit we weren't going to eat any other way.

Yeah, I was sick a couple weeks ago and completely forgot about the fire cider as well.  Boo.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 27, 2017, 10:46:57 PM
Last night I finally found the time to make fresh pasta from a remainder of Durum wheat and some normal wheat. Put it in the fridge to make a meal of it tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 28, 2017, 01:56:40 AM
-----

I need to start working my way through all of the frozen fruit in the freezer.  Any recommendations?  I have a lot of half open bags.
Smoothies. You even get bonus for health benefits and no (added) sugar. And if you have bananas on their last leg (frozen or not) I highly recomend lassie. Banana, yoghurt, a dash of salt and 1/4-1/2 (depending on preference) teaspoon of cardamom, water. Blend. Drink with ice. This is, hands down, my favourite thing to drink. You could also make it with mango. Or anything, really.

Also, if you have frozen fruit/berries: try tossing them into the oatmeal just before you take it of the heat. Or adding it to pancakes while cooking. Or ad it into scones.

Re the josta berries: did you try heating them until soft and pushing them through a siv? That way you'd be left with just the pulp (useable for smoothies, cakes, lemonade etc) and could freeze that in ice cubes? The skin/seeds really doesn't ad anything good to that berry..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 28, 2017, 08:05:28 AM

Re the josta berries: did you try heating them until soft and pushing them through a siv? That way you'd be left with just the pulp (useable for smoothies, cakes, lemonade etc) and could freeze that in ice cubes? The skin/seeds really doesn't ad anything good to that berry..

No, I haven't done that.  They're already a PITA to harvest, and we have plenty of better fruit coming in at the same time, so I'll let the birds have them.  I have a goji berry and that one's even worse.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Epor on March 28, 2017, 08:24:32 AM
- Now I'm working on the coconut vinegar... but that will take a while - I still have another bottle of red-vinegar too! Oh well.

Inasal chicken uses a bunch of coconut vinegar and is amazing on the BBQ, I tried to find the specific recipe I have used in the past but didn't have any luck, here is a search with a few versions. https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal (https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal)

Wow... I never heard of Inasal chicken before... the recipes look fantastic! I have some frozen chicken that needs to go too, so I'll give it a try! Thank you very much.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 28, 2017, 09:54:35 AM

- Now I'm working on the coconut vinegar... but that will take a while - I still have another bottle of red-vinegar too! Oh well.

Inasal chicken uses a bunch of coconut vinegar and is amazing on the BBQ, I tried to find the specific recipe I have used in the past but didn't have any luck, here is a search with a few versions. https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal (https://foodgawker.com/?s=Inasal)

Wow... I never heard of Inasal chicken before... the recipes look fantastic! I have some frozen chicken that needs to go too, so I'll give it a try! Thank you very much.
[/quote]


No problem! I think I found it a couple of years ago for this challenge trying to figure out what the heckI'm going to do with a big bottle of coconut vinegar I purchased on a whim. Also works well with sugar cane vinegar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on March 29, 2017, 11:40:05 AM
I'm also a tea hoarder, mostly because people give me a lot of tea! Luckily I drink a lot of hot and cold tea (to avoid sugar drinks) so I generally use it up, although it seems to constantly replenish. I actually a have a tea drawer in my kitchen that doesn't even hold all my tea!

I am FINALLY seeing some progress in eating down my food stores. Other than meat in home cooked freezer meals, all my frozen meat has been eaten up! I am also down on random frozen items although I still have enough frozen veggies to survive a yeah I think. My pantry shelves are where I am really noticing a difference.

I have been cooking bulk meals on Sunday's trying to use ingredients from the hoard with maybe just a few fresh items that I am missing and it seems to be working. This week it's on my to do list to clean out a few dated items in my pantry I know I am just not going to eat. It's my new goal by the summer to be completely down to my barebones!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 29, 2017, 12:21:48 PM
Great progress, LindseyC!

I'm sippin' on some green tea instead of making another cup of coffee.

I have a Tajine in the crockpot that is putting a dent in some dried spice blends we were gifted and some dried apricots. Will also make cornbread to have on the side.

Yesterday I made some buckwheat/chia pizza crust and used up the last of my pumpkin seeds and some sunflower seeds, and more herbs and spices. Recipe is here: http://nyoutritious.com/grain-free-chia-buckwheat-pizza/ (http://nyoutritious.com/grain-free-chia-buckwheat-pizza/)

 It is definitely not your normal pizza - and I cook it for longer and flip it over, and you can't put too much topping on it, but if you can't eat wheat, it is a good alternative and much better than some of the other alternatives out there.

Anyone go through lots of bananas at once?

I found a couple of recipes for Banana skins! I *really* want to try them,  but we only go through one banana at a time and by the time I have saved up enough to make these recipes, they have gone all black and gross. But if someone is doing a lot of baking or has a big family, might want to try! If you do, please let me know.

http://www.eatmyyythoughts.com/crispy-fried-salt-pepper-banana-skins/ (http://www.eatmyyythoughts.com/crispy-fried-salt-pepper-banana-skins/)
http://www.eatmyyythoughts.com/banana-skin-curry/ (http://www.eatmyyythoughts.com/banana-skin-curry/)

I am going to try the tea next time I have a skin: "Under-ripe skins are best for pickling, whereas you can make a delicious banana tea by boiling over-ripe banana skins with cardamom and vanilla"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 29, 2017, 12:31:49 PM
I have been cooking bulk meals on Sunday's trying to use ingredients from the hoard with maybe just a few fresh items that I am missing and it seems to be working. This week it's on my to do list to clean out a few dated items in my pantry I know I am just not going to eat. It's my new goal by the summer to be completely down to my barebones!
I'm impressed!  I'm moving at a much slower pace :D

Last night, I made more hummus and used up the last of the lemon juice (squeezed about a cup from lemons from the tree last weekend) and a can of chickpeas.  I also prepped some kale, so I can have a kale salad tonight.  I'm thinking about trying this recipe. (http://cookieandkate.com/2017/greek-kale-salad-recipe/)  I was craving something sweet, so I used up an almost empty bag of unsweetened shredded coconut to make chocolate macaroons (recipe from Run Fast, Eat Slow).  I only made a quarter batch.

I've also started attacking my tea stash.  Right now, I'm deviating from my morning tea routine.  I am using whatever tea is almost gone (and sometimes blending it with multiple types) to brew my morning pot.  I hope to get down to a reasonable amount of tea in a few weeks. 

I need to make more of an effort on our pantry.  I've gifted and eaten away the jam stash.  However, we have a serious noodle problem--5 boxes of rice noodles, lots of wheat pasta in various shapes, and a few bags of fettuccine.  We also have 3 boxes (with 2-3 packets each) of things that appear to be Shake n Bake-like that my husband purchased.  I'm tempted to leave them until they expire, but I should probably suck it up and use them.  My husband will eat the chicken, and I won't have to eat it.  Wish me luck!

swick, I look forward to your reports on the banana skin trials.  I'm not brave enough!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LindseyC on March 29, 2017, 01:49:30 PM
Swick - can I come to your house for dinner? Your Tajine dinner sounds delicious!!

4alpacas - i mix my teas too. I really try to drink a lot of cold tea (no sugar) and to make it interesting I often try my own little random blends. Right now I am on a raspberry mint blend with a touch of citrus. Yummy!

I also have a serious pasta issue but mine is all wholewheat spaghetti pasta because the grocery store had a special on 10 boxes for $10 and I had this points offer which gave me back $6 in points for ten boxes. So I bought ten boxes, of course, in fairness it is the healthy kinda and I love pasta.

I have been making a lot of homemade meals that normally use different pasta shapes with the spaghetti noodles which is kinda funny. Tuna casserole spaghetti got me laughs at lunchtime at work and I have yet to take my beef stroganoff spaghetti because I know they will laugh at that too. :)

But the real tough one was spaghetti lasagna, lining up all those noodles was a real PITA. Teehee
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 30, 2017, 01:10:08 AM

Anyone go through lots of bananas at once?


I did make banana pancakes once. Can't say it will ever become my favorite, but it used a few bananas. Also banana icecream will help.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on March 30, 2017, 02:57:32 AM
I found a bag of sad old dried dates in my cupboard and desided to try them in a recipe. So I attempted a healthy date-almond-oat ball. Yum. Also perfectly lightly sweet. Already found a recipe for almond-date-lime-coconut balls to try next - it will help use up my old bag of desicated coconut.

Next up is the dried figs I got for christmas. Anyone tried substituting dates for figs?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on March 30, 2017, 03:08:21 AM
I found a bag of sad old dried dates in my cupboard and desided to try them in a recipe. So I attempted a healthy date-almond-oat ball. Yum. Also perfectly lightly sweet. Already found a recipe for almond-date-lime-coconut balls to try next - it will help use up my old bag of desicated coconut.

Next up is the dried figs I got for christmas. Anyone tried substituting dates for figs?

I would use either one chopped in a granola bar or oatmeal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 30, 2017, 09:36:24 AM

Next up is the dried figs I got for christmas. Anyone tried substituting dates for figs?

You can, the only thing is they may not be as sweet as the dates, and the fig seeds may or may not bother you.

I usually make a "spoon sweet" or "Compot" out of dried figs to use as a topping for yogurt and granola or just to snack on. No recipe, I just stick em in a pot, cover with hot water and whatever spices I want to use and simmer them until they are fully rehydrated, they go all jammy and lovely. You can add honey or whatever sweetener you want if you feel it needs it, I don't.

I had such an awesome couple of hours cleaning and organizing my kitchen yesterday! I consolidated a ton of stuff and ended up with a full box of recycling. We have a bad habit of not realizing what we have so we open a new one if we can't find something. Now I know exactly what we have :)

You know how sometimes you need to hear specific advice so you just end up hearing it over and over from a variety of sources all at once, just so the universe makes sure you got the message? Well, yesterday it was "What are you willing to let go of to make room in your life for new?" 

This is hugely related to food because I am still tripping over, shuffling around, feeling bad about food we have purchased that doesn't fit into our lifestyle anymore, but I feel bad about having spent money on or don't want to waste it. The problem is is it is a heavy weight in guilt, in time shuffling it around, it hides the food we do want to use...so I threw out a bunch of stuff (but recycled all the containers) Feels pretty awesome.  I know it is an "eat" all the food challenge and not a "clear out" but this is the first step that will make the eating easier and more conscious :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 30, 2017, 11:42:57 AM
We received an offer on our house, so the need to use things up just got more real.  :)

Last night I tossed a few condiments from the fridge door and some old coffee creamer which expired last year.  I've got another half container left of the latter, which I use in an au gratin potato recipe for Easter.

This weekend I'm going to make brownies to hopefully use up the rest of the cocoa powder, flour and granulated sugar.  I'm thinking I might make frosting to use up the unsweetened chocolate.  DH will be surprised.  :D

And if I make spaghetti this weekend, that will use up a lb of ground beef, a jar of sauce, and the rest of the pasta.  Oh, and if I thaw them, I can toss in the remaining tomatoes from last year's garden.

I love this thread!

Added:  And I just found a recipe for blueberry pie using 2 packets of unflavored gelatin.  This will take care of those two items, and the low carb pie crust I make will use up some almond flour.  Thumbs up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on March 30, 2017, 01:41:50 PM
I've been using up my steel cut oats (mixed with just a little quinoa) for some tasty breakfasts. And I used up some frozen fruit to make a berry crumble -- yummy, but waaaaay too sweet. Still, it feels good to see the pile of random items keep shrinking. Overall, I think we've eaten better in the last couple of months than ever before...amazing what a little planning ahead can do!

This challenge has been a huge help for me in terms of understanding my grocery spending (and wasting) much better. I've tossed a few things too, or donated the unopened stuff to the food bank, without any qualms -- some things are just not going to get eaten! I still can't quite wrap my mind around the low monthly grocery bills some people here post, but at least ours has shrunk considerably.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on March 30, 2017, 08:47:05 PM
We received an offer on our house, so the need to use things up just got more real.  :)

Wahoo! So exciting!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 31, 2017, 12:57:30 PM
We received an offer on our house, so the need to use things up just got more real.  :)

Wahoo! So exciting!

Thank you!  We countered and they accepted.

And, even better:  We may have found the perfect house for us.  Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 31, 2017, 03:17:41 PM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them.  I went a little cray when I got a really good deal on gunpowder matcha about a year ago, and have a ton of it.  Perhaps I need to commit to doing matcha smoothies and forgoing coffee once the weather warms up.


I have a tea hoard. It is insane and shows no signs of slowing down. As I have bought 4 boxes of tea this week alone. I have a lot of loose tea and it is in jars, canisters or the bags they came in. I dont buy special containers for the tea as I would rather spend the money on new tea to try. A few nights a week after our little goes to bed DH and I will make a gigantic mug of tea each and talk while relaxing or playing a game. And we both like very different types of tea hence the hoard. He likes fruity or chocolaty teas. I like Yerba Mate, Black, herbal and Green and please do not put fruit or chocolate in my tea.

Tmrw morning we are going to make brunch (with leftover baked potatoes turned into hashbrowns and eggs) and make London Fogs. And I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to it. So tea is a huge entertainment/date thing for us.

I love coffee but do not do well while drinking it...it spikes my anxiety so I drink tea. And living in the PNW I drink warm tea all winter long and drink iced tea during the summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 31, 2017, 05:40:59 PM
Nearly at the end of my tub of slightly soft slivered almonds.

I've been throwing them on yoghurt with a couple of frozen blueberries and toasted desiccated coconut.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on April 01, 2017, 01:54:47 PM
Quote
I need to start working my way through all of the frozen fruit in the freezer.  Any recommendations?  I have a lot of half open bags.

I'm working on this too! So far, I made some blueberry banana bread (http://therecipecritic.com/2016/04/blueberry-banana-bread/) that was tasty, but might have been even better with some nuts. What sort of fruit do you have?
Pineapple, blueberries (thanks for the recipe!), strawberries, peaches, mangos.
I used the blueberry banana bread recipe to make muffins.  I used up all of the pineapple and blueberries from my freezer.  I still have peaches and strawberries left. 

I also made a cake and frosting, so I finished off the powdered sugar from the pantry. 

I used some coconut oil and sugar to make a sugar scrub. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 01, 2017, 03:22:14 PM
The jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  I repeat, the jar of sweet chili sauce is finished.  It has been washed and is now in the recycling bin.  Now I just need to remember that I do not need to replace it despite finding all these ways to use it in our meals. 
WAHOO!! Way to go! Doesn't it feel awesome to finally get it finished?

Yes :)

And last night we finished the butter chicken curry blend.  It's funny, the fridge door is getting emptier, but I can barely recall what we've finished and not replaced.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 02, 2017, 12:40:32 PM
Not wanting to go to the grocery store for the win :)

Found some frozen broccoli and chicken stock in the freezer and made some soup.

Used up some of that smoked olive oil in hummus. Definitely didn't need much to give it an awesome smoky flavour that I imagine would be like if hummus and babaganoush had a love child. So Tasty!

Used up some coconut pulp, coconut oil, cocoa, and smooshed it into a pan and refrigerated to make some bar type things. Topped them with Tahini and were delish! I need to play around with it and turn it into an actual recipe, maybe incorporate the Tahini, it tastes a lot like chocolate halva.

Found one last container of stewed rhubarb in the freezer and fed that to hubby for breakfast.

hope everyone is having a great, creative weekend using stuff up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 02, 2017, 02:02:15 PM
Thanks to this thread I'm keeping my stock low and fridge clear. It was a small tragedy when I accidentally bought a quart of vanilla yogurt instead of plain last week, but I buckled in. Instead of letting it sit in the fridge for months before throwing it out I made myself open it. Then I mixed in tons of cocoa to disguise the asepartame after taste and finished it off over the week. 

Finished the cilantro butter.

Finished the paprika and curry powder, pb.

Will cook the last of the rice tonight.

Will restock much of this on my next shop, but it feels good to be rotating stock.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 02, 2017, 03:01:46 PM
Thanks to this thread I'm keeping my stock low and fridge clear. It was a small tragedy when I accidentally bought a quart of vanilla yogurt instead of plain last week, but I buckled in. Instead of letting it sit in the fridge for months before throwing it out I made myself open it. Then I mixed in tons of cocoa to disguise the asepartame after taste and finished it off over the week. 

Finished the cilantro butter.

Finished the paprika and curry powder, pb.

Will cook the last of the rice tonight.

Will restock much of this on my next shop, but it feels good to be rotating stock.

Way to go! I am loving the feeling of accomplishment I'm getting from being able to cook despite thinking I am "out" of everything, no, it turns out I'm just out of those things that we naturally gravitate towards out of habit.

I am so grateful my parents taught me how to freestyle in the kitchen. I've always known it is a valuable skill, but nothing tests it like being able to use stuff up!

Today: Roasted carrots with some middle eastern spices. Why do I alway forget you can actually cook carrots?

Crashed Spuds using up the rest of the baby potatoes we have that are really too few to serve as a substantial side.

Meat sauce with butternut squash noodles. I have a tiny bit of ground beef to use up, so will make a quick sauce and use up the last squash. I don't have any fresh onions, but have lots of onion powder, should do the trick.


Have another coconut pulp/bar experiment in the fridge.

Produce to use up: 1 lemon, 1/4 a cabbage, 5 carrots, ..ohhh....<---- carroty coleslaw :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on April 02, 2017, 07:22:18 PM
Guests left four tubs of low-fat yoghurt (i.e. full of sugar) in my fridge. I don't eat yoghurt and husband eats Greek yoghurt, so he took them to work to share.

(We didn't pay for them but I hate wasting food.)

Made a batch of soup this week but I didn't have the combination of spices they suggested and wasn't about to buy more. I used a different combination of chilli flavours, and husband was still happy with it. Three portions for the fridge, three portions for the freezer.

This week I'm focusing on the various bags of frozen veggies that have accumulated in my freezer. I can see BB's broccoli cheddar baked potatoes in my future...

https://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/06/broccoli-cheddar-baked-potatoes/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 02, 2017, 07:41:09 PM

This week I'm focusing on the various bags of frozen veggies that have accumulated in my freezer. I can see BB's broccoli cheddar baked potatoes in my future...

https://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/06/broccoli-cheddar-baked-potatoes/
have any cauliflower? I came across this recipe: I'm skeptical and slightly frightened to try...but if it works...it'd be amazing: http://www.feastingonfruit.com/caramel-cookie-dough-milkshake/ (http://www.feastingonfruit.com/caramel-cookie-dough-milkshake/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Jaayse on April 03, 2017, 04:48:13 AM
I'm in for this challenge.  I'll be moving in July/August from the West Coast to Italy. 

I will only have 2 months from getting home to eat all my food.  Since I've been gone I'll have to supplement what I have at home with fresh things, but I don't think I will travel with much more than my spices (hopefully).  I foresee a lot of soup and pasta in my future, hopefully while keeping it healthy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 03, 2017, 06:59:35 AM
I'm in for this challenge.  I'll be moving in July/August from the West Coast to Italy. 

I will only have 2 months from getting home to eat all my food.  Since I've been gone I'll have to supplement what I have at home with fresh things, but I don't think I will travel with much more than my spices (hopefully).  I foresee a lot of soup and pasta in my future, hopefully while keeping it healthy!

Mediterranean diet is amongst the most healthy in the world, probably because it includes a lot of veggies and olive oil and doesn't include so much prefabbed and fatty foods.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 03, 2017, 10:42:39 AM
How exciting, Jaayse!



I have concluded we need to be out of our house by April 23rd, so the professionals can come in to clean it and the carpet for the new buyers.

Since beginning this we're-selling-our-house part of the challenge, I've gone from 43 cans in the pantry to 20 as of last night.  Saturday I used up baking items mentioned on the prior page.  When taking something out of the cupboard above the stove last night, there were items there I hadn't addressed yet.  Expired items tossed:  2 types of vinegar, Worcestershire, Frank's wing sauce, blue food coloring and peppermint extract.  Then DH and I had a conversation about the Liquid Smoke.  This entire time I thought it was something he used when BBQing.  He said it was from our wedding reception (his brother smoked a prime rib).  We married in 2005.  :S

I've got chicken breasts and a jar of sauce in the Crock Pot today.  I'll make the spaghetti mentioned on the prior page tomorrow.  I'll serve both with angel hair pasta to use it up.

Now to figure out easy meals while we reside in the hotel until we find a new house...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on April 04, 2017, 01:13:11 AM
I cooked some rice last night to make fried rice tonight, only to emd up with the glorious leftovers of a $600 (for eight people) work lunch.

Rice can wait another night...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 04, 2017, 01:26:45 AM
Eat all the food in the office.
Our departments gets 2 large bowls of fruit each week. At the end of the week there are often a lot of apples and pears left that nobody eats. I have on several occasions taken a bunch of apples or pears home. Today 2 of my colleagues commented that we should definitively take the fruit home on on Friday afternoon, because otherwise it will be wasted and thrown away after the weekend. Nice to hear that we all agree on it. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 04, 2017, 09:52:45 AM
Was going to go to the grocery store last night. Decided I just didn't feel like it. Now it has become a game to *really* see how long we can go.  I made a damn good supper last night, hubby raved about it. I feel more creative since I'm having to think of new combos instead of relying on the old easy standbys. Sometimes it's a slog, this time around it is fun!

Dinner last night:

Asian-ish meatballs. Ground pork from the freezer, the last of a withering knob of ginger, the end of the butternut squash I had spiralized, the last little bit of cabbage, korean pepper paste, sesame oil, powdered lemon grass, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce and various other things.

Stir-fried asparagus and edamame from the freezer, some rice noodles and I made some sauce from the liquid from cooking the meatballs. Topped with lots of freshly toasted sesame seeds :)

Fresh Produce left: 1 lemon, 5 carrots....oh and some apples I totally forgot about. They aren't very good, I think they were picked wrong or stored wrong or something, they just have no flavour.

Today: Make something with those Apples for Hubby for breakfasts for the rest of the week as he only has one serving of granola left. I could make more granola, but I like to mix it up a bit and need to use up those darn apples.

Dinner: Butternut, zucchini, bacon soup?   I have a couple of slices of bacon to use up and some zucchini in the freezer from last summer that froze kinda watery. With a bit of frozen butternut, it would probably make a pretty good soup.

Loving the updates, Yay for free office food!



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on April 04, 2017, 11:43:23 AM
For anyone who has a loose tea hoard, how do you store/organize it?  I recently realized that I am approaching tea hoarding status, and it was making a mess, since it's mostly loose tea in the original bulk bags.  I move most of them over to 12oz jelly jars, which is better, and they're more front-and-center now, so hopefully I'll use them. 
@horsepoor I use jars like this or other random ones I've saved and cleaned. Then I paint a little square on the front with chalkboard paint I had left from an old project so I know what's in it. Stackable, and looks nice too. I sometimes cut the label or instructions off the bag and shove it in there with the tea.

This quart of chalkboard paint will probably last me the rest of my life, even with kids!

This same thing works well for seeds and nuts. I buy them in bulk, keep the giant bags in the freezer and just put a small amount in the jars for everyday use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 06, 2017, 09:13:10 AM
Yesterday's dinner used up the last package of salmon in the freezer, some shallots that from the garden that are starting to go, a cup of green lentils, the last quarter of a cabbage, gomashio my aunt gave me way too much of, a cup of pork stock from the freezer, and the remainder of a red bell pepper.

The bean stash is starting to look a little more manageable.  I need to dig into my basket of random ingredients and start using them (mostly canned goods from a few years ago).

The cherry tree is starting to bloom, so that should be my cue to finish using last year's cherries that are still in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 06, 2017, 10:08:33 AM
Great progress, Horsepoor!

Still haven't grocery shopped :D last shop was the 19th f March.

Dinner last night was fishcakes using up some instant mashed potatoes, peas from the freezer and whitefish ends from the freezer, a load of spices and breaded in ground up flax seeds. Served with some home canned chutney.

Ohh for breakfast this morning I made hubs a Cauliflower milkshake!! I had my doubts, so I used some cocoa from the stash. He said the most distracting parts of it were the bits of date that didn't get totally blended. The first sip was a little odd, but after that, it was pretty good. by the end of it, Hubs was wondering if you could indeed trick someone if they didn't know it had cauliflower in it. I could still taste it a bit, but I have super sensitive taste buds.

Dinner tonight will be sausages and roasted Brussel sprouts. I'll probably use up my last can of chickpeas and lemon to make more hummus to go with the last of the carrot sticks as well. I'd love to try to make it to the weekend without having to go to the store!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 06, 2017, 10:39:26 AM
Swick, I've prepped cauliflower many ways, but never in a milkshake.  Your DH sounds like a good sport, LOL!



I cleared out another pantry shelf in preparation for our move.  Some cans will be packed, and some will go with us to the hotel room which has a microwave.

The angel hair pasta, cod and last year's garden tomatoes from the freezer, jarred spaghetti and 4 cheese sauce are all gone.  I also tossed another 4 expired spices.  Several refrigerated condiments are due to expire next month, so I won't fee too guilty about throwing those away.

We're putting an offer in on the house we looked at last night.  Fingers crossed.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 06, 2017, 11:55:13 AM

Ohh for breakfast this morning I made hubs a Cauliflower milkshake!! I had my doubts, so I used some cocoa from the stash. He said the most distracting parts of it were the bits of date that didn't get totally blended. The first sip was a little odd, but after that, it was pretty good. by the end of it, Hubs was wondering if you could indeed trick someone if they didn't know it had cauliflower in it. I could still taste it a bit, but I have super sensitive taste buds.


Thank you!  I still have a couple packages of cauliflower rice in the freezer and will be doing lots of breakfast smoothies in the near future, so this is perfect!

Question:  has anyone ever cooked with hops?  Even if I do get back into brewing, our hops produce way more than I could ever use, and I can't seem to give them away.  I heard something not too long ago about cooking them as a vegetable, but I'm skeptical.  It would be great if there's a way to make them taste good.  I use a few in kombucha and that's about it right now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tick-Tock on April 06, 2017, 06:30:41 PM
We had a turkey in the freezer that we didn't use for Thanksgiving--in 2015.  After 4 days of thawing, it finally got cooked on Tuesday, and now we're eating turkey for every meal.  A side benefit was that I used up all kinds of odds and ends of frozen bread for stuffing!

In case anyone wonders how an 18-month turkey tasted, it was very good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 06, 2017, 07:30:28 PM
The black bean sauce is finished in a mishmash bowl of ground beef, cauliflower puree, onion, eggplant, and a fried egg on top.  Plus a bit of sriracha. 

I also finished a box of tea.

A package of bacon is defrosting in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nederstash on April 08, 2017, 04:21:54 AM
I'm trying to get completely empty in the next few days, except for: sweeteners, olive oil or spices. Makes no sense to binge those, as I'll just need to replace it right away as I use them pretty much daily.

What I have left:
Drinks: coffee, tea, milk (I won't replace these, I want to switch to water only)
Breakfast/lunch: bread, peanut butter, chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag ftw!), jam and yogurt
Dinner: couple of red onions, rice, chicory veg, spinach
Other: popsicles (I'll miss you, popsicles...)

I'm already down to the bare basics, so my diet will be sparse the next few days! It'll be a nice experiment to simplify and clear out the fridge and cupboards at the same time. Think I'll be empty by Wednesday!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 08, 2017, 05:56:36 PM
This morning I decided that I would have some of the polenta that was left over from my work lunches, some spinach and eggs on top.

I remembered that I was almost finished some of my spicy dukkah (a blend of salt, herbs, sesame seeds and hazelnuts), so I dashed a generous amount on top.  I took a few bites, and it was much spicier than I remembered.  I wondered if maybe it had settled, and the bottom had more pepper flakes in it.  I pulled out most of the visible pepper seeds, and finished my breakfast.  There wasn't much left in the container, so I mixed the remaining with some regular dukkah.

This evening I looked at my spices, trying to decide whether to add anything to the zucchini fritters, and noticed my spicy dukkah was still there.  Missing?  My red chili flakes which had been in the same style of container. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 09, 2017, 11:24:40 AM

I remembered that I was almost finished some of my spicy dukkah (a blend of salt, herbs, sesame seeds and hazelnuts), so I dashed a generous amount on top.  I took a few bites, and it was much spicier than I remembered.  I wondered if maybe it had settled, and the bottom had more pepper flakes in it.  I pulled out most of the visible pepper seeds, and finished my breakfast.  There wasn't much left in the container, so I mixed the remaining with some regular dukkah.

This evening I looked at my spices, trying to decide whether to add anything to the zucchini fritters, and noticed my spicy dukkah was still there.  Missing?  My red chili flakes which had been in the same style of container.
Whoops!

Finally went grocery shopping, we were out of too many things that helped us use up other things.

Used up a bunch of stuff yesterday, wandered down to the cold room and discovered I have two jars of Turkish pepper paste I didn't know I had and have been doing without. I use it a LOT, so yay for finding more, but darn, I could have been using it this whole time.

We have a bunch of dried peppers to use up. Hubs loves Mexican and was into experimenting for a while, then we got busy and haven't been back to them. So I made the marinade for this Taco al Pastor http://keviniscooking.com/al-pastor/ (http://keviniscooking.com/al-pastor/) But I didn't include the pineapple in the marinade since last time I used pineapple in jerky it broke the meat down too much, not pleasant. But I am planning on cooking it in the crockpot so I'll just stick the pineapple in the bottom. Uses up a pork roast from the freezer :)

Want to experiment making some hot sauces as well. This recipe intrigues me: http://mjskitchen.com/2017/04/chile-de-arbol-hot-sauce/ (http://mjskitchen.com/2017/04/chile-de-arbol-hot-sauce/) Just don't want to make it when the pups are around, so we may try and do an outdoor set-up or wait till we have our basement kitchen back.

I've also been using up nettle, raspberry leaf and various herbal tea/dried fruit blends making iced tea, which if thte weather yesterday...not so much today. *sigh*

Plan for today:

Cooking some sweet potatoes for the week

Make a batch of granola

Cook those tasteless apples with a boat load of spices to have with Granola for Hub's Breakfast this week.

Make bacon potato roses and breakfast for dinner. https://www.facebook.com/NTDTelevision/videos/1596438150398289/ (https://www.facebook.com/NTDTelevision/videos/1596438150398289/)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on April 09, 2017, 11:53:08 AM
Used up:
last onion,
can of black beans, and
package to make a pizza crust.

I bought a lot of vegetables and cheese at the grocery store on Friday.  I need to make sure I eat all of them before we leave for vacation next week. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on April 10, 2017, 02:59:20 PM
The date and almond energy balls are a hit. Tested out the coconut-lime ones last week and they were even tastier. On the good side: my ancient dates gets a good use. On the other side: now they might become a staple in my house. We'll see. I'll try replacing them with the figs later.

Tonight, in the effort of finding good, flourless and nutritional snack I'm making chickpea chocolate cake. I've tried (and liked) black bean ones before. I wonder how this compares.

I'm also on the last bits and bobs of last years frozen berries and elderberry cordial.

Edit: update on the chickpea-cake. This is genious! I love chickpea-cake! Next time I'll ad some coffee and maybe some hazelnuts..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on April 10, 2017, 08:56:50 PM
Today I decided to use up some items in my pantry and freezer to make a mish-mash kale salad.  I used up a bag of barley from my pantry and a bag of sweet potatoes from my freezer.  I also found more coconut in my pantry, so I made more cocoa-coconut macaroons. 

This weekend I used up 3 tins of tea!  I made a huge jug of iced tea for the week, so I have that waiting for me in the fridge. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 11, 2017, 12:08:10 PM
Anje, those energy balls sound delicious!

4alpacas, that's a lot of tea!  Great job!


We are down to 2 chicken breasts, 3 Atkins meals, and a bag of cauliflower in the freezer.  Other than ice packs and ice, that's it.  There are still about 18 cans in the pantry left.  I did use a can of tuna and of corn yesterday.  I'll buy an Easter ham later this week, and have found several recipes which will use up leftover ham, a few cans broth, and some coconut flour next week.

We have 12 days to get the things out of our house before the professional cleaner comes.  We sell on the 28th, and have been actively looking for a new home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 11, 2017, 01:18:10 PM
We are down to 2 chicken breasts, 3 Atkins meals, and a bag of cauliflower in the freezer.  Other than ice packs and ice, that's it.  There are still about 18 cans in the pantry left.  I did use a can of tuna and of corn yesterday.  I'll buy an Easter ham later this week, and have found several recipes which will use up leftover ham, a few cans broth, and some coconut flour next week.

We have 12 days to get the things out of our house before the professional cleaner comes.  We sell on the 28th, and have been actively looking for a new home.
Good luck executing your plan!! 

Even though my food storage is trending down, I struggle to stop acquiring new cans and other "stuff."  My DH and I are horrible impulse shoppers, and we've cut our grocery bill over 75% by getting our groceries delivered ($5-$10 depending on time).  However, I've been lazy and allowed old habits to creep back in.  It probably only amounts to an extra $100/month, but the extra groceries are cluttering our pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Thank you!

And, I hear you about acquiring new items:  I made the mistake of looking at downloadable coupons this morning on our local grocer's website.  So many deals!  Expiring soon!  Act now!  I must refrain.  ;)  It will be fun, and interesting, to eventually restock at our new home.

Sounds like the grocery delivery helps you folks.  My BFF uses that service and loves it.  My very, very busy sister uses the Wally World curbside service and loves that service, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 11, 2017, 02:02:11 PM
A co-worker had a bad day on Monday, so I brought in a batch of brownies today.  That used up the last 3 oz of semi-sweet baking chocolate.  I still have some bitter baking chocolate in the tin, and some chocolate chips, but it feels like the end of an era to know I'm not planning to replace it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on April 11, 2017, 02:08:46 PM
We are down to 2 chicken breasts, 3 Atkins meals, and a bag of cauliflower in the freezer.  Other than ice packs and ice, that's it.  There are still about 18 cans in the pantry left.  I did use a can of tuna and of corn yesterday.  I'll buy an Easter ham later this week, and have found several recipes which will use up leftover ham, a few cans broth, and some coconut flour next week.

We have 12 days to get the things out of our house before the professional cleaner comes.  We sell on the 28th, and have been actively looking for a new home.
Good luck executing your plan!! 

Even though my food storage is trending down, I struggle to stop acquiring new cans and other "stuff."  My DH and I are horrible impulse shoppers, and we've cut our grocery bill over 75% by getting our groceries delivered ($5-$10 depending on time).  However, I've been lazy and allowed old habits to creep back in.  It probably only amounts to an extra $100/month, but the extra groceries are cluttering our pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Thank you!

And, I hear you about acquiring new items:  I made the mistake of looking at downloadable coupons this morning on our local grocer's website.  So many deals!  Expiring soon!  Act now!  I must refrain.  ;)  It will be fun, and interesting, to eventually restock at our new home.

Sounds like the grocery delivery helps you folks.  My BFF uses that service and loves it.  My very, very busy sister uses the Wally World curbside service and loves that service, too.
I'm ashamed to admit how much we used to spend on groceries (~$800-$1k/month for 2 people...and we ate out a lot!).  We were hovering around $200/month, but we've inched up to $300.  Our grocery bill includes anything we buy at the grocery store--dog food, shampoo, etc.  I'm not frustrated with how much we spend, but I dislike the shelves of items we don't use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 11, 2017, 02:32:15 PM
We are down to 2 chicken breasts, 3 Atkins meals, and a bag of cauliflower in the freezer.  Other than ice packs and ice, that's it.  There are still about 18 cans in the pantry left.  I did use a can of tuna and of corn yesterday.  I'll buy an Easter ham later this week, and have found several recipes which will use up leftover ham, a few cans broth, and some coconut flour next week.

We have 12 days to get the things out of our house before the professional cleaner comes.  We sell on the 28th, and have been actively looking for a new home.
Good luck executing your plan!! 

Even though my food storage is trending down, I struggle to stop acquiring new cans and other "stuff."  My DH and I are horrible impulse shoppers, and we've cut our grocery bill over 75% by getting our groceries delivered ($5-$10 depending on time).  However, I've been lazy and allowed old habits to creep back in.  It probably only amounts to an extra $100/month, but the extra groceries are cluttering our pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Thank you!

And, I hear you about acquiring new items:  I made the mistake of looking at downloadable coupons this morning on our local grocer's website.  So many deals!  Expiring soon!  Act now!  I must refrain.  ;)  It will be fun, and interesting, to eventually restock at our new home.

Sounds like the grocery delivery helps you folks.  My BFF uses that service and loves it.  My very, very busy sister uses the Wally World curbside service and loves that service, too.
I'm ashamed to admit how much we used to spend on groceries (~$800-$1k/month for 2 people...and we ate out a lot!).  We were hovering around $200/month, but we've inched up to $300.  Our grocery bill includes anything we buy at the grocery store--dog food, shampoo, etc.  I'm not frustrated with how much we spend, but I dislike the shelves of items we don't use.

Similar situation here:  It's just DH and I, though no furry family members, LOL.  Before following this way of life, I used to spend $550+ a month on groceries.  Now with coupons and shopping the sales, I average $300, and it includes HBAs, soap, etc.  DH supplements during the month with fresh produce, coconut milk, and a few odds and ends for his lunches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 11, 2017, 02:32:50 PM
A co-worker had a bad day on Monday, so I brought in a batch of brownies today.  That used up the last 3 oz of semi-sweet baking chocolate.  I still have some bitter baking chocolate in the tin, and some chocolate chips, but it feels like the end of an era to know I'm not planning to replace it.
Very kind of you, pjane!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 13, 2017, 07:42:18 AM
I finished off two bottles of herbal supplements.  An elderberry and a mix with mullien and ... stuff.  Both supposed to help fight off colds and reduce allergy symptoms.  Both just a liiiittle bit past their best by date. Did they work?  I don't know!?  I only got one cold this winter (which is when I got inspired to use them up).  I have been suffering less allergy symptoms than my peers.  We'll see if my symptoms increase since finishing them.

BF did buy two bottles of vitamin c, so my cupboard is just as full.  urg.

I restocked on black beans last night, but talked myself out of molasses and cocoa and some other things I consider staples.  I don't need them this week, so I'll wait a little while.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 13, 2017, 08:25:39 AM
talked myself out of molasses and cocoa and some other things I consider staples.  I don't need them this week, so I'll wait a little while.

I have been trying to do this. When I run out of staples, I'll write them on the list, but I won't go buy them until I have something specific in mind I want to make with it. I'm discovering a lot fo my "staples" I can find substitutes for, or aren't something I actually use as much as I thought I did because of tastes or diet restrictions, seasons etc. change things like that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 13, 2017, 09:08:33 PM
Doing pretty OK over here!  Today I made a nice Instant Pot soup with white beans, Christmas ham and onions that need to be used up.  I'm trying to get my veggie consumption back up, so that's bringing the grocery bill up a bit, but the cabinets continue to get emptier.  I've started doing smoothies for breakfast and was able to mix the last of the egg white protein in with the vanilla protein powder, which emptied out another canister.  Chia seeds are going in each smoothie, and I'm looking forward to seeing the bottom of that container.  Life has been a little bit crazy, so haven't had much mental space for getting creative with meals, but also haven't had time to shop for anything other than stuff we'll use right away, so I guess it balances out.  In the FAIL category, I bought a gallon of milk on sale and made a big batch of yogurt.  Part of it I made into labneh, and that is starting to turn before I got around to eating it.  Hoping the yogurt is packaged airtight enough that it keeps longer.  Also in the FAIL category, I wasted almost two bunches of kale by not using them in time.  When I pulled them out for the soup this morning, about 3/4 of the leaves had gone bad.  Hopefully this weekend I can get my head out of my ass and do a meal plan so that doesn't happen again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Abooki on April 14, 2017, 09:00:09 AM
This is a great challenge!!! I just stumbled on this and I love it already. Last night my bf and I wanted to have thai red curry but then we didn't have red peppers and we have a bad habit of going to the grocery store (since it is a walk away) whenever we don't have anything. But last night we decided enough is enough(trying to get our grocery budget under 150 per month),we decided to use what we had and it was honestly the best meal before than the thai red curry. He made some schnitzel using the chicken and it was amazing!!!!

Now we are joining this challenge if eating all the food we have left since we may be moving out of state soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: JohannaP on April 14, 2017, 10:16:48 AM
Moving out of state soon (2 months).  Have heard about the challenge before, but have a good reason to get on it now! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on April 14, 2017, 08:19:05 PM
I've been MIA for a bit, mostly because I was having a baby!  He's two weeks old now and I had saved some meal sized portions in the freezer for when we're not feeling up to cooking as frequently, but we've only used a few.  A friend gave us a free Hello Fresh box, and I wasn't going to pass up free food, but it means a pause in most of the eating down of food.

However, in the past week I have used-
-a box of orange Jello
-a half a bag of frozen corn and a block of cheese in some cornbread
-a bag of butternut squash and a package of corn tortillas in an enchilada casserole
-a box of elbow macaroni in mac and cheese
-a bag of cucumbers in a cucumber vinegar salad
-a bag of frozen green beans

I also struggle with not adding to the pantry and freezer.  We went to Costco and I replaced a bag of salmon and a bag of mahi mahi that I had used up.  They are staples for us, but eating fish means we're not eating other things we could be using up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: facepalm on April 14, 2017, 08:55:28 PM
I've been MIA for a bit, mostly because I was having a baby!  He's two weeks old now and I had saved some meal sized portions in the freezer for when we're not feeling up to cooking as frequently, but we've only used a few.  A friend gave us a free Hello Fresh box, and I wasn't going to pass up free food, but it means a pause in most of the eating down of food.

However, in the past week I have used-
-a box of orange Jello
-a half a bag of frozen corn and a block of cheese in some cornbread
-a bag of butternut squash and a package of corn tortillas in an enchilada casserole
-a box of elbow macaroni in mac and cheese
-a bag of cucumbers in a cucumber vinegar salad
-a bag of frozen green beans

I also struggle with not adding to the pantry and freezer.  We went to Costco and I replaced a bag of salmon and a bag of mahi mahi that I had used up.  They are staples for us, but eating fish means we're not eating other things we could be using up!
Congrats on the newborn!

I have freed up some space in the fridge, and the freezer too. Just checked, and I have 6 bags of frozen spinach I did not know I had. Next's week project will be to consume those puppies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 15, 2017, 03:12:55 AM
I just filled up the fridge and freezer, because we're having a guest over for a week and two free days with shops closed. There is also fishsoup in the fridge. We ate from it once and had a lot left over. I froze half of it and the rest is in a very large pan in the fridge waiting for the guest. At least I did some sensible shopping and bought cheap products.

For the using up, yesterday I baked two breads and used up some old ingredients. Today I will bake an easter bread. I had to buy two ingredients, but can use up several older ingredients that are not past the date.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 15, 2017, 09:01:07 AM
I thought I was done!

Found 20 or more ancient plain gelatin packets. Maybe I'll just add them to juice or tea and drink some daily until they are gone.  It's supposed to be really good for your hair skin and nails. I could use that.

Any other ideas that aren't marshmallows?

I wonder if I could add a packet to my stir fry sauce to thicken it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: geekette on April 15, 2017, 09:34:07 AM
You can make jello with powdered gelatin and fruit juice, and there are some desserts that use gelatin for thickening.  I read here (http://www.davidlebovitz.com/how-to-use-gelatin/) that boiling gelatin will make it lose effectiveness, so I don't think it would do all that well in a stir fry.

Also according to the above link, gelatin "lasts forever" so any date on it has to do with packaging. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 15, 2017, 10:34:32 AM
Love seeing all the progress!

Welcome, Abooki and  JohannaP!

Yay for baby! congrats, Simple Cycle!

So I always suspected but I totally get my food hoarding instincts from my mom. She was telling me how she organized her pantry and created a spreadsheet and cross-referenced her 19, yes 19! food storage buckets. Apparently, she has 3 separate 5 lb bags of raisins from as far back as 2012, and she keeps buying them because she didn't know she had them. It makes me feel a little better that this may be genetic :)

Yesterday used up some frozen Brussel sprouts, the last bit of coleslaw I'd made, some random veg from the fridge and some rice noodles to make a pretty tasty stir-fry when we forgot to plan dinner yesterday. This would have been a good excuse to go out, but this was pretty darn tasty.

I was shocked to discover we had run out of coffee beans! Don't think we are going to run out and restock we have enough other caffeine sources.

I've got our last duck thawing, will cook it at some point this weekend whenever it is ready to go.

Hope you all have a successful "use it up!" weekend!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SomatoseVisions on April 15, 2017, 11:09:21 AM
PMG, not sure what your food preferences are, but I second Geekette's dessert recommendation. I've been toying with the idea of making panna cotta for a while, but when the occasion calls for dessert SO always requests a pie.

Here's a recipe I've my eye on for reference: https://food52.com/recipes/22294-creme-fraiche-panna-cotta-with-fresh-berries-and-herbs
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 15, 2017, 11:17:13 AM
PMG, not sure what your food preferences are, but I second Geekette's dessert recommendation. I've been toying with the idea of making panna cotta for a while, but when the occasion calls for dessert SO always requests a pie.

Here's a recipe I've my eye on for reference: https://food52.com/recipes/22294-creme-fraiche-panna-cotta-with-fresh-berries-and-herbs

Panna cotta is dead simple and tasty! And I always forget about it! Thanks for the inspiration - think we'll do this using homemade coconut milk for Easter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 15, 2017, 12:27:55 PM
That looks delicious. Thanks.  Not sure I want to buy lots of heavy dairy ingredients but I'll keep it in mind. We do have some special occasions coming up. 

I mixed one with tea and drank it. Meh. Not the worst thing.

I may make the fruit juice finger jello and use up several packets at once.

Confession: I have to throw out a slice and half of bread and
A half cup of pasta sauce. Sadness. I've been so good at not wasting food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SilveradoBojangles on April 15, 2017, 01:05:12 PM
I am joining in on eating all the food in our house, because we are moving in 6 weeks! Tonight I'm making posole to use up some pork broth and tortillas in the freezer. I've been doing pretty good on the dry goods as well, but we still have tons of canned goods that will need using. Specifically black beans, canned tomatoes, canned olives, canned corn, coconut milk, some white beans. Maybe some kind of chili or black bean soup?

We are also down to the last few pounds of the 30 pounds of green coffee beans we bought at costco (for ~3$ a pound) in January of 2016.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 15, 2017, 01:36:58 PM
I found a good use for some fancy olive oil that we had gotten as a gift a year and a half ago. I use it in a pesto made from wild garlic that I picked yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on April 15, 2017, 01:59:55 PM
Some creative uses for gelatin, with recipes, in this article: http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/11/how-to-use-gelatin-better-stock-sauce-dessert.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 15, 2017, 05:13:37 PM
I ate all the ice cream in the house.  #feelingaccomplished

Tonight I'm making a pesto fried rice with leftover leg of lamb chopped up in it.  It should use up some random bits of vegetables and some cubes of beef stock too.  I've been kind of stingy with my frozen pesto stash from last summer, and suddenly realized that we still have lots, so I'm putting it in everything.  Maybe it will be more of a risotto than a fried rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 16, 2017, 08:18:28 AM
Finished my jar of dulce de leche with my latest cup of tea. Also unexpectedly & undesirably finished my last can of coconut milk. That will be replaced shortly.

I'm out most of this week, so the SO will be eating down the freezer stash of pulled pork, and perhaps some curry, along with some frozen vegetables.

ETA: and my jar of ginger jam is done too. I haven't decided which jam to open next.  Probably the fig & ginger jam from NZ I bought last year.
We did _not_ bring home any Easter leftovers this year, not even the ham, which is a huge step for me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Singularity on April 16, 2017, 09:14:24 AM
I'm joining the club to eat all of my pantry.  I have three cans of Salmon I have no idea how to make.  What do you recommend?

Bumble Bee
Wild Pink Salmon, 14.75oz each  (a little skin included)

P.S. It is wise and safe to each Tomato Soup/Mushroom Soup that expired in 2012?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 16, 2017, 01:46:36 PM
I'm joining the club to eat all of my pantry.  I have three cans of Salmon I have no idea how to make.  What do you recommend?

Bumble Bee
Wild Pink Salmon, 14.75oz each  (a little skin included)

P.S. It is wise and safe to each Tomato Soup/Mushroom Soup that expired in 2012?

It has been ages ago since I ate canned salmon. But in my childhood we used to get this in christmas relation packages from my father's customers.
I used to make it in a salad. Just leak out the salmon and remove bones and skinn. Cut some silver onions, or a challot union fine and mix it. Add pickeled cucumber, finely cut. Add mayonaise, tabasco and something salty, like a dash of soy sauce and mix. Serve on toast as a snack in the evening. Or as a salad at dinner.

How is the soup? Is it in powder form? In that case I would try. If canned, I know that some people in Norway eat canned meat that is decades past the experation date. Maybe use your nose as an indicator?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on April 16, 2017, 04:18:35 PM
 http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/26/167819082/dont-fear-that-expired-food
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SilveradoBojangles on April 16, 2017, 05:03:55 PM
I'm joining the club to eat all of my pantry.  I have three cans of Salmon I have no idea how to make.  What do you recommend?

Bumble Bee
Wild Pink Salmon, 14.75oz each  (a little skin included)

P.S. It is wise and safe to each Tomato Soup/Mushroom Soup that expired in 2012?

I like to make a salmon salad that is canned salmon, mayonnaise, dill, and diced tomato. Perhaps a little salt and pepper. It's excellent on bread or crackers, and makes a good appetizer or dip to bring to a BBQ.

I would also suggest making it into patties (probably with some bread crumbs and egg to hold it together) and making salmon burgers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 17, 2017, 08:03:45 AM
I'm joining the club to eat all of my pantry.  I have three cans of Salmon I have no idea how to make.  What do you recommend?

Bumble Bee
Wild Pink Salmon, 14.75oz each  (a little skin included)

P.S. It is wise and safe to each Tomato Soup/Mushroom Soup that expired in 2012?

Google tuna cakes and make it with salmon instead.  Here is one that uses sweet potato http://nomnompaleo.com/post/91332244628/spicy-tuna-cakes  I would just form them and pan fry or bake on a cookie sheet though.  When I made them in muffin tins they stuck horribly despite oiling the pan.

Re: the soup.  Honestly, 5 years expired might be a little much for me.  But if the can isn't dented/bulging/rusty, you can open it, see how it looks and smells, and if OK, give it a try.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 17, 2017, 01:42:01 PM
Maybe try your hand at sushi with the canned salmon?  :)



Lately:  I combined two boxes of tea envelopes into one, tossed who knows how old sugar and other packets, used up the non-dairy creamer in Easter au gratin potatoes, the canola for cooking hash browns, and 3 more cans.  In the Crock Pot today are the remaining chicken breasts, and the last of the peanut butter.

We move out and into a hotel this Sunday, the cleaners come next Mon and Tues, and we close Friday.  :D  To pack will be about 15 cans, a few baking items, and spices.  Worthy refrigerated condiments will be kept here at my office.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2017, 03:00:20 PM
Way to go, MountainGal, So excited for you!

I've got some curry base thawing and some chicken breast. and some lentils cooking. Going to make a big pot of butter chicken and dahl. Hoping to get some meals into the freezer for Hubs when I am away the beginning of May.

For breakfast yesterday I made buckwheat Banana pancakes with some chopped up 80% dark chocolate I found in the back of the drawer.

Also trying to make these Gluten-free cinnamon raisin Bagels. Will report back if they are any good :) http://meaningfuleats.com/buckwheat-cinnamon-raisin-bagels-gluten-free-vegan/ (http://meaningfuleats.com/buckwheat-cinnamon-raisin-bagels-gluten-free-vegan/) I emptied one jar of ground flax and started on the next.

I've been continuing to make coconut bars out of my pulp from making coconut milk. Basically mixing the pulp with some chia seeds, cocoa and melting together coconut oil, a tiny bit of honey and nut butter. After combining, I press it into a pan and pop in the fridge. We like Tahini the best so far. Tastes like chocolate Halva. Hubs likes a bar for lunch with a few cashews, raisins and cocoa nibs sprinkled across the top.

The cool thing about this is we have brought down the cost of making our coconut milk to .13 a cup. That isn't including using the pulp, so if I am using it, we are getting even more, bang for our buck!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 17, 2017, 06:17:40 PM

Also trying to make these Gluten-free cinnamon raisin Bagels. Will report back if they are any good :) http://meaningfuleats.com/buckwheat-cinnamon-raisin-bagels-gluten-free-vegan/ (http://meaningfuleats.com/buckwheat-cinnamon-raisin-bagels-gluten-free-vegan/) I emptied one jar of ground flax and started on the next.


A hole in bread does not a bagel make. However, I knew that when I decided to test the recipe. I wasn't sure on how satisfying they would be as a gluten-free baked good. So I decided to try the recipe as is and not worry about the extra step of boiling the bagels before cooking them. As a gluten-free substitute, I'm very impressed. Next time I'll try boiling them.

Extra bonus points because they allow me to use up yeast, which I haven't really been using at all since going GF - and the bag I have is still good! Also allows me to use up my supply of flax and psyllium and I always have buckwheat on hand. So pretty good experiment!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on April 18, 2017, 05:26:05 PM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on April 18, 2017, 06:58:08 PM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Somehow, I never have this problem. :)

I ate the last box of gluten free Mac and Cheese today and won't buy it again.  The texture is off and homemade takes almost the same amount of time and is so much better.  Plus I have a box and a half of GF elbows to clear out of the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 19, 2017, 11:04:23 AM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Somehow, I never have this problem. :)


+1, LOL!


Used up the rest of the olive oil last night.  One more less thing to move this weekend.  :D  I also made a dent in the leftover ham and the Kerry butter purchased last month when making last night's ham and cauliflower fritters.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 19, 2017, 11:24:56 AM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Why don't you make vinegar of it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 19, 2017, 01:51:28 PM
Ended up with some unexpected time today do to a client cancelation, so more time to make dinner!

I'm making a curried Sweet potato soup with roasted sweet potato, curry base and duck stock from the freezer.

figured I'd also try and adapt that bagel recipe to savory bagels and do the whole boiling thing. I've got some cheese and some chipotle in adobo to use up so that'll be the flavour base. Also took out the last package of Turkey bacon from the freezer. So we'll have bagels and soup, or maybe bagel breakfast sandwiches and have the soup for Hubby's lunch + dinner tomorrow.

I'd like to see if we can stretch the grocery shopping to see if there is anything good in the flyers (starts Fri) as there wasn't anything remotely worth going out for last weekend. The cool thing about using everything up and tracking is I know exactly what I'm looking for now and that saves a bunch of time and money :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on April 19, 2017, 09:17:07 PM
Got rid of two packets of ramen used in tonight's dinner.  It was quite good!  Beef, veggies, ramen, and a soy-ginger sauce.

I cleaned out the fridge and had to throw away some forgotten vegetables and leftover beans.  Organized what's left to use it up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on April 20, 2017, 03:17:25 AM
In my quest to use up my old bag of dessicated cocnut I've ended up needing to buy more. Turns out it's lovely boiled with rice, very good in addition to oat for breading, tasty in energy balls and all around a thing I want to keep around. Without this "use it up" project none of these tasty treats would have been discovered - so thank you all for inspiration.

I've also realiced that my favourite nuts are hazelnuts. By far the cheapest (excepting peanuts) and so good in a homemade trailmix with rasins (splurge with some dark chocolate and it's like a nutella-trailmix)

During easter I gained some leftover roasted lamb - will use it in a minestrone tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 20, 2017, 09:03:22 AM
In my quest to use up my old bag of dessicated cocnut I've ended up needing to buy more. Turns out it's lovely boiled with rice, very good in addition to oat for breading, tasty in energy balls and all around a thing I want to keep around. Without this "use it up" project none of these tasty treats would have been discovered - so thank you all for inspiration.

I've also realiced that my favourite nuts are hazelnuts. By far the cheapest (excepting peanuts) and so good in a homemade trailmix with rasins (splurge with some dark chocolate and it's like a nutella-trailmix)

Ohh so many good ideas for coconut! Yay! I'm working on a 25 lb box :D I make my own coconut milk and am dairy-free so it is just a staple in our house, but I'm always looking for new ways to use it! The rice sounds AMAZING.

Hazelnuts are the cheapest nuts for you? Right, your not in the US, AUS? I have a hard time keeping track of where everyone is from :) One of my favorite things about living in Turkey was how Hazelnuts were in everything! Although having Fistoberlik for breakfast (it's basically ground up hazelnuts and sugar) every morning as part of breakfast probably wasn't great for me.

Didn't get a chance to make Bagels yesterday, I got sidetracked with other work. That's okay though, means I can do it today and don't have to come up with a new idea for dinner. 

Guys, Thai curry paste. Hit me up with your best ideas - please! I have red, green, yellow, massaman and sour (tamarind) curry pastes in HUGE quantities. A TINY jar of red curry paste here is like 6-7 dollars so (quite a few) years ago we went Stateside and I found a little Thai grocery store and bought ALL the curry pastes.

And we love the stuff, but it turns out you don't need more than a tablespoon or two in a full batch of curry. It doesn't really go bad since it is just salt and chilies and aromatics, and I have a ton to use.  I'll sometimes use it as a soup base like I did last night, and we'll make coconut curries quite often - but I need more creative ideas. At this point, I'll have enough curry paste for the rest of the decade!



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on April 20, 2017, 10:08:47 AM
Not sure if you eat meat (you could surely substitute soy crumbles for the beef).
http://www.nwedible.com/thai-red-curry-cabbage-salad/

We 1.5 or double the sauce, and make rice on the side for the teenagers. It's fine as a big 'ole salad by itself, however.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 20, 2017, 02:27:16 PM
Made a mistake today and left my lunch pack at home amd had to buy lunch at the office. I will eat the lunch pack tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 20, 2017, 02:36:25 PM
Not sure if you eat meat (you could surely substitute soy crumbles for the beef).
http://www.nwedible.com/thai-red-curry-cabbage-salad/

We 1.5 or double the sauce, and make rice on the side for the teenagers. It's fine as a big 'ole salad by itself, however.
Sounds easy and delish, and we're big fans of cabbage 'round here, thank you :O)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 20, 2017, 03:40:01 PM
Guys, Thai curry paste. Hit me up with your best ideas - please! I have red, green, yellow, massaman and sour (tamarind) curry pastes in HUGE quantities. A TINY jar of red curry paste here is like 6-7 dollars so (quite a few) years ago we went Stateside and I found a little Thai grocery store and bought ALL the curry pastes.

Thai curry pastes are great as marinades for satay meats.  Mixed to make a quick peanut sauce.  I have been doing a bunch of braised yellow beef curries lately.  I really like coronation chicken and coronation egg salads - I usually make them with Indian curry blends, but a Thai blend might be an interesting experiment.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on April 20, 2017, 08:38:56 PM
Guys, Thai curry paste. Hit me up with your best ideas - please! I have red, green, yellow, massaman and sour (tamarind) curry pastes in HUGE quantities. A TINY jar of red curry paste here is like 6-7 dollars so (quite a few) years ago we went Stateside and I found a little Thai grocery store and bought ALL the curry pastes.

Thai curry pumpkin soup.

For a variation on my pumpkin soup recipe*, I put a glug of olive oil and a big spoon of curry paste (I prefer red in this recipe) in a pot and cook for a couple of minutes then add the rest of the ingredients.

*750g pumpkin, 250g potato, 1 large onion, 1 litre of chicken or veggie stock, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, simmer until veggies are soft, puree with immersion blender.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anje on April 21, 2017, 06:32:33 AM
In my quest to use up my old bag of dessicated cocnut I've ended up needing to buy more. Turns out it's lovely boiled with rice, very good in addition to oat for breading, tasty in energy balls and all around a thing I want to keep around. Without this "use it up" project none of these tasty treats would have been discovered - so thank you all for inspiration.

I've also realiced that my favourite nuts are hazelnuts. By far the cheapest (excepting peanuts) and so good in a homemade trailmix with rasins (splurge with some dark chocolate and it's like a nutella-trailmix)

Ohh so many good ideas for coconut! Yay! I'm working on a 25 lb box :D I make my own coconut milk and am dairy-free so it is just a staple in our house, but I'm always looking for new ways to use it! The rice sounds AMAZING.

Hazelnuts are the cheapest nuts for you? Right, your not in the US, AUS? I have a hard time keeping track of where everyone is from :) One of my favorite things about living in Turkey was how Hazelnuts were in everything! Although having Fistoberlik for breakfast (it's basically ground up hazelnuts and sugar) every morning as part of breakfast probably wasn't great for me.

Didn't get a chance to make Bagels yesterday, I got sidetracked with other work. That's okay though, means I can do it today and don't have to come up with a new idea for dinner. 

Guys, Thai curry paste. Hit me up with your best ideas - please! I have red, green, yellow, massaman and sour (tamarind) curry pastes in HUGE quantities. A TINY jar of red curry paste here is like 6-7 dollars so (quite a few) years ago we went Stateside and I found a little Thai grocery store and bought ALL the curry pastes.

And we love the stuff, but it turns out you don't need more than a tablespoon or two in a full batch of curry. It doesn't really go bad since it is just salt and chilies and aromatics, and I have a ton to use.  I'll sometimes use it as a soup base like I did last night, and we'll make coconut curries quite often - but I need more creative ideas. At this point, I'll have enough curry paste for the rest of the decade!
Northern Europe. Cashews and pistachioes, by example, is nearly two times as expensive. And that's the cheapest I find. Hazelnuts are low demand (they group it with baking goods, not on the snack ile), and that makes all the difference.

As for curry paste: if you eat fish then thai fish cakes are my current favourite. They contain curry paste. Or you could probably make a vegetarian version with chickpeas (my current theory is that one can make anything out of chickpeas).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on April 22, 2017, 03:14:54 AM
Taco mince from the freezer, salsa from the freezer (we never finish a full jar before it goes mouldy so I portion if out and freeze it), tortillas from the freezer... sensing a theme here.

Tomorrow will bake the sweet potato and red onion to go in salad for lunches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CutTheFat on April 22, 2017, 07:42:28 AM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Why don't you make vinegar of it?
How do you make vinegar out of wine?  Can you use oxidized wine? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CutTheFat on April 22, 2017, 07:46:41 AM
I still have 3 blocks of cream cheese in the fridge from Christmas.  Although past it's date it is totally fine.  DD is really the only one that uses it, for bagels but it isn't being used fast enough.  I used a block in a recipe for Easter.  Should I freeze the rest until needed?  Will it be fine for bagels once defrosted?   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Sydneystache on April 22, 2017, 07:58:42 AM
Wild mushroom risotto tonight.

Used butter, arborio rice, stock, wine, onions, garlic.

Added the one thing I bought from Lithgow today - wild mushrooms - saffron milk cap (lactarius deliciosus) which are in season.

Felt better, less stuff in the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: geekette on April 22, 2017, 09:11:02 AM
I still have 3 blocks of cream cheese in the fridge from Christmas.  Although past it's date it is totally fine.  DD is really the only one that uses it, for bagels but it isn't being used fast enough.  I used a block in a recipe for Easter.  Should I freeze the rest until needed?  Will it be fine for bagels once defrosted?   

Cheese doesn't freeze well, and here's (https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6576-freezing-cream-cheese) an article from Cooks Illustrated for an explanation.

I put a block in potato soup (http://www.food.com/recipe/paneras-cream-cheese-potato-soup-150863), and that seems to freeze well enough (I generally use my stick blender to smooth it out after thawing, though).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 22, 2017, 10:49:58 PM
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Why don't you make vinegar of it?
How do you make vinegar out of wine?  Can you use oxidized wine?

You'll need to add a vinegar bacterie culture (mother of vinegar) to the wine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rachellynn99 on April 23, 2017, 04:21:25 PM
This week I have a pint or so of white mushrooms to use up, as well as some leftover baked beans, 3 sweet potatoes, 5 apples and half a bag of tortilla chips that are getting stale. Those are just the items I want to make sure we use up by the end of the week before they go bad. I really need to NOT go to the store before the rest of  the month is out.

I also want to keep our budget super super low for groceries in May- so I need to buckle down and eat out of the pantries, freezers etc.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on April 23, 2017, 07:20:49 PM
As of this morning with my breakfast of rice cakes with butter and Vegemite, we've officially finished off the stash of snacks I brought home from my office at the start of parental leave.

Coconut flour was hanging around in the pantry... I previously made the coconut flour cookies linked to in this thread, and we liked the taste but they gave Mr Happier a stomachache. Bugger. Now I've started subbing it in for normal flour in apple crumble topping, and it tastes awesome without causing any issues. Plus making crumble on a regular basis makes me very popular!

My sister left marshmallows in my pantry so that's a nice excuse to make myself a hot chocolate every now and then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 23, 2017, 08:47:39 PM
This week:

Used up peanut butter making cookies for a class I was teaching.

Today, made sesame crackers and used up some flax seed in them as well.

Made hummus using up the last of the second (why?) variety of chickpeas, plus more sesame seeds

Meyer lemon rinds from the freezer were used for kombucha flavoring

Have been making smoothies and the frozen fruit and whey protein stashes are both getting lower.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 24, 2017, 06:50:35 AM
Made roasted cauliflower & broccoli for lunches this week and finished the sesame-miso oil.  Started to use up my NZ honey in tea.  It is quite crystallized now, and I have another container of honey.

I made up an orange-tamarind braised blade roast recipe over the weekend that I think turned out pretty well, so I'm committed to finding more uses for that container of tamarind paste and finishing it off already.  If you have any ideas for tamarind paste beyond pad thai, I'd love to hear them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on April 24, 2017, 09:03:18 AM
Made roasted cauliflower & broccoli for lunches this week and finished the sesame-miso oil.  Started to use up my NZ honey in tea.  It is quite crystallized now, and I have another container of honey.

I made up an orange-tamarind braised blade roast recipe over the weekend that I think turned out pretty well, so I'm committed to finding more uses for that container of tamarind paste and finishing it off already.  If you have any ideas for tamarind paste beyond pad thai, I'd love to hear them.

I make a juice concentrate. The Carribean, Asia, Middle East, Mexico all have variations: here is one that uses paste: http://caribbeanpot.com/refreshing-tamarind-juice/ (http://caribbeanpot.com/refreshing-tamarind-juice/) When I make mine, I usually just boil the paste with hot water, strain it and add honey to taste. Maybe balancing with a little lemon or lime juice if it is needed. It is pretty strong concentrate so I cut it with sparkling water for a tamarind soda.

Crystallized honey. I was over at a friends house and we were having tea and she remarked that she JUST learned that if honey crystalizes, it doesn't actually mean it is "bad" and you don't have to throw it away! She was super excited at all the money she was going to save as she was throwing out a container or two a month. It was a test of my poker face. I'm currently SLOWLY working through a 33 lb bucket of honey we purchased a few years ago before we went mostly sugar-free.

I did find a good recipe for using honey up: Paleo Lemon Cream Pie - https://livinghealthywithchocolate.com/desserts/paleo-lemon-cream-pie-7667/ (https://livinghealthywithchocolate.com/desserts/paleo-lemon-cream-pie-7667/) except I added an extra tsp of gelatin to the filling and turned it into a lemon and huckleberry cheesecake. It turned out more like a mousse/no bake cheesecake than a traditional NY (Since the filling isn't baked) so I might rename it to call it a mousse cake.  It also used up some dehydrated almond pulp that I had kicking around.

It turned out really good, the friends we went to for dinner were blown away (esp the Mr. who is highly skeptical of anything that is "healthy) Turns out you can make a decent dessert without gluten, dairy, eggs or "refined" sugar. It's nice to figure out a recipe that I can rely on to be "fancy" and meets those needs for special occasions and where I don't feel like I'm having to force my dietary restrictions on other people. And I won't have to panic when my question of "what shall I bring" is answered with "dessert" :)

Hubs ate the last bagel without telling me, so his breakfast this morning was a quick porridge made from coconut pulp, chia seeds, flax, raisins a bit of cinnamon and the scrapings of a jar of hazelnut spread we picked up in Turkey in 2013. Nice to get that out of my fridge :D

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 24, 2017, 11:03:55 AM
I collected all leftover portions of vegetables from the fridge: red chili pepper, sloppy salad leaves, sloppy sellery, mushrooms and half a squash. Got a pack of fish cakes out of the freezer. Wokked all the veggies and added wild garlic puree that I made last week from selfpicked leaves. Added a pack of kidney beans. Grated a leftover piece of cheese and mixed that trough. The fish cakes were heated separately. The salad leaves were left in cold water for half an hour and served on top of the wok mixture. The result tasted very acceptably, even without any other spices. The salad leaves were really crunchy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CutTheFat on April 24, 2017, 07:54:13 PM
I still have 3 blocks of cream cheese in the fridge from Christmas.  Although past it's date it is totally fine.  DD is really the only one that uses it, for bagels but it isn't being used fast enough.  I used a block in a recipe for Easter.  Should I freeze the rest until needed?  Will it be fine for bagels once defrosted?   

Cheese doesn't freeze well, and here's (https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6576-freezing-cream-cheese) an article from Cooks Illustrated for an explanation.
I am, once again, drowning in unopened bottles of wine.

As soon as I give someone a bottle or invite people over to drink some of my stash, my boss turns around and gives me more for Easter. And I don't drink the stuff!

I took half a dozen bottles home to my parents and implored them to drink it, cook with it, give it away, whatever inspires them.

Why don't you make vinegar of it?
How do you make vinegar out of wine?  Can you use oxidized wine?

You'll need to add a vinegar bacterie culture (mother of vinegar) to the wine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar
I put a block in potato soup (http://www.food.com/recipe/paneras-cream-cheese-potato-soup-150863), and that seems to freeze well enough (I generally use my stick blender to smooth it out after thawing, though).

Thank you both!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GoConfidently on April 30, 2017, 11:11:38 AM
I still have 3 blocks of cream cheese in the fridge from Christmas.  Although past it's date it is totally fine.  DD is really the only one that uses it, for bagels but it isn't being used fast enough.  I used a block in a recipe for Easter.  Should I freeze the rest until needed?  Will it be fine for bagels once defrosted?   

Creamed spinach or squash is a delicious use of cream cheese
Cream cheese frosting for a cake or cupcakes
Lots of dips (savory or sweet) and spreads start with cream cheese
Cheese cake
Stuffed three cheese manicotti
Etc.....

 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on May 02, 2017, 06:39:47 AM
Ham, so much ham.  I told the SO to pick up the smallest spiral cut ham they could find.  They brought home a full ham.  I chunked off as much as I could easily get at, and now we have a large amount of ham plus a huge ham bone with lots of meat still on it in the freezer.

We are avoiding potato/starch for the SO.  I need ideas.  Lots of ideas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on May 02, 2017, 10:25:49 AM
Ham, so much ham.  I told the SO to pick up the smallest spiral cut ham they could find.  They brought home a full ham.  I chunked off as much as I could easily get at, and now we have a large amount of ham plus a huge ham bone with lots of meat still on it in the freezer.

We are avoiding potato/starch for the SO.  I need ideas.  Lots of ideas.

Pick up a bag of 12 bean soup mix in the dried bean section of the grocery store. Add it to the ham bone and add water to cover. (If the ham bone is gigantic, you may want two bags.) Cook until beans are almost done, then add celery, carrots and onions. If you like garlic, add a chopped clove or three. Makes a delicious soup that freezes well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on May 02, 2017, 04:31:07 PM
Ham, so much ham.  I told the SO to pick up the smallest spiral cut ham they could find.  They brought home a full ham.  I chunked off as much as I could easily get at, and now we have a large amount of ham plus a huge ham bone with lots of meat still on it in the freezer.

We are avoiding potato/starch for the SO.  I need ideas.  Lots of ideas.

https://www.savorylotus.com/creamy-sweet-potato-bacon-chowder-dairy-free/

I made this with ham and leftover chicken instead of bacon.  My sweet potato hating husband loved it.  Don't add any salt, the ham will provide plenty.

Also, split pea soup.

Or use it in a breakfast hash (cauliflower rice base if you are low carb)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on May 03, 2017, 10:08:23 AM
I've been kind of taking a break (ie being lazy) from the use it up quest, but that's mostly because all of the easy wins are done and there's only a handful of oddball things left, most of which is sugary junk food that I just don't want to eat. But, I am pleased to report that as of 6:34 pm last night, THE PICKLES ARE GONE!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on May 03, 2017, 10:31:10 AM
I've been kind of taking a break (ie being lazy) from the use it up quest, but that's mostly because all of the easy wins are done and there's only a handful of oddball things left, most of which is sugary junk food that I just don't want to eat. But, I am pleased to report that as of 6:34 pm last night, THE PICKLES ARE GONE!!!!
I'm in a similar spot.  Except I ate all of my sugary junk food, and I have a lot of weird things that I don't like (my DH bought them).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Sibley on May 03, 2017, 11:39:53 AM
I'm moving on 5/27. I know I won't eat everything, but have been trying to eat what I can. Goal is to get the pantry stuff into 1 box. I have some travel this month, though the big chunk was just rescheduled to June. The interesting thing is the pantry is stuffed full, as is the freezer and the fridge. However, about 75% of it is my roommate's, who is also moving. Thus, NOT MY PROBLEM!

I have no problem with eating the same thing multiple meals in a row, or eating things that most people wouldn't combine for a meal. So I'll just continue to eat whatever I find and feel like. Wish me luck :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 03, 2017, 11:41:49 AM
This weekend on a camping trip we ate selfdried trip food, a 2015 batch. They had been stored in the freezer as well as being dried. They tasted okay. Now I have only 2016 batch left, which we can eat this summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on May 03, 2017, 02:08:23 PM
I keep joking that we need to have a pickle buffet, because I have so many random jars of pickles.  I need to reclaim the fridge space!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 03, 2017, 02:34:14 PM
I'm moving on 5/27. I know I won't eat everything, but have been trying to eat what I can. Goal is to get the pantry stuff into 1 box. I have some travel this month, though the big chunk was just rescheduled to June. The interesting thing is the pantry is stuffed full, as is the freezer and the fridge. However, about 75% of it is my roommate's, who is also moving. Thus, NOT MY PROBLEM!

I have no problem with eating the same thing multiple meals in a row, or eating things that most people wouldn't combine for a meal. So I'll just continue to eat whatever I find and feel like. Wish me luck :)
We just did this-sold our home 04/28 and are now living in a hotel into our new home closes at the end of the month.  I ended up packing up about 10 cans of broth and tomatoes, flax seed, coconut flour, some sugar free Torani syrup and two types of salt.  I tossed a bit of leftover sugar and corn starch because I didn't want critters getting into them while in storage.  5 cans tuna, a can of chicken, and about half dozen refrigerated condiments are with us (and being utilized!) in the hotel room.

Good luck.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dorothyc on May 04, 2017, 12:06:56 AM
I thought I was done!

Found 20 or more ancient plain gelatin packets. Maybe I'll just add them to juice or tea and drink some daily until they are gone.  It's supposed to be really good for your hair skin and nails. I could use that.

Any other ideas that aren't marshmallows?

I wonder if I could add a packet to my stir fry sauce to thicken it?

You can use plain gelatin as a nourishing hair treatment - per Mommypotamus.

https://www.mommypotamus.com/gelatin-hair-mask/

I haven't tried this, but I made her shea butter and baking soda deodorant and the charcoal toothpowder and they both worked really well
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 05, 2017, 05:30:50 AM
I thought I was done!

Found 20 or more ancient plain gelatin packets. Maybe I'll just add them to juice or tea and drink some daily until they are gone.  It's supposed to be really good for your hair skin and nails. I could use that.

Any other ideas that aren't marshmallows?

I wonder if I could add a packet to my stir fry sauce to thicken it?

Maybe you could make chocolate bonbons and fill them with gelatin/sirup mix? Also all sorts of other cushy/gummy candies come to mind.

About the stir fry sauce, that is maybe a bit weird, as gelatin stiffens in the fridge at cold temperatures. But maybe you could use it in some cold sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on May 05, 2017, 06:43:01 AM
I'm down to 6 packets of gelatin and now expect no trouble using it up.

My favorite use is adding it to stir fry sauces, there is some mention of this in a link someone posted up thread.  It does not get hard and weird as you use a smaller proportion of gelatin to liquid than fit jello.  I'm still using a little starch to thinken and packet of gelatin just adds a nice body to the sauce. 

Also made fruit juice finger jello. That used a lot quickly.

May try the hair mask as my hair could use some help.

Thanks all for your suggestions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 05, 2017, 11:49:18 AM
I'm down to 6 packets of gelatin and now expect no trouble using it up.

My favorite use is adding it to stir fry sauces, there is some mention of this in a link someone posted up thread.  It does not get hard and weird as you use a smaller proportion of gelatin to liquid than fit jello.  I'm still using a little starch to thinken and packet of gelatin just adds a nice body to the sauce. 

Also made fruit juice finger jello. That used a lot quickly.

May try the hair mask as my hair could use some help.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

yay for suggestions! Sorry I didn't see this post earlier, I would second the homemade gummies, My sister got me little gummy bear molds and they are so adorable, everyone loves them! Also got some for Christmas shaped like Lego bricks. They appeal to my husband's childhood memories and whimsy :)

Panna Cotta is also a super simple dessert that uses gelatin. I make a dairy-free version with coconut milk, super yum!

Also, when I'm making meatballs, hamburgers, meatloaf, I'll bloom and mix in some gelatin. It helps keeps them moist :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 05, 2017, 01:28:05 PM
Ohh also if you are looking for something totally fancypants and gift worthy, these gum drops are AWESOME and use gelatin http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/all-natural-homemade-pomegranate-gumdrops/ (http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/all-natural-homemade-pomegranate-gumdrops/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 05, 2017, 05:12:39 PM
Not sure if there is a better thread where this is more suited, but as far as I'm concerned you guys are the fountain of knowledge when it comes to cooking.

I'd like to start bulking out my bolognese with lentils to reduce our red meat consumption and lower the cost (lean beef mince is $12/kg; split red lentils are $4.74/kg).

I've never cooked with lentils before. I've read a couple of lentil bolognese recipes, and a couple of lentil/beef recipes, but I would love some help adapting my method.

Saute diced onion and garlic in olive oil.
Add a kilo of lean beef mince, brown.
Add 700ml passata, stir.
Add a cup or so of red wine, stir.
Add herbs (fresh or dried, depending on what I have) and salt* and pepper.
Simmer for about 40 minutes to reduce liquid.

Everything I've read recommends red lentils for bolognese.

Dumb question time:

Where above should I add split dried red lentils?

How much should I add?

Should I soak them first or just rinse?

Do I need to hold off on adding salt until after the lentils are cooked? (I read that adding salt early can make them tough.)

And would this freeze ok?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on May 05, 2017, 07:33:45 PM
I normally add a bunch of vegges to my meat to pad it out, I haven't really done a meat/lentil mix but I have had just lentils/tomato sauce on pasta. You'll need to add the lentils with or after the passata and wine but they only take about 20mins so they maybe just mush after 40mins, although it's not really an issue if it's just padding. They'll need liquid in a 3:1 ratio to cook properly, but you can include the wine in that. Lentils expand a lot so maybe try a 1/4 cup first time and then build it up?

I have also heard that thing about the salt, but when I make lentils in my slow cooker I cook them in stock i.e. salty broth with no ill effects.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 05, 2017, 07:40:57 PM
I normally add a bunch of vegges to my meat to pad it out, I haven't really done a meat/lentil mix but I have had just lentils/tomato sauce on pasta. You'll need to add the lentils with or after the passata and wine but they only take about 20mins so they maybe just mush after 40mins, although it's not really an issue if it's just padding. They'll need liquid in a 3:1 ratio to cook properly, but you can include the wine in that. Lentils expand a lot so maybe try a 1/4 cup first time and then build it up?

I have also heard that thing about the salt, but when I make lentils in my slow cooker I cook them in stock i.e. salty broth with no ill effects.

Thanks Freshwater.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on May 15, 2017, 07:25:03 PM
We bought so much food this week, I feel like the week will be a net gain.  Just put 8 dry quarts of strawberries in the freezer, and a big batch of roasted veggies for the fridge.  But we're eating some cheese and ground beef from the freezer, and a container of sweet potato stew.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on May 16, 2017, 07:19:49 PM
Made a salad the other night, added a pile of almost turning fruit, including an apple I chopped up and doused with lemon juice so it wouldn't brown before our picnic, then I poured the lemon juice off the apple and into the jar of tea I was making.  Pretty pleased with all those flavors mingling and not wasting a drop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 17, 2017, 04:14:40 AM
I made a cake from ingredients I found in the freezer, including spices that I otherwise don't use. And some brown trackle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on May 17, 2017, 06:44:10 AM
I made a cake from ingredients I found in the freezer, including spices that I otherwise don't use. And some brown trackle.

Is brown trackle molasses?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on May 17, 2017, 07:01:55 AM
I'm doing a pot of pork and beans today with the remaining sliced pork belly and small white beans.  This gets me down to one canister of white beans (bought a huge bag of them at a farmstand last summer).  I'll make masa cornbread to go with it.

I've been working through the pesto from the freezer.  DH previously purported to dislike it, but I've been a little bolder in using it and he's eating it happily.  I'll take credit for my homemade pesto tasting better than the storebought stuff.  ;)

Haven't really been eating breakfast on weekdays, so progress on the coconut milk, chia seeds and whey protein has stalled. 

Sunday night I made a ground beef and butternut squash curry and finally used up the last of the mango amchur powder.

Weather is conducive to kombucha making again, so spare bits of ginger and fruit are going into secondary fermentation of my fizzy beverages.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on May 17, 2017, 09:50:54 AM
I've rededicated myself to eating down our food stores.  I'm using up the half eaten bags of frozen vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower for lunch today).  For breakfast, I made oatmeal with the random packages of stuff that I collect from buying Starbucks oatmeal on travel (they give you a lot of packages of stuff, and I just keep them).  I also defrosted some chicken sausages, and I will have one with my vegetables for lunch. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 17, 2017, 02:23:28 PM
Eat all the food in our house before the move has now changed to eat all the food in our hotel room before we close on our home next Friday.  :)

Tuesday I used a large can of chicken and leftover salsa from last Friday's take out in a slow cooker tomatillo chili recipe.  I just used the rest of the deli turkey in a wrap for lunch.  Tonight's dinner wraps will consist of a can of tuna I stocked up on months ago at .50 a can.  Tomorrow night's dinner will be last night's leftover tamales and chili.  Next week we'll eat leftover Easter ham I brought from our previous home and has been in the hotel room mini fridge freezer.  :)

Total grocery budget is about the same this month in the hotel vs an average in home month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Scotland2016 on May 17, 2017, 03:52:38 PM
Any suggestions for coconut flour and coconut flakes? They are leftover from a diet my husband did, and he doesn't even like coconut...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: theadvicist on May 18, 2017, 04:53:09 AM
Any suggestions for coconut flour and coconut flakes? They are leftover from a diet my husband did, and he doesn't even like coconut...

I've coated chicken breasts or strips thereof in coconut flakes to make a kind of breadcrumb goujon effect. Just dipped in egg, then flakes, then fried.

You can taste a subtle undercurrent of coconut, but I tend not to like it generally, and find it perfectly bearable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on May 18, 2017, 06:35:57 AM
Any suggestions for coconut flour and coconut flakes? They are leftover from a diet my husband did, and he doesn't even like coconut...

I use it for making wheat-free pancakes sometimes.  Google "coconut flour pancakes" because the ratios are totally different than for regular flour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 18, 2017, 08:38:22 AM
Any suggestions for coconut flour and coconut flakes? They are leftover from a diet my husband did, and he doesn't even like coconut...

I use it for making wheat-free pancakes sometimes.  Google "coconut flour pancakes" because the ratios are totally different than for regular flour.

I can't do dairy and I have found that flaked coconut makes the tastiest and cheapest milk replacement. I have found. 1.5 cups coconut, 4 cups water blend in high speed blender and strain. Pulp can be stirred into cereal, added to granola bars and all sorts of things.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 18, 2017, 08:56:59 AM
Glad to hear updates from everyone!

I'm slowly making progress. Have done a couple of restocks buy have been so much more intentional and conscious about what we are buying.

I have not bought any more cocoa despite having been out of it for a while. I found a bunch of tins we had been given years ago and have been working our way through that.

Luckily, it is *almost* smoothie weather so we have an easy way to use up lots of various odds and ends.

We have been out of vanilla for a while, gone through all my powder I made from my last batch of homemade vanilla, gone through any vaguely vanilla/spice flavored alcohol. I was going to buy a bottle in Costco but it was crazy expensive! I knew there had been some production issues but that is just silly. So I need to source some cheaper beans and look into making another batch. It has pushed me into using up some of the other extracts I have in the cupboard (lemon and almond) but those don't always work flavour wise and we use a lot of vanilla apparently.

The 'Spy family came for a visit and we were able to christen their new Instant Pot. It was a first for all of us, I can see the appeal - would definitely help with using up those harder things to cook that take more advanced planning than I seem to be able to do. We needed Creole seasoning, for the recipe so I managed to make a big batch out of all the random spices I already have and was able to send an extra jar with them for the road.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Scotland2016 on May 18, 2017, 01:00:09 PM
Thank you for the coconut flour/flakes suggestions! They were helpful. I made brownies with the coconut flour and coconut oil, which I forgot to mention, and they were decent. As in, we will willingly eat them, but probably won't make them again once the coconut collection is gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Jaayse on May 18, 2017, 10:17:40 PM
I have started on my older items, I have 15 different soups, so far have eaten 2 of them.  I made a pumpkin pie and have set out some spaghetti and sauce to doctor up for later.  After taking inventory, I don't have a ton of extras, but I think there will still be some necessary trashing of items when I move in a few months.  For unknown reasons I have a lot of popcorn...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on May 19, 2017, 09:14:26 PM
If anyone needs to use up beets and/or horseradish, I've become a little obsessed with this recipe (http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2017/04/roasted-beet-salad-horseradish-creme-fraiche-pistachio-recipe.html).  Sour cream is fine, you don't need creme fraiche.  I used macadamia nuts with it, and will try it with chopped almonds tomorrow.  It seems flexible; the beets and horseradish are the heart of the dish.

I was packing for a work trip Wednesday night and was shocked to find that I was out of canned tuna, and actually canned fish of all kinds.  Will probably re-stock this weekend since I have a longer trip next week and will need portable lunches each day.  Will cook up lots of chickpeas as the base for my lunch salads.  I need to remember that I don't eat my homemade hummus and need to stop buying chickpeas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 20, 2017, 01:12:32 AM
In the fridge I have some cups with two day old foods that need to be eaten today. Two egg yolks, after making a dish with egg white earlier. Some selfpicked, dried mushrooms, rehydrated in water for an experiment of adding mushroom flavored water to home brewn stout beer. Experiment did not give a good result. Some morels I found two days earlier. If I wait any longer it might all get spoiled.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on May 20, 2017, 10:36:15 AM
Mushroom omelet or quiche?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on May 20, 2017, 11:44:55 AM
Homemade mayo with the egg yolks.  I also like to scramble egg into fried rice - I'm sure it would work with the yolk only.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 21, 2017, 12:14:34 PM
Mushroom omelet or quiche?

I made a mushroom omelet for lunch from the rehydrated mushrooms.
Dried the morels.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: DTaggart on May 21, 2017, 01:37:28 PM
A few months ago I got a container of chopped basil leaves and another container of squeezable basil goo for free, of course they languished in my fridge forever. Today I finally combined them and made a large batch of pesto. I refuse to pay a million dollars per ounce for pine nuts, so instead I used the last of a jar of walnuts, most of which was just walnut dust by now so this was the perfect way to use it up. I made a large batch of chicken pesto pasta for the freezer and then froze the other half of the pesto for later.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on May 21, 2017, 04:43:53 PM
A pound of beef short ribs on sale for 50% off at the grocery store.  An old container of tamarind paste.  A can of orange soda that I got from a person giving out samples last summer.  I added a bit of kecap manis, some Lea & Perrins, and a couple of cloves of garlic, and a squeeze of sriracha.  Browned the beef, and then braised in the oven for 3 hours at 300F.

I think that is the last of the cans of alcohol and pop that I picked up from random giveaways last summer. $7 for two meals that would have been ~$22 each in a restaurant.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 22, 2017, 02:29:10 PM
DH made a salad for dinner including a tin of sardines and a tin of octopus, bought in Greece or Italy years ago, that has just past their best before date. Tasted fine.
He also found some tins of warm smoked salmon. No idea why we ever bought this in tin. They had their date in march this year. Time to put them on a pizza or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 23, 2017, 01:23:22 PM
We are coming to the end of our hotel stay and are due to close on our new home this Friday.

I brought the condiments from the hotel room fridge to my office fridge and things just barely fit.

Tonight will be breakfast for supper using a can of corned beef hash leftover from camping last weekend, and some pre-cooked bacon and sausage.  I was going to microwave a potato also leftover from camping, but I'm not sure the hotel microwave can handle it, LOL.

Tomorrow and Thursday we have meetings, so there will be no time to make food at the hotel.  Hence sentence #2 above.  ;)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 24, 2017, 04:55:34 AM
Tonight we will eat for the third time from the same iceberg salad. It is not my favorite salad, but I bought it because it is the cheapest and it lasts forever.
We will also make some homemade pizza and I will add some more boxes of sardines and octopus that we found in a drawer, several years old. I also finished a pot of olives from the fridge that had been there opened for a very long time.

By the way: I have the really bad habit of eating the leftover chunks of cheese as a snack. That means that when I make a pizza, I should have used the left over chunks for making grated cheese for the pizza. Now I have to use the still good chunk of cheese for that. Facepunch me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MandalayVA on May 24, 2017, 06:10:23 AM
I HAVE OFFICIALLY EMPTIED OUT THE CHEST FREEZER

We'd debated whether or not to bring it with us to Florida, but it turns out where I'd place it doesn't have an outlet, and also the new-to-us fridge has a pretty good-sized freezer.  The guy who's been doing some work on our place is involved with a group at his church that feeds the homeless, and they were in the market for a chest freezer.  The fridge has been cleared of old stuff too and we're working on the canned goods.  Wins all around!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OzStash on May 26, 2017, 06:59:35 PM
I'm happy to find this thread. Moving in a couple of months, and just started my attempt to eat down the pantry and freezer. I had no idea I had stockpiled so much pasta and tinned fish!

Also I have been able to replenish my work desk-stash of nuts and other snacks that have been languishing hidden in the pantry. Score! 😊
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on May 26, 2017, 07:55:17 PM
Working on this, in large part because I've lost track of what's in the deep freeze.


Used up all the onions and almost all the potatoes in a groundnut stew yesterday, plus a bunch of last summer's green tomatoes. Today was pantry spaghetti. I also used one of many sale cans of pumpkin purée in the sauce- good thickener and angst-free vegetables for husband - not a trick, he knows.


I'm making good progress on a giant supply of frozen overripe bananas -smoothies and homemade fudgesicles. I've made so much progress it looks like I'll have to buy cocoa!


I'm going to try to use something from that deep freezer in every meal for a while, even if it means I make a cobbler - the first blackberries look like they'll be ready tomorrow, so I need to use what is left from early last summer before the drought hit and killed all the berries. I have a giant supply of stevia I dried last summer to sweeten it.


Going to try to buy only milk, a little bit of fresh produce, cocoa :) and flour through at least the first two weeks of June.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OzStash on May 28, 2017, 03:33:38 AM
Moved onto the freezer also. Defrosting a massive 'meat and veg' mystery stew that looks like it could feed me all week 😄
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OzStash on May 28, 2017, 04:17:53 AM
A few bananas that had been in the freezer too long, some yoghurt that had to be used up, like TODAY, some cacao nibs from who-knows-what gourmet experiment that's just been lurking in the pantry for who-knows-how-long, a dash of milk, and nom nom nom dessert smoothie! 😊
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on May 28, 2017, 11:05:15 AM
Hubs is going to be digging into my homemade freezer meals as he gears up for a couple of weeks of crazy at work. Going from usual 8 hour days to 12-14 hour days and then swapping to temporary 12-14 hour nightshifts. This requires a lot of planning and food prep since he has to take 2-3 meals into work each shift. 

I'll be making a big batch of granola today using up pantry stuff. I've made a big batch of lemon poppyseed pancakes from my coconut pulp leftover from making coconut milk. Have discovered these are tasty hot and right outta the fridge so that'll be awesome to have on hand.

Great hearing about all the progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 29, 2017, 02:55:50 AM
A few bananas that had been in the freezer too long, some yoghurt that had to be used up, like TODAY, some cacao nibs from who-knows-what gourmet experiment that's just been lurking in the pantry for who-knows-how-long, a dash of milk, and nom nom nom dessert smoothie! 😊

Yoghurt can be kept for a long time past the best before date. As long as there ain't other than yoghurt bacteria in there.
We finished 4 packs of home made trip meals from 2016 on a canoeing trip in the past 4 days. Also finished all the old bags of muesli.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OzStash on May 29, 2017, 11:05:21 PM

Yoghurt can be kept for a long time past the best before date. As long as there ain't other than yoghurt bacteria in there.


Oh yeah, sorry to clarify - I'm big on ignoring use-by dates, I just meant this yogurt really was at the limit of what my tastebuds find acceptable 😄
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on June 12, 2017, 08:59:52 PM
I am on a 4 week challenge - my entire family is out of state or out of country for the next 4 weeks and I am attempting to stay under $200 for 4 weeks gas, groceries and any other incidentals ($50 per week). To achieve this I am going to try only have what is in this house (with exception to the meat :-)). Today I had egg noodle (finished), tuna (and with compliments from my garden) tomato, chives and green onion.  I presently have a lot in the grocery cupboard so when I get low I will list to get ideas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 12, 2017, 09:13:49 PM
We've had some cool weather, which means soups, the ideal "use it up" dinner.

Last night:  leg of lamb bone with remaining meat went in the crock pot with lentils, some sad-looking kale, half an onion and a jar of tomatoes for a tasty stew.  Made fresh masa cornbread to go alongside.  Since I didn't have buttermilk, I mixed some yogurt ranch dressing and water for the liquid part.  Worked fine.

Tonight:  unstuffed cabbage stew - used up the remainders of jars of homemade ketchup, BBQ sauce, salsa and pesto, half a can of olives, half a cabbage that's been in the fridge for a few weeks, and a couple jars of home-canned tomatoes. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on June 15, 2017, 10:15:38 PM
I am on a 4 week challenge - my entire family is out of state or out of country for the next 4 weeks and I am attempting to stay under $200 for 4 weeks gas, groceries and any other incidentals ($50 per week). To achieve this I am going to try only have what is in this house (with exception to the meat :-)). Today I had egg noodle (finished), tuna (and with compliments from my garden) tomato, chives and green onion.  I presently have a lot in the grocery cupboard so when I get low I will list to get ideas.
So discovered about 60 tortilla's. Yesterday was a wrap with scrambled eggs, the garden compliments and cheddar cheese. Today wrap with lettuce and garden compliment and mayo. I have farro (never cooked it), black beans, quinoa. rice, (drowning in tomatoes), frozen veg, pasta. Suggestions please?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 15, 2017, 10:32:17 PM
Tonight dinner was red flannel hash with the last package of Christmas ham from the freezer instead of bacon.  It also used up one of the CostCo onions that are starting to turn.  Note to self:  quit buying onions at CostCo, they go bad too quickly.

Tomorrow I'm planning to use the second half of a package of extra-spicy Italian sausage along with spaghetti squash purchased last fall, and home-canned tomatoes in some sort of casserole.  I can probably throw one of the CostCo onions in there as well.

Things are starting to look a little bare around here and I'm trying to decide if a major grocery shop is warranted this weekend.  Perhaps I will double down and do the big package of lamb liver with the remaining onions and some of the Calrose rice I'm trying to make a dent in. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Verdure on June 16, 2017, 11:49:25 AM
I have farro (never cooked it), black beans, quinoa. rice, (drowning in tomatoes), frozen veg, pasta. Suggestions please?

https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/07/one-pan-farro-with-tomatoes/ (https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/07/one-pan-farro-with-tomatoes/)  This is tasty and easy. Any kind of tomato (including canned) works. I have done it in winter with just dried basil, too. Still good.

I like this, also.  http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/ (http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/) It uses quinoa, tomatoes, black beans, and frozen corn.  It's great with the avocado, but still pretty good without.

Edit to add: if you have tons of tomatoes, you could make salsa or pico de gallo, then use grain of choice, beans, possibly frozen veg (spinach or corn could both be good) and tortillas to make burritos.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on June 17, 2017, 05:16:45 PM
Thank-you for the ideas!

I am doing the Farro and tomato dish tonight. We make the one pan quinoa all the time - we love it. It is actually why we have the tortilla's - guessing my husband never checks - just buys a new pack every time he makes it.

I am making a big batch of Marinara sauce - I am so excited to try it - I make it all the time but not with the tomatoes I have grown. It finished the bay leaves and red wine (will need to replace both if I want to make more I guess). Note to self - see if bay trees will grow in a desert! I am currently drying thyme to refill my herb bottle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on June 18, 2017, 02:45:25 PM
Thank-you for the ideas!


I am doing the Farro and tomato dish tonight. - This was sooo good - i had it last night for dinner and reheated for lunch - about $1 for 2 very tasty meals. Here is my list or what I have - I would never have found that recipe without the forum, so I hoping for more inspiration.

Grains and beans - Farro, couscous, lentils, black and red beans (dry), chia seeds, rice, quinoa, tinned baked beans x 5, garbanzo beans x 1, 1lb pinto beans x 1, chili hot beans x 1.

Other tinned : sliced mushroom x 1, tomato paste x 1, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth x2 (has to be for DH - i am pescatarian), tomato sauce x 1, vegetable noodle soup x 1 and vegetable soup concentrate x 1, sardines x 1, kippers x 1. mackerel x 1 and tuna x 1.

Pasta : Lasagna x 2 1/2, chow mein noodles x 1, spaghetti x 1/2, macaroni 3/4 box.

Other : veg broth, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider, chutney x 2, ketchup, maple syrup, Worcestershire, sweet and sour x 1 and 2 1/2 tubs of parm?? idk. Veg oil, olive oil, flour, corn starch and baking powder, oatmeal and instant, thai coconut curry sauce x 1, raisins, 15 packs of mushroom and onion powder mix.

I have spared you the jam debacle and nutella and PB. I also have most spices - I grow as many as I can. I also have a good collection of frozen veg, esp peas.

Ideas and Thank-you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on June 19, 2017, 02:25:05 PM
Thanks Verdure for the mexican quinoa recipe.  I'm making that one night this week.

I'm living two different places right now, which causes a challenge to keep track of ingredients, especially fresh things, but I've been doing pretty good. Downsizing for lengthy international travel, so will get rid of everything. 

I made a curry this weekend using the last carrots and onions in my city apartment, and a couple red peppers and black beans from the freezer, used a couple packets of gelatin and some cornstarch to thicken it.  Down to 1/4 cup cornstarch and 4 packets of gelatin.

Made two loaves of bread, trying to use up baking ingredients. Brought one to rural apartment to share with roommate here. Used one over the weekend for french toast with boyfriend and then to make sandwiches with pesto and soft mozzarella from the freezer and some roasted red peppers.  so delicious. 

Brought along some more frozen black beans and frozen milk from city apartment to rural apartment.  Determined not to throw good food out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on June 30, 2017, 08:49:02 PM
I accidentally bought a can of cream of chicken soup last time I was stocking up on tomato soup. (I make all my soups from scratch except this one. Love tinned tomato soup.)

Wanted a quick lunch and figured, hey, how bad could it be?

So. Bad.

It came out of the can in one gelatinous lump. I added water, as instructed. Didn't help.

The list of ingredients said it contained 3 per cent chicken. I assume those were the strange pink (!) lumps floating in the sea of yellow.

Had one bite. Blegh. Down the drain went the soup and my 90 cents.

Heated up leftover enchiladas instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 01, 2017, 02:09:33 AM
Yesterday we ate tortilla's, but had only two and needed some more. Then we finally found use for some frozen sausage-tortillas (Norwegian fenomina) that have been in the freezer for a very long time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on July 01, 2017, 02:54:03 PM
So we had a software rollout which has kept me at work for 15 hour days. My industry however feeds us 1 meal a day. I have not eaten out but conversely not cooked much either. Black beans are used - I made a mexican tomato rice and beans : http://www.finecooking.com/recipe/mexican-tomato-rice-beans. I had it on tortilla and it really was good.

Grains and beans - Farro, couscous, lentils, black and red beans (dry), chia seeds, rice, quinoa, tinned baked beans x 5, garbanzo beans x 1, 1lb pinto beans x 1, chili hot beans x 1.

Other tinned : sliced mushroom x 1, tomato paste x 1, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth x2 (has to be for DH - i am pescatarian), tomato sauce x 1, vegetable noodle soup x 1 and vegetable soup concentrate x 1, sardines x 1, kippers x 1. mackerel x 1 and tuna x 1.

Pasta : Lasagna x 2 1/2, chow mein noodles x 1, spaghetti x 1/2, macaroni 3/4 box.

Other : veg broth, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider, chutney x 2, ketchup, maple syrup, Worcestershire, sweet and sour x 1 and 2 1/2 tubs of parm?? idk. Veg oil, olive oil, flour, corn starch and baking powder, oatmeal and instant, thai coconut curry sauce x 1, raisins, 15 packs of mushroom and onion powder mix.

I have spared you the jam debacle and nutella and PB. I also have most spices - I grow as many as I can. I also have a good collection of frozen veg, esp peas.

More ideas would be gratefully received and Thank-you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 02, 2017, 08:59:31 AM
Yesterday, when barbecueing, DH smeared some wild garlic oil on the slices of sweet potatoe. I had quite forgotten that I made this oil.

I also just ate a slicevof bread with some peanutbutter that bern in the closet for a long time. Earlier tosay also ate some honney that was in the closet for a long time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquirrelStache on July 02, 2017, 10:25:13 AM
I'm cooking up some pig butt in the Instant Pot later, so in an effort to use things up (and make the meat last longer) I'm going to serve it with pasta and some random frozen veggies.

Also just assessed the pantry and discovered we have a TON of oatmeal (which I like eating but always forget about) and cereal (which we go through phases on). I'm trying to decide if I can turn the cereal into some kind of granola bars, as we hardly ever have milk in the house (and when we do, we don't use it and it turns into an alien life form in the fridge).

ETA: Someone further up mentioned a plethora of popcorn lurking about - we also have this problem and I'm not sure why. I suspect a conspiracy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 04, 2017, 08:35:30 AM
Argh.  My husband rarely cooks, and in his defense, I store pretty much everything in unlabeled bottles and canisters, so it's not exactly easy to find ingredients if you aren't an experienced cook.  But I came home the other day and he was making coleslaw for a work potluck, and had purchased small packages of several ingredients (that we already had), which are now clogging up my beautifully organized cupboards.  So, one step back, but I should be able to dump the small packages into my containers and do away with the clutter.

Cooking white beans today as a side dish to our smoked pork shoulder. I really want to buy some cranberry beans, but can't find them in town and the most reasonable price online is for a 10# bag, so I'm committing to using up the 3# or so of white beans first.

Dry rub for today's pork shoulder used up some juniper berries that have been in the spice cabinet for probably a decade, as well as some bay leaf fragments that weren't eligible for use in soups.

Yesterday I made a big batch of coleslaw with 3/5 of a red cabbage, the last sugar snap peas from the garden, and some sad looking carrots and green onions.  The dressing was based on the end of a tub of yogurt that I suspect might have started molding within the next few days, and I used juice from my home-fermented pickles as the vinegar element.  It was a big hit with DH who had a normal serving with his burger, and then went back and got pretty much a plate full and scarfed it down.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 05, 2017, 04:48:49 AM
I actually threw away some food. These we mushroom that I picked last year, but not the most tasteful ones (those have been eaten). I even ruined a frying pan in the preserving process. I had them in a warm pan, waiting for them to release liquid and then boiling it dry. Then I froze them.
The season for fresh mushrooms is almost there. Since I haven't eaten any of those, I don't think they should take up more space in the freezer. This year I will first start eating some of these fresh and get more used to them.
I also have a load of dried mushrooms that are very tasty. And I will eat them, it is just that I often out of habit buy mushrooms in the shop, so there often isn't a need for dried mushrooms. And these particular dried ones fit best in stews. I guess I'd have to make more of those.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquirrelStache on July 05, 2017, 04:14:50 PM
I found several cans of tuna in the pantry yesterday (and salmon which I have yet to use, though salmon patties may be in my future...), so I made some tuna salad with various condiments and fridge leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on July 11, 2017, 08:24:54 PM
Tonight I was combining "trying to use up awkward/aging ingredients in the fridge" with "spending as little time on food prep as possible" because I'm in a lot of pain today and all I want to do is lie down. Result: caprese salad soft tacos! They were pretty good for a 3-minute no-cook dinner. Added a cold chicken leg and it was practically a well-rounded meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on July 11, 2017, 08:31:03 PM
For dinner tonight:

Opened fridge wine
Old fridge hot dog
Spinach salad with old parmesan remnants and blue cheese dressing (my kid's dressing but he's out of town so I'm using it up)

Tres fancy
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on July 12, 2017, 06:44:45 PM
For dinner tonight:

Opened fridge wine
Old fridge hot dog
Spinach salad with old parmesan remnants and blue cheese dressing (my kid's dressing but he's out of town so I'm using it up)

Tres fancy

LOL, I love it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 13, 2017, 02:34:43 AM
After my summer vacation I need to find some different ways to use up 2,5 pack of oats. I have started eating them for breakfast, but that is not my favorite breakfast and a lot of work including cooking.

I am thinking of:
- cake bottom -> cheese cake
- oatmeal cookies
- maybe some type of bread
- use in waffles instead of flour
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on July 13, 2017, 09:47:52 AM
After my summer vacation I need to find some different ways to use up 2,5 pack of oats. I have started eating them for breakfast, but that is not my favorite breakfast and a lot of work including cooking.

I am thinking of:
- cake bottom -> cheese cake
- oatmeal cookies
- maybe some type of bread
- use in waffles instead of flour

My favorite type of cookie (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/peanut-butter-chocolate-no-bake-cookies-recipe-2015085) uses oatmeal, and you don't need to use your oven. 
I'm also a big fan of overnight oats (https://wholefully.com/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/) because I'm too lazy to cook oats in the morning.  Or a baked oatmea (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/08/oatmeal-cookie-baked-oatmeal/)l. 

We've started to acquire too much stuff in our pantry, but we've managed to keep our freezer clean.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 14, 2017, 12:44:54 AM
After my summer vacation I need to find some different ways to use up 2,5 pack of oats. I have started eating them for breakfast, but that is not my favorite breakfast and a lot of work including cooking.

I am thinking of:
- cake bottom -> cheese cake
- oatmeal cookies
- maybe some type of bread
- use in waffles instead of flour

My favorite type of cookie (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/peanut-butter-chocolate-no-bake-cookies-recipe-2015085) uses oatmeal, and you don't need to use your oven. 
I'm also a big fan of overnight oats (https://wholefully.com/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/) because I'm too lazy to cook oats in the morning.  Or a baked oatmea (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/08/oatmeal-cookie-baked-oatmeal/)l. 

We've started to acquire too much stuff in our pantry, but we've managed to keep our freezer clean.

Thanks. I have tried overnight oats before, but only with yoghurt. I'll try it with other ingredients now.
I also like the oven baked idea.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on July 14, 2017, 06:32:13 AM
After my summer vacation I need to find some different ways to use up 2,5 pack of oats. I have started eating them for breakfast, but that is not my favorite breakfast and a lot of work including cooking.

I am thinking of:
- cake bottom -> cheese cake
- oatmeal cookies
- maybe some type of bread
- use in waffles instead of flour


I substitute 1/2 cup of oats for 1/2 cup flour in baking bread. (1/2 cup is approx. 120 ml)


I also use cooked oats as a binder in bean burgers.


I mix a small amount in with yogurt and fruit instead of granola - this works when you just want a little crunch with you fruit and yogurt, not when you're really seeking granola for itself...

Or just make granola. Base of oats, add a sweetener and spice if you like, plus some nuts. Stir in dried fruit if you like, but only after baking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 14, 2017, 09:29:54 PM
A couple weeks ago I saved the liquid from a couple jars of tomatoes, and was about to throw it out since I hadn't found a use for it (in the winter it would be easy because soup), but it worked great in the lamb and butternut squash curry we had tonight.

I think I'm now down to just one can of coconut milk, so coconut curries about about to be off the menu until I get some other ingredients moved out of here.  I do have coconut flakes still and must puree those into a milk before buying any more of the canned stuff.

The spaghetti squash purchased from a little organic farm last fall is finally used up.  Man, that stuff keeps for ages.

Despite the heat, I ate my canned soups for lunch at work the last two days.

For anyone trying to use up red lentils, a tip I heard the other day, but haven't tried yet, is to saute them in a pan with a little bit of oil prior to cooking.  This will keep them from turning to mush so easily.  I still have lots of red lentils and need to give this a try because the mush factor does stop me from making them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on July 16, 2017, 03:04:02 PM
Grains and beans - Farro, couscous, lentils, black and red beans (dry), chia seeds, rice, quinoa, tinned baked beans x 5 2, garbanzo beans x 1, 1lb pinto beans x 1, chili hot beans x 1.

Other tinned : sliced mushroom x 1, tomato paste x 1, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth x2 (has to be for DH - i am pescatarian), tomato sauce x 1, vegetable noodle soup x 1 and vegetable soup concentrate x 1, sardines x 1, kippers x 1. mackerel x 1 and tuna x 1.

Pasta : Lasagna x 2 1/2, chow mein noodles x 1spaghetti x 1/, 2, macaroni 3/4 box.

Other : veg broth, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider, chutney x 2, ketchup, maple syrup, Worcestershire, sweet and sour x 1 and 2 1/2 tubs of parm?? idk. Veg oil, olive oil, flour, corn starch and baking powder, oatmeal and instant, thai coconut curry sauce x 1, raisins, 15 packs of mushroom and onion powder mix.

I have spared you the jam debacle and nutella and PB. I also have most spices - I grow as many as I can. I also have a good collection of frozen veg, esp peas.

Ideas and Thank-you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on July 17, 2017, 07:37:53 AM
The last of the rice vermicelli packet is in my lunch today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on July 19, 2017, 10:41:52 PM
I am going on vacation in 2.5 weeks and would like to get the refrigerator and freezer eaten down as far as possible. I am currently eating my way through a couple of big batches of leftovers. Yesterday--finished the ice cream bars :).  Today, stretched a cup of flavored yogurt I didn't like much by mixing it with plain and topping it with granola and dried cherries.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on July 23, 2017, 09:03:33 AM
Finished almost all of the leftovers. This week I focused on using up stuff instead of trying new recipes. Out of three attempts, two went well and one was fine: made a new chocolate banana bread recipe to clear out some bananas I had originally bought for a visiting niece. The bread was excellent, but no more so than my other banana bread recipe, which involves one less step and half as many dishes. Topped a frozen cheese pizza (also bought as niece food) with some bits and pieces hanging around the fridge and cleared out some nearly finished jars of jalapenos and roasted peppers. Also improvised a pasta bake with some leftover cheese sauce that turned out a bit on the dry and bland side. It would have been fine if I had just had the pasta and sauce instead of trying to turn it into a casserole. Today's project is a huge salad with lots of bits and pieces.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 23, 2017, 04:36:05 PM
I made potato salad used up an elderly jar of Gray Poupon that's been in the fridge for way too long.

Made beans last week using up one of my canisters.  Put another dent in the white beans making a bean salad yesterday.

The last of my 2016 frozen pesto went into a casserole for dinner on Thursday night. 

We also did homemade tortillas last week and nearly finished off the canister of masa harina.

Made apple butter muffins to bring to work last week since I made a bunch of apple butter, but we don't eat toast, so don't get many chances to use it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MVal on July 29, 2017, 02:56:09 PM
I've been going through the pantry weekly or so and finding whatever items I can throw into a rice or pasta dish. This is what I came up with today.

I had a tiny bit of brown rice left and a bunch of white rice, so I made the brown first in the rice cooker and then the white, cooking together with a beef bullion cube and a handful of sun-dried tomatoes that finished off an old bag of those. When the rice was done, I crushed up what was left of an old bag of dried kale chips, shredded some chili-lime beef jerky past its prime and added a few pinches of dried onion flakes. I mixed it with a bottle of German dressing now no longer haunting the fridge and it turned out pretty nicely. It tastes like a good dirty-rice.

****
4:00 pm - So I had too much dressing for what I made but want to finish this bottle off, so I am making an additional cup of rice , plus I chopped up the cucuzza squash from the farmer's market last week to add. This should make plenty to cover dinner or lunch all next week.

It was really nice being able to make all this in the rice cooker and not have to turn on the stove or oven. My small house doesn't have central AC and just has a single window unit, so anything I can do to avoid heating up the kitchen is bonus.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 07, 2017, 12:45:58 AM
Finally we made some longer hiking trips during this summer vacation and we ate most of the home made bags of dried food that had filled up the freezer. One challenge with that is that I dry the ingredients separately and just add them together in a bag with spices. But I cannot taste it before it is rehydrated on a trip. So it is smart to bring a lot of extra spices just in case.
This winter I might make some new batches for the coming summer. Maybe not so many this time. I should also do it when there are cheap veggies available.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on September 06, 2017, 04:08:32 AM
Finished off some odds and ends:
A tiny pack of cereal from my hospital stay.
The last little bit of a block of cheddar.
The last few crackers in a packet.

I'm focusing on finishing off the random things we have just a little of, but will keep buying the foods we consistently eat in a timely fashion.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 06, 2017, 10:04:14 AM
Thanks for bumping this thread.  I was looking for it the other day, but got distracted before I looked very far.

This weekend I emptied out quite a few of our glass storage canisters.  I'm cheating a bit in that I am feeding the flax and chia seeds to the horses, and have started cooking batches of chickpeas and white beans for the chickens.  The white beans wouldn't cook evenly (old?) and I decided I just don't really like chickpeas, so out they go.

Very close to being done with the whey protein powder.  I mixed in some gelatin I've also been trying to use up.

Still have lots of red lentils, and will make a tomato dahl with them tonight.

Used a bit of the red rooibos tea I don't care for in a couple big batches of kombucha.

Rice also needs to be on the menu; I grabbed a deal on 10# bags of white rice about a year ago and we're only getting close to finishing the first bag. 

Going forward, the pantry is going to be much simpler.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on September 11, 2017, 08:14:53 PM
Made a smoothie this morning to use up a soft banana.

Used up the last of a pasta dish by bulking it out with broccoli for lunch.

Sliced and froze a lime to throw in drinks (hello, rum and Coke).

Froze some shaved turkey. My husband, in his infinite wisdom, bought half a kilo of it for his salads, then went overseas for 10 nights. >.<
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on September 12, 2017, 10:23:37 AM
Bought a 5 lb box of mushrooms so now I get to eat them all this week. I like this part of the challenge. 

It is made more difficult by my current living situation.  I have a microwave, a pressure cooker, and a freezer.  I'll be here 8 weeks, then traveling abroad.

I bought a mini fridge but it doesn't fit the space, so I'll need to order one.

I put the mushrooms in a cooler with some icepacks and have been eating some raw.  I picked up some beef broth and barley and will make up a very mushroomy soup. mmhmmm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Verdure on September 12, 2017, 11:03:38 AM
Bought a 5 lb box of mushrooms so now I get to eat them all this week. I like this part of the challenge. 

It is made more difficult by my current living situation.  I have a microwave, a pressure cooker, and a freezer.  I'll be here 8 weeks, then traveling abroad.

Mushroom soup, yum! 

Is the pressure cooker an Instant Pot type deal which you could use to saute mushrooms?  If so, I would probably saute a bunch to use in sandwiches and for making microwave mini-quiches
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lexde on September 12, 2017, 12:35:51 PM
We did this semi-successfully. On day 3 of no power (hurricane) so we ate 90% of our food and had to discard the rest. Discarding was disappointing but it was much better than most people I know who had to toss hundreds of dollars worth of food!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on September 14, 2017, 06:44:23 PM
Bought a 5 lb box of mushrooms so now I get to eat them all this week. I like this part of the challenge. 

It is made more difficult by my current living situation.  I have a microwave, a pressure cooker, and a freezer.  I'll be here 8 weeks, then traveling abroad.

Mushroom soup, yum! 

Is the pressure cooker an Instant Pot type deal which you could use to saute mushrooms?  If so, I would probably saute a bunch to use in sandwiches and for making microwave mini-quiches


Microwave quiche sounds like a lovely idea.

Yes, my pressure cooker is an instant pot.  I've been making good use of the saute feature.  I'm figuring I'll also be able to fry eggs or a sandwich in it, though it might not be the most convenient it's nice to have that option without another appliance. 

Tonight I made lentil taco/nachos.

Also, forgot I have a bread machine.  I wanted to try out a quick bread as they are staples in my lunch packing, but I have no eggs, so I made a wacky cake and it turned out lovely.  I'm already making a dinner party menu; yeast bread, corn bread, layer cake (just to show off) and a nice vegetarian chili with a big salad, fresh fruit and maybe a rice pilaf.  I can handle that with my few appliances and limited refrigeration if I plan ahead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 14, 2017, 06:55:10 PM
PMG, that's an impressive dinner menu with your limited kitchen.  I think with some of the mushrooms, I might saute in some oil and then freeze in chunks to use later.  I like mushrooms, but that is a lot of mushrooms!

Lexde, hope your power is back on now and you're unscathed by the hurricane.

We're enjoying a sudden 20+ degree drop in temperatures, so soup is back on the menu, which makes using things up so, so much easier.  I just put together a soup to slow-cook tomorrow in the Instant Pot using the last of a canister of lentils (only the reds left, yay!) some kale I picked last week but didn't get around to using, and the last of a bag of bacon ends and pieces from the freezer, as well as several plum tomatoes that had ripened too much for canning.  Of course the base is homemade stock from last week's whole roasted chicken. ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on September 16, 2017, 02:28:23 PM
I just cleaned out the cupboard and found dried chickpeas, lentils and farro that all need to be eaten.  Now that summer is over, it might be time to break out the ancient pressure cooker again to cook these.  I'll probably make a lentil soup tomorrow to eat during the week for lunch and maybe some kind of quick bread.  But I always have issues with cooking dried chick peas.  I've had success in the past with falafel but does anyone have any other suggestion for dried chickpeas?  How about farro?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on September 16, 2017, 05:55:29 PM
https://www.theblackpeppercorn.com/2012/10/hummus-making-hummus-with-dry-chick-peas/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on September 16, 2017, 09:21:56 PM
You can use farro like you'd use brown rice, mostly. I prefer farro to rice most of the time (but don't cook it much because it's relatively expensive).

I have made minestrone soup using chickpeas and farro (in place of the usual beans/pasta) and it comes out great.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 16, 2017, 11:11:52 PM
I like to use farro as a grain in my salads.  I use quinoa too.  It's a nice way to get a lot of leafy greens and a bit of carbs in at lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 17, 2017, 11:06:14 AM
Finished off our rolled oats and some bread flour as part of a quiche crust (spinach, peameal bacon, cheddar). 

Made braised tamarind beef for the freezer with the 50% off stewing beef.  We are slowly working towards the end of the tamarind paste.  I added a bit of water to the container to help it dissolve more easily into the next recipe and be less difficult to decant.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 17, 2017, 12:44:52 PM
We have unconsciously filled up the meat freezer again, so since Friday I write on my shopping list that I shouldn't buy more meat.

I have also been doing the opposite of emptying the house, and filled up the house with dried and frozen mushrooms. Free food from the forest. But it starts to get large quantities and I still have some dried Cantharellus Tubaformis left from last year. I am starting to use them more often in food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on September 17, 2017, 10:39:16 PM
Made this tonight.  Tasty way to use some random veggies.
 Ours had celery, carrots, peppers and shallot. 
http://www.indianveggiedelight.com/category/biryani-recipes/

I also totally bastardized this recipe because I was set on making it, then discovered that all my fig preserves were used up.  I used two small jars of "compote" I canned last year from who knows what sort of fruits, and cut up some prunes I dried from free plums last summer, and used almonds instead of pecans.  To my surprise, it still came out really good.  Will have happy coworkers tomorrow, even though I didn't make the frosting. 
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018919-fresh-fig-cake-with-honey-cream-cheese-frosting?action=click&module=Global%20Search%20Recipe%20Card&pgType=search&rank=3
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on September 24, 2017, 07:33:32 PM
I haven't checked in here in a while.  Made peach berry crisp with fruit from the freezer and it was delicious.

My wife is away this week so I'll be doing use it up meals all week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 25, 2017, 01:27:04 AM
Yesterday I made waffles and put in some of the over best before date oats that I have 2 bags of.

I thawed a piece of trout that my DH caught in August and treated with salt, sugar and dill. We'll be eating it this week. It is mostly for on toast, but we'll improvise it into some form of dinner. Maybe toast with green salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 25, 2017, 07:59:21 AM
I have also been doing the opposite of emptying the house, and filled up the house with dried and frozen mushrooms. Free food from the forest. But it starts to get large quantities and I still have some dried Cantharellus Tubaformis left from last year. I am starting to use them more often in food.

I am doing something similar - trying to fill up the freezer with ingredients while they are cheap so that we can eat out of it over the winter.  Roasted tomato, roasted peppers, roasted cauliflower.

I opened the final jar of 2016 apple sauce Saturday. We will be going picking this coming weekend, so I feel that I managed that supply perfectly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 04, 2017, 01:41:53 PM
I've returned after being gone for 4 months.  We successfully moved into our house.  I've carefully restocked certain items and discovered over the summer I spent $200 more per month in groceries than I had been prior to the move.  Granted, that includes our July open house and another party last month, but still.  It's time to cut back.

Last night I made my own pizza sauce using a can of tomato paste from the pantry.  I made a low carb pizza crust which used up the rest of the mozzarella and cream cheese.

Tonight I'll use the rest of the bagged spinach in a beef and spinach stir fry.

Tomorrow I'll use up some condiments by putting them into the Crock Pot with pork ribs.

Monday's snack here at the office were a strange mix of mini fridge leftovers:  Green beans, a few slices pepperoni, and a Babybel Gouda, warmed up in the microwave.  Not too shabby.

We have used up 2 bags of leftover buns we tossed in the freezer after July's open house.  One bag DH used as sandwiches.  Another I sliced open, slathered on butter and shredded cheese to make cheese toast a la Sizzler.  DH loves that stuff, LOL.

There were some leftover bagged pork cracklings DH said I could make into cornbread.  I haven't restocked corn meal, so I declined.  No buying groceries until payday unless it's produce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on October 04, 2017, 06:14:11 PM
I'd love that low carb pizza crust recipe if you're willing to share!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 05, 2017, 01:49:49 AM
We are doing well by eating the meat out of the freezer. We still have one side of self-caught trout and 2 large pieces of meat and several bags of minced meat. That last thing is practical to have anyway as you can thaw it in the microwave and use it immediately for dinner.
The big chunk of meat should be prepared somewhere during a weekend. Than we can eat from it for several days.

I made the mistake of buying a bit too many veggies. I hope we will manage to eat them before they expire. I'd forgotten that we were going away for the weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 05, 2017, 11:45:53 AM
I opened the final jar of 2016 apple sauce Saturday. We will be going picking this coming weekend, so I feel that I managed that supply perfectly.

I returned my jars this weekend and came home with 3 more pints to finish before the 2017 batch is made later this month.

You know that thing where you decide you are going to finish a product, and then you discover all the things you like making with it, so you consider buying it again? That is where I am with miso paste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 08, 2017, 09:56:04 PM
I was generously given an entire kosher beef salami. Any ideas to use that up? I live alone so it seems a bit overwhelming in terms of quantity, considering it's not something you eat in large portions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on October 08, 2017, 11:33:41 PM
I was generously given an entire kosher beef salami. Any ideas to use that up? I live alone so it seems a bit overwhelming in terms of quantity, considering it's not something you eat in large portions.

Beef salami is something I buy occasionally, and I've found it freezes well. I cut it into portions that I'd be likely to use over a day or two, and just stick them in the freezer in a ziploc.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 09, 2017, 01:07:21 AM
I am still in the process of filling up one freezer and one kitchen drawer with mushrooms. The forest is just so full with free food.
I have not needed to buy any mushrooms since september.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on October 09, 2017, 01:34:33 PM
What would you do with the homemade pizza sauce that I've got in my freezer, when we've cut out flour and sugar and therefore pizza is no longer an option?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 09, 2017, 01:55:04 PM
What would you do with the homemade pizza sauce that I've got in my freezer, when we've cut out flour and sugar and therefore pizza is no longer an option?

I think you could sub it for tomato sauce in many recipes... stuffed zucchini/peppers/etc., chicken or eggplant parmesan. There's also some kind of "hot pizza dip" you can make with cheese and pizza sauce and... I don't know what else. I don't have a recipe for that one but I had it at someone's house.

@Cressida: What do you usually use the salami for? Just sandwiches, or... ?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on October 09, 2017, 04:27:32 PM
I have heard about, but not made, pizzas with potato or cauliflower as the base. You might need to eat it with cutlery!
Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on October 09, 2017, 04:38:16 PM
http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/hot-pizza-dip-2687
This would be great with toast, english muffins or pita bread. Gluten free, I’d make potato “chips” out of sliced potatoes crisped in the oven. It would also be good over spaghetti squash.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Cressida on October 09, 2017, 10:59:20 PM
@Cressida: What do you usually use the salami for? Just sandwiches, or... ?

Usually some variant of ploughman's lunch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ploughman%27s_lunch). Mine always includes fruit, which I think is not traditional, and often lacks pickle, which is. It's customizable, and a useful thing to make when you have the ingredients on hand and don't feel like cooking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 10, 2017, 08:02:46 AM
Coming in to report that I've used up the red lentils!  Last night I made an Indian feast of naan, butter chicken, red lentil dal and turmeric cauliflower rice with the last wee summer squash I rescued before first frost.  I learned a handy tip from a vegan coworker to saute the red lentils in some oil before adding liquid; it helps them keep some shape and texture.

Last leg of lamb has also been used, though there are still several packages of lamb and beef in the freezer to work through, and only about three weeks until this year's lambs are ready.

Now my problem is a literal wheelbarrow load of mostly green tomatoes.  I'm going to can some green tomato chutney, and already did 15 pints of salsa verde.  Will make fried green tomatoes weekly as long as they last and give some away, but some are still going to go to waste, I'm sure.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on October 10, 2017, 08:54:58 AM
I have heard about, but not made, pizzas with potato or cauliflower as the base. You might need to eat it with cutlery!

Oof, we tried cauliflower crust this weekend. YUCK. :(

That pizza dip sounds pretty good!

horsepoor, you can put the green tomatoes in a paper bag with the top folded over, and often they'll ripen in your house that way. I just successfully saved a few big heirlooms whose vine snapped while the tomatoes were still green; it took a few weeks but they are now ripe and taste fine. I probably have a better than 50% success rate with this method - which is better than zero, I figure. (I don't like green tomatoes in any form so otherwise they'd just get tossed.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on October 10, 2017, 07:21:01 PM
Coming in to report that I've used up the red lentils!  Last night I made an Indian feast of naan, butter chicken, red lentil dal and turmeric cauliflower rice with the last wee summer squash I rescued before first frost.  I learned a handy tip from a vegan coworker to saute the red lentils in some oil before adding liquid; it helps them keep some shape and texture.

Last leg of lamb has also been used, though there are still several packages of lamb and beef in the freezer to work through, and only about three weeks until this year's lambs are ready.

Now my problem is a literal wheelbarrow load of mostly green tomatoes.  I'm going to can some green tomato chutney, and already did 15 pints of salsa verde.  Will make fried green tomatoes weekly as long as they last and give some away, but some are still going to go to waste, I'm sure.


You can throw green tomatoes straight into the freezer in a bag, no blanching or anything. I pull them out whole to put in stews and the like.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 13, 2017, 06:32:00 PM
I have finished the container of bacon syrup in a final compote of cranberries and mango/peach/strawberry mixed fruit from the freezer. Spiced with nutmeg (thanks EF!), cinnamon & cardamon.

Finished the ancient bag of baby onions with this week's roast chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 20, 2017, 12:57:49 PM
I'd love that low carb pizza crust recipe if you're willing to share!

Tris, I am so sorry for the delay in response!  It's been a whirlwind month here at the office.

http://yourlighterside.com/2012/02/easy-pizza-crust/ (http://yourlighterside.com/2012/02/easy-pizza-crust/)

For simplicity, I use canned chicken.  I've made several topping variations, including Alfredo, BBQ and traditional pepperoni.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on October 21, 2017, 01:32:51 PM
Still at it, as always...My mission for today was to make muffins to bring to a party tonight using only whatever goodies we already had in the house, so I made a batch of oatmeal muffins with cinnamon, dried cherries, and raisins which smelled divine when they were baking. I riffed off of this recipe: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/oatmeal_muffins_with_raisins_dates_and_walnuts/ (http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/oatmeal_muffins_with_raisins_dates_and_walnuts/) They came out of the oven with flat, rather crackly tops and appear to be nice and moist. Hopefully they also taste good!

The next thing which we need to tackle is the high number of open jars / bottles in the door of the fridge - time to start roasting with harissa, making lots of different stir-fry sauces, and cooking with miso and bullion and mustard. This is generally pretty easy for us (I LOVE making up sauces) but the number of  bottles is getting a little daunting and we need to stop buying new things to try!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on October 22, 2017, 05:32:22 PM
One week left before extensive travel.  I made a big batch of curry today with split peas, sweet potatoes and black beans. I've got enough to last the week and I have a meal or two out planned, so I shouldn't get bored.

I expect to use up my oatmeal too. 

I'm struggling over what to store and what to give away. It would be lovely to come home in 6 months and have a few staples.... but really?  Who packs up a half a pound of dried beans? And spices are best fresh, but are also the most expensive item, so perhaps worth saving, but then no longer fresh? ahhh!

My pantry:  8 eggs, pesto, yeast, soy sauce, diced garlic, black beans, 3 lbs rice, 1/2 pound barley, 4 oz coffee, 4 oz tea, 2 cups sugar, 1/4 sorghum, 12 jars of spices, 1/4 cup tapioca, cornstarch, cocoa, baking soda/powder, vinegar, peanut butter, 2 cans of soup, 3 bananas, 2 apples, 4 sweet potatoes, 2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup coconut oil, sea salt, 2 tbsp butter, 2 bottles of whiskey
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 22, 2017, 05:57:30 PM
I'm making an effort to wade through some of pantry items we accumulated over winter.

Tomato soup for dinner last week (perfect with toasted sandwiches on a rainy Friday night), and have a couple more cans to go.

I'll make a batch of cereal with the dried coconut, chia seeds and oats.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 23, 2017, 06:47:18 AM
The last of an ancient container of miso has been transformed into a dressing (miso, tahini, honey, sriracha, rice vinegar) for lunches this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 23, 2017, 12:56:22 PM
YellowCat, those muffins sound delicious!  Plainjane, what a creative idea!

Except for buying Halloween party food, my goal is to stay out of the grocery store until next payday, Nov 15th.  I'll ask DH to buy fresh produce until then.  I'm sorry to say yesterday I tossed 5 sausage links and a boiled egg we didn't get to from our camping trip the weekend before.  And DH threw out the remaining bag of stale tortilla chips someone brought to our party last month.

A jar of homemade jalapeno jelly someone gave us will be poured over cream cheese for this Saturday's Halloween party.

To use fridge items, I did a search for the ingredients we have on hand.  Tonight I'm making stuffed zucchini:  https://www.google.com/search?q=jimmy+dean+stuffed+zucchini&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 (https://www.google.com/search?q=jimmy+dean+stuffed+zucchini&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8)

Tomorrow night I'm going to make enchiladas, but we have no tortillas.  Sticking with my no grocery shopping pledge, I'm going to try my hand at making low carb tortillas for the first time.  I'll report back, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 25, 2017, 11:21:38 PM
Some threads never die, and thank God for that!  There's always someone somewhere with some random pantry item that needs to be used up!

Hi everyone, haven't been around for a bit, but I went to Camp Moustache Canada on the weekend and reconnected with some of my moustachian friends.  Now I'm eager to get back on track in the kitchen too!

Thanks to plainjane at a previous Toronto meet-up, I made two loafs of rye bread today, which finished up both my rye and whole wheat flours, and put a bit of a dent in what's left of an old package of dehydrated onion.  The flours will eventually get replaced, but I'll try to use up some more of my cornmeal and oatmeal before I do that.  Hopefully I can get a couple of loaves baked tomorrow too - I've actually got 3 bread machines, one on active duty and two more hand-me-down ones stored away against future breakage!  So I pulled one of the spares out and got two machines going at once.  One loaf has already been hacked into for a late night snack, the other will go in the freezer for future use - like when I'm really busy at work and haven't had a chance to get to the store in a while, it'll be nice to just pull a loaf out.

Speaking of which, my freezer continues to be pretty full, and my cupboards too, but my fridge is in really good shape at the moment, with just a couple of things left in there that should be targeted for extinction due to being on the old side. 

Will need to add more to this list later, but off the top of my head, here are a few things I should concentrate on using:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney

Spices and flavourings:  dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders,

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  white flour, oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 26, 2017, 12:09:58 AM
Two packets of Cup a Soup (I think my husband bought them for his lunches then never touched them) and one tin of baked beans are gone.

Husband is away this weekend so this is a good chance to use up ingredients in a few creative dishes...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: marty998 on October 26, 2017, 01:24:16 AM
Two packets of Cup a Soup (I think my husband bought them for his lunches then never touched them) and one tin of baked beans are gone.

Husband is away this weekend so this is a good chance to use up ingredients in a few creative dishes...

Do I get a leave pass for having cup of soup now? Or are you going to keep telling me I should still learn how to cook it? :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 26, 2017, 05:09:00 AM
Two packets of Cup a Soup (I think my husband bought them for his lunches then never touched them) and one tin of baked beans are gone.

Husband is away this weekend so this is a good chance to use up ingredients in a few creative dishes...

Do I get a leave pass for having cup of soup now? Or are you going to keep telling me I should still learn how to cook it? :)

You’re the smartest person I know.

I still think you should know how to make soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 26, 2017, 01:32:39 PM

[snip]

Tomorrow night I'm going to make enchiladas, but we have no tortillas.  Sticking with my no grocery shopping pledge, I'm going to try my hand at making low carb tortillas for the first time.  I'll report back, LOL.

I made the tortillas.  They come out a bit thick, and one pours the batter into the pan, rather than rolling it into balls, but they tasted okay.  Savings:  $4+ for not buying low carb tortillas and whatever else I would have purchased during the extra grocery trip!  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/232480/paleo-tortillas/ (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/232480/paleo-tortillas/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on October 26, 2017, 02:04:14 PM
A friend of ours whose family owns a potato farm outside the city just gave us a huge bag of really yummy potatoes plus a huge  bag of walnuts. 

So far, we've been putting walnuts on all our salads and eating walnuts as snacks.  Potatoes have been roasted and mashed and I'm planning shepherd's pie over the weekend. 

Does anyone else have some good potato and/or walnut recipes?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 26, 2017, 11:17:14 PM
A friend of ours whose family owns a potato farm outside the city just gave us a huge bag of really yummy potatoes plus a huge  bag of walnuts. 

So far, we've been putting walnuts on all our salads and eating walnuts as snacks.  Potatoes have been roasted and mashed and I'm planning shepherd's pie over the weekend. 

Does anyone else have some good potato and/or walnut recipes?

Someone on this site introduced me to Crash Hot Potatoes http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/crash-hot-potatoes/ (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/crash-hot-potatoes/) which are versatile in terms of what you add to them, and super delicious.  If you eat dairy, scalloped potatoes make a bit of a change from regular roasted and mashed.  Can dress it up with onions and other veggies, could probably also add ham or something to make it a one dish meal?  Which reminds me, I have a few very old potatoes in the fridge, and some newer ones, plus way too many onions.  Maybe I'm the one who should be making some fancy scalloped potatoes!

With the walnuts, you could make pesto.  I've never made it, but I understand it to be very easy...

Speaking of pesto, I have some bread in the bread maker(s) at the moment.  I spun off from a pesto bread recipe to try to guess at proportions, and used up a big handful of herbs from the garden in each loaf (just threw the leaves into the pan as is), along with some chopped garlic in oil, and olive oil left from a jar of sundried tomatoes.  Didn't want to lose that flavourful oil!  It's deconstructed pesto bread :-)  The recipe called for eggs, so I got to use some eggs I'd previously frozen when they were about to pass their best before date just before I went on vacation this summer.  Both loaves will get popped into the freezer when done, as emergency loaves for between shopping trips.  If I have bread, cereal, milk, hummous, cheese and even a little bit of fruit and veg in the house, I can usually survive for a couple of days!  My white flour is now running low, but I think I can probably get one more large loaf using white flour plus oatmeal or cornmeal (or both) before it runs out.  Luckily, it's a good time of year for re-stocking baking supplies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 26, 2017, 11:37:34 PM
...snip...

Speaking of pesto, I have some bread in the bread maker(s) at the moment.  I spun off from a pesto bread recipe to try to guess at proportions, and used up a big handful of herbs from the garden in each loaf (just threw the leaves into the pan as is), along with some chopped garlic in oil, and olive oil left from a jar of sundried tomatoes.  Didn't want to lose that flavourful oil!  It's deconstructed pesto bread :-)  The recipe called for eggs, so I got to use some eggs I'd previously frozen when they were about to pass their best before date just before I went on vacation this summer.  Both loaves will get popped into the freezer when done, as emergency loaves for between shopping trips.

Now that the bread is actually baking, I've come back to say that it might kill me not to eat some of it right away, as it smells soooo good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 27, 2017, 01:54:24 AM
I am planning on making the oatmeal muffins as described below. But I did a really bad thing for being in this thread: I went out and bought walnuts because I didn't have any left. But walnuts are a staple that I like to have in store. I will use oatmeal that has past the best before date.

Yesterday we ate a double portion of gulash that I made last weekend. What a luxury, eating a meal from the freezer. We had almost no dishes. Now we have only 1 portion of gulash left.
DH spent the night alone on Wednesday and made himself an improvised pizza of some homemade foccacia that we had in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on October 27, 2017, 09:54:50 AM
On a weird whim last year I bought a 25 lb bag of chia. I still have 24 lbs left. Presently I eat about 1tbsp per day in my oatmeal, meaning that unless I find other things to add it to, I should have enough chia for the next 8 years. It'll last, but it's still ridiculous.

Does anyone have tasty ideas for chia other than ubiquitous puddings?

I guess a Chia Pet* wouldn't be a helpful suggestion lol. 

*For those who don't know what a Chia Pet is, it's a clay figure (e.g., horse, dog, president's head) that you spread chia seeds on and water.  The seeds sprout and grow looking sorta like hair.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Verdure on October 27, 2017, 02:36:12 PM
On a weird whim last year I bought a 25 lb bag of chia. I still have 24 lbs left. Presently I eat about 1tbsp per day in my oatmeal, meaning that unless I find other things to add it to, I should have enough chia for the next 8 years. It'll last, but it's still ridiculous.

Does anyone have tasty ideas for chia other than ubiquitous puddings?

I guess a Chia Pet* wouldn't be a helpful suggestion lol. 

*For those who don't know what a Chia Pet is, it's a clay figure (e.g., horse, dog, president's head) that you spread chia seeds on and water.  The seeds sprout and grow looking sorta like hair.

The Chia Pet suggestion isn't as crazy as it sounds, because evidently you can eat Chia sprouts. https://preparednessmama.com/growing-and-using-chia-sprouts/ (https://preparednessmama.com/growing-and-using-chia-sprouts/)

I think my husband adds chia seeds to his smoothies, and have you looked for recipes for baked goods? There seem to be tons out there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 27, 2017, 03:49:40 PM
Had a guest stay last night who willingly drank the white wine that had been open in the fridge for a tad too long.

I had planned to cook with it but pouring it into a glass is much less work.

I also inadvertently "used up" half a bottle of olive oil by smashing the bottle on my kitchen floor. Of course it would be the thing I never struggle to use up. Why couldn't it have been icing sugar or rolled oats?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 27, 2017, 08:04:29 PM
Had a guest stay last night who willingly drank the white wine that had been open in the fridge for a tad too long.

I had planned to cook with it but pouring it into a glass is much less work.

I also inadvertently "used up" half a bottle of olive oil by smashing the bottle on my kitchen floor. Of course it would be the thing I never struggle to use up. Why couldn't it have been icing sugar or rolled oats?

Not sugar.  Easier to clean up than olive oil, to be sure, but still a pain.  Rolled oats, yes.  Cheap and easy to sweep up.  Sorry to hear of your troubles!  But nice to have house guests. :-)

Ok, so those of you who remember me from before may remember that I was way overstocked on certain convenience foods, including flavoured rice mixes - Uncle Ben's broccoli cheddar and so on.  Well, I haven't been buying more while I was away from the forums, but it wasn't getting eaten very fast either!  I still have 10 packages, 4 of which are expired (though one only just barely).  The others expire in March 2018 - so the goal is to finish it all up by then!

I also have some oranges (half a bag) that were not very nice.  Not terribly sweet, and the membranes tough as shoe leather.

So, simmering in the rice cooker:  1 pkg white and wild rice with fine herbs, the insides of 2 oranges (just the pulpy bit - I painstakingly removed the membranes!), 3 small chopped onions, handful of raisins.  Judging by the smell, it's going to be good!

Dog was very interested in the chopping process, so I added the orange membranes on top of her evening meal, along with some crushed up coconut chips (freebie at a Caribbean Carnival event in 2016!)  She normally gets a scoop and a bit of food in the evening, but I often omit "the bit" and throw whatever food will otherwise go to waste on top instead.  That naturally ends up being a variety - the end of a loaf of bread that my mom saves for her, the hamburger my nephew didn't eat at dinner, crumbs from a box of crackers, carrot and cucumber ends from making a salad, a too soft banana, etc.

Incomplete list of targeted items to use:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, coconut chips, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney

Spices and flavourings: dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders, taco seasoning pkgs

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  white flour, oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses, 10 pkgs of rice mix, 2 boxes of pasta

Produce: bag of onions, potatoes, oranges, green tomatoes (some of which will hopefully ripen along the way!), 1 teeny tiny green pepper
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 28, 2017, 01:31:58 PM
Update from last night:  the rice with orange in it was Ah-maz-ing!

I'm not even putting any portions in the freezer, I'm just going to eat it all over the next couple of days.  However, it was a lot of work separating the pulpy stuff from the membranes.  So I made another loaf of bread for the freezer (combo of cornmeal and white flour) and added a cut up orange (not separated) as part of the liquid.  I figured that beater would do a pretty good job of shredding up the membrane, based on how thoroughly it destroys raisins, chocolate chips, etc if they're added at the start of the process.  This finished up the white flour, and used a bit more of things like my oil, which is getting old, and the cornmeal.

Updated but still incomplete list of targeted items to use:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, coconut chips, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney

Spices and flavourings: dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders, taco seasoning pkgs, bean dip powder

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  white flour (will buy more though), oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses, 10 pkgs of rice mix, 2 boxes of pasta, loose tea and "other" teas (mostly gifts)

Produce: bag of onions, potatoes, oranges, green tomatoes (some of which will hopefully ripen along the way!), 1 teeny tiny green pepper
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 28, 2017, 03:47:43 PM
Update from last night:  the rice with orange in it was Ah-maz-ing!


It sounded awesome so I'm glad it delivered!

...maple and lemon flavour powders ... bean dip powder

I love learning about new ingredients. Didn't know any of these were things.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on October 28, 2017, 09:40:00 PM
PJ, your list of ingredients left sounds like some deliciousness to come.

I'm joining this challenge again. To start, I'm going to work on clearing out the freezer, which recently I have been having trouble closing. Took out some steaks and chicken to thaw to start (there are still two more packs of chicken in there . . . must have been on sale.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 28, 2017, 11:13:35 PM
...maple and lemon flavour powders ... bean dip powder

I love learning about new ingredients. Didn't know any of these were things.

le sigh...

Interesting you picked up on those particular items.  3 jars, sitting in a row in my cupboard.  Purchased at a friend's "Epicure" party a number of years ago.  I don't think they even make these items anymore!  I found the bean dip mix listed on the website as "presently unavailable."  (https://epicure.com/en/product/1001045 (https://epicure.com/en/product/1001045))  Of course, it's just the spices, you have to provide your own beans, and mix it up in the blender or food processor.  When I finish up some of this other stuff, I'll probably use it more as a flavouring profile for soups and things like that.

The lemon and maple were for a dairy based dip that was really delicious (they served it at the party, darn them, and it tempted me in!)  The dip was made with yoghurt and cream cheese and sour cream, plus the flavouring powder which is probably mostly sugar. Probably a zillion calories per serving!  :-/  I used the powder for a while to flavour plain yoghurt instead of buying flavoured yoghurt, which allowed me to adjust the level of flavour and sugar.  But I haven't been buying yoghurt much, because I was finding I was always throwing out either yoghurt or milk bc I can't use them both up fast enough.  I could probably use the maple one as the sugar in my coffee, and add either of them to bread or other baked good recipes instead of the sugar.  I could occasionally buy a smaller thing of milk, plus yoghurt, and go back to using them that way.  Other thoughts?

Main accomplishment today was to give a bunch of tea to my sister, when we got together for a family dinner.  These are specialty loose teas, mostly in sampler sizes, that were given me as a gift.  I like tea, but drink way more coffee, and some of them were flavours that didn't appeal to me as much.  I kept the ones I thought I'd enjoy the most, and sent the rest to a good home!

However, I also brought home leftover pizza, and leftover birthday cake, and a leftover half bottle of red wine ... good times!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 28, 2017, 11:33:40 PM
Used up three cobs of corn, a couple of eggs, some bacon and rice in a fried ricey thing.

In other pantry news, I topped up all my canisters and jars, toasted coconut for cereal, and did some general tidying.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 30, 2017, 12:18:21 PM
Needed more tomato base for my chili... Popped open a jar of cocktail sauce and poured it in. Added enough cumin, cayenne and paprika to cover up the vinegar and it was a major win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 30, 2017, 12:58:05 PM
Needed more tomato base for my chili... Popped open a jar of cocktail sauce and poured it in. Added enough cumin, cayenne and paprika to cover up the vinegar and it was a major win!

One of the best dishes I made last winter was using a jar of tomato-y olive-y antipasto type stuff, with added water, veggies and beans, to make a bean stew.  The jarred stuff was so flavourful that even watered down it added a lot of taste.  It was a leftover from gifts that I'd purchased but never given out, and wasn't cheap, so not going to be repeated.  But adding to a bigger pot of something is definitely a good way to use sauces and condiments that you'd not otherwise use. 

I still have a jar of chutney, from the same gift-giving occasion, that needs to be used...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 30, 2017, 02:13:47 PM
Later this week DH will be away for work for three days. Next week I will be away for work for three days. Time to eat leftovers from the freezer. So I made an inventory list of what I found in the two freezers, part of the two combimachines. A large portion of the inventory is cooked and mashed apples and some cooked pears. All leftovers from the fruit at work.
I also found some soup containing a vegetable that I haven't seen in my house for a very long time. The soup might be several years old. I guess I will try it, just because I don't like to ditch food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 30, 2017, 03:54:20 PM
Needed more tomato base for my chili... Popped open a jar of cocktail sauce and poured it in. Added enough cumin, cayenne and paprika to cover up the vinegar and it was a major win!

Haha - this challenge tends to push us on subbing out ingredients, doesn't it? 

I was making sauteed spinach and mushrooms the other night and wanted to add a creamy element.  I opened a new tub of yogurt and threw in a big dallop, then licked the spoon and realized I'd accidentally bought vanilla instead of plain!  I was pissed for a couple minutes thinking I'd ruined it, but aside from being a touch sweet, it was indiscernible in the finished dish.

Totally skipped grocery shopping this weekend, though I'll probably go pick up a pork shoulder because I really want to make chile verde (and use some of those green tomatoes).  Perhaps I'll wait until all of the 2016 beef and lamb is gone though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 30, 2017, 04:12:32 PM

One of the best dishes I made last winter was using a jar of tomato-y olive-y antipasto type stuff, with added water, veggies and beans, to make a bean stew.  The jarred stuff was so flavourful that even watered down it added a lot of taste.  It was a leftover from gifts that I'd purchased but never given out, and wasn't cheap, so not going to be repeated.  But adding to a bigger pot of something is definitely a good way to use sauces and condiments that you'd not otherwise use. 

I still have a jar of chutney, from the same gift-giving occasion, that needs to be used...

Chutney + mayonnaise + green onion + chicken = to die for chicken salad. Or blend up the condiments to make a salmon condiment
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 30, 2017, 04:15:27 PM
Some threads never die, and thank God for that!  There's always someone somewhere with some random pantry item that needs to be used up!

Hi everyone, haven't been around for a bit, but I went to Camp Moustache Canada on the weekend and reconnected with some of my moustachian friends.  Now I'm eager to get back on track in the kitchen too!

Thanks to plainjane at a previous Toronto meet-up, I made two loafs of rye bread today, which finished up both my rye and whole wheat flours, and put a bit of a dent in what's left of an old package of dehydrated onion.  The flours will eventually get replaced, but I'll try to use up some more of my cornmeal and oatmeal before I do that.  Hopefully I can get a couple of loaves baked tomorrow too - I've actually got 3 bread machines, one on active duty and two more hand-me-down ones stored away against future breakage!  So I pulled one of the spares out and got two machines going at once.  One loaf has already been hacked into for a late night snack, the other will go in the freezer for future use - like when I'm really busy at work and haven't had a chance to get to the store in a while, it'll be nice to just pull a loaf out.

Speaking of which, my freezer continues to be pretty full, and my cupboards too, but my fridge is in really good shape at the moment, with just a couple of things left in there that should be targeted for extinction due to being on the old side. 

Will need to add more to this list later, but off the top of my head, here are a few things I should concentrate on using:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney

Spices and flavourings:  dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders,

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  white flour, oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses

Misc flours are my biggest overkill right now. Good for you for tackling them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on October 30, 2017, 04:38:56 PM
I know herbs and spices have a shelf life, but how long is it? I have things in jars that have been there for years. I think all the herbs have lost all their smell so I should probably chuck them out. Especially ones I grow fresh in the garden... With the spices, is there any reason to chuck them if they still smell potent? Hubby at one time bought large bags of spices like turmeric, we barely have made a dent in them and they must be 10 yrs old.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on October 30, 2017, 05:22:14 PM
Needed more tomato base for my chili... Popped open a jar of cocktail sauce and poured it in. Added enough cumin, cayenne and paprika to cover up the vinegar and it was a major win!

Ooh this reminds me!

I want to have a go at making dahl. The recipe calls for 700g of passata but I have half a jar in the freezer that I'd love to use up.

I also have crushed tomatoes and tomato juice - what do we think would be a better substitute to bulk out the passata?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 30, 2017, 06:26:36 PM
I know herbs and spices have a shelf life, but the how long is it? I have things in jars that have been there for years. I think all the herbs have lost all their smell so I should probably chuck them out. Especially ones I grow fresh in the garden... With the spices, is there any reason to chuck them if they still smell potent? Hubby at one time bought large bags of spices like turmeric, we barely have made a dent in them and they must be 10 yrs old.

As long as they aren't moldy or anything, you can use them, but might need to adjust the amount if they've lost flavor.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on October 30, 2017, 06:57:26 PM
I still have a jar of chutney, from the same gift-giving occasion, that needs to be used...
Chutney + mayonnaise + green onion + chicken = to die for chicken salad.

Or, instead of chicken, hard boiled eggs.
Chutney is also awesome within a grilled cheese sandwich.
Or on top of potato pancakes, or zucchini fritter pancakes. Or corn cakes, or fish cakes.
Or meat pies. Meat pies need chutney.
And I'm told this is weird, but a bit of chutney beside scrambled eggs is very yummy too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 31, 2017, 01:19:28 AM
I know herbs and spices have a shelf life, but the how long is it? I have things in jars that have been there for years. I think all the herbs have lost all their smell so I should probably chuck them out. Especially ones I grow fresh in the garden... With the spices, is there any reason to chuck them if they still smell potent? Hubby at one time bought large bags of spices like turmeric, we barely have made a dent in them and they must be 10 yrs old.

As long as they aren't moldy or anything, you can use them, but might need to adjust the amount if they've lost flavor.

I have some herbs and spices left from before I emigrated in 1998. I still eat them occasionally (obviously not often, otherwise they wouldn't have been there any more). They loose some flavor, but you don't get sick of dried leaves or dried powder.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on October 31, 2017, 07:15:14 AM
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/south-african-chutney-chicken
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on October 31, 2017, 07:32:33 AM
Wow, guys/girls, thanks for all the chutney ideas! 

Hopefully someone else also has chutney to use, because a lot of those ideas sound good in theory, but because I'm vegetarian, most of the usual things people eat with chutney don't apply.  And I'm not generally a saucy person, as in, eating it on the side or on top of something.  Most likely, I'll check out the ingredients to try to get a sense of the flavour profile, then add it to a soup, a stew, or a pot of rice and veggies.

I *could* try it in a grilled cheese, though usually I prefer my grilled cheese plain, no tomato slices, or bacon, or spinach, or whatever.  What can I say - Mom used to call me the world's pickiest eater!

Anyway, I gave away the money in my wallet on Sunday, and am challenging myself to not go to the bank until the weekend.  So I really really really have to eat at home, and bring food to work.  That should help me make at least a little dent in the fridge and cupboard...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on October 31, 2017, 09:31:23 PM
Count me among the chutney lovers.

Tonight I made a big vat of jambalaya. My son thought it was delicious, and now I have a few more meals of it frozen for when I get back in town.

In the process, I cleared out my spice cabinet and wiped down the shelf. This made me realize I need to bake a pumpkin pie . . . why else have that particular set of spices (besides the versatile cinnamon, I have allspice, nutmeg . . . I'm sure these are great in other things, but they seal the deal on the pumpkin pie.) Luckily, I also have pie shells. Another project for when I get back from my business trip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 02, 2017, 04:13:32 PM
They like to feed me at the church.

I have just finished eating a snack - cheese and crackers, and a cup of tea, brought to me at my desk by one of the volunteers in the afterschool program. 

No sooner had I finished then she appeared at my door with two containers of soup, because they had lots left after feeding the kids.

I'm not complaining, but the flow of food is unpredictable, and it sometimes makes it hard for me not to waste food.  For example, I have 1/2 a bag of salad at home that I need to use up before it goes off, which I've been slow getting to because they sent me home with lots of salad and coleslaw after church on Sunday.  If I eat the salad tonight, I won't get to this new soup, and I'm away the next couple of days.  So I'll freeze at least one container of the soup, and try to eat the other on Sunday night when I'm back at home.  But there's another reception after church on Sunday, so there'll be new leftovers then too...

It's a good problem to have, but a problem sometimes nonetheless!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 03, 2017, 12:36:21 PM
PJ, I'm the same way about not wanting to waste food.  Thank goodness there's such a thing as freezing and thawing leftovers, whenever possible.  :)

Made pizza using the Fathead crust recipe Wednesday.  So good!  I used up several TBS leftover BBQ sauce from two different bottles, a can of chicken, and most of the remaining blue cheese crumbles.  It resulted in 4 servings, 2 for supper, and 2 lunches for me.

And, I am happy to say, I made my first turmeric chicken recipe last night.  So flavorful and tender!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 03, 2017, 08:10:43 PM
Just me home today so I heated up a couple of pre-fab spring rolls from the freezer and made a dipping sauce out of mayo and some gifted chilli jam.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 04, 2017, 12:23:52 AM
PJ, I'm the same way about not wanting to waste food.  Thank goodness there's such a thing as freezing and thawing leftovers, whenever possible.  :)

Wastage avoided!

I sent one container of soup home with someone at our Thursday evening meeting. My brother is pet sitting for me part of this weekend, and when I left the house, he was eating one serving of soup. If he doesn't finish it tomorrow, at least there'll only be one serving left for me to finish Sunday night.

The second half of the bag of salad, on the other hand, was too far gone.  For me, at least. The dog happily wolfed it down!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 04, 2017, 12:24:42 AM
Just me home today so I heated up a couple of pre-fab spring rolls from the freezer and made a dipping sauce out of mayo and some gifted chilli jam.

Clever '
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 04, 2017, 06:11:06 AM
Just me home today so I heated up a couple of pre-fab spring rolls from the freezer and made a dipping sauce out of mayo and some gifted chilli jam.
Clever '

you could do that with chutney too :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: TabbyCat on November 04, 2017, 07:19:31 PM
I'm in! Husband was confused that I went out this morning to take in donations to the thrift shop and not to get any groceries at all (Saturday morning he gets kid time and I get to go to the store without a screaming 2yo). We have plenty to use up here, but of course will still shop for veggies and fruit. I just will not buy meat/grain/sauce etc until those are used up.

I can't quote on this computer, but for potato ideas - they make a great soup base and you don't even need cream to make it creamy (but can add a splash for flavor). Leek and potato soup and loaded potato chowder come to mind but you can get creative and use just about anything that would normally make a good soup. Potato, corn (can/frozen are fine) and coconut milk or cream with some curry powder makes a great soup too. We also love using mashed potatoes as a base instead of a side - like mashed potatoes with a big pile of caramelized onions on top and maybe some horseradish, or mashed potatoes and beef and broccoli on top.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BikeLover on November 05, 2017, 08:00:23 AM
I've been eating down my pantry and freezer since the beginning of September. I'm not moving or anything, it's just a help to be more disciplined in eating up things before they go bad. Been making more soups and casseroles, to which I can add a variety of ingredients.

I've only purchased food on sale, e.g., bulk onions and potatoes, or some fresh vegetables and dairy to supplement. Total grocery bill of $45 for the two months of September and October.

Haven't yet hit on any uses for a couple of jars of peanut butter and almond butter. My culinary experience doesn't include much other than desserts with nut butter, and I don't feel the desire or need for much in the way of desserts right now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: firelight on November 05, 2017, 09:51:50 AM
This thread has been inspiring. We've been very slowly eating down our pantry since it's a lot of stuff. Also been eating through the freezer. In determined to not buy anymore unless it's necessary (fruits, veggies, milk, bread). I've also gotten creative at trying to use up stuff but it's a slow process. Chipping away at it....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 05, 2017, 12:54:01 PM
Haven't yet hit on any uses for a couple of jars of peanut butter and almond butter. My culinary experience doesn't include much other than desserts with nut butter, and I don't feel the desire or need for much in the way of desserts right now.

Is it a good quality, natural peanut butter?

We use that in satay sauce.

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/peanut-satay-sauce/633f6592-a818-4f7d-acd9-bd6577a44dd6
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on November 05, 2017, 06:51:56 PM
Yep, seconded for satay sauce. You can get rid of loads that way but it might be a bit weird if it has added sugar or sweetener. I put my dogs tablets in it too, if that helps, ha ha.

Almond butter would be nice in a cake filling or like muffin icing maybe? With sugar added.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 05, 2017, 06:57:34 PM
Used up some frozen chicken breast and a jar of salsa yesterday (that should be enough of a hint of what I made).

It's unseasonably cold in Sydney at the moment so it was quite nice to have the slow cooker on yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on November 05, 2017, 07:45:06 PM
I'm inspired to make this now:

http://www.slowcookercentral.com/recipe/satay-chicken/

I will add carrot & green beans and serve with rice and chopped spring onion. I'll probably also add cucumber as I have a v tired one in the fridge that's got to go.

Does anyone else find it strange when slow cooker recipes don't include veg? As in, you're using a slow cooker therefore you're probably trying to save time so aren't going to want to separately cook veg.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 05, 2017, 08:37:00 PM
For the peanut butter, apple slices with PB or almond butter make a good snack.

Pretty happy with how I'm doing over here.  I have a bunch of pear sauce I canned last year, so I looked up a recipe for apple sauce bread and used the pear sauce in it, as well as a small jar of a mixed fruit compote I canned, rather than the raisins the recipe called for.  Looking forward to eating it toasted with lots of butter in the morning.

Yesterday I made a sort of polenta pie for dinner with lots of baked-down slices of the tomatoes that are in various stages of ripening to near decay.  Today I baked down two more sheets of them, and have more to go tomorrow.  They'll probably go into a tomato jam, or just be pureed and used in lieu of tomato paste this winter.  Lots of them have gone beyond salvage, but the ones I have been able to save have really delicious flavor after a couple hours in a low oven.  The polenta pie also used up some olives that were hiding at the back of the fridge, and a container of corn stock leftover from making a corn chowder this summer (stock from corn cobs is amazing, y'all, I never knew!).

Chicken stock was made in the Instant Pot - part went towards the polenta, and the rest was cooked down and frozen into ice cubes.  We actually bought chicken stock for the first time in a few years during our last Costco run, and I'd forgotten how inferior and overly salty it is.

Finally got it together to start a new batch of kimchi today as well before the Napa cabbage I bought went off.

There is still So Much Rice.  And also some tofu that is starting to edge up on its use by date, so this week I'll probably do a crispy tofu with red cabbage and some pork fried rice.

Slowly eating up soups I canned last year for work lunches (I went overboard on the canning last year, I realize now).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BikeLover on November 06, 2017, 01:29:04 PM
Apples slices with peanut butter are great! As kids we snacked on them often, don't know why it didn't occur to me. And it works well now, as I have a lot of apples on hand, some donated by an acquaintance with a tree in her yard, others from a wild apple tree.

Peanut butter and almond are pure and organic, no added sugar or oils. Satay sauce sounds like a good idea, I'll try it out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 06, 2017, 01:36:22 PM
PJ, I'm the same way about not wanting to waste food.  Thank goodness there's such a thing as freezing and thawing leftovers, whenever possible.  :)

Wastage avoided!

I sent one container of soup home with someone at our Thursday evening meeting. My brother is pet sitting for me part of this weekend, and when I left the house, he was eating one serving of soup. If he doesn't finish it tomorrow, at least there'll only be one serving left for me to finish Sunday night.

The second half of the bag of salad, on the other hand, was too far gone.  For me, at least. The dog happily wolfed it down!

Nice job!  (high fives)

Mustachepun, that dipping sauce sounds delish!

BikeLover, I'm a schmear it on celery or make cookies with peanut/almond butter gal....  And count me in with the satay crowd.

It's nearing the end of my monthly grocery shop cycle, so it's time to get creative.  From the freezer, we're having leftover steak from an August camping trip tonight, leftover zucchini Alfredo tomorrow night, and from pantry canned items, white bean tuna chili Wednesday.  Leftovers it is Thursday.  ;)

Friday after work I took advantage of our grocer's Buy 10 get, $5 off and stocked up on canned veggies and tomatoes at .49 cents each.  For some reason, probably because we're a good 20 minutes from the nearest store even in good weather, I like to have a full pantry before winter hits, just in case.

ETA:  Out of curiosity, I looked up scallion recipes since we have several leftover from our Halloween party and found this:  https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Bacon-Wrapped-Scallions (https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Bacon-Wrapped-Scallions)  It will be perfect to use them up as well as the few pieces of leftover, uncooked bacon.  I love this thread....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 07, 2017, 10:10:09 AM
Here are the things I'm actively trying to use down from my pantry/freezer:
-A giant jar of green olives
-28 breakfast sandwiches. The egg filling is fine, but apparently the english muffins are super soggy. I'll need to break them apart, and perhaps come up with another solution for both. I'm fine to eat the egg filling on its own.
-A huge bag of stuffing. I'll definitely use some for Thanksgiving, and then maybe make the rest & freeze? Can you freeze prepared stuffing? Google appears to think so. May prep all of it at Thanksgiving, and then pull out in smaller batches as needed.
-A bag of potatoes that are starting to turn. I'll likely make homemade fries (baked), & potentially mashed potatoes.
-A giant bag of pine nuts.

I have two different dips (hummus & a similar one). I'm thinking we should freeze in smaller quantities moving forward, as I'm ever trying to use it up before it goes bad. Do you freeze hummus? Does it change the texture?

Thanks to this thread, I used up most of my cashews & almonds by making butters, and the kids love them! I ran out of peanut butter, so this is a win/win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 07, 2017, 12:39:23 PM
MaybeBaby, can the English muffins be toasted back to life?  Re: the pine nuts, I would make pesto.  Nom nom....

Last night's bacon wrapped scallions were a hit!  I placed them on top of the leftover steak before serving.  Shoulda used the leftover blue cheese crumbles as well, lol....

I made these last night resulting in 6 biscuits for last night through Wednesday's suppers:  http://www.uplateanyway.com/keto/almond-flour-biscuits/ (http://www.uplateanyway.com/keto/almond-flour-biscuits/)

Tomorrow night I'm going to bake a few tortillas into bowls and serve our chili inside them.

Similar to MaybeBaby, our Russet potatoes are about to turn, so I'll make fries and mashed potatoes this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 07, 2017, 02:31:40 PM
MaybeBaby, can the English muffins be toasted back to life?  Re: the pine nuts, I would make pesto.  Nom nom....


That's kind of where my head is at. Separate the egg part out, eat those solo. Toast up the english muffins. I did try toasting & reassembling, but I think the moisture from the eggs + the already soggy english muffin didn't work well. Or, my 11 year old, non-picky eater totally vetoed it. I need to figure something out where I can hide them. On the other hand, I made freezer breakfast burritos, and he ate all of them in record time, so some wins were had.

For pesto, I have basil & pine nuts, but the other ingredients are so pricey, so I always hesitate to make a big batch. But, maybe I should, as the basil plant is likely on its last legs in the yard.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 08, 2017, 01:13:23 PM
MaybeBaby, can the English muffins be toasted back to life?  Re: the pine nuts, I would make pesto.  Nom nom....


That's kind of where my head is at. Separate the egg part out, eat those solo. Toast up the english muffins. I did try toasting & reassembling, but I think the moisture from the eggs + the already soggy english muffin didn't work well. Or, my 11 year old, non-picky eater totally vetoed it. I need to figure something out where I can hide them. On the other hand, I made freezer breakfast burritos, and he ate all of them in record time, so some wins were had.

For pesto, I have basil & pine nuts, but the other ingredients are so pricey, so I always hesitate to make a big batch. But, maybe I should, as the basil plant is likely on its last legs in the yard.

Maybe the birds would like the muffins, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 08, 2017, 03:11:55 PM
Hummus freezes really well.  Or should I say, it thaws out well and tastes good after freezing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 08, 2017, 06:17:50 PM
Awesome news on the hummus. Will definitely separate out the bigger tubs & freeze. I prefer to make my own, but occasionally we run out of time & buy it at Costco.

And yes, the muffins may only be bird food at this point! Or, perhaps toasted & blitzed as bread crumbs. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 08, 2017, 10:01:27 PM
I support the suggestion to use peanut butter to make sauce. I've done a simple one with melted peanut butter, soy sauce, and some cilantro lime dressing, tossed with ramen noodles and sauteed veggies.  Also, peanut butter bread is very nice. I've made a quick bread type loaf, and also a yeast bread, in the bread machine.

I'm not making a lot of progress on eating down socks, because they sent me a lot of food from work this week. But I'm trying not to let stuff go to waste, at least, and using odds and ends on the dog's food I'm hoping to cross an item or two off the list soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 08, 2017, 10:45:27 PM
I'm not making a lot of progress on eating down socks

You know... it's possible to take the concept of minimizing waste a little TOO far.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 08, 2017, 11:31:15 PM
I'm not making a lot of progress on eating down socks

You know... it's possible to take the concept of minimizing waste a little TOO far.

NO EXCUSES!

(Oops, wrong thread!)

Seriously though, now you get to hear my rant about autocorrect and predictive text.  It's a good thing. Except for when it changes appropriate and correctly spelt words for less appropriate correctly spelt words!  Like, for example, my phone wanted to change predictive to productive. Why??? But then I can completely misspell a word, and it doesn’t know what to do.  For example, I can type drrsses and it doesn't know enough to suggest dresses instead. In fact, it just tried to change dresses into drrsses, which gave me a chuckle. Or gave me a chickpeas, if my phone had had its way just now. (*sigh*)

So yeah. I guess when people are talking about "eating down"  followed by a word that starts with s and ends with ocks, it must be far more common or logical for that word to be socks, than stocks. (*loud eyeroll*)

(*insert GIF of crochety old lady shaking fist at technology *)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: zee dot on November 09, 2017, 07:58:35 AM
Last night I used a can of salmon and a can of black beans to make black bean salmon burgers.  Baby steps!
Have plenty of cans of both left so would love some recipe ideas!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 09, 2017, 03:48:36 PM
I'm not making a lot of progress on eating down socks

You know... it's possible to take the concept of minimizing waste a little TOO far.

Hehehehehehehehehe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 09, 2017, 03:58:51 PM
Seriously though, now you get to hear my rant about autocorrect and predictive text. 

I have no idea what your man, autocorrect is a fantastic intercom. I don't know what I would do without is most helpful circus to my text. Technology week face is all.

(This post is brought to you by Swype and autocorrect)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 09, 2017, 11:58:35 PM
Seriously though, now you get to hear my rant about autocorrect and predictive text. 

I have no idea what your man, autocorrect is a fantastic intercom. I don't know what I would do without is most helpful circus to my text. Technology week face is all.

(This post is brought to you by Swype and autocorrect)

You have certain change my mind about autocorrect with you expecting text imonial. I will available criticizes this except technician in the future. I have been conversation to it's glorifying uses.

Thanks you for sharpener your store.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 10, 2017, 12:01:25 PM
Our pantry is full of random stuff again.  I will take stock this weekend, and start planning. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 10, 2017, 12:19:46 PM
Seriously though, now you get to hear my rant about autocorrect and predictive text. 

I have no idea what your man, autocorrect is a fantastic intercom. I don't know what I would do without is most helpful circus to my text. Technology week face is all.

(This post is brought to you by Swype and autocorrect)

You have certain change my mind about autocorrect with you expecting text imonial. I will available criticizes this except technician in the future. I have been conversation to it's glorifying uses.

Thanks you for sharpener your store.

LMBO.... I luv ewe guyz....  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 11, 2017, 09:15:21 AM
I finally finished one of the two packs of over date oatmeal. One to go. I don't usually eat it and we usually have enough bread, but today we had too little bread, so I had to improvice lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2017, 12:30:38 PM
So far, have eaten two of the lurking freezer breakfast sandwiches, used up all of the almonds, 90% of the lingering cashews & some of the pine nuts. I made a granola recipe & basically subbed everything. Subbed old pita chips for pretzels, cashew butter for peanut butter, the dregs of a bag of trail mix for peanuts, and white chocolate chips bought on clearance quite a ways back for chocolate chips. Fingers crossed it turns out. I ran out of honey, so subbed some agave.

I also am using the pine nuts & a giant harvest of basil (yard plant) to make a double batch of pesto. Yum!

Still have a bunch of work to do, but making some progress.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 12, 2017, 01:47:44 PM
Had the neighbor boys over. They are quite hungry and not picky -- put out a "buffet" lunch of things that ppl in my house haven't been too keen on eating.

Bacon crusted shrimp, seaweed, crackers, peanut butter, trail mix and a bunch of fruit that needed to be eaten. It almost felt criminal lol.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 12, 2017, 02:20:15 PM
It's been awhile since I posted here...I really cleared out the pantry before a long trip in August, and had been pretty good about not letting things pile up...for awhile. Over the last couple weeks, I made a shrimp and pasta salad that cleared out the end of two jars of pickles, a jar of mayo and a container of Greek yogurt. This week, I made a banana gingerbread. I had accidentally bought a second bottle of molasses for some cookies, not realizing I already had some. The gingerbread cleared out all my freezer bananas AND the partial container of molasses. Yay!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2017, 04:38:47 PM
FINALLY used up the last of a jar of walnut oil that was in desperate need of being consumed. Used it in place of olive oil for my pesto recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 13, 2017, 02:29:15 AM
I am now making a system of writing on a magnetic notebook on the fridge what portions of leftovers we have in the freezer. We can strike through the ones we consume and add new portions. This we we'll keep an overview.

Recently I ditched a frozen portion of soup that was 2 years old and not very attractive. This is just a terrible habit, throwing away food. I don't want to do it often.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 13, 2017, 05:03:32 AM
Picked up some high quality pork shoulder on sale this weekend and made pulled pork with the last can of pineapple and made more of a dent into the tamarind. We are out of soy sauce still, so I used kekap manis. It was delicious and now I have 4 servings in the freezer.

Plus, and this is really exciting, I dropped a lid behind the tupperware drawer, so I pulled the drawer out of the cupboard to retrieve it. And I found 8 margarine lids that had also fallen behind. I love the 1 cup margarine containers for freezing small servings, and my parents have stopped eating margarine, so our supply has been cut off.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on November 13, 2017, 09:58:23 AM
We sorted through our pantry.  Reorganized it.  Now everything is easier to find.  I hope this helps with our tendency to buy too many things that we don't eat. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 13, 2017, 02:55:24 PM
We sorted through our pantry.  Reorganized it.  Now everything is easier to find.  I hope this helps with our tendency to buy too many things that we don't eat.

That always makes a big difference for me. Stocktake then organised shelves are a lifesaver.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 13, 2017, 02:57:04 PM
Last night I used up mince and salsa from the freezer.

It's been my real focal point lately. I don't have space to freeze what I want because the freezer is full of ... what exactly?

I have bread in the freezer and some soft tomatoes, should make panzanella next.
Title: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on November 13, 2017, 04:03:35 PM
Here are the things I'm actively trying to use down from my pantry/freezer:
-A giant jar of green olives
-28 breakfast sandwiches. The egg filling is fine, but apparently the english muffins are super soggy. I'll need to break them apart, and perhaps come up with another solution for both. I'm fine to eat the egg filling on its own.
-A huge bag of stuffing. I'll definitely use some for Thanksgiving, and then maybe make the rest &amp; freeze? Can you freeze prepared stuffing? Google appears to think so. May prep all of it at Thanksgiving, and then pull out in smaller batches as needed.
-A bag of potatoes that are starting to turn. I'll likely make homemade fries (baked), &amp; potentially mashed potatoes.
-A giant bag of pine nuts.

I have two different dips (hummus &amp; a similar one). I'm thinking we should freeze in smaller quantities moving forward, as I'm ever trying to use it up before it goes bad. Do you freeze hummus? Does it change the texture?

Thanks to this thread, I used up most of my cashews &amp; almonds by making butters, and the kids love them! I ran out of peanut butter, so this is a win/win.

For the olives: cream cheese &amp; olive. Or you can make tapenade.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 14, 2017, 07:22:10 AM
Here are the things I'm actively trying to use down from my pantry/freezer:
-A giant jar of green olives
-28 breakfast sandwiches. The egg filling is fine, but apparently the english muffins are super soggy. I'll need to break them apart, and perhaps come up with another solution for both. I'm fine to eat the egg filling on its own.
-A huge bag of stuffing. I'll definitely use some for Thanksgiving, and then maybe make the rest &amp; freeze? Can you freeze prepared stuffing? Google appears to think so. May prep all of it at Thanksgiving, and then pull out in smaller batches as needed.
-A bag of potatoes that are starting to turn. I'll likely make homemade fries (baked), &amp; potentially mashed potatoes.
-A giant bag of pine nuts.

I have two different dips (hummus &amp; a similar one). I'm thinking we should freeze in smaller quantities moving forward, as I'm ever trying to use it up before it goes bad. Do you freeze hummus? Does it change the texture?

Thanks to this thread, I used up most of my cashews &amp; almonds by making butters, and the kids love them! I ran out of peanut butter, so this is a win/win.

For the olives: cream cheese &amp; olive. Or you can make tapenade.

I love tapenade, so will definitely give it a try. The jar is absolutely enormous, so I'll have to make & then freeze the portions. Will report back!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on November 14, 2017, 09:23:09 AM
Tapenade in cute little jars would make a good holiday gift!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 14, 2017, 12:39:42 PM
Tapenade in cute little jars would make a good holiday gift!

+1!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 14, 2017, 08:12:43 PM
Dinner was a huge success tonight.

As readers of this thread know, I have multiple packages of rice side dish type stuff to use up.  Tonight, I started with this:  https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/uncle-bens-rice-and-grains-roasted-red-pepper-brown-rice-and-quinoa/6000195550475 (https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/uncle-bens-rice-and-grains-roasted-red-pepper-brown-rice-and-quinoa/6000195550475)

I like to stretch the rice in ratio with the flavouring package, but didn't have any more rice/grain that I was sure would cook in a similar timeline.  So I added a little extra water, then stirred in some tiny red lentils, and a couple handfuls of large flake oatmeal (random, I know, but was just looking to add bulk to the dish).  Took 4 small onions, halved them, and dropped them on top.  It was getting late, I was hungry, and couldn't be bothered with too much chopping.  Cooked it all up in the rice cooker.

Guys, it was so good!  The oatmeal and extra water made it super creamy.  It was like having risotto, but without all the stirring.  I will totally try that again, with other rice dishes.

Ok, I'm on the hunt for a quick bread machine recipe to throw in the machine before it gets too late, something that will use up some of the more random stuff from the cupboard or fridge.  Will post back...

Oh, and also, did you know that Dollar Slice and I are now famous? 

We made it into the "best post I read on MMM forums today" thread for our witty exchange here.  :-)

Seriously though, now you get to hear my rant about autocorrect and predictive text. 

I have no idea what your man, autocorrect is a fantastic intercom. I don't know what I would do without is most helpful circus to my text. Technology week face is all.

(This post is brought to you by Swype and autocorrect)

You have certain change my mind about autocorrect with you expecting text imonial. I will available criticizes this except technician in the future. I have been conversation to it's glorifying uses.

Thanks you for sharpener your store.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 14, 2017, 10:09:31 PM
Update:  There is a very weird loaf of bread in my bread machine at the moment.  I think it will turn out tasty but ... *shrug* ... maybe not.

It's supposed to be a chocolate chip loaf - here's some of what I did: 

- Substituted a sample bottle of chocolate Boost for the milk called for in the recipe. 

- Broke up some cheap chocolate instead of chocolate chips - we ordered pizza for my birthday dinner a couple weeks ago, and the pizza chain was celebrating their 50th anniversary, so included a chocolate "pizza."  It was just basically chocolate in the shape of a pizza, and the chocolate wasn't that great so I hadn't eaten the rest of it.

- Didn't have quite enough of the cheap chocolate - could have opened a new package of chocolate chips, but instead, threw some frozen chocolate mint Girl Guide cookies into the machine - what can I say, both my mother and my brother each picked me up a couple boxes of cookies and I don't really have room for them all in my freezer!  (I also could have used some of the leftover Halloween candy, but let's not talk about just how much I overbought this year!)

- Adjusted the recipe for the amount of salt and sugar I thought was in the Boost, and multiplied all ingredients by 1.5 because it's a small recipe and larger loaves work better in this particular machine

- Crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.


Will let you know how it goes.  I have an idea for another fairly odd loaf to come another day...

Also, I have used up both dry coconut and coconut chips (fed them to the dog) and used up the white flour I had, then replaced it.

Updated but still incomplete list of targeted items to use:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, coconut chips, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney

Spices and flavourings: dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders, taco seasoning pkgs, bean dip powder

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  new bag white flour, oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses, 10 9 pkgs of rice mix, 2 boxes of pasta, loose tea and "other" teas (mostly gifts)

Produce: bag of onions, potatoes, oranges, green tomatoes (some of which will hopefully ripen along the way!), 1 teeny tiny green pepper
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 15, 2017, 05:10:05 AM
I finished the bag of corkscrew pasta to round out my lunches this week. I am down to a few bags of expired vermicelli and angel hair pastas (the unexpired were donated when the SO went low carb for our shared meals).

I finished off the canned pineapple with a weird chicken bowl using pineapple laksa peanut sauce. And the second half of the canned pumpkin from Halloween baking with a batch of muffins.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: firelight on November 15, 2017, 09:08:02 AM
Used up some bags of prepacked food and made crepes. Now starting to eat down the fridge (we are going on a trip next week) and I think we'll have an empty fridge before we start. I like this look. Might need to buy some milk but that's about it.

Also working through freezer - used up frozen pizza and some rotis. It was stuffed and now there is space to move things around. Will use up two more packets from freezer today. These were my emergency rations, specially for the days when I'm too tired to cook or order takeout and my kid wants food NOW. I can whip a meal from these in five minutes with very less effort. I feel it's time to eat them down and rebuild the rations after our long trip.

ETA: our pantry is getting used up as well but not in the rate I'd like it to. Shows how much stuff we have in there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on November 16, 2017, 08:36:35 AM
I made some Anzac brownies using up some of our supply of oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate bars my mom foisted upon me.

Posting to follow/participate.  In the meantime, gotta say I love the comment above--I've heard of (and made) Anzac biscuits, but never Anzac brownies.  Off to the internet to research!  (Swick, if you're still reading this thread, feel free to share the recipe you're using!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 16, 2017, 11:30:12 AM
I have big plans for the olives this weekend! I'm going to make the tapenade & see how it comes out. If it works, will create a giant batch & use for gifts, per the great suggestions here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 16, 2017, 07:03:11 PM
I made some Anzac brownies using up some of our supply of oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate bars my mom foisted upon me.

Posting to follow/participate.  In the meantime, gotta say I love the comment above--I've heard of (and made) Anzac biscuits, but never Anzac brownies.  Off to the internet to research!  (Swick, if you're still reading this thread, feel free to share the recipe you're using!)

For me, the name Anzac brownie is bordering on sacrilege.

The term 'Anzac cookie' is banned here (Anzac is a protected term and 'cookie' is American, so the DVA will not allow anyone to distribute a product under that name), and brownie has the same connotations.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/outrage-over-sydney-companys-vegan-anzac-cookie/news-story/f717dcc5e6852e098573431b7bfb5611

Anzac slice, on the other hand? Go for it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on November 17, 2017, 06:44:18 AM
Anzac slice, on the other hand? Go for it.

Of course I immediately went to The Googles upon reading the phrase "Anzac slice" because while I know those words individually in their American usage I have no idea what they mean in Australian usage.  :)  Here's the first recipe I found:

http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/anzac-slice-246

These.  Look.  Awesome.  I am absolutely going to make these TONIGHT (even though my dishwasher is broken and I've sworn off most cooking and baking until it's fixed)!  Plus it gives me the excuse to go buy some golden syrup.  :)

I'm not familiar with the term "slice" as a baked good--looking at the recipe and the photo, I think it's something like what I'd call a "bar cookie" in American terms.  There are approximately a bajillion variants on the bar cookie theme--lemon bars are a common one, as are what I'd call a "Dolly Madison bar" but some call "magic bars."  Here's a typical recipe for a variant with oatmeal:

https://www.marthastewart.com/314652/oatmeal-bars

Tell me more about this "slice" thing--is it similar to the "bar cookie" I'm describing, or is it something different?  I have loved the Anzac biscuit recipe I happened upon nearly 20 years ago now, and I'm always eager to learn something new (especially if it helps me use up a bunch of pantry staples)!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on November 17, 2017, 02:07:45 PM
A slice is in between a cake and a biscuit. Neither hard like a biscuit but not soft like cake typically. Sometimes it might have layers - see caramel slice. I think bars may be harder but prepared in a similar way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: marty998 on November 17, 2017, 03:52:05 PM
I made some Anzac brownies using up some of our supply of oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate bars my mom foisted upon me.

Posting to follow/participate.  In the meantime, gotta say I love the comment above--I've heard of (and made) Anzac biscuits, but never Anzac brownies.  Off to the internet to research!  (Swick, if you're still reading this thread, feel free to share the recipe you're using!)

For me, the name Anzac brownie is bordering on sacrilege.

The term 'Anzac cookie' is banned here (Anzac is a protected term and 'cookie' is American, so the DVA will not allow anyone to distribute a product under that name), and brownie has the same connotations.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/outrage-over-sydney-companys-vegan-anzac-cookie/news-story/f717dcc5e6852e098573431b7bfb5611

Anzac slice, on the other hand? Go for it.

Can confirm. These are awesome. Will gobble them down all year round if I could :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 17, 2017, 07:26:33 PM
A slice is in between a cake and a biscuit. Neither hard like a biscuit but not soft like cake typically. Sometimes it might have layers - see caramel slice. I think bars may be harder but prepared in a similar way.

In Canada they would generally just be 'bars' or 'squares', though in NZ and Australia they are generally larger pieces than what you'd see here. Lemon square, Nanaimo bar, etc. The type of thing that you usually only see at bake sales or not too fussy coffee/bake shops.  I am a fan of the NZ ginger slice and one day I will risk trying to recreate them here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 18, 2017, 12:12:33 AM
I've been baking again.  I made pink bread.  :-)

Update:  There is a very weird loaf of bread in my bread machine at the moment.  I think it will turn out tasty but ... *shrug* ... maybe not.

It's supposed to be a chocolate chip loaf

...snip

- Crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.[/i]

Will let you know how it goes.  I have an idea for another fairly odd loaf to come another day...

The chocolate chip loaf had a nice flavour, but in making all my substitutions plus adjusting the size of the loaf, I obviously messed up the proportions.  It was very dense, and the centre slices were a bit doughy.  I've eaten most of it, just toasted it really well.  Was especially nice with the last of a package of cream cheese that I also needed to use up!  Tasty with peanut butter as well.

Anyway, undeterred, I started two more loaves with substitutions. 

One, supposed to be a cranberry apple loaf.  Used a bottle of fruit punch instead of the apple juice called for, a soft apple, and some chopped apricots sorted out from trail mix.  Haven't cut into it yet, but um, yeah, it's very pink!

Then, to use up the rest of the apricots and another soft apple and a couple of oranges left from a bag I mentioned ages ago, started an apricot loaf where I reduced the added liquid a lot, then chopped up the fruit and threw it in.  It's more fruit than flour!  But it seems to be cooking ok, from what I can see through the window of the bread machine lid, so we'll see.

Updated but still incomplete list of targeted items to use:

One-offs, small amounts, and oddities:  dry coconut, coconut chips, hard margarine (for baking), bottle of chocolate flavour meal replacement (free sample), bottle of fruit punch (given out at a work function), jar of chutney, bottle of butternut squash pasta sauce, chocolate pudding mix, dulse flakes

Spices and flavourings: dehydrated onion, maple and lemon flavour powders, taco seasoning pkgs, bean dip powder

Pantry staples that need to keep circulating for flavour and freshness:  new bag white flour, oatmeal, corn meal, white rice, brown rice, dried beans, olive oil, molasses, 10 9 pkgs of rice mix, 2 boxes of pasta, loose tea and "other" teas (mostly gifts), falafel mix, soya chunks, ramen noodles, vegetable oil

Produce: bag of onions, potatoes, oranges, green tomatoes (some of which will hopefully ripen along the way!), 1 teeny tiny green pepper
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 18, 2017, 09:26:25 AM
We have again a stuffed freezer full of meat. We also have 3 portions of meat and a portion of fish in the fridge. And we have a few portions of scampi in the freezer. Thecfridge is full of clue cheese anf feta cheese. We have a lit of veggies in the fridge. So from now on I will only shop:
- saurkraut if it is on mega sale. This is usually the case in december. I will buy enough for the rest of the year.
- milk
- bread
- maybe an occasional fruit like clementines

No buying of meat, fish, cheese for dinner use or fresh veggies, until we have eaten what is in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 18, 2017, 05:46:26 PM
So happy - tried a green olive tapenade (thanks for the reco!) & used up all of my giant jar (25 oz) of olives. Also added in basil from the yard. It's delish. Kept one jar for the freezer, and froze the rest. It wasn't quite kicky enough for gifts, but I would definitely make it again. I didn't have capers, but would consider them for next time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 21, 2017, 02:39:53 PM
Made hummus yesterday, and was out of lemons. Subbed lime, and it tasted fine. Almost ruined it with a slip of the hand when measuring the cumin, but rescued it by scraping most of the cumin out, and adding more lime + tahini. Making the hummus used up: 1 can of garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup of tahini (almost gone) + 4 small limes. (+ spices)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on November 21, 2017, 03:04:46 PM
Anzac slice, on the other hand? Go for it.

Of course I immediately went to The Googles upon reading the phrase "Anzac slice" because while I know those words individually in their American usage I have no idea what they mean in Australian usage.  :)  Here's the first recipe I found:

http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/anzac-slice-246

These.  Look.  Awesome.  I am absolutely going to make these TONIGHT (even though my dishwasher is broken and I've sworn off most cooking and baking until it's fixed)!  Plus it gives me the excuse to go buy some golden syrup.  :)

Just wanted to report back to say that these were as awesome as they looked.  :)

I managed to find golden syrup at Cost Plus World Market (although I'm told that some US grocery chains carry it in the international foods section, none of the ones I went to near me had it).  I've cooked with it before (when I made Anzac biscuits years ago), but had forgotten how yummy it is.  There was a pancake syrup variant next to the "regular" stuff, and I almost bought it--after tasting the regular kind, I am now imagining how tasty it would be on pancakes.

Thanks for the education on Anzac slice--this one is destined to become a household staple!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 21, 2017, 10:00:03 PM
Finally used up the whey protein powder and gelatin!  I've been slipping it into the oatmeal I've been having for breakfast at work the last several weeks.  Thought I'd never see the end of that stuff.

And I actually used up the coconut milk I overbought at CostCo as well, thanks to the new oatmeal habit.

Tonight I did a ragu using some of the last lingering garden tomatoes and one of several spaghetti squash from the garden.  My husband used to be a professed squash hater, but I've managed to get him eating it.  Maybe in a few years he might even confess that he likes the stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SeaEhm on November 22, 2017, 09:36:52 AM
My fridge is starting to look pretty bare bones.  My freezer has a few bags of frozen cut veggies and a bag of frozen cut watermelon (used with fresh watermelon to blend into a slushy)

A couple nights ago, I looked at some spaghetti I needed to get rid of.  Also found a can of chicken broth and said we are eating chicken noodle soup tonight! (used the last of my frozen chicken tenderloins) Actually didn't turn out very bad I must say so myself. 

Not bad at all for just making stuff up, haha

Now I just need to use my chickpeas for something.  I am thinking of making a chickpea, turmeric, ginger, curry, veggie, and onion puree/soup. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 22, 2017, 12:16:48 PM
My fridge is starting to look pretty bare bones.  My freezer has a few bags of frozen cut veggies and a bag of frozen cut watermelon (used with fresh watermelon to blend into a slushy)

A couple nights ago, I looked at some spaghetti I needed to get rid of.  Also found a can of chicken broth and said we are eating chicken noodle soup tonight! (used the last of my frozen chicken tenderloins) Actually didn't turn out very bad I must say so myself. 

Not bad at all for just making stuff up, haha

Now I just need to use my chickpeas for something. I am thinking of making a chickpea, turmeric, ginger, curry, veggie, and onion puree/soup.

How about using the chickpeas for hummus? This is my favorite recipe - http://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SeaEhm on November 22, 2017, 12:37:59 PM
My fridge is starting to look pretty bare bones.  My freezer has a few bags of frozen cut veggies and a bag of frozen cut watermelon (used with fresh watermelon to blend into a slushy)

A couple nights ago, I looked at some spaghetti I needed to get rid of.  Also found a can of chicken broth and said we are eating chicken noodle soup tonight! (used the last of my frozen chicken tenderloins) Actually didn't turn out very bad I must say so myself. 

Not bad at all for just making stuff up, haha

Now I just need to use my chickpeas for something. I am thinking of making a chickpea, turmeric, ginger, curry, veggie, and onion puree/soup.

How about using the chickpeas for hummus? This is my favorite recipe - http://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/

Thanks!
Lemon, garlic, toasted sesame paste (tahini), grape seed oil, and olive oil it is!  Will be fun playing around with this. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: ACyclist on November 23, 2017, 09:48:03 AM
I used up a good portion of some oldish coconut sugar.  I bought it last year, and didn't love it.  It made a decent pound cake for my Thanksgiving offering at a party we will attend today.

Also, I made some pizza dough with a 1/2 packet of yeast.  Used a slow rise, so I needed far less yeast. 

Killing it.  We slashed our grocery budget this month.  $100 less, if it all works out by the 31st.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on November 23, 2017, 01:01:22 PM
Made a pumpkin soup today, started with onions, garlic and ginger. Added equal portions of pumpkin, carrots and yellow split peas. Seasoned with random chicken broth like spice packet. Added some milk. Puréed it all.  Turned out so delicious.  Love the peas for added protein!  I've always enjoyed pumpkin soup but felt I wasn't getting a full meal from it.  This might make the difference.

Looking for interesting buckwheat recipes and flavor pairings.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: swick on November 23, 2017, 01:50:11 PM
I made some Anzac brownies using up some of our supply of oats, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate bars my mom foisted upon me.

Posting to follow/participate.  In the meantime, gotta say I love the comment above--I've heard of (and made) Anzac biscuits, but never Anzac brownies.  Off to the internet to research!  (Swick, if you're still reading this thread, feel free to share the recipe you're using!)

Ive been on a bit of a hiatus, but getting back into the forum swing of things :) Here is the recipe: http://www.christinamarsigliese.com/2013/01/anzac-brownies.html

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 23, 2017, 01:57:23 PM
My fridge is starting to look pretty bare bones.  My freezer has a few bags of frozen cut veggies and a bag of frozen cut watermelon (used with fresh watermelon to blend into a slushy)

A couple nights ago, I looked at some spaghetti I needed to get rid of.  Also found a can of chicken broth and said we are eating chicken noodle soup tonight! (used the last of my frozen chicken tenderloins) Actually didn't turn out very bad I must say so myself. 

Not bad at all for just making stuff up, haha

Now I just need to use my chickpeas for something. I am thinking of making a chickpea, turmeric, ginger, curry, veggie, and onion puree/soup.

How about using the chickpeas for hummus? This is my favorite recipe - http://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/

Thanks!
Lemon, garlic, toasted sesame paste (tahini), grape seed oil, and olive oil it is!  Will be fun playing around with this.

It's a yummy recipe. I don't bother removing the peel of the garbanzo beans, and have successfully subbed lime juice for the lemon juice. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 24, 2017, 07:23:29 AM
So annoyed. Used the stuffing mix I've been trying to clear out of my pantry in our Thanksgiving stuffing yesterday, & it tasted "off". Had to throw out the entire thing (after I'd made it & wasted other ingredients). Plus, I love stuffing & didn't get any on Thanksgiving. *sad tears*

The rest of the Thanksgiving meal was fabulous, and both of my kids tried things they've never tried before, so it was a huge success. On the other hand, my husband picked up a pomegranate vinegar for his special (delicious) squash & kale salad. So, there goes another (semi random) item into the pantry. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 24, 2017, 09:51:11 AM
Today we are eating a bag of Indonesian spices that have bern in the cupboard sinds start 2017. About time!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 25, 2017, 04:51:58 PM
-Finished off the last of the bread crumbs
-Inventoried our entire freezer, organized all of the food, & discovered where we have overages, etc. This will help with purchasing & planning tremendously!
-Ate a semi-sketchy looking mandarin orange. Tasted fine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mousebandit on November 25, 2017, 05:53:12 PM
I need to be following and joining!  I have a simply ridiculous amount of food stuffed into the pantry, fridge, freezer, and big freezer, in addition the "official" food storage out in the pump house.  Tomorrow I will do some inventorying and come up with a list of things to use and remember!  Off hand, in the pantry I know I know I've got many cans of enchilada sauce needing to be used, a couple bottles of agave syrup, oodles of molasses, a jar of capers, and shelves and shelves of more typical stuff. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 26, 2017, 04:27:49 AM
For the last week I didn`t buy new meat or fish. We finished the meat in the fridge. From now on we will need to empty the stuffed freezer and the cheeses in the fridge. I can only buy veggies, milk and bread. This will probably last until the 22 of December when we will travel away.
Last week I was home along and ate some leftover portions from the freezer. Last night we ate a portionof leftover sweet mashed potatoe with coconut milk (great combination of tastes by the way).

I was in the mood for a snack and opened a very old bag of dried sweetcorn and made popcorn. I thought I took very little corn, but was shocked by the volumn, as I don`t make this often. So I guess I will be eating popcorn until that whole bag is popped and eaten. And then I won`t buy new. DH doesn`t tolerate corn very well, so I need to eat it alone or invite guests.

DH finished a small bag of dried slices of ham that I bought in Sweden this summer as hiking food. We haven`t been hiking since and the bag was taking up space in the fridge. Good to be rid of it.

Yesterday I made a tarte. Recipe said to cover the bottom layer with aluminium foil and cover with dried beans or peas. I happened to have an old, unused pack of dried peas. Put them on the bottom layer of tarte and baked. But I forgot the aluminium foil. The peas are now very fatty and full of pieces of cake. I trhew them away. Finally rid of something I wouldn`t prepare anyway.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on November 26, 2017, 07:40:47 PM
Made bolognese last night - used up an onion, some garlic, half a jar of passata from the freezer and half a bottle of red wine.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 27, 2017, 10:27:09 AM
Made a turkey chowder yesterday & it basically cleaned out the fridge!
-Used turkey from Thanksgiving
-Used broth I made from turkey carcass
-Used roasted potatoes/onions that I baked the turkey on (no roasting pan)
-Used celery leftover from the stuffing
-Used the remainder of the whipping cream (pre whipped/sweetened) from the pie

Chowder was delicious -highly recommend as a way to use up all of those leftovers! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/245091/turkey-potato-chowder-recipe/

Made it as is, but skipped the bacon (didn't have any on hand)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on November 27, 2017, 04:06:16 PM
So annoyed. Used the stuffing mix I've been trying to clear out of my pantry in our Thanksgiving stuffing yesterday, &amp; it tasted "off". Had to throw out the entire thing (after I'd made it &amp; wasted other ingredients). Plus, I love stuffing &amp; didn't get any on Thanksgiving. *sad tears*

The rest of the Thanksgiving meal was fabulous, and both of my kids tried things they've never tried before, so it was a huge success. On the other hand, my husband picked up a pomegranate vinegar for his special (delicious) squash &amp; kale salad. So, there goes another (semi random) item into the pantry. ;-)

https://www.chowhound.com/post/ideas-pomegranate-vinegar-salad-dressing-962743?page=2
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 27, 2017, 05:36:00 PM
So annoyed. Used the stuffing mix I've been trying to clear out of my pantry in our Thanksgiving stuffing yesterday, &amp; it tasted "off". Had to throw out the entire thing (after I'd made it &amp; wasted other ingredients). Plus, I love stuffing &amp; didn't get any on Thanksgiving. *sad tears*

The rest of the Thanksgiving meal was fabulous, and both of my kids tried things they've never tried before, so it was a huge success. On the other hand, my husband picked up a pomegranate vinegar for his special (delicious) squash &amp; kale salad. So, there goes another (semi random) item into the pantry. ;-)


https://www.chowhound.com/post/ideas-pomegranate-vinegar-salad-dressing-962743?page=2

Delish ideas - thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 27, 2017, 06:35:01 PM
Recipe said to cover the bottom layer with aluminium foil and cover with dried beans or peas. I happened to have an old, unused pack of dried peas. Put them on the bottom layer of tarte and baked. But I forgot the aluminium foil. The peas are now very fatty and full of pieces of cake. I trhew them away. Finally rid of something I wouldn`t prepare anyway.

The peas aren't edible after they have been used for blind baking. The only thing they would be good for is being baking weights again. So it sounds like you found their perfect use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on November 28, 2017, 07:51:41 AM
Used up a bunch of stuff in the fridge that would have been thrown out otherwise to make a big old stir-fry:  leftover Thai curry with chicken and vegetables, some brown rice, some use-it-or-lose-it broccoli, random spices and flavorings and broth mixed with cornstarch, an egg.  Total yum-fest. 

The only down-side is that I can never make that EXACT concoction again!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 28, 2017, 11:28:27 AM
Used up a bunch of stuff in the fridge that would have been thrown out otherwise to make a big old stir-fry:  leftover Thai curry with chicken and vegetables, some brown rice, some use-it-or-lose-it broccoli, random spices and flavorings and broth mixed with cornstarch, an egg.  Total yum-fest. 

The only down-side is that I can never make that EXACT concoction again!  :)

Kinda sad when you make something delicious and can't ever replicate it, isn't it!

Ok, as posted in another thread, I used a bunch of my Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum points at a "Spend Your Points" event on the weekend, and what I bought with them was food, food, food!

I was aiming to reduce future grocery bills as much as possible, so I bought things like frozen vegetables, and canned fruit, pasta and sauce, shelf stable milk (almond, soy, etc), nuts and dried fruit, granola bars, peanut butter, etc.  And yes, more packages of rice!  (I know, I know!)  For the next couple of months, I should really need very little other than occasional purchases of "real" milk to supplement the alternative milks, and a bit of fresh produce to supplement the frozen and canned fruit and veg.  Hopefully I can stay out of the grocery store to a large degree.

So, although my fridge, freezer and cupboards are again overflowing, I am still in this thread, and still particularly committed to trying to use up some of those odds and ends that otherwise would languish in the cupboard for months/years!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 28, 2017, 02:24:24 PM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:

-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)
-Stale pistachios. Seriously, they have gone stale. May toast them & serve them in another way. Or, may try my hand at pistachio butter! http://cookingontheweekends.com/2015/12/how-to-make-homemade-pistachio-butter/
-Use up the last of the cashews (the cashew butter was a huge hit, so I'll incorporate this)
-Pesto - lots of it in the freezer, so will plan more meals with it
-Protein balls. I made one batch that wasn't as good, so they linger in the freezer. No making fresh new granola bars until I make my way through these.
-Frozen breakfast sandwiches (the ones with the stale muffin tops). Will need to just keep going through them

Overall, feeling really good about what's in the pantry, and my organized freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 29, 2017, 01:28:11 AM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:

-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)


You could just sprinkle them over salad. Or over some wok dishes or dishes with cooked spinach.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on November 29, 2017, 04:41:02 AM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:
-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)
You could just sprinkle them over salad. Or over some wok dishes or dishes with cooked spinach.

On top of roasted vegetables, hummus or babaganoush?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on November 29, 2017, 09:20:49 AM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:
-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)
You could just sprinkle them over salad. Or over some wok dishes or dishes with cooked spinach.

On top of roasted vegetables, hummus or babaganoush?

Pine nuts have a high fat content and can spoil, so what you don’t use quickly, freeze.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on December 02, 2017, 09:35:07 AM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:
-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)
You could just sprinkle them over salad. Or over some wok dishes or dishes with cooked spinach.

On top of roasted vegetables, hummus or babaganoush?

Pine nuts have a high fat content and can spoil, so what you don’t use quickly, freeze.

I buy the costco size bag (1.5 lb ?) and keep it in the freezer.  A bag lasts a couple of years of making pesto with the summer basil.  But I guess that suggestion doesn't help use up all the food in your house lol
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 02, 2017, 11:44:22 AM
Today I used some of the dried seaweed that we had picked in May. I put it in hot water for a while and servd it separately beside a rice dish. But it was no success. It had a bit of a slimy substance. It was edible, but not tasteful. We both ate a little bit, but not more.

I also used up one of the tins of coconut milk that I bought on discount some time ago. And I ate a bag of frozen selfpicked mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 02, 2017, 01:03:41 PM
I wanted pancakes this morning and realized I could use the buttermilk that was sitting in the fridge and getting close to expiration.  So yum and have batter left for more tomorrow.

Topping for the pancakes was homemade cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving.  Said sauce incorporated some nasty orange-flavored vodka that no one will drink. 

Tonight I think I'll make beef bulgogi with the last pack of sirloin from last year's beef quarter.  Mission this month is to get nearly all the meat out of the freezer before we get this year's lamb in January.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on December 05, 2017, 05:53:40 AM
Hi everyone!
I would love to join. .... to be honest I am not sure if I posted before on this thread. I read every page and feel like I belong but I never said hi.

We have been buying special things and sauced and spices in the last months and I would love to streamline my freezer and pantry. I would like to buy just milk and produce for the rest of December. We do not have to buy anything for Christmas besides about 30 EUR worth of sausages. Everything else is provided by our family which we spend Christmas with. So for now I decreased our budget to 200 EUR (2 adults, we buy mainly organic) which is a real low number. But it has to be a challenge otherwise I feel to content.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 05, 2017, 06:20:43 AM
Hi everyone!
I would love to join. .... to be honest I am not sure if I posted before on this thread. I read every page and feel like I belong but I never said hi.

We have been buying special things and sauced and spices in the last months and I would love to streamline my freezer and pantry. I would like to buy just milk and produce for the rest of December. We do not have to buy anything for Christmas besides about 30 EUR worth of sausages. Everything else is provided by our family which we spend Christmas with. So for now I decreased our budget to 200 EUR (2 adults, we buy mainly organic) which is a real low number. But it has to be a challenge otherwise I feel to content.

Welcome.

My goal is to eat meat from the freezer for all of December. From the 22nd we will be provided for by family we visit.
Exception is Christmas dinner. FIL has asked us to provide the main dish and send him a shopping list for the ingredients. DH wants to make reindeer meat and that isn't sold where FIL lives. So we'll buy it ourselves. But for the day-to-day living, only meat from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 05, 2017, 01:25:48 PM
Made a salad last night consisting of fridge leftovers:  Baby spinach, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, some sad feta, and leftover dressing from a take out meal.

Tonight I'm going to make gumbo to use zucchini I keep forgetting about, a smoked beef sausage, and a half bag of shrimp.  I'll serve it on top of some rice I froze 2 months ago from Chinese take out.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on December 07, 2017, 04:02:53 PM
I`m a long time lurker - first time poster. I read  the whole thread and finally signed up to join here as I noticed that I might have a severe food hoarding issue.

I did an inventory of my fridge, freezer and pantry and found that I had kept around 10 different kinds of pasta, around 65 sorts of spices and spice mixes and around 50 different condiments. I started with a list of around 400 line items

 I love trying new recipes and always buy the special ingredients a recipe calls for and end up with odds and ends I am not sure what to do with.

So now I'm writing here to commit to eating down what I have and not buying more random food.

First accomplishments:
Finished a bag of couscous nobody really cared for and will never buy that again
Streamlined the pasta stash by making mixed pasta dishes (rests of penne, capellini, linguine, farfalle and Spätzle are gone - will stick to spaghetti, tagliatelle and lasagna as staples)
Used up plain muesli mix (oats, other grains and seeds) by baking bread every weekend (froze in slices for fresh bread during the week)
Made granola cookies to make the family eat fruit granola mix
Using all the exotic spices more often - there have been quite some curries lately - making at least a small dent in those bulk bags of turmeric, curry powders, galangal powder and the like

Challenges:
I have no idea what to do with curry leaves, annatto seeds, black rice (and tapioca pearls apart from tapioca coconut pudding)
Popcorn - why is there so much popcorn?
Curry - there is a ton of mild curry powder, hot curry powder, red, green and yellow curry paste - I'm running out of ideas

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 08, 2017, 01:27:07 AM
I`m a long time lurker - first time poster. I read  the whole thread and finally signed up to join here as I noticed that I might have a severe food hoarding issue.

I did an inventory of my fridge, freezer and pantry and found that I had kept around 10 different kinds of pasta, around 65 sorts of spices and spice mixes and around 50 different condiments. I started with a list of around 400 line items

 I love trying new recipes and always buy the special ingredients a recipe calls for and end up with odds and ends I am not sure what to do with.

So now I'm writing here to commit to eating down what I have and not buying more random food.

First accomplishments:
Finished a bag of couscous nobody really cared for and will never buy that again
Streamlined the pasta stash by making mixed pasta dishes (rests of penne, capellini, linguine, farfalle and Spätzle are gone - will stick to spaghetti, tagliatelle and lasagna as staples)
Used up plain muesli mix (oats, other grains and seeds) by baking bread every weekend (froze in slices for fresh bread during the week)
Made granola cookies to make the family eat fruit granola mix
Using all the exotic spices more often - there have been quite some curries lately - making at least a small dent in those bulk bags of turmeric, curry powders, galangal powder and the like

Challenges:
I have no idea what to do with curry leaves, annatto seeds, black rice (and tapioca pearls apart from tapioca coconut pudding)
Popcorn - why is there so much popcorn?
Curry - there is a ton of mild curry powder, hot curry powder, red, green and yellow curry paste - I'm running out of ideas

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated

Welcome to the thread. It sound like you've made a very good start.

A simple curry dish:
- Cabbage, shopped in small pieces.
- Union, chopped
- Minced meat
- Potatoes or a mashed potatoes
- A few spoons full of curry, depending on how string

Cooked and mash the potatoes. Stir fry the minced meat and the union. Add the cabbage until softened. Add as much curry powder as you like. Mix together with the potatoes. Serve.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on December 08, 2017, 03:45:34 AM
You can grind tapioca pearls up smaller if that makes them easier to use. 

Tapioca can be used to thicken soups and sauces.  Google for tips, it's been a while since I've done it.

Tapioca is also the secret ingredient in my family's pumpkin pie. It makes it thick and binds it together.  I often use it just to make a custard.  Again google, the exact recipe is a secret.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 08, 2017, 09:22:22 AM
Popcorn - why is there so much popcorn?
For your popcorn, pop a large batch and then put it in small containers.  It's a great grab and go snack at my house. 

If you're a fan of something sweet, make caramel corn. I used this recipe (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/24952/caramel-popcorn/) with leftover corn syrup from our pecan pie baking at Thanksgiving. 

Or subtly sweet, try kettle corn. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 08, 2017, 12:13:44 PM
Welcome, Mialao!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on December 09, 2017, 02:37:58 PM
Welcome to the thread. It sound like you've made a very good start.

A simple curry dish:
- Cabbage, shopped in small pieces.
- Union, chopped
- Minced meat
- Potatoes or a mashed potatoes
- A few spoons full of curry, depending on how string

Cooked and mash the potatoes. Stir fry the minced meat and the union. Add the cabbage until softened. Add as much curry powder as you like. Mix together with the potatoes. Serve.
Thanks for the warm welcome. That recipe sounds tasty and i think I will give it a try this week. I happen to have some cabbage left from making another dish and some lamb mince in the freezer. Will report back how it turned out.

Tapioca is also the secret ingredient in my family's pumpkin pie. It makes it thick and binds it together.  I often use it just to make a custard.  Again google, the exact recipe is a secret.
I'll try that as soon as I have used up the two packets of starch I have in my pantry ;-) I didn't realize that tapioca is basically the same. Thanks for that recommendation.

Popcorn - why is there so much popcorn?

If you're a fan of something sweet, make caramel corn. I used this recipe (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/24952/caramel-popcorn/) with leftover corn syrup from our pecan pie baking at Thanksgiving. 

Or subtly sweet, try kettle corn. 

Kettle corn sounds nice. So does pecan pie - need to Google that one


Today I used up hazelnuts, almonds and apricot jam in gingerbread and some kind of apricot almond slices.

No curries involved. But I am planning to make Tom Yum tomorrow.

How is everybody else doing?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 09, 2017, 04:23:02 PM
Just back from an international work trip, so no progress. However, last night, rather than take out, I heated up a freezer dish. It was quick & easy, & saved us from takeout. Woohoo!

Hoping to make pistachio butter tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on December 09, 2017, 05:11:59 PM
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015485-black-rice-corn-and-cranberries
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LostGirl on December 13, 2017, 01:31:34 PM
We've been working on this for a while and we've finally cleared out the garage pantry mostly! This was by getting my husband involved and when he realized that we had 3 boxes of cheerios and he kept buying them.

It's also the season where our freezer gets jammed full of bread products, so that doesn't help but its lovely to have so many bread options for hearty meals.  We have Kings Hawaiian rolls, some other potato rolls, my favorite frozen biscuits from Costco (x2 packages) that they only have during the holidays and an herb slab.  I usually skip bread so its a treat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 13, 2017, 03:44:16 PM
I'm thinking that my pantry is starting to look pretty streamlined! Here are a few things I'm slating to use up from the pantry/freezer:

-Pine nuts (have a ton of pesto in the freezer, so will look for another way to use)
-Stale pistachios. Seriously, they have gone stale. May toast them & serve them in another way. Or, may try my hand at pistachio butter! http://cookingontheweekends.com/2015/12/how-to-make-homemade-pistachio-butter/
-Use up the last of the cashews (the cashew butter was a huge hit, so I'll incorporate this)
-Pesto - lots of it in the freezer, so will plan more meals with it
-Protein balls. I made one batch that wasn't as good, so they linger in the freezer. No making fresh new granola bars until I make my way through these.
-Frozen breakfast sandwiches (the ones with the stale muffin tops). Will need to just keep going through them

Overall, feeling really good about what's in the pantry, and my organized freezer!

I have continued to eat down my preferred granola bars, which will quickly only leave me with my less preferred protein balls. Once that's over, I have to throw away the recipe I used when I didn't like them.

I did manage to use up one of my jars of green olive tapenade (used as a sandwich spread). Have made less progress with basil. I also have a tub of hummus on its last legs, & need to sort that out as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 13, 2017, 04:47:01 PM
Froze the blueberries and ate the last of the pasta salad last night.

It's a bit over a week until we leave to spend Christmas with family so have to use up: potatoes, onion, garlic, a lemon, a corb of corn, a heap of bananas (I'll let them ripen then freeze for smoothies), milk, yoghurt, bread (will freeze if there is any left), one passionfruit, a heap of eggs...

Wait, banana, passionfruit, eggs - this calls for pav!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 13, 2017, 06:57:09 PM
Froze the blueberries and ate the last of the pasta salad last night.

It's a bit over a week until we leave to spend Christmas with family so have to use up: potatoes, onion, garlic, a lemon, a corb of corn, a heap of bananas (I'll let them ripen then freeze for smoothies), milk, yoghurt, bread (will freeze if there is any left), one passionfruit, a heap of eggs...

Wait, banana, passionfruit, eggs - this calls for pav!

We are in the same position. Leaving in about 10 days, and need to use up a bunch of stuff. My produce obsessed husband (love him. There are so many worse things to be obsessed with, I realize. But, drives me waste loathing mind crazy) will undoubtedly try to do a full grocery shop on Saturday. I think I'll gently recommend that I manage the shopping this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 14, 2017, 01:04:17 PM
It's been eat out of the freezer week because my monthly grocery shopping trip is tonight:

We used up the rest of the cherry tomatoes in salads Sunday.

Tuesday was a teriyaki chicken breast from the freezer with a bag of okra.

Last night was leftover corned beef soup, which I'm eating the last of for lunch as I type this along with the rest of the okra.

Tonight is breakfast burritos which will use up the rest of the tortillas and a roll of Jimmy Dean pulled from the freezer last weekend.

And, may I just say, boy does a bag of baby spinach go a long way!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 16, 2017, 01:40:23 PM
I just dug into the basement pantry and pulled all of the canned goods out.  I still have two jars of sauerkraut from my first time making it back in 2010.  There were also things we just plain are not going to eat, like the beans I experimented with canning last year.  I made a shelf for things that need to either be thrown out or fed to the chickens.

For the rest of it, I put away the 2017 canning in a separate section not to be touched until I use the items from previous years.  The oldest stuff, I brought up and put front-and-center and will be eating lots of oatmeal or yogurt breakfasts with apple butter or canned peaches mixed in. There are also about a dozen jars of soup that will cover me for work lunches for awhile. After the pineapple and guavas I purchased this week, I'm on a fruit-buying moratorium as I also have a huge CostCo bag of blueberries in the freezer in addition to all the canned stuff.

At least this is a good lesson in what types of canned goods we will and will not eat.  In future I'm doing less variety of the staples, and fewer of the fruit products, which we don't seem to use at all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 17, 2017, 09:56:29 AM
Saw this thread, and hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Made myself one of the freezer breakfast sandwiches! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 17, 2017, 10:43:43 AM
We ate half a trout, traed with salt, sugar and dill, that has bern in the freezer for months. I made sauce from lots of seldom used spices in our cupboard. We ate french bread that you need to bake for the second time. Just in time before it expired. And we finshed a tin og wok mix, eating as a Thai inspired soup.

We ate in a Thai restaurant recently and I really liked the flavours in the food. I am inspired to make such food more often at home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 17, 2017, 04:32:53 PM
Used up a jar of salsa (salsa chicken), a heap of frozen veggies, and four potatoes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on December 18, 2017, 06:34:39 AM
Black sesame seeds have been languishing in the pantry since we stopped eating sushi rice. They are really good on top of mangos and plain yogurt.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 18, 2017, 10:10:20 AM
-Ate another breakfast sandwich. 7 to go!
-Husband ran out of bread crumbs for his recipe, which included hollowing out a baguette. . . showed him he could make bread crumbs out of the "insides" of the baguette. He thought it was genius. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 18, 2017, 11:45:47 AM
Black sesame seeds have been languishing in the pantry since we stopped eating sushi rice. They are really good on top of mangos and plain yogurt.

I like them on avocados too.  Or you could make Gomashio (https://www.chowhound.com/recipes/gomashio-10583).  ETA: the one my aunt makes is more like this, with seaweed:  http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/gomasio-japanese-sesame-seed-condiment-135282

I actually had lots of them too, and ended up grinding them into tahini.  Need to remember to make a tahini salad dressing with some of it tonight; thanks for the reminder!

I made a batch of "tuna" salad using canned sardines instead.  Eating it on crackers right now for lunch.  Used up the last of a sad bunch of celery, and some capers and homemade sport peppers.  Quite tasty, and my co-workers haven't complained about the smell.  Yet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 22, 2017, 09:05:05 AM
-Ate another freezer breakfast sandwich. Just 6 left!
-Used up most of the remaining chicken for dinner last night - will polish it off tonight
-Eating lots of produce, before we leave on our trip.
-Making do with things in the fridge/pantry before we take off
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on December 22, 2017, 03:02:24 PM
I love this thread!
Reading it inspired me to roast up some yams languishing in a bowl, then ate that with millet & left-over home-made chutney.

I have heaps of dried plants (my sister is a herbalist), so this is a good reminder to keep things moving. Made some hibiscus and mint tea to take to work with me.

Also someone mentioned turmeric--it's a great one to use for golden milk (I drink a quick version of this every morning).
Boiled water, finger of ginger (or powdered), tsp turmeric, some cinnamon, spoonful of almond/cashew butter or a scant handful of nuts to make it creamy. Blend up (high powered blender works best) and enjoy :)

Challenge: use up a bag of wheatlets and
                 another of buckwheat groats.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on December 27, 2017, 03:25:30 PM
Golden milk sounds interesting. I suppose this should also work with plain milk, right? I don't have any nut butters and will pass on buying new stuff for the next weeks.

We will hopefully be moving soon - so as much food as possible has to get eaten. My pantry starts looking quite streamlined, but the freezer is still packed. Couldn't resist the free berries from my parent's garden. But I'm using those in smoothies every day.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G920F mit Tapatalk

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalkristen on December 30, 2017, 08:18:49 AM
I need to join in - I just made did an inventory of my freezer and I should be good for the month of January.  I do have some sides in the pantry and a few veggies but probably not quite enough.  I still want to spend $0 at the grocery store for the month.  I know I can do it - but my boyfriend can't.  He isn't as thrifty as I am so he'll want to buy stuff to have the 'perfect meal'.  I'm still going to give it a try though.  I like a challenge and am looking forward to making new dishes with ingredients on hand!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 1967mama on December 30, 2017, 04:17:35 PM
Today I used up 2 half bags of appies from Christmas Eve, 8 two-day-old homemade buns became a bread pudding, 8 eggs were hardboiled for sandwiches, a bag of cookie mix was made into cookies by my son, and quinoa was cooked for the fridge for the next few days. Now it's time for tea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 30, 2017, 09:02:48 PM
Made tamales tonight and used up 2 Basque chorizos that had been in the fridge for several days, an can of olives that had been opened and sitting in the fridge for over a week, lots of dried tomatoes from the garden, two jars of last year's canned salsa, two turkey thighs frozen from a Thanksgiving sale, and tallow and duck fat I'd rendered and had stored.  Now we have 12 meals' worth of tamales for the freezer. 

Turned some tahini into a nice salad dressing that will be used up within a few days.

Tomorrow I'm canning another batch of green soup which will use up the last of the collards from the garden.

Pulled lamb livers out of the freezer and plan to make them into dog treats tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugalkristen on December 31, 2017, 10:59:55 AM
So I made one last trip to the grocery store to pick up a couple of small things for January (onions, frozen veggies for the end of the month) - now I plan to spend nothing on groceries for the month.  I know it seems weird to shop today knowing I will not need these items until later in January but that will stop me from grocery shopping weekly and buying stuff I don't need.  A little money spent today will save a lot later!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 31, 2017, 11:22:51 AM
-We are having steak, potatoes & salad for dinner. We will also use the rest of the baguette & goat cheese for a crostini appetizer.
-We will do the following with all of the fridge that remains by tomorrow: pack lunches for the plane, freeze anything that will freeze well, pack the remaining produce in our bags & take it home with us. Hoping to get the waste as close to zero as possible!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shinplaster on December 31, 2017, 11:33:51 AM
Used up the turkey that was supposed to be for last Christmas for this Christmas (family illness meant we didn't end up hosting).  Best turkey ever - I guess we should 'age' all our turkeys in the freezer for a year first.  : )

Tonight will be steaks of the same vintage, for the same reason. I had actually forgotten they were in the freezer, and was delighted to find them buried under the bread and not looking freezer burned.  Also the last potatoes, sweet potato, and salad hanging around from Christmas.  Bonus that I didn't need to go for groceries in -22C weather.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on December 31, 2017, 02:19:30 PM
So I made one last trip to the grocery store to pick up a couple of small things for January (onions, frozen veggies for the end of the month) - now I plan to spend nothing on groceries for the month.  I know it seems weird to shop today knowing I will not need these items until later in January but that will stop me from grocery shopping weekly and buying stuff I don't need.  A little money spent today will save a lot later!

That's quite a challenge!  Best of luck! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 01, 2018, 06:56:50 PM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey
- meatballs
- smoked cheese
- hummus
- flat bread
- sourdough
- bread rolls
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince
- chicken breast

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 01, 2018, 08:57:01 PM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey
- meatballs
- smoked cheese
- hummus
- flat bread
- sourdough
- bread rolls
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince
- chicken breast

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.
I'm sad I'm so far away, because I'm excited about your leftovers! They sound amazing. We came back to an empty fridge tonight & a freezer pizza. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 01, 2018, 09:43:55 PM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey
- meatballs
- smoked cheese
- hummus
- flat bread
- sourdough
- bread rolls
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince
- chicken breast

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.
I'm sad I'm so far away, because I'm excited about your leftovers! They sound amazing. We came back to an empty fridge tonight & a freezer pizza. ;-)

Come on over! I'm sure I'll have a new batch of leftovers by the time you get here!

I wanted to buy a frozen pizza when we were shopping for NYE but husband reminded me we're tight on freezer space.

Also, I had leftover chicken kebab, a scoop of mac and cheese and the last of the frozen broccoli for lunch today and it was freaking amazing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on January 02, 2018, 05:21:58 AM
^ That does sound delicious.

I realized yesterday that I know longer know what lurks on the bottom of my freezer pile, so it's time to start this challenge once again!

Goal this time is to excavate freezer via consumption.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 02, 2018, 08:29:47 AM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey
- meatballs
- smoked cheese
- hummus
- flat bread
- sourdough
- bread rolls
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince
- chicken breast

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.
I'm sad I'm so far away, because I'm excited about your leftovers! They sound amazing. We came back to an empty fridge tonight & a freezer pizza. ;-)

Come on over! I'm sure I'll have a new batch of leftovers by the time you get here!

I wanted to buy a frozen pizza when we were shopping for NYE but husband reminded me we're tight on freezer space.

Also, I had leftover chicken kebab, a scoop of mac and cheese and the last of the frozen broccoli for lunch today and it was freaking amazing.

Tell me more about the frozen broccoli. Do you do something special to prep it? I'd love to get in more vegetables at lunch or dinner, but find it difficult to make frozen broccoli into anything appealing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 02, 2018, 01:51:29 PM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey
- meatballs
- smoked cheese
- hummus
- flat bread
- sourdough
- bread rolls
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince
- chicken breast

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.
I'm sad I'm so far away, because I'm excited about your leftovers! They sound amazing. We came back to an empty fridge tonight & a freezer pizza. ;-)

Come on over! I'm sure I'll have a new batch of leftovers by the time you get here!

I wanted to buy a frozen pizza when we were shopping for NYE but husband reminded me we're tight on freezer space.

Also, I had leftover chicken kebab, a scoop of mac and cheese and the last of the frozen broccoli for lunch today and it was freaking amazing.

Tell me more about the frozen broccoli. Do you do something special to prep it? I'd love to get in more vegetables at lunch or dinner, but find it difficult to make frozen broccoli into anything appealing.

I do absolutely nothing special to prepare it.

I'm not much of a salad person but happy to eat frozen broccoli (sometimes with a bit of cauliflower for variation) every day.

I microwave it for two minutes at home to help thaw it, put it in a Decor lunch container with whatever else I'm having (salsa chicken, leftover steak, etc), and microwave it for 90 seconds at lunchtime.

I generally just rely on whatever I'm with the broccoli to give it a bit of flavour, but I really have no problem eating it plain.

I used to cook it first but Budget Bytes taught me that isn't necessary, as long as it's defrosted properly, and it makes for much nicer broccoli because it stays firm and bright green.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 02, 2018, 01:55:36 PM
To use up (mostly NYE leftovers):
- mac and cheese
- shaved ham and turkey - cheat Cubanos for dinner last night
- meatballs - husband finished these yesterday
- smoked cheese - freezer for the next time I make mac and cheese
- hummus
- flat bread - freezer
- sourdough
- bread rolls - freezer
- pullapart
- eggs
- celery
- carrots
- salsa
- chips - taking to work
- corn chips
- quinoa salad
- bananas - freezer for smoothies
- tomato
- red onion
- shallots
- mince - freezer
- chicken breast - this was only a day old from the butcher and it had turned :(

I'm out of apples and frozen broccoli, which I eat every day, but I'm holding out for as long as possible for the next shop.

List update.

When I got home last night husband had bought cucumbers and corn.

Me: What did you think I meant when I said we weren't grocery shopping this week?
Him: We needed a couple of things.

>.<

Bless him, he was being helpful.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 02, 2018, 02:12:53 PM
Back from a productive 3-day weekend!

Apples were made into apple fritters.  Traded a neighbor a large bag of them for 18 farm fresh eggs.  :D

The rest of the bag of potatoes were made into steak fries Sunday night and mashed last night.

Assembled a casserole for tonight which used up a pound of ground beef, and two cans of different type chilies.

Tossed leftover dip, a few dry homemade cookies, and a few other odds and ends from Christmas.

Using up Keurig pods before I buy any more coffee, in a can or otherwise.  ETA:  I feel like I should note there is no way I would have spring for a new Keurig.  The one we have was a free hand-me-down.  And I don't normally buy the pods because of the cost and waste involved by using the loose coffee filter.

Here's to a frugal 2018!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 02, 2018, 02:33:18 PM

[/quote]

I do absolutely nothing special to prepare it.

I'm not much of a salad person but happy to eat frozen broccoli (sometimes with a bit of cauliflower for variation) every day.

I microwave it for two minutes at home to help thaw it, put it in a Decor lunch container with whatever else I'm having (salsa chicken, leftover steak, etc), and microwave it for 90 seconds at lunchtime.

I generally just rely on whatever I'm with the broccoli to give it a bit of flavour, but I really have no problem eating it plain.

I used to cook it first but Budget Bytes taught me that isn't necessary, as long as it's defrosted properly, and it makes for much nicer broccoli because it stays firm and bright green.
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply. I struggle eating vegetables (particularly broccoli) that isn't roasted/seasoned/prepped quite a bit. That takes time, so I find I'm just not eating much of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 03, 2018, 07:11:06 AM
Thanks for the reply. I struggle eating vegetables (particularly broccoli) that isn't roasted/seasoned/prepped quite a bit. That takes time, so I find I'm just not eating much of it.

Did you know that you can freeze roasted cauliflower and broccoli? I roast up large trays, and then freeze it on a cooking sheet with a silpat underneath. Then I have roasted cauliflower in a ziploc for use in lunches and such. It isn't quite as good as fresh roasted, but it is close enough for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: TikiTime on January 03, 2018, 09:45:26 AM
I try to do a freezer challenge twice a year, January and February to flex my frugal muscles, and July and August to reduce the risk of spoilage in case of a hurricane power outage.  I also do a pantry challenge Jan/Feb, but not in summer, that is when up on canned/boxed foods in case of a hurricane.  So, I am challenging myself to only buy absolutely necessary fresh produce, potatoes, rice, beans, eggs, and dairy for our 3 adult household.  The holy trinity is always necessary (onions, celery, and bell peppers) We are full to the gills, otherwise.

Last night we had hawaiian pizza, using the last GF pizza dough box, tomato paste from the freezer, canned pineapple, cheese from the freezer, and onions and bell peppers, and more of the never ending holiday ham.

Today we will have crockpot pulled pork from leftover pork loin, with onions and peppers, will blend last of cottage cheese with green salsa to top the  tostados, and lettuce. Oh, and left over cowgirl caviar, if they want beans on it.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 03, 2018, 11:00:16 AM
Thanks for the reply. I struggle eating vegetables (particularly broccoli) that isn't roasted/seasoned/prepped quite a bit. That takes time, so I find I'm just not eating much of it.

Did you know that you can freeze roasted cauliflower and broccoli? I roast up large trays, and then freeze it on a cooking sheet with a silpat underneath. Then I have roasted cauliflower in a ziploc for use in lunches and such. It isn't quite as good as fresh roasted, but it is close enough for lunch.

Didn't know that, but will definitely be trying it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 03, 2018, 11:01:29 AM
Made dinner last night with pasta rescued from the vacation house, a super discounted jar of puttanesca sauce doctored a bit, and frozen meatballs. My pantry needs a bit of a clean out, but is generally looking pretty good! Who knew it would get to this point?! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 03, 2018, 08:21:44 PM
Thanks for the reply. I struggle eating vegetables (particularly broccoli) that isn't roasted/seasoned/prepped quite a bit. That takes time, so I find I'm just not eating much of it.

Did you know that you can freeze roasted cauliflower and broccoli? I roast up large trays, and then freeze it on a cooking sheet with a silpat underneath. Then I have roasted cauliflower in a ziploc for use in lunches and such. It isn't quite as good as fresh roasted, but it is close enough for lunch.

Didn't know that, but will definitely be trying it!

This works great with lots of veggies - I do it all the time.  My favorites are broccoli and cauliflower, eggplant, and green beans.  (I mostly do it when I get free vegetables in the summer and want to prep them for the chest freezer.  It's easier than blanching them and also makes them more appealing to eat straight out of the freezer.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: TikiTime on January 05, 2018, 09:42:00 AM
Last night we had the last of the holiday roast as roast beef poboys, dressed, used GF poboy bread from freezer, and made artichoke dip from pantry and fridge items, and GF crackers.

Tonight we eat up the last of the gumbo, will make rice to go w/ it, a few left over ribs, left over boudin.  Will bake a GF king cake tonight for 12th Night tomorrow for DD to have before catching plane back to college tomorrow, and make a dump cake to get rid of sugary temptations from the pantry!

Tomorrow we will have Italian sausage meatballs and spagetti with asparagus and that king cake.  Have to think about what we will have for the football game on Sunday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on January 05, 2018, 09:54:51 AM
We cleaned out the freezer a bit last night--used ground turkey and a variety of half-used bags of frozen vegetables. We threw it over some quinoa made quickly in our Instant Pot.  Dinner last night.  Lunch for me today.  3 bags of frozen veggies and one roll of ground turkey finished!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 05, 2018, 12:36:55 PM
-Ate one of the dreaded freezer breakfast sandwiches this morning. 6 to go!
-Finished the remaining protein balls, and tossed a few that were freezer burned. That bag is now gone.
-Used fridge leftovers (meatballs, baked chicken, pesto, 1/2 a red pepper, the remainder of a puttanesca sauce) to make dinner last night. Naan pizzas
-Defrosted a leftover chicken & goat cheese risotto for dinner tonight. There is enough for two, so the adults will have that, and the kids will have the remaining naan pizzas.

Now that I've made progress on the pantry, & the fridge is in good shape from our holiday, my goal is the freezer, & I like to start the new year by clearing it out as much as possible. This includes freezer meals. Other than core staples, we have the following:
-2 or 3 bags of cranberries, which I use for our favorite muffins
-The dreaded 6 breakfast sandwiches. Must.Go!
-Leftover chicken/mushroom pilaf, serves 2.
-4 servings of lentil soup, which isn't that good & needs doctoring to be rescued
-Many containers of pesto & green olive tapenade
-The remaining pack of gyozas
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on January 07, 2018, 10:29:52 AM
Discovered the joy of homemade tortillas--so started using some of the flour from the cupboard yesterday and made enfrijoladas.

Found a bag of cream-of-wheat, being used this morning

Also millet, buckwheat groats and wild rice. Need to find some tasty uses for those.
Was going to bake muffins this morning to use more flour, berries and coconut--but tray is M.I.A...I think my SO may have decluttered it!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 08, 2018, 01:05:55 PM
MaybeBaby, you're cruising through those breakfast sandwiches!

Serendip, sorry about the missing tray!

This is the week before my monthly grocery trip next Monday.  Time to get freezer creative:

Tonight is a casserole which will use up a bag of cauliflower
Tomorrow is a different casserole originally put into the freezer in November
Wed will be a bag of chicken tenders breaded in almond flour and parm cheese, with a side of another bag of frozen veggies.
Thursday will be leftovers
Friday we have take out
Saturday IDK yet
Sunday will take care of the rest of the shrimp, stuffed crab and cod.

Somewhere in the above I need to use up a container of Budget Bytes Not Refried Beans frozen a few months ago...

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 09, 2018, 04:39:37 AM
My goal in the next weeks is to eat many of the portions of leftovers that we have in the freezer. They are piling up, as I am much better at putting food into the freezer than taking it out. I will have to be organized, know what is there and make a plan for when to eat it. Somewhere in December I had a list on the fridge with all the frozen food. I need to update it again and make a plan for eating it.

Monday it went well. I made lasagna on Saturday evening and had more veggies and sauce than what fitted in the bowls. So I made an extra portion and froze it. Due to DH's unexpected overnight stay at the hospital on Sunday, I ate the frozen portion already on Sunday night. (DH is okay now)

I have started to eat some of my frozen mushrooms (last weekend: amanita rubescens). I have another bag of those. But I'm not sure I will pick them again to eat. They have a lot of taste, but they do taste quite special and they are far from my favorite. But this year I wanted to try out all edible species so this is just the next step. My freezer is full of many different species, all guaranteed safe to eat.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 09, 2018, 07:33:24 AM
I'm going to make miso soup tonight and finally finish the package of miso that has literally been in the fridge for at least half a decade.  That miso definitely has seniority over all other condiments in the fridge.  The soup will also feature mushrooms and green onions that need to be used up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on January 09, 2018, 08:23:21 AM
I fell off the wagon!  There is less food in the house than when I started, but I've definitely put more into the pantry and freezer lately than I've taken out.  So my New Year's resolution is to draw down the pantry and freezer as much as is practicable.

-two nights ago I made an apple crisp with some older apples and some lingering whole wheat flour that has been around too long
-last night I snacked on cranberry compote left over from the holidays.
-I made potato salad to use up some potatoes and will serve it tonight with dinner
-dinner is hot dogs/soy dogs I bought a while ago for myself and the toddler and never got to

I definitely need to get more creative in combining multiple ingredients for using up.  Unfortunately I have a spouse who complains if meals are not fresh/fancy enough too many nights in a row, so it's a balance.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 09, 2018, 12:18:10 PM

Monday it went well. I made lasagna on Saturday evening and had more veggies and sauce than what fitted in the bowls. So I made an extra portion and froze it. Due to DH's unexpected overnight stay at the hospital on Sunday, I ate the frozen portion already on Sunday night. (DH is okay now)

I have started to eat some of my frozen mushrooms (last weekend: amanita rubescens). I have another bag of those. But I'm not sure I will pick them again to eat. They have a lot of taste, but they do taste quite special and they are far from my favorite. But this year I wanted to try out all edible species so this is just the next step. My freezer is full of many different species, all guaranteed safe to eat.

Glad he is doing better, Linda!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LostGirl on January 10, 2018, 10:01:52 PM
Were doing the Frugalwoods Uber frugal month that's helped to motivate. Ate some freezer meatloaf tonight and used some jarred roasted peppers for red pepper hummus.

I have my eye on some dry lentils that we'll cook later in the week. I have two jars of olives that I need a use for. My husband doesn't like them and I usually use them in summer Greek salads but all of that is out of season.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SimpleCycle on January 10, 2018, 11:07:45 PM
I made an improvised dinner tonight of tofu tacos.  Used up half a red pepper, half a bag of spinach, a block of tofu, and some lingering too hot salsa.  Ate left over apple crisp for dessert.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on January 11, 2018, 05:11:42 PM
We signed the lease for our new apartment on Monday and will be moving in the first two weeks of February. (Looking forward to a 7 minute bike commute instead of almost one hour in public transit - sorry for being OT but I`m still too excited about that)
So now it is time to get really serious.

I am so glad we already started eating down the food we have, otherwise we wouldn`t manage to reduce the amount we have significantly until we move. 

Last weekend I used up half a Hokkaido pumpkin, some remaining spelt flour and flax seed to make bread which turned out quite nice.

I only spent around 20 Euros for fresh produce and dark chocolate I craved for, so that's a big win.

Saturday we had salmon from the freezer, carrots in marsala wine and a risotto mix from the  pantry.
Sunday was a goose breast also from the freezer with an orange sauce and mashed potatoes.
Monday was leftovers and Tuesday DH and DS had homemade Bolognese sauce also from the freezer as I got home quite late.
We finally see some space freeing up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Eucalyptus on January 11, 2018, 06:23:52 PM
I've noted this thread for ages....and I'm slowly inching closer and closer to getting this down! I just love stocking up on bulk things. But I'm seriously cutting down on pantry items that I rarely or may never otherwise use, and also getting far better at not letting fresh fruit and veg go past its useby date
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Astatine on January 11, 2018, 06:44:34 PM
I'm joining this thread as a reminder and maybe for some inspiration. We're not too bad at freezer and fridge management but the pantry is more chaotic/unplanned than I'd like. And we're doing a kitchen reno mid year so ideally we should eat down most (all?) of our food for that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Suzanne on January 12, 2018, 03:59:21 AM
We grow veggies in our lawn.
They are so tasty.
Especially bitter guards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 12, 2018, 07:37:21 AM
I'm joining this thread as a reminder and maybe for some inspiration. We're not too bad at freezer and fridge management but the pantry is more chaotic/unplanned than I'd like. And we're doing a kitchen reno mid year so ideally we should eat down most (all?) of our food for that.

Can't you just move your fridge to some temporary other place until the new kitchen is done? Or buy some cheap second hand fridge to put into your hallway for that period.
But yes, it is probably smart to eat up a lot of the content, so that it is less fuss.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 12, 2018, 09:26:59 AM
-Worked from home today, so used up one of the remaining breakfast sandwiches. Added sriracha, and it was pretty good!
-Defrosted a lentil soup for lunch. It didn't turn out well, for whatever reason. So, plan to doctor it & hope for the best
-Defrosted a chicken pilaf dish for dinner. The freezer clean out continues!
-We usually have a nice base of leftovers in the fridge. We've done a really solid job of eating down all of the random bits & bobs.

Goals for this weekend:
-shell all of the pistachios & make pistachio butter! They are stale, so not good for general snacking, but should be great in a nut butter.
-Make cranberry muffins, using some of the frozen cranberries.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Astatine on January 12, 2018, 02:37:10 PM
I'm joining this thread as a reminder and maybe for some inspiration. We're not too bad at freezer and fridge management but the pantry is more chaotic/unplanned than I'd like. And we're doing a kitchen reno mid year so ideally we should eat down most (all?) of our food for that.

Can't you just move your fridge to some temporary other place until the new kitchen is done? Or buy some cheap second hand fridge to put into your hallway for that period.
But yes, it is probably smart to eat up a lot of the content, so that it is less fuss.

Thanks for asking that question because it made me think about the practicalities in more detail. I think we'll have it unplugged while we get the renovations done. Our place is small (approx 70 square metres/700 square feet) with 2 small bedrooms. We're also getting the bathroom done and the floors replaced in all of the house except the 2 bedrooms. We'll move out for a month while it all happens so we won't see if anyone unplugs the fridge in that time. So, I think it's best if we eat it all down (and anything we can't eat we can give to friends).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on January 13, 2018, 12:26:10 PM
Trying to GET ON my meal planning! DH and I cooked dinner at home every night for the past 7 nights, which is a big win for us. I made a black bean soup from dried beans that I've had FOREVER. The nice part is that I could do things in stages while interacting with my 1.5 year old--like chop an onion, retrieve kiddo's ball, add stock to beans, leave to change diaper for 10 min, etc.

Next up: using a bag of red lentils I've also had forever. Maybe lentil cakes? I also have a can of cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. Could I make some sort of cranberry based sauce to dip them in?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 13, 2018, 01:24:03 PM
-Made a pistachio butter with 1/2 pistachios & the last cup of cashews. I haven't tried it, but the husband is in love with it. So, winning there.
-Finished the last of the chicken pilaf for lunch, and kids ate the last of the crescent rolls last night for dinner.
-Made cranberry muffins with cranberries from the freezer

And, in true use it up style, took the crumbs of tortilla chips & pretzel chips, added the nut pieces that were too small to toast, and stored them for future use in this granola bar recipe. http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-granola-bars/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2018, 01:52:56 PM
I like long weekends, as I have more time to prep. Here's what I've done today:

-Taken yesterday's chicken bones & made lots of broth for the freezer
-Used up the last of one jar of yeast + a bit of the new jar & made sandwich bread
-Used some of the remaining cranberries for a cranberry orange bread. Didn't have enough orange juice, so subbed pomegranate juice, which we already had on hand
-Used the last of my onions that I brought back from our vacation. DH laughed at me quite a bit when I included them in my checked bag. But, what was I going to do - throw them away?!
-Fed the army of 10-11 year old boys cranberry muffins that I made a couple of days ago, when everyone started asking for a snack.
-Making homemade guac to go with dinner tonight. Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on January 14, 2018, 04:07:41 PM


And, in true use it up style, took the crumbs of tortilla chips &amp; pretzel chips, added the nut pieces that were too small to toast, and stored them for future use in this granola bar recipe. http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-granola-bars/

Thanks for that link. I found a nice recipe for brownies on that site:  http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/black-bean-brownies/

I made some modifications to use up stuff on hand: used mung beans instead of black beans, orange and ginger syrup instead of maple syrup and substituted walnuts with almonds
Those turned out quite nice.

I just ate a piece with some home made berry sauce
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2018, 04:50:51 PM


And, in true use it up style, took the crumbs of tortilla chips &amp; pretzel chips, added the nut pieces that were too small to toast, and stored them for future use in this granola bar recipe. http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-granola-bars/

Thanks for that link. I found a nice recipe for brownies on that site:  http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/black-bean-brownies/

I made some modifications to use up stuff on hand: used mung beans instead of black beans, orange and ginger syrup instead of maple syrup and substituted walnuts with almonds
Those turned out quite nice.

I just ate a piece with some home made berry sauce

I've seen that recipe, but haven't tried it yet. Will have to give it a go. I've liked most of the recipes I've tried for the site.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 16, 2018, 11:20:51 AM
Ridding of pantry items things leftover from the holidays.  I added the following into my first ever baked oatmeal for DH:  Mini marshmallows, white and milk chocolate chips, Heath toffee pieces, and some walnuts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 16, 2018, 01:43:52 PM
Yesterday I smoked a turkey I bought cheaply at Thanksgiving.  For the rub, I used a packet of Moroccon spice blend that was a free bonus with an order of spices.  I also slathered the turkey in molasses to help the spices stick.  The same bottle of molasses has been in the cupboard for quite some time, so I was happy to put a dent in it.  Now to eat turkey with all of the veggies in the fridge this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BZB on January 19, 2018, 06:44:52 PM
I found uses for half a can of fried onions, half a bag of rice noodles, and a can of pineapple chunks that were languishing in my pantry. I made a stir fry with random veggies and pineapple chunks, and topped it with a fried egg, sriracha sauce and fried onions, served over rice noodles. I'm not sure I could replicate it but it sure was good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 19, 2018, 07:38:26 PM
-I made granola bars this afternoon with the last of an open bag of chocolate chips, plus subbed the very dregs of a bottle of maple syrup for honey. (A reasonable approximation).
-For dinner, used the last of the grilled chicken thinly sliced on naan bread pizza. Used up part of a jar of super clearance pasta sauce, in place of pizza sauce. And, homemade pesto for the adult pizzas.

Generally, I like the fridge to be almost empty (with the exception of condiments) by Friday night. We're in pretty good shape going into shopping day tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on January 20, 2018, 08:14:28 PM
I did so well for so long keeping the food storage from getting crazy...I guess I went too long between inventories, because I need to get back on the use-it-up train! I did finally break into the unsweetened coconut that has been hanging around forever...put one cup in a black beans and coconut rice recipe, and one cup in a recipe for crispy sauteed tofu.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 20, 2018, 11:39:49 PM
My fridge is back to its bachelor state: beer, pickles and mustard.

The pantry is another story... red lentils and canned tomatoes are on the hit list this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 21, 2018, 08:40:20 AM
Yesterday I smoked a turkey I bought cheaply at Thanksgiving.  For the rub, I used a packet of Moroccon spice blend that was a free bonus with an order of spices.  I also slathered the turkey in molasses to help the spices stick.  The same bottle of molasses has been in the cupboard for quite some time, so I was happy to put a dent in it.  Now to eat turkey with all of the veggies in the fridge this week.

This turkey came out sooo good.  It had a BBQ sauce taste without having to deal with all the BBQ sauce, and still allowed the skin to be crispy. It's nice when an improvisation turns into a cooking hack.  Hopefully I can replicate it with the spices I normally keep on hand.

I actually need to hit the grocery store in the next day or two for fresh veggies.  I put the last of the cabbage and kale into a bean and ham hock soup yesterday; now the only green thing in the fridge is a big bottle of homemade Tabasco.

The next thing I need to start working on is the homegrown fingerling potatoes.  I don't cook them often because of the work involved in cleaning them, and they our out of sight/out of mind in the basement, but it's time to start making them disappear.

If this government shutdown lasts a while, I'll definitely have time and motivation to use up the food stores even more while I'm stuck at home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on January 21, 2018, 07:40:52 PM
I have some low grocery spending goals the next couple of months, and one of my goals is to eat some stuff that I've been hoarding in the pantry forever! I keep a good stock of staples because I live in a small town, and only get to stock up at Costco every couple of months...but there are things in the pantry that I don't even like to eat, that I really need to just go through the next few months. Some foods to attack for the next couple of weeks are canned sardines and tuna. I also have a jar full of red lentils and 6 cans of beets from when I went through a serious beet phase and had to put them in everything haha! I have a bunch of canned beans, and quinoa, and just other random things that aren't staples for me anymore, and I just need to eat them so I don't waste them. I also have a metric sh$t ton of frozen broccoli from a farm harvest this fall, so I'm chipping away at that, too. I love broccoli, but it is taking up a ton of space in my freezer. I'm ready for it to be gone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 22, 2018, 03:21:43 AM
I started writing this post thinking the cupboards were bare, but now I’ve convinced myself we have enough food for at least another day. (But my partner has a bigger appetite than I do... )

Things we have in small quantities:
Eggs, millet, kefir, milk, 1/2 head garlic, 1 kilo potatoes, oranges and apples, 1 serving vereniki, 1/2 kilo oatmeal, flax seeds, jam, 1 kilo dates, spices, flour, honey, oil, salt, soy sauce, coffee & tea, champagne.  1/2 a cake.

I am cooking up the last onion, carrot, cabbage and some potatoes and garlic in a “stir fry”.  I’ll have an egg with it for lunch and likely eat up the vereniki for dinner.  Fruit for snacks, oh!  And cake.  We must eat that cake. 

Oats and fruit and jam for breakfast tomorrow.  Creamy millet and eggs for lunch.  Cake any time...  We have plenty of food for another day...

Hmm.  Fried potatoes, garlic and eggs.  My Partner will boil eggs for a snack. 

Pancakes with jam and kefir.

Oh!  And we have a box of chocolates that I hid out of site!

My partner laughs because our grocery list is always the same and always vague.  Whatever veggies and fruit that are on sale, whatever proteins are reasonably priced.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 22, 2018, 06:43:51 AM
@PMG  - you could make a nice Spanish Tortilla (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8849-spanish-tortilla).  What is vereniki?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 22, 2018, 07:55:24 AM
A few updates:
-Finally tossed the last of the lentil soup that didn't turn out (and, same recipe, don't understand?), as I needed the freezer space
-Used the last of some questionable broccoli in a chicken curry recipe
-Used the last can of garbanzo beans + tahini in a batch of hummus. (Will likely rebuy both, as we like homemade hummus)
-Used up about 1/2 a jar of homemade pesto
-Almost done with the stale pistachios. My littlest, who is the pickiest eater ever, apparently doesn't mind stale pistachios

Made homemade yogurt yesterday. Super excited to try it! It's straining now. Either going to have been a major kitchen fail or a win. But, was on my January list to try either way. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 22, 2018, 02:19:00 PM
My monthly grocery trip last week was $188 thanks in part to this thread.  My list included proteins, fresh produce, eggs, cheese, shampoo for DH and TP. ;)  I used 8 coupons, e-coupons, saved 28% off my bill, and received fuel points to use at the pump.

Before the frugal lifestyle, my grocery bill was upwards of $550 a month.  :P
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 22, 2018, 02:22:38 PM
@PMG  - you could make a nice Spanish Tortilla (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8849-spanish-tortilla).  What is vereniki?

Ooh. That does look lovely.  Thanks.

Vereniki are dumplings with filling, sold as pierogi in the states.  I see Wikipedia spells it varenyky. I'm in a Russian speaking Eastern European town where pierogi is a bread with filling. And where vereniki are the go to fast food.

Aaaand... my partner went grocery shopping tonight. I do love getting so low. It means we aren't wasting food.

I'd better keep the millet on my radar. I've never cooked it so it's easy to ignore, but I want to learn!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 24, 2018, 12:56:26 PM
Vereniki are dumplings with filling, sold as pierogi in the states.  I see Wikipedia spells it varenyky. I'm in a Russian speaking Eastern European town where pierogi is a bread with filling. And where vereniki are the go to fast food.

Yum.  :)

I made am almond flour coffee cake today, using up the almond meal that's been in the freezer for ages.  I think from now on, if I want to bake I'll just use regular old flour.  Cheaper, and doesn't lure me into baking more than I ordinarily would because of the "health halo" assigned to the paleo options.

Dinner tonight is a ham and chard frittata that will also use up a partial bag of shredded cheese, a spaghetti squash (as a "crust"), some sad green onions and mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 24, 2018, 01:03:03 PM
Today we tried some new dried seaweed that we picked in spring. Earlier we tried some very thick stuff that became slimy after putting it in water. I learned on facebook that this slime is the weed's self defence mechanism, caused by fresh water. The sea salad that we tried today did not become slimy. But I didn't like the sea water smell of it. DH ate it.

We also ate some of mu dried mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: AmandaPanda on January 24, 2018, 03:29:54 PM
Maybebaby how was the yogurt?  If it was a success, what method did you use?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 24, 2018, 03:35:10 PM
Maybebaby how was the yogurt?  If it was a success, what method did you use?

Ooh, yes! I loved it. It was a super easy recipe. I tried this recipe - https://www.daringgourmet.com/easy-homemade-greek-yogurt/. Followed it pretty much exactly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Astatine on January 25, 2018, 09:27:51 PM
Oooh, I can actually contribute to this thread. Our fridge is now mostly empty apart from the staples (condiments, yoghurt, skim milk, carrots plus a jar of suerkraut which we're gradually eating).

I cooked a basic fried rice (in no way authentic!) for lunch. It used up:

2 eggs which had a best before date of yesterday (I checked to see both still floated in water), made a thin omelette and chopped that into small pieces

1 brown onion (this is a staple - we always have a few in the fruit bowl), chopped fine

Several small celery sticks (needed to cut a lot of brown/yuk off them), chopped fine

2 carrots, chopped fine

3 cloves of roasted garlic (had been in the fridge for nearly a week from when DH cooked them)

1 container of instant brown rice

Plus flavourings like soy sauce, mirin, a vinegar (random white condiment vinegar, Woolworths brand - not great), powdered ginger, powdered coriander and some ground black pepper.

Yum!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on January 25, 2018, 11:14:43 PM
I'm not going to eat ALL the food in my house, but I'm back here in this thread because I need to use up the weird ingredients that I just won't use in the normal run of things.

I bought instant oats a while back, but have stopped eating porridge. I realised I could use them in some of my go-to recipes that normally use rolled oats. This morning I used a cup and a half in a jam slice, success!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 26, 2018, 08:56:03 AM
-Had a breakfast sandwich this morning, so I'm down to 2! Yes.
-Defrosted a lingering dinner item for tonight's dinner. Glad to clear up the freezer space.
-Used up some chocolate chips (white & milk) in a granola bar recipe.
-Saved the dregs of a bag of tortilla chips & pretzel chips for another granola bar recipe

I have a can of green beans in the pantry that's almost past it's prime. Plan to serve with dinner tonight. My pantry is almost entirely out of canned goods. This is a good place for me, as I tend to overbuy way more quantities than we need, and our dependence on canned goods has dropped quite tremendously. I will rebuy hummus ingredients, as we make that weekly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nosythecat on January 26, 2018, 09:12:50 PM
I am down for this challenge.  I live alone but my cupboards and freezer is full of random stuff I need to get rid of before I buy anything else.  I'll still get the staples of milk, coffee, bread, butter.  I look forward to all the money I'll save and the interesting recipes and combos I'll eat to get rid of it all.  Check out http://www.supercooks.com for which gives your recipes based on the ingredients you already have.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 27, 2018, 05:57:46 AM
Silly problem today:  I challenged myself last Saturday to not buy any groceries until February.  But, today I'm making a little trip to a town an hour away to visit my coworkers' new baby (yay!).  This town just so happens to have my favorite food co-op, and I only make it there about once a year.  I haven't quite figured out my plan, but I think it might be something along the lines of 1) having most of my fun browsing, not actually buying, 2) only buying what I know I can't get at my regular stores, and 3) not eating any of it until February so I still haven to eat out of the pantry/freezer until then like my original challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Parizade on January 27, 2018, 06:28:56 AM
I need this challenge in my life! Starting with the bulgur that has been in pantry for so many years I can't recall when I bought it or why.
Dinner tonight will be Lebanese Bulgur with chickpeas. I have all the ingredients so no purchase is necessary.
http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/lebanese-bulgur-178437?ftab=reviews (http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/lebanese-bulgur-178437?ftab=reviews)

Tomorrow I will tackle the Scarlet Runner Beans, also no purchase necessary
http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/styrian-gigantes-scarlet-runner-bean-casserole-466453 (http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/styrian-gigantes-scarlet-runner-bean-casserole-466453)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on January 27, 2018, 09:31:57 AM
Help! What do I do with dried Italian white beans and a can of cranberry sauce?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on January 27, 2018, 09:41:45 AM
Fun update: I get to eat all the food in someone else's house! They were moving out and offered the contents of their fridge and freezer.  Going to be cautious, but a lot of it is unopened and condiments, so I get a bunch of new flavours to experiment with :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 27, 2018, 10:47:00 AM
Help! What do I do with dried Italian white beans and a can of cranberry sauce?

Kale and white bean soup?

For the cranberry sauce, I had some leftover from Thanksgiving and used it as a pancake topping.  It would be a good mix-in for oatmeal or yogurt, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on January 27, 2018, 02:24:55 PM
@horsepoor Oatmeal seems so obvious that I can't believe I didn't think of it. We eat oats often. Perfect!

And a white bean soup seems a safe bet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 27, 2018, 02:50:55 PM
@jkitiara - just noticed you're in SF. We are nearby (South Bay/Peninsula). I just noticed your blog - will be very interested to read on how others stay semi mustachian in this area. :-) It's rough!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 27, 2018, 08:02:29 PM
I was able to reorganize a bit and make my kitchen cleaner today.  I decided to start grinding coffee weekly instead of daily, because the grounds fly everywhere and it's a constant mess next to the toaster oven.  Because of using up excess ingredients, there was enough room in a cabinet near the stove to stow the canister of ground coffee and the coffee filters.    And there was enough room in the pantry cabinets to stow the container of whole beans, which used to live out on the counter.  The grinder also found a home in a lower cabinet and will only come out once a week or so when needed.  Now there's enough room next to the toaster oven to run the InstantPot or the immersion circulator out of the way of the main work space.

Down to one canister of rice after making some to stretch leftovers for last night's dinner.  I will not be buying 20# of rice at once ever again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on January 27, 2018, 11:01:23 PM
Help! What do I do with dried Italian white beans and a can of cranberry sauce?

I am using cranberry sauce in slow cooker braised red cabbage with sausages in place of red currant jelly in the recipe. You can also do a nice braised cabbage with rosemary version as a side dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 28, 2018, 12:31:06 AM
Bolognese tonight, using up mince from the freezer, red wine from the bottomless supply of gifted wine, and homemade passata a friend gave me a thank you for recoding part of her website.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on January 28, 2018, 11:10:35 AM
Y'all inspired me to go through the "grains" cabinet shelf, and I found about a cup of needing-to-be used buckwheat groats. Unfortunately, we don't particularly care for kasha, and I'm not having luck finding main-dish places to use it where the flavor will be diluted with other things -- buckwheat has a pretty distinctive taste.

Any suggestions, other than just making porridge and eating it for breakfast? I could probably ask my DH to have it for breakfast with me, although the kids will refuse...

I also found a bottle of barley, but that's easier -- we have a freezer-load of beef and some dried mushrooms hiding in the pantry that could get tossed in. Beef-And-Barley soup, you're on the menu for next week! (I also have a recipe for barley/brown rice/bulgar/something else salad with lots of veg and a curry dressing that's quite good.)

I also found a jar of wild rice, but that's really not a burden to consume. Not sure what to do with the cup of black chinese rice ("Forbidden Rice"). I obviously used a bit more than half of it once..

Thanks for the inspiration!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 28, 2018, 07:46:23 PM
Help! What do I do with dried Italian white beans and a can of cranberry sauce?

white beans - hummus?
cranberry sauce - muffins?

I have finished the first container of laksa paste I brought back from our London trip. I am in freezer stocking mode atm because I'm about to travel for work and the SO needs food. I think overall the food situation is good, though I need to do a better job with some things in the spice cabinet (esp poppy seeds, black sesame seeds, dukkah).

I am trying an overnight chia, oatmeal, blueberry & almond milk experiment. If it works out, then I can make better progress towards finishing off these chia seeds.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 29, 2018, 02:15:42 AM
I cooked a large chunk of beef that was in the freezer. We ate a few slices, will eat a few more tonight and the rest can go back into the freezer in slices for some other occasion.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Mialao on January 29, 2018, 11:54:47 AM
Only three more weeks to go until our move, but I'm making progress as I plan our meals around everything the freezer has to offer. So we had quite a lot of lamb recently like chili con lamb, lamb curry or lamb meatballs.

Still have two frozen legs of lamb to use, but maybe I am going to move one, as I will allow myself to move 1 cooler box of freezer items and one cooler box of fridge items. The new apartment is only 45 minutes away so that will be ok I think.

Yesterday we had a veggie curry with smoked tofu which I've been avoiding to look at for a while and the last chick peas I cooked and froze a few weeks ago. This also used the last few of a big sack of potatoes that already looked a bit wrinkly. I'm mixing my black rice with basmati so this should also be gone soon. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on January 29, 2018, 03:17:01 PM
I used up soft truss tomatoes, half a red onion, sourdough, pesto (in lieu of fresh basil) and parmesan in bruschetta last night.

Made for a quick and easy dinner with heaps of flavour.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 29, 2018, 08:18:22 PM
Made chili tonight. Listing the junk that I used up: old frozen turkey, some dried black beans (that i'd soaked and cooked), some kinda wrinkly Anaheim peppers, the rest of my paprika, some cocktail sauce and 3 packets of taco bell diablo sauce to compensate for the missing extra paprika. Not too bad! Poured it on old leftover rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on January 30, 2018, 09:15:26 AM
I bought a bag of frozen shelled edamame because it was on sale. There is no rice in the household.

Ideas beyond mashing with avocado for a dip?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on January 30, 2018, 09:47:25 AM
Warming up, sprinkle with salt, eat out of hand?

I think you can also toss them with oil and roast them.
We use them instead of peas in a curried couscous salad (or other places where peas usually go, like pasta.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on January 31, 2018, 09:25:44 PM
@jkitiara - just noticed you're in SF. We are nearby (South Bay/Peninsula). I just noticed your blog - will be very interested to read on how others stay semi mustachian in this area. :-) It's rough!
@MaybeBabyMustache it is rough--it makes me annoyed nearly every day, despite the fact that we are doing it on a salary that would make us considered downright wealthy elsewhere in the country. For a long time I was trying to convince my DH to move, but lately I just decided to lean in. We will buy a house. It will be tiny and absurdly expensive.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 01, 2018, 10:07:11 AM
@jkitiara - just noticed you're in SF. We are nearby (South Bay/Peninsula). I just noticed your blog - will be very interested to read on how others stay semi mustachian in this area. :-) It's rough!
@MaybeBabyMustache it is rough--it makes me annoyed nearly every day, despite the fact that we are doing it on a salary that would make us considered downright wealthy elsewhere in the country. For a long time I was trying to convince my DH to move, but lately I just decided to lean in. We will buy a house. It will be tiny and absurdly expensive.
The perk of a tiny, absurdly expensive house is that you can't fill it with a lot of crap.  No need for a lot of knick-knacks and no room for a huge amount of stuff. 

We are getting a new refrigerator in a little over a week, so we need to eat everything in our freezer.  Lots of frozen broccoli, fish, and fruit.  Ready, set, go...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on February 01, 2018, 07:52:06 PM
Mixed success so far.

Had a can of smoked sardines and had the revelation that I like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and this would probably have a similar taste...made a really great spread with the sardines, cream cheese, capers and lemon juice. I will be sad when this is gone!

Decided to try a "deconstructed stuffed squash" to use up a few freezer things--diced kabocha squash, cauliflower stuffing from Trader Joe's, and diced chicken sausage. The combination of flavors was OK, but the textures were a little weird. I am super-sensitive to texture, so although I did eat it all I won't be trying that experiment again.

Made a pecan-based pie to use up a pie crust I got for free from the grocery store. It tasted all right, but the filling didn't set up properly. Won't be using that particular recipe again.

Coming up this week...lemon-cranberry bars to use up a half-bag of cranberries I had around, and an invented enchilada to use up several Mexican-type ingredients and a package of crumbly corn tortillas. Note to self--do not pick recipes that involve part of a bag of cranberries. It is very hard to find recipes that will use the other half. Also planning to make sweet and sour meatballs to take to a Super Bowl party to use a jar of sweet and sour sauce I was gifted.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 02, 2018, 08:10:11 AM
Mixed success so far.

Had a can of smoked sardines and had the revelation that I like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and this would probably have a similar taste...made a really great spread with the sardines, cream cheese, capers and lemon juice. I will be sad when this is gone!

Decided to try a "deconstructed stuffed squash" to use up a few freezer things--diced kabocha squash, cauliflower stuffing from Trader Joe's, and diced chicken sausage. The combination of flavors was OK, but the textures were a little weird. I am super-sensitive to texture, so although I did eat it all I won't be trying that experiment again.

Thanks for these!  Sardines are one of the things I need to keep eating - they were on sale at CostCo several months ago and I thought buying 2 6-packs would be a great idea... oh, and I had like 3 cans at home already.  This week I made sardine "tuna" salad to top my lunch salads.  I'll try your way next week.  I was slightly shocked at how many spaghetti squash I still have in the basement, and your post reminded me of a squash lasagna boat recipe I saw a few weeks ago.  Need to put that in the rotation.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on February 02, 2018, 09:03:57 AM
Mixed success so far.

Had a can of smoked sardines and had the revelation that I like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and this would probably have a similar taste...made a really great spread with the sardines, cream cheese, capers and lemon juice. I will be sad when this is gone!

Decided to try a "deconstructed stuffed squash" to use up a few freezer things--diced kabocha squash, cauliflower stuffing from Trader Joe's, and diced chicken sausage. The combination of flavors was OK, but the textures were a little weird. I am super-sensitive to texture, so although I did eat it all I won't be trying that experiment again.

Thanks for these!  Sardines are one of the things I need to keep eating - they were on sale at CostCo several months ago and I thought buying 2 6-packs would be a great idea... oh, and I had like 3 cans at home already.  This week I made sardine "tuna" salad to top my lunch salads.  I'll try your way next week.  I was slightly shocked at how many spaghetti squash I still have in the basement, and your post reminded me of a squash lasagna boat recipe I saw a few weeks ago.  Need to put that in the rotation.

A couple of hours after I posted that, I was browsing a cookbook and realized I had reinvented the classic French recipe for "rilletes" (smoked fish spread.) Oh, well, I guess that great minds think alike! :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 02, 2018, 09:18:11 AM
Slow going through our refrigerator.  I did use up a small package of cheese (from a Hillshire Farms gift box we received at Christmas), a can of black beans, and a few pounds of chicken for dinner last night.  I also used up most of our open tahini in hummus.  However, we have a lot of food leftover for dinner tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 02, 2018, 07:13:40 PM
Used up a past its prime cauliflower head and equally gross sweet potato in a korma dish tonight.

Tomorrow is acorn squash cooking day. Hoping to find a good recipe
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 02, 2018, 07:52:16 PM
@jkitiara - just noticed you're in SF. We are nearby (South Bay/Peninsula). I just noticed your blog - will be very interested to read on how others stay semi mustachian in this area. :-) It's rough!
@MaybeBabyMustache it is rough--it makes me annoyed nearly every day, despite the fact that we are doing it on a salary that would make us considered downright wealthy elsewhere in the country. For a long time I was trying to convince my DH to move, but lately I just decided to lean in. We will buy a house. It will be tiny and absurdly expensive.

We moved here from Seattle, and as part of our relo, got a rental option for a few months. We had zero time to prep & ended up somewhere that is lovely, a short commute & insanely expensive. That was in 2013. We have now sucked it up & bought a house, because our kids are totally integrated & don't want to move. I tried to convince everyone to move back to our nice & somewhat reasonably affordable house in Seattle last year. I was outvoted. The weather was a huge factor. We are on two bay area salaries, so that makes a big difference, I'd imagine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 02, 2018, 11:15:24 PM
I found @ pack of half-baked french bread in the kitchendrawer. It has a best before date on the 8th of Jan 18. It is now the 3rd of Feb. I will open it today and sniff if it smells okay and then eat it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on February 03, 2018, 10:15:46 PM
Nice progress everyone. I had a few food successes lately with odds and ends: 1. Tortilla chicken that was a huge hit and will have to be recreated at some point in future. I coated the chicken pieces with mayo mixed with last of a creamy tzatziki salad dressing, then in a mix of crushed tortilla chips, bread crumbs and spicy shredded cheese and baked it. 2. lentil stew with lots of spices, and thickened with the last of the cous cous. I forgot we were out of tomatoes, so I substituted with a few leftover sauces and it turned out yummy.

Need solutions for pomegranate salad dressing, and pomegranate flavored honey. Not together! Any ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on February 05, 2018, 04:37:56 PM
Mixed success so far.

Had a can of smoked sardines and had the revelation that I like smoked salmon and cream cheese, and this would probably have a similar taste...made a really great spread with the sardines, cream cheese, capers and lemon juice. I will be sad when this is gone!

Decided to try a "deconstructed stuffed squash" to use up a few freezer things--diced kabocha squash, cauliflower stuffing from Trader Joe's, and diced chicken sausage. The combination of flavors was OK, but the textures were a little weird. I am super-sensitive to texture, so although I did eat it all I won't be trying that experiment again.

Thanks for these!  Sardines are one of the things I need to keep eating - they were on sale at CostCo several months ago and I thought buying 2 6-packs would be a great idea... oh, and I had like 3 cans at home already.  This week I made sardine "tuna" salad to top my lunch salads.  I'll try your way next week.  I was slightly shocked at how many spaghetti squash I still have in the basement, and your post reminded me of a squash lasagna boat recipe I saw a few weeks ago.  Need to put that in the rotation.

A couple of hours after I posted that, I was browsing a cookbook and realized I had reinvented the classic French recipe for "rilletes" (smoked fish spread.) Oh, well, I guess that great minds think alike! :)

I just noticed a can of sardines in my own cupboard. I like them, but at often at a loss for how to really use them. I'll try this!

In other cooking--I've decided February is the month I will use up all the random spices that we bought for one recipe one time but never use. Ras al hanout was great sprinkled on eggplant (though my husband just thought it was cinnamon). I also put ground coriander on fish fillets which was really good (it's a bit lemony). We have about 7 different kinds of chili powder based spice mixes, so goodness knows how I will go through those (I don't like really spicy food, it's all from DH! I can handle mild-medium spice.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 05, 2018, 10:02:18 PM
Yesterday we ate this week's leftover, butternut squash soup and homemade pizza.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 06, 2018, 07:05:42 AM
Nice progress everyone. I had a few food successes lately with odds and ends: 1. Tortilla chicken that was a huge hit and will have to be recreated at some point in future. I coated the chicken pieces with mayo mixed with last of a creamy tzatziki salad dressing, then in a mix of crushed tortilla chips, bread crumbs and spicy shredded cheese and baked it. 2. lentil stew with lots of spices, and thickened with the last of the cous cous. I forgot we were out of tomatoes, so I substituted with a few leftover sauces and it turned out yummy.

Need solutions for pomegranate salad dressing, and pomegranate flavored honey. Not together! Any ideas?

I'd probably use the salad dressing in a spinach/feta/roasted nut/chicken salad. I have a similar pomegranate vinegar from Trader Joes, and that's how I use it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizi on February 06, 2018, 07:30:17 AM
I recently found out that my SO and I might be doing a big move for his work, so with 6 months to go I am determined to get through as much of our pantry as possible. On the bright side, I have excellent, non-fussy friends who will happily accept any weird leftovers we donate to them when we leave (like endless half full bottles of hot sauce). But I may as well use what I can instead of buying other stuff, so challenge accepted!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on February 06, 2018, 09:42:58 AM
Does anyone have an easy recipe to cook fish (I think tilapia)?  My DH bought a huge bag of frozen filets, and I don't have a clue how to cook them.

Google "recipe frozen tilapia" and see what looks good to you. (I see mostly baking recipes, which are easy.)
I'm not a fan of super-mild fish, so I'd sprinkle with olive oil, lemon juice, and some selection of olives/capers/ripe tomatoes/crushed garlic/spices (like a jerk blend, or an old-bay-type blend) and serve with rice and salad and/or cooked veg.

You can also use it for fish tacos, with tortillas, black beans, shredded cabbage with a little vinegar, guacamole or avocado, spicy salsa....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on February 06, 2018, 10:34:02 AM
My SO found a huge bag of borage leaves from last summer in the freezer (from our garden) so I've used half of it by making a batch of vegan saag paneer (with tofu)
I've previously made the same recipe with radish greens, or any extra greens that need to be used up.
It's an easy & tasty recipe.

https://www.veganricha.com/2013/10/palak-tofu-tofu-in-spinach-curry-vegan.html

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 06, 2018, 11:56:06 AM
Does anyone have an easy recipe to cook fish (I think tilapia)?  My DH bought a huge bag of frozen filets, and I don't have a clue how to cook them.

4alpacas, I made these last week (I'm a low carber) using cod and served them with zucchini fritters and sauteed shrimp.  They turned out to be one of my most successful recipes in recent history!  I used a Cajun spice mix.

https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2502735 (https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2502735)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 06, 2018, 01:07:22 PM
We don't have tilapia here because it's a pest species, but I use chunky white fish in Tom ka Gai in place of chicken. Or bake it, flake it and mix with mashed potato and veg for a fish pie
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on February 07, 2018, 09:58:46 AM
We found a bag of bananas in the freezer that had been forgotten--so I made a cocoa oatmeal bake with them (from budget bytes) and will eat that for breakfast for the rest of the week with hemp milk
(also made from a big jar of hemp hearts I would like to work through)

I like the creative cooking aspect of this challenge :)

next on the list is using up some millet and wild rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aetherie on February 07, 2018, 10:29:19 AM
We're planning to move in 3-4 months so... it's time. There are some things in the pantry and freezer that I'll need to put effort into using up. The rest we're likely to eat anyway. Off the top of my head (I'm not at home right now so can't check):

Pantry:
- Italian-style breadcrumbs
- can of salmon
- pancake mix
- wild rice blend
- 1/2 bag of nutritional yeast
- 2.5 lb of pitted dates
- various expired spices
- 2 bottles of soy sauce

Freezer:
- 3 quart bags of blackberries from last summer
- broccoli
- various fish
- meatballs
- ham
- hot dogs
- 3 loaves of frozen bread dough
- 2 tubs of pesto
- random pack of frozen cookie dough that I keep forgetting is in there
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 07, 2018, 11:54:52 AM
@aetherie I'm impressed how useful your stockpile of food is...I frequently have random stuff that I "needed" while throwing things in my cart at the grocery store.

- Italian-style breadcrumbs
So many options! I use breadcrumbs on chicken (my fave (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/04/sriracha-chicken-strips/)) and in meatballs.
- can of salmon
Maybe partner with the breadcrumbs to make some sort of fishcake.
- pancake mix & 3-quart bags of blackberries from last summer
YUM!!! I love pancakes!  Cook down your frozen berries as a topping.
- wild rice blend + broccoli
Make big batches and use it as a side (would be tasty with salmon cakes)
- 2.5 lb of pitted dates
I love to make date-sweetened brownies
- 2 tubs of pesto
I put pesto on EVERYTHING!  On a sandwich, on eggs, on pasta.
- random pack of frozen cookie dough that I keep forgetting is in there
I do not understand people who can forget about cookies or cookie dough.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aetherie on February 07, 2018, 12:20:27 PM
Awesome, thanks for the suggestions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on February 07, 2018, 10:20:51 PM
 The enchilada bake worked out great! Cleared out leftover barbacoa, leftover fajita vegetables, frozen black bean chili, the tortillas, some random cheese...it had too much liquid at first but then set up better in the fridge.

Tried a bag of frozen pelmeni from Trader Joe's. Only managed to eat half the bag--the dill flavoring was way too strong for me.

Haven't gotten to the lemon cranberry bars yet. Due to various issues, I ended up making up a cookie mix from Trader Joe's that had been hanging around my cupboard for awhile. Good to get it out the door!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on February 08, 2018, 11:12:00 AM
Made beef and barley soup with dried mushrooms. Used up half the dried porcini we'd put away a few years ago, and most of the barley that was hanging out in the cupboard. Also tossed in (at the very end) most of a bag of kale that was an over-purchase last weekend. (thought I'd need two, only needed one.)
One kid liked it, hubby and I thought it was decent, the other kid had a complete snitfit because he'd told me earlier in the week that he didn't care for barley period. He didn't even taste it because he was so torqued.

I narrowly avoided pointing out that the barley looked almost exactly like protein-filled maggots mixed in with the beef chunks.... (Tasty maggots!)

I'll eat the rest as cereal in the next few days, then that'll be gone. Next up: another sweep through the pantry!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on February 08, 2018, 01:19:26 PM
...Need solutions for pomegranate salad dressing, and pomegranate flavored honey. Not together! Any ideas?

I'd probably use the salad dressing in a spinach/feta/roasted nut/chicken salad. I have a similar pomegranate vinegar from Trader Joes, and that's how I use it.

Thanks MaybeBabyMustache - that sounds like a good salad to try. Do you think it would work in a marinade as well?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 08, 2018, 01:31:55 PM
Italian spaghetti squash boats were a big success last night.  Easier cleanup because the shells contain most of it. Used yucky wine, canned tomatoes and a big squash that was going soft a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 08, 2018, 01:33:04 PM
...Need solutions for pomegranate salad dressing, and pomegranate flavored honey. Not together! Any ideas?

I'd probably use the salad dressing in a spinach/feta/roasted nut/chicken salad. I have a similar pomegranate vinegar from Trader Joes, and that's how I use it.

Thanks MaybeBabyMustache - that sounds like a good salad to try. Do you think it would work in a marinade as well?

I've never tried it, but expect it would work well with chicken
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on February 11, 2018, 04:03:50 PM
Because of losing my mind (apparently) at a farmer's market, I now have a surplus of veggies that the clock is ticking on. I think I should make a big veggie soup:

broccoli shoots
swiss chard
brussel sprouts
2 half onions (oops)
half can diced tomatoes

Maybe throw in some cracked wheat and squash to heft it up? How can I make a soup like this NOT bland (and I don't eat spicy)? Lots of lemon?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 11, 2018, 04:22:58 PM
I make veggie soups with a base of 50/50 mix of homemade chicken stock and tomato puree. It's very flavorful. You could also do something minestrone-ish with some Italian herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan or drizzle of olive oil on top...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasesfish on February 11, 2018, 04:30:44 PM
Dang I wish I could pull this off....I struggle just to put out the oldest food once a month to commit to eating it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 11, 2018, 04:42:08 PM
-Used the last of a giant, Costco sized bag of potatoes. Caught the potatoes just before they went bad
-Ate the last of a lemon cookie that was part of my birthday treats. It would have been rude not to, because it was incredible.
-Ate leftover soup for lunch
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on February 11, 2018, 10:37:38 PM
@Dollar Slice Thanks! Do I just throw the half can of tomatoes in a blender and add to soup? I've never done a tomato puree before.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 11, 2018, 10:48:17 PM
@Dollar Slice Thanks! Do I just throw the half can of tomatoes in a blender and add to soup? I've never done a tomato puree before.

Honestly, I've always just bought a can of puree in the first place, so I'm not sure. I think the puree is a little more cooked down than the diced/chopped ones. Maybe someone else here has more experience with tomato substitutions...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 12, 2018, 10:18:52 AM
We're in the process of eating down on refrigerator and freezer (delivery of a new one on Friday).

I moved some Italian sausage and rolls to the fridge for dinner tonight.  I'll start a batch of taco chicken bowls (https://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/07/taco-chicken-bowls/) tomorrow morning to use up a bag of frozen corn and two frozen chicken breasts.  I'll make some sort of smoothie with milk and the frozen fruit.  We don't have a yogurt, but I could add chia seeds to thicken the mixture.

So far, I've only spent $1.99 on groceries for February.  I bought a baguette.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 13, 2018, 02:23:06 AM
We have two large bags on chocolate covered coffee beans (gifts). Any ideas? I've seen recipes where they are used as choc chips but coffee beans are so hard?? I'm thinking I grind them down then use as coffee powder in the cafetiere or cake type thing?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on February 13, 2018, 07:12:09 AM
We have two large bags on chocolate covered coffee beans (gifts). Any ideas? I've seen recipes where they are used as choc chips but coffee beans are so hard?? I'm thinking I grind them down then use as coffee powder in the cafetiere or cake type thing?
Eat them. Yummmm. I'll eat them for you if you want.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: superhappyfaced on February 15, 2018, 02:44:02 PM
We have two large bags on chocolate covered coffee beans (gifts). Any ideas? I've seen recipes where they are used as choc chips but coffee beans are so hard?? I'm thinking I grind them down then use as coffee powder in the cafetiere or cake type thing?

i bet you could grind some down and make mocha muffins (this recipe calls for chocolate chips and ground coffee - i think it would work!): http://www.isachandra.com/2008/10/mocha-chip-muffins/ (http://www.isachandra.com/2008/10/mocha-chip-muffins/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jkitiara on February 16, 2018, 09:08:08 PM
@Dollar Slice Thanks! Do I just throw the half can of tomatoes in a blender and add to soup? I've never done a tomato puree before.

Honestly, I've always just bought a can of puree in the first place, so I'm not sure. I think the puree is a little more cooked down than the diced/chopped ones. Maybe someone else here has more experience with tomato substitutions...

@Dollar Slice BTW I just threw the tomatoes in a food processor and it worked like a charm. The soup came out delicious! THanks for the tip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 16, 2018, 09:19:26 PM
-I ate my son's leftovers as my breakfast this morning, avoiding waste
-Defrosted a container of chicken curry from the freezer. I had one for lunch, and will have the rest tomorrow
-Served the curry with edamame, which I've been trying to eat up (freezer)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CutTheFat on February 17, 2018, 06:24:37 AM
Last night for dinner, I made Chipotle style salads!! We've done this before but last night it was not what I had planned.  I planned fried rice but forgot to make the rice the night before.  Since I was out all day and got home latter than planned I couldn't stick to the meal plan of fried rice.  So I used the 2 pork chops that I pulled from the freezer (originally for fried rice), a can of black beans that I doctored up with onions, garlic & spices, a pre-cooked pouch of brown rice (we don't even have a microwave so I warmed it on the stove top), jarred salsa, the end of a red onion that was in the fridge, a tomato, shredded cheese, an avocado, dregs of a bottle of hot sauce, dregs of a container of sour cleam, baby greens and the end of a bag of tortilla chips.  So delicious, cheap, used up the ends of lots of things, and just as good as a take out salad from Chipotle at a fraction of the cost. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 23, 2018, 11:43:18 AM
-I'm down to just one of the long lingering breakfast sandwiches! I also have some frittatas in the freezer, but those need to be tackled another time
-I've eaten/cooked all of the edamame I had in the freezer
-We are using up a small jar of pesto. One of many that I need to clean up
-I'm finally starting to see more of the freezer when I open it, vs things flying at me. It's a nice change.

And, almost done with most of my (awful) clearance tea stash!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 23, 2018, 12:17:12 PM
-I'm down to just one of the long lingering breakfast sandwiches! I also have some frittatas in the freezer, but those need to be

High fives!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 23, 2018, 05:20:55 PM
-I'm down to just one of the long lingering breakfast sandwiches! I also have some frittatas in the freezer, but those need to be

High fives!!!!

Can I do it? Can I finish the elusive bag of frozen breakfast sandwiches tomorrow? It's been a real challenge. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizi on February 23, 2018, 07:25:30 PM
I made a meal the other night that polished off some tilapia from the freezer, the last of a packet of dumplings, the last of a packet of noodles and the last of a packet of edamame. Oh boy it felt good to throw all those packets out! I've also been going through my spice collection, which is partially duplicated because we happily accepted leftovers from a friend who moved overseas. Luckily I in turn have friends who will love my leftover spices (and everything else), but it's still nice to consolidate and minimize space.

I've had such a low grocery spend this month due to using up odds and ends for every meal, so there's an additional bonus. And it is so nice having freezer space finally.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 24, 2018, 09:41:04 PM
Spaghetti squash boats tonight with bolognese sauce, used up a jar of tomatoes and jar of tomato sauce.  Almost like lasagne.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 26, 2018, 04:34:09 AM
Opened the bottle of elderberry syrup we bought right before holidays.  It’s not elderberry syrup.  It’s maybe rose hip and echinacea?  Not sure.  It doesn’t translate directly to English.  It’s an odd cough syrupy flavor. So disappointing.  I know I recognized elderflowers on the label of a jar and then my partner confirmed it.  I think I must have put the jar back on the shelf... then decided to splurge... and grabbed it again, only grabbed the wrong kind. 

It goes from being a joy to savor to a chore to use it up! 

——

When we returned from holidays I made a soup with the root vegetables we’d left behind.  Two beets were beyond salvaging, but the rest was ok for soup.  I knew we had to use them before fresher, nicer food came into the house, so while my partner was out for groceries I started cooking.

It was really satisfying to turn the fridge and freezer completely off while gone, and to only toss a small amount of food.

——

I’m soaking some white beans right now to make a savory dip with.  I’ve been hungry for cheese dips, and may add some cheese to this, but I’m hoping it will be a bit healthier but still satisfy the junk food craving.

——

I love keeping a smaller stock pantry.  I eat so much better and waste so much less.  I used to think I saved money by stocking up.  Now I think I save money by eating everything I buy and not wasting. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 26, 2018, 07:49:59 AM
-Finished the last of frozen bread (pita & naan) this weekend, through pizzas & pita sandwiches
-Continue the freezer clean out & can see way more of what we have now
-Turned a bunch of overly ripe bananas that I'd tossed into the freezer into banana muffins. Those will go fast
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 26, 2018, 09:38:09 AM
Does anyone have any Whole 30 snack ideas?

I have friends coming over this week, and one of them is in her second week of Whole 30.  I'm trying to be supportive, but it's hard. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 26, 2018, 01:26:34 PM
Saturday I made 2 more servings of rice to use up some free Uncle Ben's.  DH had one serving Sat night, and another yesterday.

Yesterday I made banana bread out of 3 aging bananas.  This helped use some leftover holiday baking ingredients (flour and sugar) from Dec.

Last night I used up half a jar of carrot top pesto a neighbor gave us last year by stirring it into cooked spaghetti squash.  Only 1 more jar to go!

Used the rest of the fresh blueberries in pancakes.

Tonight will be leftover ribs from last week.

Tomorrow will be chicken tenders to use up some breast purchased several months ago.

Ate leftover cucumber for lunch, and will have the rest of the celery as a snack.

Next:  Focus on unsweetened cocoa.  I purchased another container for holiday baking not knowing how much I'd need.

Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized?  Our new-to-us-house as of last summer is my first time working with one, and the fact things pile on top of each other drives me crazy.  It's a two drawer and things get buried quickly, no matter how much I move things around.  (Generally) the top drawer has the ice bin and trays, frozen veggies and pre-made meals, fish and shrimp.  The bottom drawer contains pork and chicken on the left, and beef, leftover containers and my vodka on the right.   0:)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 26, 2018, 02:17:02 PM
Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized? 
We have one, and I have no useful tips.  Ours is a mess! I hate it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on February 26, 2018, 02:50:06 PM
Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized? 
We have one, and I have no useful tips.  Ours is a mess! I hate it.

I can't quite picture what it looks like, but with all drawers I do KonMarie techniques where possible. So stand things up vertically on the shortest side wherever possible. So instead of two boxes of food on top of each other you have two side by side. You have to label them on the side instead of the top tho!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CutTheFat on February 27, 2018, 07:18:50 AM
I made some incredible veal meatballs last night with meat that was in my freezer, purchased close to sell by date and 50% off.  I've never bought  veal before!  I added ricotta cheese that was almost expired and a $0.44 box of whole wheat spaghetti and made a spinach and arugula salad with scallions, strawberries pecans and crumbled blue cheese and homemade vinegarette. Total cost for 3 people with enough left overs for anoher whole meal, aprox $12.00, $2 per person/meal for a great meal!

Tonight we are having lamb chops, asparagus and potatoes.  Tonight's meal cost is $7.29, that $2.43/person!  DH wanted to go out tonight but I said no thanks I'd rather eat like a queen at home and save about $100 for the same exact meal!  He never minds doing the dishes when he gets to eat like this and put more money to a sooner retirement!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 27, 2018, 07:22:44 AM
Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized? 
We have one, and I have no useful tips.  Ours is a mess! I hate it.

I can't quite picture what it looks like, but with all drawers I do KonMarie techniques where possible. So stand things up vertically on the shortest side wherever possible. So instead of two boxes of food on top of each other you have two side by side. You have to label them on the side instead of the top tho!

I group like items, so stacking isn't as much of an issue. For example, I use one side for frozen fruit. I try to have every item sitting up right, and anchored on the end with bigger items. The frozen fruit is interchangeable, so I use what's on top, and move down. On the other side of the freezer drawer (the two halves are separated by a divider), I stack like sized frozen meals. It's less ideal if you're looking for a specific meal, but I try to just choose the one on top & keep going. Net/net, I'd say if you have food that isn't meal specific & can be used interchangeably, that's what I recommend storing in an area like that. Use what's on top, and you don't have to worry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 27, 2018, 10:18:47 AM
Thank you for the freezer drawer feedback, everyone.  Fresh Bread, I use the standing on the side method for boxed and bagged veggies as well as pre-made meals and it works well.  I'll try it for proteins divided into freezer bags.  :)

CuttheFat, that salad sounds yummy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on February 27, 2018, 10:50:48 AM
Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized? 
We have one, and I have no useful tips.  Ours is a mess! I hate it.

I can't quite picture what it looks like, but with all drawers I do KonMarie techniques where possible. So stand things up vertically on the shortest side wherever possible. So instead of two boxes of food on top of each other you have two side by side. You have to label them on the side instead of the top tho!
As an avid Marie Kondo fan, I can't believe I didn't think of this.  Genius!  Thanks, @Fresh Bread

I will also try @MaybeBabyMustache 's method too.  I could easily put prepared stuff in the top, so it's easy to grab and see (and to limit our desire to order take-out).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 02, 2018, 01:53:57 AM
Well, we have been able to drink and eat all the milk in the house, including all the milk powder. Yesterday DH tried to make cheese sauce and had to improvise by using cream. It tasted fine and very creamy. I really need to buy a new pack of milk powder. It is perfect to have in case you need something for food. We also need it in case we go on a backpacking trip where we use milk powder for muesli.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 04, 2018, 01:49:18 AM
Went through the pantry and freezer tonight, part stocktake, part tidy.

I made a big batch of pesto broccoli pasta with a kilo of frozen broccoli.

Planning to use up the dried chickpeas and split red lentils in a sweet potato soup, sunflower seeds and toasted coconut in cereal, and some of the marmalade (three jars, why?) in Nigella's marmalade pudding cake.

I’m soaking some white beans right now to make a savory dip with.  I’ve been hungry for cheese dips, and may add some cheese to this, but I’m hoping it will be a bit healthier but still satisfy the junk food craving.

My boss has a thing for Sydney's most expensive Greek restaurants so I've eaten some amazing white bean dip.

I have cannellini beans in the pantry so this has inspired me.

Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized?  Our new-to-us-house as of last summer is my first time working with one, and the fact things pile on top of each other drives me crazy.  It's a two drawer and things get buried quickly, no matter how much I move things around.  (Generally) the top drawer has the ice bin and trays, frozen veggies and pre-made meals, fish and shrimp.  The bottom drawer contains pork and chicken on the left, and beef, leftover containers and my vodka on the right.   0:)

The vodka gets top priority, obviously.

Side question:  Does anyone else have a bottom drawer freezer?  If so, how do you keep it organized? 
We have one, and I have no useful tips.  Ours is a mess! I hate it.

I can't quite picture what it looks like, but with all drawers I do KonMarie techniques where possible. So stand things up vertically on the shortest side wherever possible. So instead of two boxes of food on top of each other you have two side by side. You have to label them on the side instead of the top tho!

It depends on the type of meals (and how you feel about single-use plastics) but soups and stews work well in large ziplocks. You can freeze them flat then store them vertically, like a filing cabinet. They also defrost easily after being frozen into a thin layer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on March 04, 2018, 05:46:06 AM

It depends on the type of meals (and how you feel about single-use plastics) but soups and stews work well in large ziplocks. You can freeze them flat then store them vertically, like a filing cabinet. They also defrost easily after being frozen into a thin layer.


The don't have to be single use - just wash in soapy water and dry upside down over a bottle or wooden spoon (or the sink sprayer if you only wash one at a time). The thicker freezer ziplocks even come through the dishwasher just fine. They'll eventually develop holes, but you can at least get several uses.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 04, 2018, 03:08:54 PM
While an official countdown has not yet begun,  we are moving this summer so I have to empty the freezer and fridge (and do my best on the pantry).
Last night we had BBQ chili with cornbread and corn salad. I used up two containers of leftover grilled chicken, some frozen bacon, corn meal, and 6.5 ears of frozen corn.   

For breakfast we had egg whites, mushrooms, and frozen spinach.

I’ll have to up my game to empty the freezer and the deep freeze but it was a start. 

I’ve got a ton of pureed pumpkin.   What can I make other than muffins to send in lunchboxes?  (Must be dairy free).  I love sneaking extra veggies into their lunches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on March 04, 2018, 03:12:45 PM
Use some pumpkin purée in pasta sauce (the red kind).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 04, 2018, 08:23:08 PM
We've eaten all of the freezer meals I'd previously stashed, and I defrosted the last of my homemade soup for lunch. I have maybe one serving left.

I do need to make granola bars or something for the kids, as we're pretty much out of everything "snacky" for lunch boxes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 04, 2018, 11:13:41 PM

I’ve got a ton of pureed pumpkin.   What can I make other than muffins to send in lunchboxes?  (Must be dairy free).  I love sneaking extra veggies into their lunches.

Thai pumpkin soup w coconut milk

Pancakes/waffles (though that's essentially the same as muffins)

I make a unrecipe soup with pumpkin, carrots, split peas and broth puréed.

Add some to curry.

Edited to add:  add to oatmeal?  I usually cook my oats with water in the microwave, I reduce water and add pumpkin, cinnamon, etc. 

Could also do a pumpkin baked oatmeal, again similar to the muffins, but maybe heartier with the addition of oats.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 04, 2018, 11:56:36 PM
I’ve got a ton of pureed pumpkin.   What can I make other than muffins to send in lunchboxes?  (Must be dairy free).  I love sneaking extra veggies into their lunches.

You could make spinach and pumpkin cannelloni or vegetarian lasagne, or use as filling in homemade ravioli.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 05, 2018, 01:13:21 PM
LOL @mustachepungoeshere !  Yes, indeed the vodka does.

I sort of arranged the freezer a bit over the weekend.  The top drawer doesn't usually look too bad with the frozen veggie and pre-made meals on their sides, it's the bottom drawer which is the problem.  I put packages of chicken legs and DH's lunch box ice packs on their sides, so that helped a bit.  Slowly eating down the stockpile is helping as well.  Speaking of:

This weekend:
~Used up 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa in a cookie recipe
~Made a homemade pizza which used up leftover spicy ground beef
~Used up a bag of frozen cauliflower and a few remaining TBS Dijon in a salad
~Garbage soup is currently in the Crock Pot:  From the freezer, a plastic container and baggie of leftover chicken.  From the fridge leftover broth, corn and baby carrots.  From the pantry, more broth and rice.  Added a bunch of spices, garlic, salt and pepper.
~Oh, and I pulled out a container of birthday cake I put in the freezer last month.  DH and I have been nibbling on it.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 05, 2018, 07:45:54 PM
Made a spaghetti squash casserole fritatta thing with the last of the ham and five eggs.  We have seven hens and getting about 3 dozen eggs a week right now.  Used up limp rainbow chard and some mozzarella too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 09, 2018, 09:47:27 PM
I received a deluge of condiments, seasoning, jams, chutneys, etc, over Christmas and I just realised it's now March and I've barely looked at them.

So I'm menu planning with the goal to use up these things.

Lunch today was maple-glazed sesame carrots with potato, bacon and caramelised onion crostini.

Having dinner with friends tonight and I was asked to bring dessert so I'm making Nigella's marmalade pudding cake.

The preserved habaneros, habanero jelly, jalapeno jelly and seven chilli sauces are next on the list. I'm thinking jerk chicken.

And I'm soaking chickpeas for soup tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 10, 2018, 12:58:37 AM
I received a deluge of condiments, seasoning, jams, chutneys, etc, over Christmas and I just realised it's now March and I've barely looked at them.

So I'm menu planning with the goal to use up these things.

Lunch today was maple-glazed sesame carrots with potato, bacon and caramelised onion crostini.

Having dinner with friends tonight and I was asked to bring dessert so I'm making Nigella's marmalade pudding cake.

The preserved habaneros, habanero jelly, jalapeno jelly and seven chilli sauces are next on the list. I'm thinking jerk chicken.

And I'm soaking chickpeas for soup tomorrow.

Did you mention once that you like chillis, and now you get dozens of chilli condiments for presents? I haven't even heard of some of those things.

I made almond milk on Thurs and still have soggy almond meal remains in the fridge. Any ideas for (extremely simple) uses? I was going to make a creme fraiche cake that uses meal but it's too hard right now and requires shopping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 10, 2018, 09:34:46 AM
I finally used up the coconut flour last night!

I'm going to try to use up split peas over the next couple weeks.  Soon it will be too warm for split pea soup.

Have three cabbages in the fridge, so planning a cabbage-based meal for tonight, and maybe a slaw to eat through next week.

Also have pounds of beets.  I think I'll prep these in vacuum bags so they can be cooked sous vide.  They last a few weeks thus prepped and make an effort-free weeknight side dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Plugging Along on March 10, 2018, 12:17:55 PM
Joining in because my pantry and freezer are overflowing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on March 10, 2018, 02:29:44 PM

I made almond milk on Thurs and still have soggy almond meal remains in the fridge. Any ideas for (extremely simple) uses? I was going to make a creme fraiche cake that uses meal but it's too hard right now and requires shopping.

Toss them in a smoothie? I make oat milk and save the oat-meal and then toss it into the blender with my morning smoothie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 10, 2018, 03:23:39 PM
I received a deluge of condiments, seasoning, jams, chutneys, etc, over Christmas and I just realised it's now March and I've barely looked at them.

So I'm menu planning with the goal to use up these things.

Lunch today was maple-glazed sesame carrots with potato, bacon and caramelised onion crostini.

Having dinner with friends tonight and I was asked to bring dessert so I'm making Nigella's marmalade pudding cake.

The preserved habaneros, habanero jelly, jalapeno jelly and seven chilli sauces are next on the list. I'm thinking jerk chicken.

And I'm soaking chickpeas for soup tomorrow.

Did you mention once that you like chillis, and now you get dozens of chilli condiments for presents? I haven't even heard of some of those things.

Nope, just well-meaning family and friends.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 10, 2018, 06:37:11 PM

I made almond milk on Thurs and still have soggy almond meal remains in the fridge. Any ideas for (extremely simple) uses? I was going to make a creme fraiche cake that uses meal but it's too hard right now and requires shopping.

Toss them in a smoothie? I make oat milk and save the oat-meal and then toss it into the blender with my morning smoothie.

Oh yes, good one! I have mango in the freezer saved from when it was cheap in summer :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 11, 2018, 06:09:23 PM
Week 1 of really buckling down and trying to empty the freezer and pantry.
Freezer Items -
Bag of stir fry veggies (Stir fry)
2 bags of turkey broth (Rice cooked in one and Asian noodles/millet cooked in the other)
Thai chili chicken meal
3 frozen bananas (smoothie)
2 bags of waffles
Chicken Enchilada filling (chicken enchiladas)
Green beans (with bacon)
Bacon pieces
Sesame Chicken meal
Purple cabbage (cooked the chicken on top of a bed of cabbagej

Pantry-
Olives
The last bit of 2 bottles of oil
Potatoes that had sprouted
Sweet potato
Cake mix
Asian noodles
Millet

I have two bags of frozen cranberries and a ton of frozen rhubarb.    I’m going to have to bake I guess.   Any good ideas to use those?   I have something like 12 cups of rhubarb and harvest is right around the corner...



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 11, 2018, 09:11:29 PM
My mango / almond meal smoothie this morning was delish and so so filling. I added oats, milk & honey.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on March 12, 2018, 06:59:59 AM
Finished the char sui sauce with a braised beef dish.

Finished the beet & ginger jam and opened the last container of rhubarb & fig marmalade.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 12, 2018, 09:15:06 AM
What should I do with a package of crimini mushrooms?  I'm not a huge mushroom fan.  A friend gave me a bunch of produce (had to go on an unexpected trip), and I've devoured everything except the mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aetherie on March 12, 2018, 10:16:26 AM
What should I do with a package of crimini mushrooms?  I'm not a huge mushroom fan.  A friend gave me a bunch of produce (had to go on an unexpected trip), and I've devoured everything except the mushrooms.

If you also have half a pound of beef, I recommend this recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/02/one-pot-beef-mushroom-stroganoff/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on March 12, 2018, 10:39:35 AM
What should I do with a package of crimini mushrooms?  I'm not a huge mushroom fan.  A friend gave me a bunch of produce (had to go on an unexpected trip), and I've devoured everything except the mushrooms.

If you also have half a pound of beef, I recommend this recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/02/one-pot-beef-mushroom-stroganoff/
We don't eat a lot of beef, but I've added this to my recipes to try list.  I have chicken breasts at home, but no other meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 12, 2018, 11:25:21 AM
We love mushrooms with eggs and sausage.   They are also really good in stuffing.   You could make stuffed chicken breasts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 12, 2018, 08:45:43 PM
What should I do with a package of crimini mushrooms?  I'm not a huge mushroom fan.  A friend gave me a bunch of produce (had to go on an unexpected trip), and I've devoured everything except the mushrooms.

If you also have half a pound of beef, I recommend this recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/02/one-pot-beef-mushroom-stroganoff/
We don't eat a lot of beef, but I've added this to my recipes to try list.  I have chicken breasts at home, but no other meat.

A mushroom gravy over the chicken breasts would be nice.  Chop the mushrooms small if you don't like the texture but yeah, saute the heck out of them with plenty of butter, salt, pepper and thyme.  Mmmm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 14, 2018, 11:52:09 AM
I received a deluge of condiments, seasoning, jams, chutneys, etc, over Christmas and I just realised it's now March and I've barely looked at them.

So I'm menu planning with the goal to use up these things.

Lunch today was maple-glazed sesame carrots with potato, bacon and caramelised onion crostini.

Having dinner with friends tonight and I was asked to bring dessert so I'm making Nigella's marmalade pudding cake.

The preserved habaneros, habanero jelly, jalapeno jelly and seven chilli sauces are next on the list. I'm thinking jerk chicken.

And I'm soaking chickpeas for soup tomorrow.

MustacheP, this sounds divine!

FreshBread, glad your smoothie was good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 14, 2018, 12:04:08 PM
We're eating down the freezer stock, just in time for grocery shopping tomorrow, LOL.

Recently I:
~Used a leftover half jar organic pizza sauce in enchiladas
~Ate another frozen prepared meal-only 2 more to go!
~Used up 3 bags of frozen veggies
~There are some sad looking boneless pork chops at the bottom of the freezer which I'll put into a stir fry next week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 15, 2018, 04:44:27 PM
I'm starting to take pleasure in a bare-looking fridge, instead of having an automatic response of running to the grocery store to fill it up.

Yesterday I finally got to the bottom of a large jar of homemade kimchi, putting it on a quesadilla.

I just shredded a cabbage and set some aside for our salads early next week, and used the rest along with two apples and a lone carrot to make a nice cole slaw for tonight and tomorrow's dinners.

Today we'll have it with the red potatoes that are hanging out in the pantry, and some salmon that's lurking in the freezer.  Tomorrow will be tamales from the freezer.

Any ideas for red D'anjou pears?  I have about five of them needing to be used.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on March 15, 2018, 09:35:52 PM
Finished off some chocolate protein shake sachets. Not something I can see myself buying in future and they were taking up pantry space.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 16, 2018, 06:28:36 AM
Any ideas for red D'anjou pears?  I have about five of them needing to be used.

Oatmeal, pear crisp with ice cream, good on salads with nuts too
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aoedae on March 16, 2018, 06:31:10 AM
What an awesome thread!
 
Definitely joining in with this - I'm leaving my accommodation on 7th June 2018 so would like to be done by then.

Alas, I can't use the cake ingredients up until lent is over as I'm on no-sugar.
 
My biggest challenge is probably going to be using up 5 tins of coconut milk without buying too much meat...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 16, 2018, 08:34:45 AM
My biggest challenge is probably going to be using up 5 tins of coconut milk without buying too much meat...

Smoothies,  veggie curry, sub for milk in baked goods or make coconut whipped cream
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 16, 2018, 02:26:24 PM
Use the coconut milk in chia pudding or breakfast oats?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aoedae on March 16, 2018, 04:00:54 PM
My biggest challenge is probably going to be using up 5 tins of coconut milk without buying too much meat...

Smoothies,  veggie curry, sub for milk in baked goods or make coconut whipped cream

Problem solved then. Sounds like lots of veggie curry in my future!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 16, 2018, 04:34:43 PM
Over the past two weeks I've used up:
- 1 jar of marmalade
- 1 packet of French onion soup mix
- 1 bag of dried chickpeas
- 1/2 loaf of frozen white bread (from before the switch to sourdough)
- 1/2 loaf of frozen wholegrain bread (from before the switch to sourdough)
- 1 bottle of apricot nectar
- 1/2 bottle of sweet chilli sauce
- 1 bottle of chilli sauce
- 1 bottle of diet tonic water
- 1/3 bottle of BBQ sauce
- 1 packet of dark chocolate chips
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 18, 2018, 02:58:21 PM
It's probably wrong how giddy I'm getting that my husband will be out of town for 10 days, starting next week. Now, I adore him, and will miss him, and logistics will be challenging with the kiddos. However, he hates seeing empty space in the fridge/freezer/pantry, and constantly restocks whenever he "thinks" we might be low on literally anything. I'm going to make a list of all of our options, and get crazy with things like breakfast for dinner (which, would be a total no go for my husband)

I'm planning to do no shopping, except likely milk & maybe a small amount of produce. It says a lot about the state of our surplus that it should be no problem. :-)

As for today, I made granola bars for the kids, and used the last of one bag of oatmeal, the last of a container of brown sugar, chocolate chips (on clearance from sometime back) x2, and the last of the agave.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 18, 2018, 06:13:50 PM
Another week closer to moving and another week of using up the freezer and pantry.

Freezer:  5 random flavors of muffins
2 bags of rhubarb used in rhubarb cake
French fries
Flank steak
Mystery peppers- went really well with the steak in wraps
Zucchini and Pumpkin puree in Muffins
Cinnamon rolls and random frosting packet
Sausage
Heavy cream

Pantry: Spaghetti
Coconut oil
Agave nectar
Millet
Curly pasta
A box of Jello
Garlic

We ate pretty well but the freezer still looks so full!   I’ve got a lot of work to do on rhubarb and pumpkin still, plus a ton of carrot top pesto that nobody likes but me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on March 18, 2018, 06:15:31 PM
The bag of bread ends in the freezer was getting full, so I made a batch of strata with bacon and greens for dinner. Low waste, empties out my freezer, and tastes delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 18, 2018, 07:47:11 PM
It's probably wrong how giddy I'm getting that my husband will be out of town for 10 days, starting next week. Now, I adore him, and will miss him, and logistics will be challenging with the kiddos. However, he hates seeing empty space in the fridge/freezer/pantry, and constantly restocks whenever he "thinks" we might be low on literally anything. I'm going to make a list of all of our options, and get crazy with things like breakfast for dinner (which, would be a total no go for my husband)

I'm planning to do no shopping, except likely milk & maybe a small amount of produce. It says a lot about the state of our surplus that it should be no problem. :-)

This made me smile. :)

Can't wait to hear about what happens when he gets home and finds "empty" cupboards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 18, 2018, 08:07:08 PM
It's probably wrong how giddy I'm getting that my husband will be out of town for 10 days, starting next week. Now, I adore him, and will miss him, and logistics will be challenging with the kiddos. However, he hates seeing empty space in the fridge/freezer/pantry, and constantly restocks whenever he "thinks" we might be low on literally anything. I'm going to make a list of all of our options, and get crazy with things like breakfast for dinner (which, would be a total no go for my husband)

I'm planning to do no shopping, except likely milk & maybe a small amount of produce. It says a lot about the state of our surplus that it should be no problem. :-)

This made me smile. :)

Can't wait to hear about what happens when he gets home and finds "empty" cupboards.

Oh, now that would just be crazy! He flies out on a Saturday morning, back the following Monday. We will stock the cupboards the weekend in between. .. he will be blissfully unaware. :-) But, I will definitely report back on how we do with our grocery budget & general pantry craziness.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 23, 2018, 08:39:13 AM
Finished the last of the elusive freezer breakfast sandwiches! Hurrah. Now onto the frittatas that I made ahead & froze. Although, those should be easier to pass off this week, as the kids will be making their own breakfast while my husband is out of town.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 23, 2018, 12:06:14 PM
Woot!  Good job, @MaybeBabyMustache !  High fives!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on March 25, 2018, 07:06:34 AM
This week was not as successful.   We lost our sweet family dog and no one was really hungry for a few days.   
Freezer:
6 Tilapia fillets
Package of frozen hotdogs
Package of basque chorizo
Green beans
A bag of pesto cubes
Black eyed peas

Pantry:
Chex Mix seasoning packet
Mixed nuts
BBQ sauce

This week I need to do a little better
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aetherie on March 25, 2018, 06:11:45 PM
savedough, so sorry about your dog :(

Recently I've managed to use up (or, with the sugar and olive oil, get it down to the point where I just have my small everyday container full):
- 2L bottle of olive oil
- 10 lb bag of sugar
- cookie dough from freezer
- 1 bag of blackberries from freezer (1 to go)
- partial bag of mini chocolate chips
- partial bag of brown rice
- 1/2 lb bacon from freezer
- bag of pancake mix
- jar of raspberry jelly
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on March 25, 2018, 06:15:56 PM
@savedough I am so sorry for your loss.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: HappierAtHome on March 25, 2018, 06:21:13 PM
Progress:
Finished off the weetbix (which we were using as a cereal / porridge for the baby). Using rice cereal and porridge oats instead now, and we won't be buying more weetbix until we've used those up.
Reorganised the freezer and found some savoury muffins in the I'd baked for the baby, which he hated and refused to eat. So now I'm taking savoury muffins in to work for snacks until they're used up.
Trying to find baking recipes that will use up lingering pantry ingredients. Coconut macaroons are looking like a good option for the huge quantity of dessicated coconut I have on hand, and I have found a decent looking GF cookie recipe for my GF flour. That will make my GF nephew happy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 25, 2018, 07:29:45 PM
-Finished off a giant tub of popcorn last night
-Used up frozen fruit in a smoothie. Working our way through the last of protein powder
-Used most of a super clearanced bag of organic baby peppers in a chicken/rice dish on Friday
-Finished the rest of a bad bottle of wine on Friday. So happy to see it go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 26, 2018, 12:07:08 PM
@savedough, I am so sorry for your loss.  :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 26, 2018, 12:41:09 PM
This weekend:

~Blueberries went into a lemon blueberry bread
~Almond flour has been almost completely used up in the above bread and in homemade pretzels
~Walnuts were tossed with spices and Tabasco and toasted for DH's lunch
~Odds and ends were put into small containers for lunches and snacks:  Olives, pepperoncini, small dill pickles, trail mix from Christmas, etc.
~An almost overripe avocado went into sushi, as did a bag of riced cauliflower
~Found a small baggie of toasted, mixed nuts from last month in the pantry and brought them here to the office for snacks
~Used some saved bacon grease to fry eggs in
~Sliced a lemon into my ice water
~The rest of the bacon went into BLTs last night

We don't have as much unsweetened cocoa to use up as I thought, which is good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 03, 2018, 09:36:14 AM
Still plugging away at both the freezer and the pantry. 

Freezer-
Used all the treats in the freezer for two birthday parties this weekend.
Frozen Ground turkey for tacos (kids)
Pork roast for burritos and taco bowls (grown ups)
Split pea soup portion
Bag of corn
Black eyed peas

Fridge and Pantry:
Sauerkraut that had been in the fridge since last summer - yikes
Cilantro
Two types of tea - Coconut Chai and Mandarin Orange
Cake mix
Sugar cookie mix
One Bag of powdered sugar
Two ramen noodle cups

I made extra birthday treats and they ended up in the freezer.

I also forgot about some tiny pepperonis and sauteed onions and they ended up in the trash.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 04, 2018, 01:15:39 PM
I made homemade brownies for the first time last night and they are the best I've ever tasted!  They used up leftover Christmas baking ingredients:  White and milk chocolate chips, a bit of the dark chocolate chips, and the rest of the toffee bits.  And, my prior post is incorrect:  Much to my chagrin, I found an unopened box of unsweetened cocoa lurking in the back of the pantry.

Been trying to use up a bottle of sunflower oil I won at a raffle late last year.  I just do not like that stuff!  Tonight's dinner should take care of the rest of it.

I bought a 1/4 ham last week which turned into 4 meals.  Nice!

Next up:  The pounds of pistachios given to me at Christmas....

Side note:  I told DH my grocery shopping list is going to be ruthless next week.  He responded HMMMMmmmmm....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 08, 2018, 05:46:03 PM
Keep on truckin’ along...
 
Freezer-
One small bag of rhubarb
Cinnamon braid bought for a fundraiser
Fajita Chili
Cornbread
Ice cream
Cream cheese
Gluten free baking mix
Mystery bone broth
Frozen Corn
Freezer waffles
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: aetherie on April 08, 2018, 07:19:44 PM
Finished recently:

raisins
2 boxes of brownie mix
ice cream
bag of quinoa
bag of frozen shrimp
2 cans of tuna (1 left now)
the last 1/2 lb of frozen beef
bottle of lemon juice
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 09, 2018, 08:46:34 AM
The SO's work gave them mason jar mixes for chocolate chip cookies (just add melted butter, an egg and vanilla). Not as good as homemade, but folks in the office ate them up quickly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sunnyca on April 09, 2018, 11:55:09 AM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 09, 2018, 12:12:03 PM
My kids (the two not allergic to dairy) love this....
https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/one-dish-chicken-rice-bake/

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on April 09, 2018, 12:12:33 PM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
The only thing I ever used cream of mushroom soup for was tuna casserole: can of tuna, cooked noodles, grated cheese, can of soup, frozen peas, mix it all together, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, bake. Easy and quick.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on April 09, 2018, 12:20:37 PM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
The only thing I ever used cream of mushroom soup for was tuna casserole: can of tuna, cooked noodles, grated cheese, can of soup, frozen peas, mix it all together, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, bake. Easy and quick.

And you can do endless variations of this casserole...cooked ground beef or leftover chicken instead of tuna,  rice or pasta instead of noodles.  And add any type of cooked veggies (e.g., mushrooms, soy beans, carrots, broccoli, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes).  A great way to use up other random ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on April 09, 2018, 12:30:36 PM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
The only thing I ever used cream of mushroom soup for was tuna casserole: can of tuna, cooked noodles, grated cheese, can of soup, frozen peas, mix it all together, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, bake. Easy and quick.

And you can do endless variations of this casserole...cooked ground beef or leftover chicken instead of tuna,  rice or pasta instead of noodles.  And add any type of cooked veggies (e.g., mushrooms, soy beans, carrots, broccoli, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes).  A great way to use up other random ingredients.
True, I do have some other versions that are similar but I never thought of it as the same thing. My mom used to make what we called "yummy stuff with no name" and it was basically just a casserole of random ingredients that needed to be cooked. Perfect for this thread :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 09, 2018, 01:43:30 PM
LOL!  @PoutineLover, I love that name....

I shelled over a pound of pistachios to make these Saturday:  http://thetoastedpinenut.com/pistachio-cookies/ (http://thetoastedpinenut.com/pistachio-cookies/)

I also used up some sad looking chicken breasts from the freezer, leftover pineapple and juice, and the remnants of one of two bottles of honey in a stir fry.

Found several packets of instant coffee in the pantry and had some yesterday.

Last night I made low carb sushi with leftovers:  Nori, cream cheese, salmon and cauliflower rice.  Yum!

Used up some pinto beans in Budget Bytes Not Refried Beans over the weekend.  Froze two containers, and one will be served with tonight's breakfast quesadilla.

Put several items into containers with lids.  The pantry is starting to look really good!

You may remember me complaining about the drawer freezer several pages ago.  Well, last month DH bought a fridge/freezer from a friend who is moving and set it up in his garage.  I put several roasts in the freezer, which freed up some space in my kitchen fridge.  Thumbs up!

Frugality is fun!  :D

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sunnyca on April 09, 2018, 02:06:11 PM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
The only thing I ever used cream of mushroom soup for was tuna casserole: can of tuna, cooked noodles, grated cheese, can of soup, frozen peas, mix it all together, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, bake. Easy and quick.

And you can do endless variations of this casserole...cooked ground beef or leftover chicken instead of tuna,  rice or pasta instead of noodles.  And add any type of cooked veggies (e.g., mushrooms, soy beans, carrots, broccoli, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes).  A great way to use up other random ingredients.
True, I do have some other versions that are similar but I never thought of it as the same thing. My mom used to make what we called "yummy stuff with no name" and it was basically just a casserole of random ingredients that needed to be cooked. Perfect for this thread :)

Awesome, thanks guys!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on April 10, 2018, 12:58:52 AM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...
The only thing I ever used cream of mushroom soup for was tuna casserole: can of tuna, cooked noodles, grated cheese, can of soup, frozen peas, mix it all together, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, bake. Easy and quick.

And you can do endless variations of this casserole...cooked ground beef or leftover chicken instead of tuna,  rice or pasta instead of noodles.  And add any type of cooked veggies (e.g., mushrooms, soy beans, carrots, broccoli, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes).  A great way to use up other random ingredients.
True, I do have some other versions that are similar but I never thought of it as the same thing. My mom used to make what we called "yummy stuff with no name" and it was basically just a casserole of random ingredients that needed to be cooked. Perfect for this thread :)

Awesome, thanks guys!

I use a tin of Campbell's condensed soup as the bechamel layer in lasagne.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: sassafrassin on April 10, 2018, 11:15:10 AM
https://www.southernplate.com/slow-cooker-fiesta-chicken-rice/

To use up cream of chicken soup, I use this recipe all the time.  It is a favorite of everyone in the house.  I do not mix in the rice, just pour chicken mixture on top along with shredded cheese and crushed up tortilla chips.

You can use canned or homemade cream of chicken soup or cream cheese instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 11, 2018, 05:13:19 PM
Gave up on finding a recipe with saffron that the low-carb Silent One would like. Not worth the experimentation. So I gave an almost full container to a co-worker who I know likes to experiment in the kitchen and who had been bemoaning the cost of saffron. The co-worker was very thankful, especially when they saw how full the container was. I'm just happy it is out of the house. It was making me feel resentful and a bit of a failure.

I'm almost done my lemon pepper experiment. Put it on top of some pork tenderloin medallions that were destined for wraps with avocado & bell pepper. I'm happy to have found some things that it works for, and have no interest in buying more once this is done. Soon, very soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Shinplaster on April 11, 2018, 07:32:43 PM
Does anyone have good recipes to use up condensed cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup?  I’ve got a bunch left from a random purchase I’m now regretting...

I've used cream of mushroom soup with pork chops - actually one of the first things I ever made after I left home.    Brown the chops, mix up the soup as directed (I use water, not milk), plop the chops in, and simmer for a few hours on the stove or in a crock pot.  Right before serving I mix in some rice.   Or you can keep the rice separate, and let everyone add as much of the soup 'gravy' as they like.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on April 14, 2018, 05:24:39 PM
My 7 year old requested orange chicken for dinner. Ummm...let me see what I can do kid. A quick google search and a few tweeks I was able to put together a orange chicken dish for the girl.

The fact that I can pull together orange chicken using $.97 cent per pound chicken, a sad looking orange, some orange marmalade that has been in the back of the fridge for I have no idea how long, some garlic that must be used, some freezer burnt ginger and some sesame oil along with a bit of corn starch and water. It looks all fancy with the bits of marmalade floating around in it. I have the chicken boiling with some bay leaf and will throw on the grill tonight. I will use some leftover rice and cook up some frozen veggie from the freezer.

I have bread raising on the counter, just made some oatmeal muffins for snacks. Tmrw I will make some english muffins.

This week (and next) I am determined to not go to the store. I have enough food in this house to feed us I just have to make it. I decided to try out a fancy CSA for two weeks to try the last two weeks of the winter CSA to see if I like it for next year. And I only have $10 bucks left in the food budget. Which will be for milk, peanut butter and bananas if I need to.  The 7 year olds lunch this week might be interesting.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on April 15, 2018, 12:51:01 PM
Last spring I found a lot of wild garlic and dried some of it. When drying, the whole house smelled of garlic, but the bag of dried stuff does not smell a lot. Still, today I finally used some of it.

I will soon pick a new bunch, but make puree of it, which tastes a lot.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 16, 2018, 09:24:53 AM
I'm moving right along.   This was a good week for emptying the freezer.

Used two packages of preformed hamburgers to make taco meat.  The kids like tacos more than hamburgers.
Used some chicken to make homemade chicken nuggets.
Mixed Chicken and chorizo in the crockpot to make enchilada and burrito filling.  It was amazing.
Orange Juice
A random frozen mystery lunch - turned out to be turkey and veggies with rice.
A lunch serving of pot roast.
Ice cream treats.

A bunch of stuff in the pantry that I didn't write down: Apple juice, can of black beans, rice, etc.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 16, 2018, 12:26:36 PM
This weekend:

I poured the remaining bits of sugar free ketchup and most of a jar of sugar free apricot preserves along with some spices and soy sauce into a freezer bag along with chicken breasts and tossed them in the freezer for future use.  Into a different bag, I poured teriyaki sauce with spices onto chicken breasts.  This type of prepping helps with dinner on busy nights.

Used up 1/2 cup coconut flour in a low carb biscuit recipe.

Drank the rest of the (nasty) instant coffee.

Friday night's leftover rotisserie chicken went into last night's chicken Alfredo over spaghetti squash.

Despite the low carb lifestyle, I "de-cluttered" 1/4 cup popcorn (before popping) into my belly Saturday night.  ;)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 23, 2018, 01:36:01 PM
Ugh, a much slower week for using up stuff.

Out of the freezer, I think we only ended up eating some corn kernels, ice cream bars and tater tots. 

Can you tell I was the only grown-up at home this week?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 24, 2018, 07:39:36 AM
Green lentils and sticky rice are gone.  I didn't get the split peas used up before the weather turned more spring-like, so they will probably sit until next winter.

Used extra buttermilk to make a ranch style salad dressing, and used that to dress a slaw made from languishing red cabbage and jicama.

Home-canned goods are also slowly getting used up.  Have been having homemade yogurt for breakfast each day with my fruit preserves.

I'm leaving on Sunday for a 6-day work trip, so goal is to finish anything perishable before I go.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 26, 2018, 09:18:17 AM
Focusing on older freezer items.  There was one last jar of a neighbor's 2016 carrot top pesto to use up.  That stuff goes a long way!  I am going to use it today and tomorrow as a sandwich condiment in cucumber subs (google it), and used the majority of it last night in leftover shredded spaghetti squash from the freezer.  It yielded two servings.  Added to the spaghetti squash was a can of chicken, a splash of heavy cream, and about 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lizi on April 27, 2018, 12:06:35 PM
One thing this exercise has taught me is the importance of labelling foods in the freezer! I'm making a chilli, and just pulled out two containers of what I think (and hope!) is stock, but I honestly have no idea. It doesn't help that one of the containers was labelled "Homemade hummus" when it very clearly is not. I also have another mystery container in the freezer that is a transparent yellow-orange colour. It taste a little bit tomato-y from the bit I tried, but I'm really not sure. I guess I just have to defrost it and hope I can figure it out and use it. Or just add it to a tomato-based chilli and hope it blends in.

So from now on, labels!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 27, 2018, 01:02:51 PM
Six weeks to go!

This week I used up a one lb bag of okra, frozen egg and breader making baked okra.
I used a little bit of leftover veggie breader to make zucchini.
We used 5 tiliapia filets.
My husband made burritos and wraps with some pre-shredded chicken that was in the freezer.  I have a cup and half left and I'll probably make burrito bowls with it.
We also used a raspberry lemonade, but that was easy and not really an accomplishment because I usually save it for a picnic.

Here is what I have left to use over the next six weeks:  (ranked 1-3 on challenge to use with 1 being easy and 3 being hard)


Anyone have good recipes and uses for Pumpkin/squash puree, rhubarb, cranberries, bananas, carrot top pesto (dairy-free) or almond flour?  I have one son that is dairy and banana free, so I'd prefer if he can eat it as well.  If I make it and like it, I will let you know!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 27, 2018, 02:16:16 PM
@savedough I've had good luck using soy milk in pumpkin custard. I've also been making split pea soup with lots of pumpkin purée in it. No real recipe, just broth and veggies. Sometimes I use pumpkin purée to bulk up a curry or chili. (I eat a lot of pumpkin.)

So jealous of your rhubarb! Rhubarb really shrinks when it thaws and cooks, so that gallon might not be so much, right?  Rhubarb crisp with oatmeal topping is my fav. I remember mt mom making a rhubarb sauce with red jello and granulated tapioca (no dairy). I loved it then, but don't have a recipe!

What about marzipan with the almond flour?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on April 27, 2018, 06:37:24 PM
Anyone have good recipes and uses for Pumpkin/squash puree, rhubarb, cranberries, bananas, carrot top pesto (dairy-free) or almond flour?  I have one son that is dairy and banana free, so I'd prefer if he can eat it as well.  If I make it and like it, I will let you know!

curried pumpkin soup with coconut milk?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on April 27, 2018, 07:56:56 PM
https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g909/cranberry-recipes/?slide=1
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on April 27, 2018, 08:27:43 PM
Anyone have good recipes and uses for Pumpkin/squash puree, rhubarb, cranberries, bananas, carrot top pesto (dairy-free) or almond flour?  I have one son that is dairy and banana free, so I'd prefer if he can eat it as well.  If I make it and like it, I will let you know!

curried pumpkin soup with coconut milk?

I love making this recipe for dairy free pumpkin custard. I don't do the crust, or the hazelnuts, just the pumpkin filling which is super rich and delicious with coconut milk

https://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/spicekissed-pumpkin-pie-recipe.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 27, 2018, 08:56:34 PM
Here is a rhubarb upside down cake.  Maybe it could be made with coconut oil or margarine instead of butter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Penny Lane on April 28, 2018, 07:01:40 AM
I have come to the conclusion that I am now putting away too much food for just the two of us.  We’ve been empty nesters for a few years, but I am still freezing and canning as though the kids are still here. Duh. Will give away more fresh stuff this year,maybe grow less. I have a gallon bag of frozen peach slices for dessert / yogurt before it’s rhubarb time again!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on April 30, 2018, 12:37:47 PM
I made a raspberry, rhubarb, cranberry compote to add to oatmeal and it was really good.   I used 1 cup of each (or so, I didnt measure) and a little bit of sugar and cooked on the stove.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 30, 2018, 01:38:18 PM
One thing this exercise has taught me is the importance of labelling foods in the freezer! I'm making a chilli, and just pulled out two containers of what I think (and hope!) is stock, but I honestly have no idea. It doesn't help that one of the containers was labelled "Homemade hummus" when it very clearly is not. I also have another mystery container in the freezer that is a transparent yellow-orange colour. It taste a little bit tomato-y from the bit I tried, but I'm really not sure. I guess I just have to defrost it and hope I can figure it out and use it. Or just add it to a tomato-based chilli and hope it blends in.

So from now on, labels!

BrakeforT, I always think I will remember what the contents are, or at least be able to recognize them after they freeze.  Nope!  So I try and remember to use freezer tape and a Sharpie.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 01, 2018, 02:56:07 PM
One thing this exercise has taught me is the importance of labelling foods in the freezer! I'm making a chilli, and just pulled out two containers of what I think (and hope!) is stock, but I honestly have no idea. It doesn't help that one of the containers was labelled "Homemade hummus" when it very clearly is not. I also have another mystery container in the freezer that is a transparent yellow-orange colour. It taste a little bit tomato-y from the bit I tried, but I'm really not sure. I guess I just have to defrost it and hope I can figure it out and use it. Or just add it to a tomato-based chilli and hope it blends in.

So from now on, labels!

I also have this problem. I once thought pureed persimmons was a pale tomato sauce. . . that made for a very interesting dinner. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on May 04, 2018, 06:08:45 PM
Pumpkin/winter squash puree can be substituted for oil in baked good recipes.

Also this is my all-time favorite muffin recipe:  http://joythebaker.com/2011/10/pumpkin-millet-and-chocolate-muffins/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on May 16, 2018, 10:41:01 AM
I'm joining back in on this thread. We're moving in just over a month--it's just down the street so transporting our food will be easy enough, but I'd rather clear out the freezer and minimize what we have!

Started out by getting the frozen summer squash out to put in my smoothie. Most of it is shriveled and gross, so I actually threw out all but a few pieces that went in the blender, but that's progress. I also looked at a half-used bag of frozen kale, but it's pretty much a solid mass, so I'll have my husband use that in a soup. I had more protein powder than I thought, so about half of it went in the blender and I'll save the other half for another smoothie.

Does anyone have suggestions for some old hulled sunflower seeds (they could go in a smoothie, but I'm unenthusiastic about the prospect)?

Is it OK to eat sweet potatoes that have lushly sprouted? And if not, should I plant them in the yard of my new house?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on May 16, 2018, 10:48:48 AM
@Kerowyn I sprinkle sunflower seeds on everything.  Salads and oatmeal are great.  I also toss them in muffins or banana bread. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OtherJen on May 16, 2018, 11:05:44 AM
@savedough , Elana's Pantry has lots of good almond flour recipes, including this paleo pumpkin bread: https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-pumpkin-bread/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 17, 2018, 08:43:06 PM
We used up chicken enchiladas & lasagna from the freezer. Next up - a ton of pesto in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 19, 2018, 11:27:17 AM
Repurposed leftover kid breakfast today, & turned eggs into a wrap (using the remains of feta from a salad kit) + hot sauce. Also ate kiddo leftover fruit. Need to work through the freezer again!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on May 20, 2018, 06:19:57 PM
@Kerowyn I sprinkle sunflower seeds on everything.  Salads and oatmeal are great.  I also toss them in muffins or banana bread.

Oh, I have oatmeal every day, I should toss in a few sunflower seeds! Thanks!

I'm not a big jam eater but, inspired by this thread, I had one of my two pieces of toast with jam today. That used up the jar of jam.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 21, 2018, 02:34:46 PM
A bag of baby spinach has gone a long way!

Last Thurs:  Side salad with cod
Friday:  Served it under steak
Sun:  Had it in an antipasto salad
Tomorrow:  I'll serve it in a ground beef casserole

I think the latter might do it, LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 21, 2018, 04:01:27 PM
A bag of baby spinach has gone a long way!

Last Thurs:  Side salad with cod
Friday:  Served it under steak
Sun:  Had it in an antipasto salad
Tomorrow:  I'll serve it in a ground beef casserole

I think the latter might do it, LOL!

If this is the Costco size, it lasts FOREVER! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 22, 2018, 01:17:05 PM
A bag of baby spinach has gone a long way!

Last Thurs:  Side salad with cod
Friday:  Served it under steak
Sun:  Had it in an antipasto salad
Tomorrow:  I'll serve it in a ground beef casserole

I think the latter might do it, LOL!

If this is the Costco size, it lasts FOREVER! :-)

Haha!  ;-)

If it's not finished tonight, I'm going to toss it into a smoothie in the AM.  This will be an experiment, as I've never had it in one before.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 22, 2018, 01:32:29 PM
@MountainGal - with the right fruit balance, I find spinach to be a non-factor (taste wise) in smoothies. Just don't leave out a fruit with a nice flavor. Berries, pineapple, etc. I find if it's just banana, the spinach comes through too strongly.

As for me, I have guacamole leftover from taco night, and thought we had more taco meat in the freezer. Nope. So, we will have taquitos & guac as an "appetizer", followed by leftover kebabs. If I wasn't actively keeping track, the guac would have for sure gone to waste
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 23, 2018, 11:13:36 AM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache !  I'll keep that in mind.  I ended up using the rest of the spinach last night.  I forgot how much it shrinks when cooked.  Yay!  And your dinner last night sounds really good.

Next up:  Spaghetti squash.  I cooked it last night and served it under the spinach and beef in lieu of pasta.  That will yield 4 servings.  I still had a half squash left, so I shredded cheddar on top and I'll eat that for two lunches.

Trying a new recipe tonight:  Teriyaki chicken and eggplant stir fry.  Should be interesting.  I flavored the chicken from a multi pack and froze it a few months ago.  I also froze plain chicken breasts, as well as a sweet version with sf apricot preserves and ginger.  We've got several jars of preserves and jams to utilize.

I love this thread.  :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on May 26, 2018, 01:47:08 AM
I made pizza dough in the breadmaker. The recipe calls for two tablespoons of olive oil - for one of those I used a chilli oil that has been languishing in the back of the cupboard. There's just a tiny bit left so yay. Hope pizza is edible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on May 26, 2018, 11:10:04 AM
FB - that doesn't sound so different from dumping chilli oil on top of already cooked pizza so I'm sure it will be fine. 

We are working our way through an enormous jar of Indonesian chilli sauce (sambal oelek) - we pretty much put it on everything.  Tonight I'm going to use up some sad looking meat that DH bought a while ago plus rice with tons of chilli sauce.  For veg, I need to use up some broccoli from the bottom of the fridge. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on May 26, 2018, 03:39:55 PM
The pizza turned out really well, just a little bit of heat that made the crust a bit more interesting. I can use up the rest next time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Kerowyn on May 26, 2018, 06:48:46 PM
I used up the protein powder adding it to this delicious smoothie (https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/skinny-oatmeal-cookie-smoothie/).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 29, 2018, 02:49:28 PM
@Kerowyn, that smoothie does look divine!

@Fresh Bread, glad your pizza turned out.

Referencing my last post, let's just say you have to be in the mood for stir fried eggplant.  ;)

Saturday a low carb mock tater salad used up 2 frozen bags of cauliflower.

Next up!  A container of ricotta.  I used half in no bake cheesecake cups Saturday, and the rest will go inside bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breasts.

I want to make a ground beef dish later on this week, and searched for a recipe for it and some of the sugar free preserves/jams on hand.  Found one for meatballs using sugar free strawberry or grape jam.   Thumbs up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Reader on May 30, 2018, 08:06:13 AM
The fact that I can pull together orange chicken using $.97 cent per pound chicken, a sad looking orange, some orange marmalade that has been in the back of the fridge for I have no idea how long, some garlic that must be used, some freezer burnt ginger and some sesame oil along with a bit of corn starch and water. It looks all fancy with the bits of marmalade floating around in it. I have the chicken boiling with some bay leaf and will throw on the grill tonight. I will use some leftover rice and cook up some frozen veggie from the freezer.

i have everything in my fridge! chicken leftovers, sad looking orange, old marmalade, freezer burned garlic, sesame oil, corn starch and water and a bunch of old bay leaves. ok i'll have to cook a fresh batch of rice.

thanks for the idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Reader on May 30, 2018, 08:11:06 AM
Despite the low carb lifestyle, I "de-cluttered" 1/4 cup popcorn (before popping) into my belly Saturday night.  ;)

nice one. i just "de-cluttered" four cookies and an old tea bag. tea keeps (almost) forever though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 02, 2018, 09:24:17 AM
I'm going to salvage a few tiny avocados to make guacamole to go with tacos tonight. Other things I'll use up: ground beef from the freezer, some tortilla shells that have been lingering too long, & the last of the tomatoes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 03, 2018, 12:32:31 PM
During our past canoeing trip we ate the last of my homemade dried giking food. Therefore I am currently making a new batch, but not as big as I did last time when it lasted for 2 years. It should last for a year. And I can also make new during the year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 03, 2018, 05:40:59 PM
I got a lot of free food this week - freezer items from a neighbor who moved, and a ton of fresh produce from my local food not bombs.

This week's priorities: using up a metric butt-ton of cilantro and jalapeños. Already made pick de gallo. May try lazy fridge pickling of the jalapeños. Also goal #2 involves having the children try the frozen vegetables I got from the neighbor. My kids are guaranteed going to freak out (different items, MIXED veggies "the horror" hahahha)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on June 03, 2018, 09:31:18 PM
Strange but tasty dinner made by my SO
Leftover rice noodles with pesto (made a few days ago with parsley & chives from the garden), topped with a fried egg, bacon & avocado.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 04, 2018, 10:25:37 AM
Despite the low carb lifestyle, I "de-cluttered" 1/4 cup popcorn (before popping) into my belly Saturday night.  ;)

nice one. i just "de-cluttered" four cookies and an old tea bag. tea keeps (almost) forever though.

High fives!! 

@Serendip, that does sound good in a strange way!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on June 04, 2018, 11:36:01 AM
Used up a two-pound bag of dry beans and a couple of half-used bottles of molasses in a fabulous Instant Pot baked beans recipe (https://temeculablogs.com/no-soak-instant-pot-baked-beans/).  Scrumptious!

Caveats:
* Recipe calls for pinto beans; I had navy in my use-it-up stash and used those instead with no issues
* Liquid is fairly watery at end of recipe; I left the beans in the pot in keep warm mode for several hours and got the yummy thick texture I associate with baked beans
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on June 04, 2018, 02:39:25 PM

10 days to go!

Here is what I have left to use over the next six weeks ten days:  (ranked 1-3 on challenge to use with 1 being easy and 3 being hard)
  • Two ziploc bags of breaded pork chops (1)
  • 3-4 chicken breasts (1)
  • Goulash (2)
  • Hambone (1)
  • Tilapia (1)
  • Chopped Ham (1)
  • Bacon (1)
  • 4 2 - Quart Bags of Bone Broth - Beef, Turkey, Chicken and a Mystery unlabeled bag (2)
  • Corn on the cob (1)
  • 8 cups of pumpkin/squash puree (3)
  • Morel mushrooms (1)
  • Okra (1)
  • Cherries (1)
  • 1 gallon bag bursting with rhubarb (3)
  • 8 cups of raspberries (2)
  • 2 12 oz bags of cranberries (3)
  • 3 bananas (3) (Only because I have one son that is allergic and I hate to bake things he can't eat and we aren't really smoothie people at my house
  • 2 TB tomato paste (1)
  • Spices: Ginger, Basil, Thyme (2)
  • Pineapple Cores (2)
  • 1 gallon bag full of Carrot Top Pesto cubes (3)
  • Sorbet (1)
  • Dairy Free Cheesecake (2) (It's not all that tasty)
  • Dairy-Free Ice Cream (2)
  • Butter Braids (2)
  • Caramel Rolls (2)
  • Cinnamon Rolls (1)
  • Cookie Treats (1)
  • Pear Butter (1)
  • Almond Flour (3)
  • 1 Dairy Free Ice Cream Sandwich (1)
  • Ice Cream Sandwiches (1)
  • 3 OJ concentrates (2)
  • Uncrustables (1) - Bought for quick dinners before baseball or snacks between baseball and soccer practice, but the kids would rather have fruit or something else. Only 2 left.
  • Stir Fry Noodle Lunch pack (1)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on June 11, 2018, 11:50:35 AM
@savedough - Here are a couple of ideas for you for the harder ones :
For the squash puree
Mix equal parts greek yogurt and squash puree, plus pumpkin pie spice (or just cinnamon) and a little maple syrup.  This is good for breakfast, bonus points if you have some toasted nuts to sprinkle on it.
Try this recipe for baked pumpkin oatmeal : https://www.katheats.com/peanuts-the-peanut

For the carrot pesto
Try doing a pesto swirl bread in the same way you'd make cinnamon raisin bread.  Just lay the dough out in a rectangle, spread with a thick layer of pesto, roll up and place seam side down in a bread pan.
Brush onto thin potato slices and bake.  This is actually super delicious if you then put these potato slices on a pizza crust, cover with more pesto, and some parmesan cheese.
Chicken pesto pasta - cook a cubed chicken breast and some mushrooms together, toss with cooked penne, pesto sauce, toasted pine nuts, and finish with a chopped tomato. 

Oh, and those pineapple cores?  Put them in a mason jar, cover with vodka, and leave alone for a while.  Excellent in summer cocktails.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 12, 2018, 03:39:40 PM
ETA:  @dividend, yum regarding your pineapple core idea!!!

Pantry:
~A gluten free cake mix and the rest of the confectioners sugar leftover from Christmas baking was used in a thank you cake for a neighbor Saturday
~Used the rest of the sugar free honey (I know, I know) in a vinaigrette for the spinach mentioned below

Freezer:
~The other half of a cooked pork roast will go into enchiladas Thursday
~Munched on a few homemade keto "thin mints" over the weekend.  They're much better frozen than they were freshly baked.
~Going to make curry shrimp next week to use up coconut milk and tomato paste
~Baking pumpkin cookies to use up leftover canned pumpkin

Fridge:
~Had the rest of the baby spinach Saturday.  The fridge is fairly bare, monthly grocery shopping day is coming up soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 12, 2018, 03:46:53 PM
I'm excited about the possibilities of clearing out the fridge. The kids are going to be out of town for three weeks starting on Friday. My husband & I will be in & out & then on vacation (there will be an entirely different fridge to worry about on vacation). As such, my goal is to eat all of the perishables before everyone is done, and not buy anything during this upcoming weekend's typical stock up. I've chatted to my husband. He was uncomfortable. (He loves a full fridge). We'll see where this gets us, and if I can plan ahead enough to make it happen.

What's currently in the fridge:
-About 20 different types of produce. Melons, berries, vegetables, apples, pears, plums, nectarines, etc.
-Dairy (will need to use or freeze)
-Leftovers (will plan to eat before we go)

I love a good fridge clean out!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on June 15, 2018, 09:44:13 AM
Savedough - It's hard to think of things to use cranberries this time of year.  I mix them in with other berries/fruit when making desserts.  So for a cobbler or galette you could use cranberries, raspberries, cherries and maybe rhubarb as a filling.  I think you said you're not a smoothie fan, but if you are cranberries could be used in the mix there also.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on June 15, 2018, 10:46:43 AM
Savedough - It's hard to think of things to use cranberries this time of year.  I mix them in with other berries/fruit when making desserts.  So for a cobbler or galette you could use cranberries, raspberries, cherries and maybe rhubarb as a filling.  I think you said you're not a smoothie fan, but if you are cranberries could be used in the mix there also.

Cranberry granita!  I've had a recipe torn out of a magazine for years and have never tried it--can't find it now or I would type it out here, but here's one from Alton Brown (and there are oodles of others out there on the web):  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/cranberry-granita-recipe-1943855
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on June 15, 2018, 10:50:05 AM
Savedough - It's hard to think of things to use cranberries this time of year.  I mix them in with other berries/fruit when making desserts.  So for a cobbler or galette you could use cranberries, raspberries, cherries and maybe rhubarb as a filling.  I think you said you're not a smoothie fan, but if you are cranberries could be used in the mix there also.

Cranberry granita!  I've had a recipe torn out of a magazine for years and have never tried it--can't find it now or I would type it out here, but here's one from Alton Brown (and there are oodles of others out there on the web):  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/cranberry-granita-recipe-1943855

Or cranberry fool--basically fruit and whipped cream.  Light and summery!  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cranberry-fool

Here's another one from the BBC that uses whole cranberries--you'll have to adjust for this side of the Atlantic for measurements, though: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/896662/cranberry-fools
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on June 15, 2018, 10:58:19 AM
I need some help. I bought ricotta salata because it was on sale and I was sure that I had some recipes for it. I cannot find the recipes I was thinking of.

Suggestions? Otherwise I'll just use it in place of feta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on June 15, 2018, 11:14:10 AM
I've seen ricotta salata in salads (like feta) or in fresh spring vegetable-y pasta dishes. Not sure what else you could do with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on June 16, 2018, 06:05:36 PM
Cranberry muffins are really good. Also cranberry crisp.


Yesterday we used up a pound of ground turkey that had been in the deep freeze for too long for supper - onion, rice, tomato and ground turkey scramble, spiced with my sausage spice recipe. It was a lot more meat than we usually eat at once, but it was good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: bucketsofrain on June 17, 2018, 04:50:14 AM
I need some help. I bought ricotta salata because it was on sale and I was sure that I had some recipes for it. I cannot find the recipes I was thinking of.

Suggestions? Otherwise I'll just use it in place of feta.

Ricotta salata is traditionally served with pasta puttanesca (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11583-pasta-puttanesca (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11583-pasta-puttanesca)) if you like the ingredients in that!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on June 18, 2018, 04:51:54 AM
I need some help. I bought ricotta salata because it was on sale and I was sure that I had some recipes for it. I cannot find the recipes I was thinking of.
Ricotta salata is traditionally served with pasta puttanesca (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11583-pasta-puttanesca (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11583-pasta-puttanesca)) if you like the ingredients in that!

I just restocked on capers, so that's a great idea with some shrimp & zucchini.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nederstash on June 19, 2018, 11:50:03 AM
Finally got my fridge and freezer to the point where I could defrost and deep clean! Aaaah so satisfying. I have some condiments and spinach left, but otherwise it's all empty.
I've put everything on the bottom shelf of the fridge and bottom drawer of the freezer. That way I'll know what I should finish first when I get new groceries.

I just love the sight of an empty fridge. Somewhere, a Depression era grandmother is quaking in her slippers, but I love it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 19, 2018, 12:09:25 PM
@Nederstash - totally agree on the empty fridge! Speaking of, cut up a bunch of produce & froze it for future use, as we are all going out of town. . . box of tomatoes + 6 peaches, half a melon & 1/2 a pineapple.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on July 06, 2018, 09:56:37 AM
I just realized that harvest season is right around the corner (AKA the time when I re-stock the freezer with super-cheap seasonal veggies, plus garden produce if our garden somehow manages to recover from hail/heat/bugs). Meanwhile, after two solid months of hosting guests, mixed with a few other routine-disrupting events, our meal-planning/shopping/cooking habits are absurdly out of whack. So I'm in to try to Eat Up My House (Or At Least the Freezer Contents) in July, en route to getting back on track in general.

Step 1: Take an inventory of the chest freezer so I can start planning meals around whatever is in there
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 06, 2018, 02:43:16 PM
@lentil, good luck!


Poked around the freezer a bit last night and pulled out 2 slices of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, and a container of Budget Byte's Not Refried beans from earlier this year.  DH said it's good he's not on call this weekend.  ;)  I'm at the point where I can actually see part of the freezer basket bottom.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on July 06, 2018, 10:39:13 PM
Thanks MountainGal! Step 1 is complete. My freezer is not quite as horrendous as I thought, and actually heading towards eaten-down (just needs some work to get it ready for autumn additions). I made a list of the contents and stuck it on the fridge door, in hopes that I will remember to check it. Most of the things have an obvious purpose, but there are a few WTF items and antiques in there too.

For dinner today, I used up half a bag of cauliflower, half a bag of grated carrots, half a bag of brussels sprouts, and perhaps a few too many hot peppers...all things that have been hanging around in the freezer for six months or longer. With the addition of various other kitchen staples, plus a ton of spices, it became a pretty decent curry. It's a start, anyway!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 07, 2018, 04:18:54 PM
Defrosted what I thought what chicken curry (surprise - it was a chicken fiesta rice dish) from the freezer yesterday for lunch for myself + the husband. I ate more for lunch today, & have a smallish serving for tomorrow's lunch. It's always good to clear out the freezer!

Now I need to figure out to do with all of the tomatoes I froze before my trip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on July 08, 2018, 04:08:19 PM
Defrosted what I thought what chicken curry (surprise - it was a chicken fiesta rice dish) from the freezer yesterday for lunch for myself + the husband. I ate more for lunch today, & have a smallish serving for tomorrow's lunch. It's always good to clear out the freezer!

Now I need to figure out to do with all of the tomatoes I froze before my trip.

My go-to for frozen tomatoes (I freeze a bunch whole every summer since I get them free at work but don't have time to process them much.) involves dumping them in a pot with a little water and cooking them down for a few hours.  Then you can immersion-blend them and have the basis for tomato sauce or tomato soup.  I find that the skins are fine as long as you blend them up :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 09, 2018, 01:18:14 PM
High fives, @lentil !

Don't you just love surprises, @MaybeBabyMustache ? LOL

@SquashingDebt , soup with fresh tomatoes sounds delicious!


DH had one of two of the leftover pumpkin pie slices.  Said you cannot tell it's 7.5 months old.  Yay freezer utilization!  There's one more serving in this particular Not Refried Bean container.  One more to go in the freezer.  I'll give DH a break, LOL.

Saturday night I made a snack tray for a guest and us using up pantry and fridge odds and ends:  Leftover fancy crackers, pita chips, salami and pepperoni from a weekend excursion, a can of olives, 3 types of cheeses, almonds, and a few other items.  People think I'm fancy when I do these, LOL.

This week's focus is jarred sauces.  A jar of Ragu meat is in the Crock Pot with a $5 pork roast.  I'll serve it tonight over angel hair or a hamburger bun for DH, baby spinach for me.  Later this week I'm making chicken Alfredo with Ragu Classic Alfredo sauce.  I'll serve it on top of zoodles.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 26, 2018, 06:10:05 PM
@MountainGal - you'd think I'd learn to label, after multiple surprises, but . . . nope ;-)

I've found a reasonable rhythm for menu planning. We've always done "cook on weekends, eat leftovers" during the work week. That works well, but we typically run out by Thursday. What I've started to do on Thursdays is to consider it my eat down single servings from the fridge/freezer, or other random freezer items day.

Here's our menu from the week:
Friday - naan pizzas
Saturday - grilled hot dogs & corn
Sunday - beef kebabs & rice
Monday - leftover pizza
Tuesday - leftover hot dogs & corn, with an addition of side pasta
Wednesday - leftover kebabs & rice
Thursday - kids will have hot dogs & pasta, my husband will have kebabs & rice, and I'll have eggplant cutlets from the freezer + the remaining rice.That should pretty much clear out the fridge
Friday - I'm thinking tacos, but will start a fresh cycle of meal prep
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 29, 2018, 05:08:32 PM
Defrosted what I thought what chicken curry (surprise - it was a chicken fiesta rice dish) from the freezer yesterday for lunch for myself + the husband. I ate more for lunch today, & have a smallish serving for tomorrow's lunch. It's always good to clear out the freezer!

Now I need to figure out to do with all of the tomatoes I froze before my trip.

My go-to for frozen tomatoes (I freeze a bunch whole every summer since I get them free at work but don't have time to process them much.) involves dumping them in a pot with a little water and cooking them down for a few hours.  Then you can immersion-blend them and have the basis for tomato sauce or tomato soup.  I find that the skins are fine as long as you blend them up :)

I used the frozen tomatoes (plus a couple that I'd cut last night for a barbecue but didn't end up using) in this recipe. It's one of my favorites. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/19376/fresh-tomato-basil-sauce/
We had everything on hand, & I have SO MUCH basil, so it worked well. We now have 2L of tomatoes sauce in the freezer, ready for future dinners.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on July 29, 2018, 07:47:56 PM
I have a ton of extra stuff in my pantry due to combining two households. Going to try and do some baking to get rid of the extra flour, sugar, etc. And not do many groceries so we can finish up the rice, pasta, dry goods that we have way too much of now. Only groceries will be fresh fruits and veggies. Any ideas for somewhat healthy recipes that use up baking supplies? I don't want to eat a million cookies, and there's only so many people I can pass them off to.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 30, 2018, 09:44:46 AM
@PoutineLover - how about muffins? You can adapt the healthiness quotient as you like. My two top favorites are http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-cranberry-muffins & http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sugar-spot-banana-muffins. For the banana muffins, there is no butter, and I often sub oatmeal for the wheat germ. I bake large batches of muffins at a time, and then freeze for future use. These are a little sweeter, but I find these granola bars to be quite flexible to use up random ingredients around the house. https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2016/04/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-granola-bars/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on July 30, 2018, 11:06:20 AM
Those are great ideas, thanks @MaybeBabyMustache! Muffins would make great breakfasts and snacks on the go. My freezer doesn't work great, so I'll have to see if they're still good if I do that, but I could probably make a batch a week or so if not.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 30, 2018, 12:57:41 PM
@PoutineLover , zucchini bread comes to mind.  If I remember correctly, the recipe I used to follow (I'm a low carber now) uses several cups of flour.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on July 30, 2018, 01:04:12 PM
Zucchini bread sounds tasty and healthy @MountainGal! From a quick google search just found this recipe that looks easy: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/6698/moms-zucchini-bread/
3 cups of flour! And I can probably mix whole wheat and white. Luckily I'm also having a bunch of guests this weekend so they can help me make and eat all this good stuff. Plus I've been meaning to get more into meal planning so this will add to my repertoire of tasty recipes that will keep me fed all week. Keep the good ideas coming!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 30, 2018, 01:10:46 PM
Thumbs up, @PoutineLover !! :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on July 31, 2018, 10:46:53 PM
I have a ton of extra stuff in my pantry due to combining two households. Going to try and do some baking to get rid of the extra flour, sugar, etc. And not do many groceries so we can finish up the rice, pasta, dry goods that we have way too much of now. Only groceries will be fresh fruits and veggies. Any ideas for somewhat healthy recipes that use up baking supplies? I don't want to eat a million cookies, and there's only so many people I can pass them off to.

It doesn't help much on the sweeteners, but what about using some of the other ingredients in main dishes? Cornmeal can go in polenta or a tamale pie, or cornbread to serve with a summer salad. Flour can go in dumplings or a biscuit topping on a pie, or in a quiche crust. Also, if you want to get through a lot of sugar quickly, candy might use it faster than baking. Obviously that's not at all healthy, but it would give you fewer batches of things that need to be given away and the bonus is that you don't have to heat the oven, just a burner on top of the stove. (If you don't have AC, that might need to wait until a little bit cooler weather.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on August 05, 2018, 04:27:23 AM
Finished up the container of tamarind paste making pulled pork yesterday (tamarind, gochujang, soy, ginger, lemon/honey 'tea base' - which is really a marmalade, and stock). From now on I'm just going to process the blocks - more work, but much better flavour.

Finished up the garlic-horseradish jelly with my steak last night. This stuff is so good (https://www.foodiepages.ca/The_Garlic_Box_Inc/p/Horseradish_Garlic_Jelly), but with the SO mostly low carb, it isn't reasonable to keep it in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Astatine on August 05, 2018, 04:51:17 AM
We’re getting renovations done starting in 7 days. Eek!

Tonight’s dinner wasn’t the best but did use up 3 tins of food and some veggies.

Ingredients
Tin of eggplant and tomato
Tin of cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained
Tin of tuna in spring water, drained
1 Small head of broccoli, cut into small florets, steamed in the microwave
1/2 red onion thinly diced

Mixed together with some cracked black pepper and a tiny splash of balsamic vinegar.

It was edible but not great. Would not recommend unless desperate :p
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 06, 2018, 12:38:07 PM
Used up lately:

Spaghetti squash served under a jar of pesto and canned chicken
Strawberries frozen last month
A bag of almond flour
A remaining half bag of shrimp
Leftover cauliflower and cheese, black olives, cream cheese

Working on the rest of the baby spinach and some sad looking cherry tomatoes
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: ToniaB on August 19, 2018, 09:39:51 PM
This is such a cool challenge! I'm excited to give it a try! Things I used up today:

Tuna Pasta Salad:
- a bag of pasta
- 3 cans of tuna

Trail Mix Cookies
- Frozen Bananas
- Chia Seeds
- Honey
- Trail Mix left over from camping

I found some simple recipes for bread on pinterest I'm going to try out! I have a lot of flour to use up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on August 20, 2018, 08:36:30 AM
Zucchini bread turned out awesome! Definitely something I'll do again, it was great to have as breakfast. Considering doing muffins next time to make it even simpler to eat on the go. Making progress on the pantry, and my birthday is coming up so I can make a cake for that :) Soon I'll have only one bag/box/bottle of each item..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 20, 2018, 01:05:09 PM
Welcome, @ToniaB !!!

Glad it did, @PoutineLover !

DH began harvesting our first garden at the new house a few weeks ago, so I've been trying to utilize the fresh produce.  Also, we traded a yellow squash and an eggplant for some of our neighbor's green beans and beets.  So far, I've made:

Sauteed smoked sausage and yellow squash
Fried eggplant breaded in pork rinds and Parmesan cheese
Beet puree under boneless pork chops
Sauteed yellow squash and baby spinach (the latter from the store, not garden) under bison and ground beef burger patties
Cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, shredded mozzarella and basil
Green beans cooked with a few slices bacon

Tonight is shredded beef roast on top of sauteed yellow squash and spinach.  The roast is in the Crock Pot with a can of enchilada sauce and 1/2 box low sodium beef broth.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dee_the_third on August 24, 2018, 06:55:54 PM
People, halp

A few months ago DH and I went camping for a few days, and in a burst of enthusiasm for dehydrating food to bring along I dehydrated...bananas.

What do I do with them?? They're not crunchy for snacking like banana chips, they're kind of weird textured and I don't know what I was thinking. I should have just frozen them and used them for banana bread like I usually do, ugh
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 24, 2018, 07:21:55 PM
What do I do with them?? They're not crunchy for snacking like banana chips, they're kind of weird textured and I don't know what I was thinking. I should have just frozen them and used them for banana bread like I usually do, ugh

What happens if you try to rehydrate them? Maybe you could soak them in something flavorful (rum?) and then bake with them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on August 25, 2018, 11:48:12 AM
chop up, rehydrate, put into a pan with some peaches or apples and a bit of butter, cinnamon? (This is assuming that they're somewhat raisin-like in texture.)

That could be a topper for oatmeal or yogurt?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 25, 2018, 03:51:50 PM
I have joined up with a cookbook book group (we all cook the recipes from one book and compare notes) which is lots of fun, but the downside is you end up with a lot of weird ingredient leftovers.

The kitchen was starting to overflow, but I have been making some headway over the last few weeks:

A bunch of peaches and a random nectarine that were too far gone to eat fresh are going into a batch of peach lemonade.

Turns out that pita bread that I left in the refrigerator with the bag open and got totally dried out is good crumbled over a green salad with vinaigrette.

Used up a packet of flavored tuna in one of said salads.

Used up the end of a box of pasta to finish up a batch of meatballs and pasta sauce (originally made for something else.)

Used up the end of a bag of quinoa paired with leftovers of a batch of ratatouille, to make up work lunches.

Made a batch of peanut butter Rice Krispie squares to use up the box of cereal.

Defrosted barbecue chicken and put it over corn cakes that didn't quite turn out right.

Next project:

Make a batch of watermelon gazpacho to use up a not-great watermelon I got hold of.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on August 25, 2018, 04:11:21 PM
Another jar from last year's laksa experiment is finished. The next jar has a best before Sept 2018, but is also more a sauce than paste, so there are fewer servings in it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: frugi on August 26, 2018, 07:54:40 AM
I have way too much food in the house for a family of 3, so I'm joining you here!    My immediate goal is to skip grocery shopping this week.  My longer-term goals are to reduce food waste, grocery spending and to empty out my chest freezer so I can defrost it.  This is what we're having for dinners this coming week:

M- Chicken thighs, cauliflower, and mushrooms in tikka masala simmer sauce with brown basmati rice and yogurt
T- Tacos w/ground beef and black beans, hard shells/low carb tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa
W- Turkey Bolognese with whole wheat macaroni, green beans
Th- Grilled shrimp* with quinoa, stir-fry veggies
F- Pizzas from frozen whole wheat crust kits, topped with turkey pepperoni, veggies, pesto, etc.
Sa- Frozen potstickers, stir-fry veggies
Su- Breakfast for dinner, including turkey sausage, eggs and pancakes
M (Labor Day)- grilled ribeye with chimichurri, Russian salad with beets, annnd I'll probably have some more zucchini and tomatoes from my neighbor to consume as well

We'll see how it goes!
*https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/mark-bittmans-spicy-grilled-shrimp
  This recipe is awesome.  I use smoked paprika, of which I have plenty to use!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on August 26, 2018, 05:28:43 PM
I have way too much food in the house for a family of 3, so I'm joining you here!    My immediate goal is to skip grocery shopping this week.  My longer-term goals are to reduce food waste, grocery spending and to empty out my chest freezer so I can defrost it.  This is what we're having for dinners this coming week:

M- Chicken thighs, cauliflower, and mushrooms in tikka masala simmer sauce with brown basmati rice and yogurt
T- Tacos w/ground beef and black beans, hard shells/low carb tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa
W- Turkey Bolognese with whole wheat macaroni, green beans
Th- Grilled shrimp* with quinoa, stir-fry veggies
F- Pizzas from frozen whole wheat crust kits, topped with turkey pepperoni, veggies, pesto, etc.
Sa- Frozen potstickers, stir-fry veggies
Su- Breakfast for dinner, including turkey sausage, eggs and pancakes
M (Labor Day)- grilled ribeye with chimichurri, Russian salad with beets, annnd I'll probably have some more zucchini and tomatoes from my neighbor to consume as well
Welcome!  You've got quite a menu for the next week!

I used a few items from my pantry to make overnight oats--can of coconut milk, oatmeal, peanut butter, dates, and cinnamon.
I made lunches for the beginning of the week using items from the pantry and freezer--brown rice, frozen chicken breasts, 2 cans of water chestnuts, peanuts, and a sauce package. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 27, 2018, 12:48:26 PM
After reviewing my Excel spreadsheet, I must say I am disappointed by the Grocery/HBA category.  My goal is to spend just $200 on groceries next month.  We'll see!  Starting in 2019, I'm going to break down the categories to see just how much we spend on food vs paper/cleaning supplies vs HBAs.

Lately:
~Used a can of coconut milk in a package of free Alfredo rice.  DH finished the rest of it last night.
~Used up the rest of the blueberries in a mug muffin yesterday for breakfast, and in my cocktail last night.  ;)
~Some unsweetened cocoa powder went in my homemade iced java mocha yesterday.
~Continuing to use produce from DH's garden as he harvests it, so it doesn't go to waste.
~Last week's beef roast made 6 servings including enchiladas, which I microwaved for the first time since I'm not operating the oven this summer.
~Made my own tartar sauce and fry sauce instead of buying condiments, saving on landfill waste.

Tonight I'll take a look at the 1/3 bag of baby spinach to see if it's salvageable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on August 27, 2018, 01:16:40 PM
We're planning to defrost the fridge, which seems to collect water every few years when it needs to be defrosted.  Today we had frozen chicken curry, rice and a buffalo mozzarella ball that expires tomorrow for dinner as well as a salad made with various things that need eating.  Tomorrow we'll eat some ground beef that needs to be eaten and later in the week some frozen fish filets and frozen peas.  We also need to get rid of some frozen spinach, some home made ice cream, some soup and various odds and ends like cheese and fresh veggies.  I'm aiming to the defrosting over the weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on August 28, 2018, 08:21:06 PM
I made dinner from stuff we had in the house again--rice, frozen broccoli, and frozen chicken breasts. 

I also made some granola bars (http://minimalistbaker.com/healthy-5-ingredient-granola-bars) with items in the pantry.  I used up two almost empty containers of honey. 

I've been doing a great job at cleaning out our freezer and pantry.  I supplement the pantry items with free produce from my friends' gardens.  We've been eating a lot of tomatoes and zucchini!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 29, 2018, 11:17:02 AM
Fresh produce is the best, @4alpacas !

Good luck with the fridge, @Hula Hoop !

As I mentioned Monday, this week's focus has been on the spinach:
Mon:  Served some underneath leftover chicken enchilada casserole
Tues:  Brought a BST (bacon, spinach and cherry tomatoes from DH's garden) salad to work
Today:  I'll have the rest of it in another salad using leftover spicy ground beef topped with sour cream

Next focus:  Going to experiment with the stash of caffeine containing tea (blueberry acai to start with) to make iced tea for work in lieu of coffee.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 29, 2018, 05:00:01 PM
I came home from a long weekend (the kids & husband were at home) & cleaned the fridge & inventoried for food options. We've avoided eating out/take out so far. Tonight we will eat pasta + chicken (freezer). Tomorrow I will defrost a chicken curry.

One of my goals for Monday (day off!) is to go through our fridge & freezer to get a sense for what we have, and work on a  menu plan for the next few weeks that will help empty things out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 04, 2018, 04:51:07 AM
Today I used up the last of the pasta that was left in the house when the SO went low carb and I didn't want to give the food bank expired goods. Today's lunch includes spaghetti that was best before Nov 2014.

Now what do I do with that plastic container that is the perfect size for holding dried noodles?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on September 10, 2018, 02:24:56 PM
Just discovered I'll be moving in late October, so time to reduce grocery expenses AND the amount of food to move! Anyone got a vegetarian recipe for dry white beans?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: firelight on September 10, 2018, 03:30:10 PM
Thanks to this thread, we've been pretty good at eating down our pantry and groceries that we are not wasting as much now. However, of late, we've run into circumstances where we don't have much to eat at home but are raving of hunger. How do you find the sweet spot? Also what is the ideal number of backup meals that you would have at home? And how do you make sure you cycle through them so they are not super old when you do need them?

If it matters, we are a family of four (2 adults, a four year old and a one year old).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 10, 2018, 05:51:56 PM
However, of late, we've run into circumstances where we don't have much to eat at home but are raving of hunger. How do you find the sweet spot? Also what is the ideal number of backup meals that you would have at home? And how do you make sure you cycle through them so they are not super old when you do need them?

We have soup and 1 cup portions of meat in the freezer which can be defrosted pretty quickly. There are always eggs and cheese in the fridge. Before we went lower carb, we used to keep 2 quesadillas in the freezer, which just took 12 minutes to cook.

Menu planning is a big help to remind us to defrost things for when we get home. And we're not above having a quick handful of nuts or cereal to tide us over.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 10, 2018, 07:10:33 PM
Thanks to this thread, we've been pretty good at eating down our pantry and groceries that we are not wasting as much now. However, of late, we've run into circumstances where we don't have much to eat at home but are raving of hunger. How do you find the sweet spot? Also what is the ideal number of backup meals that you would have at home? And how do you make sure you cycle through them so they are not super old when you do need them?

If it matters, we are a family of four (2 adults, a four year old and a one year old).

We usually have the following "emergency" meals available:
-Frozen pizza
-Frozen meat (taco meat, grilled chicken)
-Tortillas (for a quick taco meal)
-Pasta
-Homemade tomato sauce (freezer)
-Homemade pesto (freezer)
-Costco meatballs (freezer)

In a pinch, we could also make breakfast sandwiches, breakfast tacos, etc. Lots of quick & easy options that are always at the ready for a packed day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 10, 2018, 09:50:51 PM
@firelight We keep frozen prepared meals around for the time when we have no creativity to put together a meal from ingredients and are REALLY hungry.  I'm a big fan of evol mac & cheese. Cheesey & comforting.  My DH likes pork buns from Trader Joe's. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: firelight on September 10, 2018, 11:40:24 PM
Thank you so much. Do you rotate the meals you have in freezer? Or do they stay good enough even after months in the freezer?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on September 11, 2018, 10:52:12 AM
Just discovered I'll be moving in late October, so time to reduce grocery expenses AND the amount of food to move! Anyone got a vegetarian recipe for dry white beans?

http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/rosemary-white-bean-soup. -- switch to veggie broth
https://www.budgetbytes.com/tuscan-white-bean-pasta/
https://www.budgetbytes.com/smoky-white-bean-shakshuka/


I typically use this to covert dry beans to can bean equivalents.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/dried-bean-conversions-and-measurements-1388322
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 11, 2018, 12:51:23 PM
Because we went camping, I didn't get to the eggplant from DH's garden last week and had to toss it.  Boo.  Oh, well, he picked another last night which I'll cook tomorrow.

Items used up from the freezer the past several weeks:
~Beef sausage
~Bag of frozen, breaded okra
~Package of Nathan's dogs
~Made a funky low carb Crock Pot "lasagna" last week which used a package of ground pork, a can of chicken, a package of frozen spinach, the rest of the cottage cheese, the majority of the mozzarella, a jar of Alfredo sauce, and a few other items.  DH said it was good.
~1/2 container of cashew milk ice cream  ;)
~Tonight:  A container of leftover traditional low carb lasagna from July
~Tomorrow night: Pork roast
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 11, 2018, 08:44:50 PM
Thank you so much. Do you rotate the meals you have in freezer? Or do they stay good enough even after months in the freezer?

We typically don't rotate. I may pick up a few Trader Joes frozen entree options & have a variety of those available in rotation. But, with the items mentioned above, those are our top favorites & we have them regularly. We keep them in the freezer for maybe 3 months max, but mostly because we rotate through them before then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on September 11, 2018, 10:25:30 PM
Had a really good eat down the pantry dinner - a few homemade frozen burritos popped in a pan with the last jar of last year's green tomato sauce, which made for some tasty pseudo-enchiladas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: iris lily on September 12, 2018, 10:37:16 AM
This is the time of excess garden  produce. There is no freekin way I will be “ Eating all the foods in the house.” Much will be composted. Our own stuff, and then our friend has buckets and buckets of pears and she drops of some to us.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nederstash on September 12, 2018, 01:41:28 PM
This is the time of excess garden  produce. There is no freekin way I will be “ Eating all the foods in the house.” Much will be composted. Our own stuff, and then our friend has buckets and buckets of pears and she drops of some to us.

I got a bag of pears as well! I don't want that many pears! But they were going to waste if I didn't take them... and they were free. Argh! Mustachian dilemma. I'll take some into work I guess.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on September 12, 2018, 01:57:54 PM
This is the time of excess garden  produce. There is no freekin way I will be “ Eating all the foods in the house.” Much will be composted. Our own stuff, and then our friend has buckets and buckets of pears and she drops of some to us.

I got a bag of pears as well! I don't want that many pears! But they were going to waste if I didn't take them... and they were free. Argh! Mustachian dilemma. I'll take some into work I guess.
I love pears!

We have a few fruit trees, so I always share our excess with friends, coworkers, and neighbors.  My favorite part of the sharing is that sometimes we're gifted a delightful treat. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 14, 2018, 12:52:38 PM
I tossed in a half box of broth, a can of chipotle peppers, and a jar of homemade plum preserves from last year in with the pork roast Wednesday.

Last night we used up a bag of shrimp, a yellow squash from DH's garden, and the rest of the salad mix given to us by a friend while camping last weekend.

The pantry is now back to where I can see the back of it, and I can see the bottom of the freezer drawers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on September 15, 2018, 03:37:41 PM
For all those with excess pears, two words:  PEAR PRESERVES.  My grandmother made these every year and I have SUCH good memories surrounding the making and eating of this wonderful stuff.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 15, 2018, 06:42:33 PM
We made lunch out of leftovers, so our leftover area in the fridge is looking cleared out. I'm planning to make butternut squash soup tomorrow, and I think I have a small bag of frozen butternut squash. I'll add it to the package I bought today & double up my recipe, making one batch for the freezer & one for dinners this week.

I also defrosted chicken & dumplings yesterday, and had one serving for lunch immediately, and one today.

For dinner tonight, we're having burgers from the freezer.

When my husband is out of town, we do well at eating down the freezer/fridge. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on September 16, 2018, 08:27:10 AM
For all those with excess pears, two words:  PEAR PRESERVES.  My grandmother made these every year and I have SUCH good memories surrounding the making and eating of this wonderful stuff.  :)

And pear sauce!  Just like apple sauce. Growing up we ate applesauce with almost every meal. Mom would put a few pears in each batch instead of sugar but apples were practically free while pears were expensive.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on September 16, 2018, 09:40:14 AM
. Somewhere, a Depression era grandmother is quaking in her slippers, but I love it!


That made me laugh out . So funny  😂😝
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on September 16, 2018, 05:13:53 PM
For all those with excess pears, two words:  PEAR PRESERVES.  My grandmother made these every year and I have SUCH good memories surrounding the making and eating of this wonderful stuff.  :)


Oooh, if you want to splurge on vanilla beans, this is my all-time favorite jam:  http://foodinjars.com/2011/02/pear-vanilla-jam/

SO GOOD.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on September 16, 2018, 06:42:07 PM
Oooh, if you want to splurge on vanilla beans, this is my all-time favorite jam:  http://foodinjars.com/2011/02/pear-vanilla-jam/

SO GOOD.

This looks AMAZING--and in the spirit of this thread, I actually have a couple of vanilla beans in my pantry that I need to use up.  I think I have a project for next weekend (assuming I can find some good pears)!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: OtherJen on September 16, 2018, 07:27:35 PM
I really need to do this. Our freezer is packed.

We did grill our last two pieces of frozen salmon for fish tacos in honor of Mexican Independence Day. I’m hoping it will cool off soon, because a batch of beef vegetable soup will take care of a pound of frozen beef and a bunch of frozen veggies.

The pear-vanilla jam looks amazing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on September 17, 2018, 05:38:32 AM
Oooh, if you want to splurge on vanilla beans, this is my all-time favorite jam:  http://foodinjars.com/2011/02/pear-vanilla-jam/

SO GOOD.

This looks AMAZING--and in the spirit of this thread, I actually have a couple of vanilla beans in my pantry that I need to use up.  I think I have a project for next weekend (assuming I can find some good pears)!  :)


Nice!  One word of warning - I had a very sad incident once when I used my immersion blender as suggested in the recipe - the jam was so hot that it melted the (plastic) immersion blender!  I ended up throwing out that batch of jam because it didn't seem quite safe to eat.  And buying a stainless steel immersion blender, haha.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on September 22, 2018, 09:23:16 PM
My freezer is already looking SO much better - a batch of soup really cleared out some miscellaneous veggies and broth.

This week's win was a vegetarian shepherd's pie using some lentils, some leftover cooked pintos, and some powdered potatoes. Fed us for three days. Thawing out a package of baby back ribs to throw in the crockpot tomorrow.

@iris lily, pear ginger jam is also really good - any combination of candied ginger, powdered ginger, and/or fresh ginger!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 24, 2018, 01:27:13 PM
I need to start working through our freezer & pantry over the next few weeks. Everything is way too crowded, and it's hard to find things. I hate it when it gets like that. I should instead be grateful for the abundance, perhaps. :-)

This weekend, I plan to make a double batch of butternut squash soup with goat cheese crostini. That will use up a loaf of bread (freezer), a package of goat cheese (fridge) and 1/2 of the squash (freezer). I'll freeze the rest for a second meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 24, 2018, 01:30:57 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache , that sounds delicious!

Last week:
~Last weekend the rest of the flour and granulated sugar was used up for fritters with apples our neighbors gave us.
~A jar of cherries went into the Crock Pot with chicken breasts.
This past weekend:
~We ate cherry tomatoes from DH's garden with several meals.  There are still so many left!
~Shredded and chopped (yay food processor) about 40 cups of zucchini from a neighbor's garden for our freezer and friends.
~Used up the rest of the green beans from a different neighbor's garden.
~Indulged in half of the BD cake leftover from Feb.
~Per my request, DH planted basil earlier this year and there is now so.much.basil.  Found a doable pesto recipe online to resolve that soon.
~Wed. I'll use up the chicken drumsticks bought several months ago on sale.
~Tonight will be the rest of the Budget Bytes Not Refried Beans from April.
~Ate some aging celery and cucumber for lunch today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 24, 2018, 01:56:34 PM
@MountainGal - ooh, it's delicious & easy. I'll post recipes. The goat cheese crostini is by far my favorite winter/fall appetizer. We top ours with thinly sliced cucumber or pomegranate seeds, but it's also good plain. https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/goat-cheese-crostini

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on September 24, 2018, 02:11:29 PM
My goal is to eat everything out of my deep freezer in October, so I can defrost it! Also, I had surgery this month, so my income is almost non-existant, so the eat the freezer will coincide with a less than $100 grocery month. It makes me anxious to think about an empty freezer, but I tend to hoard sale food, so I think it's healthy to clear it out once or twice a year, haha!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on September 24, 2018, 03:13:45 PM
Any ideas to use up a chuck roast in a way that's healthy/vegetable-centric? I've been struggling to come up with a recipe that isn't really meat-centric or meat-with-carbs. Partly because I'd like to make the meat go a lot farther, and partly for health reasons.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on September 24, 2018, 03:24:04 PM
Any ideas to use up a chuck roast in a way that's healthy/vegetable-centric? I've been struggling to come up with a recipe that isn't really meat-centric or meat-with-carbs. Partly because I'd like to make the meat go a lot farther, and partly for health reasons.

I would just take the chuck roast, and cube it up into about 1-2 inch chunks, brown it with onions, and use it to make a yummy beef and vegetable soup! You could throw in tomatoes, carrots, celery, zucchini, rutabaga, green beans, corn, etc...it would stretch the roast to a ton of meals, and add a lot of veggie/broth bulk to the meal to make it more well rounded!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on September 24, 2018, 03:36:58 PM
Any ideas to use up a chuck roast in a way that's healthy/vegetable-centric? I've been struggling to come up with a recipe that isn't really meat-centric or meat-with-carbs. Partly because I'd like to make the meat go a lot farther, and partly for health reasons.

I would just take the chuck roast, and cube it up into about 1-2 inch chunks, brown it with onions, and use it to make a yummy beef and vegetable soup! You could throw in tomatoes, carrots, celery, zucchini, rutabaga, green beans, corn, etc...it would stretch the roast to a ton of meals, and add a lot of veggie/broth bulk to the meal to make it more well rounded!

Oh, that sounds good! I never made anything like that before. I could do something like a minestrone with beef instead of beans. Thanks for the idea :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on September 24, 2018, 07:12:45 PM
Do what I did today with some leftover (cooked) ribs! Chopped them up and added them to a cabbage taco salad - peppers, tomatoes, the shredded meat, shredded cheese, and salsa for dressing. Crushed tortilla chip on top optional. Yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 25, 2018, 09:38:49 AM
@MountainGal - ooh, it's delicious & easy. I'll post recipes. The goat cheese crostini is by far my favorite winter/fall appetizer. We top ours with thinly sliced cucumber or pomegranate seeds, but it's also good plain. https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/goat-cheese-crostini

Yum!  Thank you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 25, 2018, 09:45:11 AM
Eating leftovers from the freezer in an effort to clear it out for fall and winter baking and stockpiling.  I have enchiladas with no tortillas (I'm a low carber) for lunch today, and DH will have chicken and rice for tomorrow's lunch.  He just doesn't know it yet, LOL.

Next up to work with is 3 slices of leftover pork tenderloin.  (I think?  I didn't label it in my haste to toss it in the freezer on our way out of town earlier this year.  Didn't want it to go to waste during our absence.)  I might thaw it, then simmer it in some sort of sauce in case it's tough.  We'll see.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 30, 2018, 02:45:09 PM
I've been on a mission over the past few days, using up a ton of fridge/freezer items:
-Naan bread into pizzas, using lots of bits & bobs from the fridge & the last of cheese & tomato sauces
-Made butternut squash soup & goat cheese risotto (all from items around the house, plus tossed in celery, as it was in the crisper)
-Made jalapeno/cilantro hummus. Jalapenos from the garden, but did have to buy the cilantro for $.59. Have another recipe tonight that will use the rest of the cilantro
-Came home from a long run & was starving so ate Dino Nuggets from the freezer. Sometimes, you need something bland & easy. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: pbkmaine on September 30, 2018, 04:08:13 PM
I have a ton of lemongrass growing in my yard. Does anyone have good recipes?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: plainjane on September 30, 2018, 06:04:49 PM
finished the ginger-honey vinegar dressing/marinade thing I had picked up for 50% off a while back. It worked well simmered with onions and apples and a bit of soy, served with grilled heritage pork medallions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 30, 2018, 09:07:31 PM
@pbkmaine - I haven't made it myself, but love lemongrass chicken. Maybe something like this? https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/241607/vietnamese-grilled-lemongrass-chicken/

Our 12 year old cooked tonight (I supervised) & he used some leftover cilantro & made Dragon Noodles. SO.Good. https://www.budgetbytes.com/spicy-noodles/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 02, 2018, 02:01:17 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache , how cool your son is helping with meal preparation! 


Lately:
~2 packages of deeply discounted chicken drumsticks went into the Crock Pot with leftover coconut milk, broth and spices.
~Chicken breasts, taco seasoning, honey (it's almost gone, yay!), and broth was last night's slow cooker meal.  Served it in LC tortillas with cheese and sour cream.
~So many tomatoes are still being harvested from our garden!  DH took a large bag to work today for co-workers, and I'll freeze a tray tonight.
~Tomorrow I'll cook up a package of pork chops bought BOGO a few months ago.
~Currently eating a salad which has used up almost all of the salami bought last month, and some of those never-ending tomatoes, LOL.
~This weekend I'll use up some dry beans by making Budget Bytes Not Refried beans.

I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again:  I love this thread.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 02, 2018, 04:51:09 PM
I'm with you @MountainGal - love it!!! It always reminds me to use up what we have, & find creative solutions for the things that linger in our fridge/freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 03, 2018, 10:16:28 AM
Exactly, @MaybeBabyMustache !

As mentioned, I froze the tomatoes last night.  What a simple process!

For dinner I made salmon bought on sale, and cooked it in a honey and soy sauce glaze which used both of them up. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FamilyGuy on October 03, 2018, 11:16:16 AM
Ohmygod. Thinking about this challenge. I have to make an inventory of all the things in my refrigerator and pantry and start doing this. I think I'll cry.

Yesterday I saw 2 lemons on the side of the refrigerator- may be a month old or more than that. 
I made a delicious Indian lemon rice with it...enough for my dinner & lunch. Had salmon fry as side and it was heaven.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 04, 2018, 09:18:52 AM
I thought I'd defrost taco meat for dinner tonight, but realized we didn't have any (sidenote: need to prep more), so I'll be getting creative again. I'm thinking that we'll have the beef tips sauce my mom made & froze in August, over pasta. I have one child that won't eat that, so he'll need something different. I think I'll defrost a leftover burger for him, with . . . pasta. His universal first choice of eating.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 04, 2018, 12:12:39 PM
I'm eating down the random food that we've acquired while my DH is away.  I had a lovely tomato, fresh mozzarella, and pesto salad last night.  I also packed a few random leftovers in a container for lunch today--cauliflower, black beans, chicken, quinoa, and a little salsa. 

I tossed a few bananas in the freezer before they started molding.  I will make banana bread soon. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 05, 2018, 01:02:27 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache , I'm with your kiddo-yay pasta!

@4alpacas , that salad sounds really good!


Today is clean out the office mini fridge day.  I"m currently having leftover green beans, celery, cream cheese, a few berries and 2 deli turkey slices for lunch.  I didn't get to the pork chop, so I'll bring it back home.

Happy weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on October 05, 2018, 03:20:14 PM
We have a big grocery order coming tomorrow afternoon, but I thought I'd cook up a few things today to use up a few things.

Banana muffins--used up sugar, bananas in freezer, one container of cinnamon (still have another)
Wheat Rotini with chicken, spinach, and pesto--Used up half empty box of rotini, all of the chicken in the freezer, and spinach from the freezer
Loaf of bread
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on November 11, 2018, 11:35:12 AM
We still have quite a bit of prepared food that needs to be revamped & used up and we've been resorting to restaurants on Fridays, hoping I can get better if I have to own up. 

Besides what is already in our pantry to use up we have the following in our freezer - (DH had several food shows in Sept/Oct and due to hurricanes and other reasons had poor turnout.  He brings everything home, most food show vendors just throw leftovers out) - 3 packages jerk pork, 3 packages corn casserole, 3 packages chicken and corn casserole, 13 mini meatloaves, 2 packages (1lb ea) sloppy joe mix, 1 package turkey meat.  This is about 1/4 of what we started off with, but we're experiencing recipe fatigue.  Any ideas on repurposing would be welcome. 

Sun - steaks, asparagus and onions on grill
Mon - posole (made Sun from 1 package jerk pork and 1 package corn casserole), salad
Tues - spinach and cheese stuffed portobello mushrooms, grilled chicken, salad
Wed - teen end of season sports banquet
Thurs - chicken, corn and broccoli casserole (add broccoli to chicken and corn casserole)
Fri - stroganoff (made from mini meatloaves), salad or other veg
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 11, 2018, 12:17:06 PM
We are heading out of town on Thursday, so we need to eat wisely over the next few days.

-I roasted potatoes yesterday that looked like they would go off before we got back. We had leftovers from that, so I browned them up with a couple of eggs for lunch.
-I bought a larger can of pumpkin yesterday for pumpkin bread. The large can was cheaper than the small can, 1/2 its size. I made muffins for the freezer with the remaining pumpkin today.
-The boys (11 & 12) are in charge of dinner tonight. This is to help with some of the cooking fatigue I have, but mostly because everyone (minus me) in my family is picky, and cooking to accommodate everyone can be very annoying. I helped them prep pizza dough in the bread maker, and they will be using the dough to make calzones tonight. That will use up pepperoni, red sauce, pesto & some cheese we have in the house.
-We will be eating leftovers for the rest of the week
-I'm gifting a loaf of pumpkin bread to a friend who is having my youngest over today for a play date. (No outdoor activities due to the smoke, & the kids are stir crazy.) I'll send the rest of the other bread (pumpkin chocolate chip) in school lunches
-And, before we leave for the airport, I'll get up at the crack of dawn & bake a pizza to take with us on the plane. No food places will be open (early flight) & the flight goes over lunch. I'll pack any other odds & ends in the fridge to take with us.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 11, 2018, 09:00:33 PM
I need to get back to this. A few too many trips to Trader Joe's (so many things to try!) plus some cooking experiments that led to weird bits and pieces left over mean the refrigerator/freezer/pantry are overflowing.

So far:

Roasted potatoes and tossed with the end of a container of spicy green sauce

Made a berry compote to use up berries that were going bad, plus a few strawberries from the freezer

Frankenstein-ed a lunch together for work that involved leftover pasta, frozen meatballs, leftover marinara, and the end of a bag of shredded cheese.

Tossed the last cup of coconut milk into the squash soup I was making
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 12, 2018, 02:01:48 PM
Now that cold weather is here, I've been using the oven again.

Last weekend:
2 cups shredded zucchini went into zucc bread
Last Nov leftover's leftover pumpkin was used in brownies, along with 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Blueberries and 2 containers cream cheese went into cheesecake
Used up a wedge of mozzarella into low carb cinnamon rolls

This past weekend:
Ate a package of cauliflower with cheese
A package of plain cauliflower made "tater tots"
DH smoked a pork tenderloin bought on sale a few months ago
Ate half the container of sliced zucchini from a neighbor's harvest this summer, frozen a month ago
Thawed a bagel purchased at the big city franchise a few months ago which I then froze because we couldn't get to the all of them.  Wrapped it up in a wet paper towel, microwaved it for about 30 seconds, toasted it, then added eggs, cheese and bacon to it.  Nom nom

I've also started bringing single servings of frozen leftovers for lunch.  Last week's white lasagna (chicken and spinach) from September was interesting, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2018, 08:49:05 PM
We ate almost all of the remaining taco meat today, and finished off the potato/chicken/bacon combo that no one seemed to like. I find that so odd, how could anything go wrong with bacon?/?

I find that I don't like to eat tacos much these days (avoiding dairy), so i had the very healthy fare of a hot dog & a banana ( I did have a large & healthy spinach salad for lunch, so . .. ).

For tomorrow, the kids will have the remaining hot dogs with pasta, and my husband will eat the last of the kabobs. I'll probably have a sandwich, because I do draw the line at eating hot dogs two nights in row. And then on Wednesday, everyone will eat the last of the pizza, minus me. Again with the dairy. I'll probably make myself eggs or something easy, with any remaining fruit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on November 18, 2018, 06:25:58 AM
Still in freezer - 1 package jerk pork, 2 packages corn casserole, 2 packages chicken and corn casserole, 10 mini meatloaves, 2 packages (1lb ea) sloppy joe mix, 1 package turkey meat.  Any ideas on repurposing would be welcome. 

Stroganoff made from mini meatloaves was less than successful, but tasted good.  I’ll use a couple of them to make chili for Monday and see how that turns out.  Bonus is that chili will use up some free after coupon canned tomatoes and canned pinto beans that are too soft to eat plain.  Used a package of jerk pork to make bbq pork last night so down to just one package of that left over.  Planning on chicken or steaks from the freezer on the grill tonight.   

But DH returned from another food show with poor turnout (he just needs to bring minimal food in the future) with two pans of sausage breakfast strata.  I cut up one pan into squares and froze them individually, but I think the second pan needs to be tossed.  I’m the only one who will eat it and I don’t need the calories in bread/sausage.  Funny being partially raised by grandparents and great uncles/aunts that lived through the depression gives me a horror of wasting food. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 18, 2018, 08:40:42 AM
Made a pineapple chili shrimp to use up fresh pineapple that was on the way out, plus the second half of a bag of shrimp.

Cleared out the end of some shredded gruyere from a recipe and the last of a bag of arugula making cheese toasts for breakfast. A pound of hamburger in the freezer went into a macaroni dish that should hold me for the last two work lunches next week before the Thanksgiving break.

After I get off the computer, I'll make a blueberry sour cream bundt cake to get rid of the second half of the full-fat sour cream I accidentally bought plus some blueberries from the freezer.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 18, 2018, 09:01:40 AM
Last night we stir-fried leftover couscous with egg and onion then topped it with leftover butternut squash curry. A surprisingly tasty combo--and successful use of bits & bobs.

Today will require eating up the leftover parsley/tahini salad and trying to add some different grains to our rotation so we start using those up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 19, 2018, 01:41:09 PM
~Currently enjoying leftover cauliflower and (Sp)ham soup from a few months ago.  There's enough for one more serving tomorrow.

~I'll make banana bread soon to use up two sad bananas

~We took the rest of the black and green olives, sliced cheese, and a few other odds and ends with us on our trip last Thursday.  Made egg salad from the boiled eggs we didn't get to while gone.

~An apple crisp for Thanksgiving will use some brown sugar which is hardened because it wasn't closed properly last month.  It will also use 1 of 3 large bags of apples given to me by a friend this summer from their tree.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 20, 2018, 10:32:43 AM
This thread is so long it almost will need a Part 3 soon :)

--made an apple/pear crisp since I am on dessert duty at book club tonight (pears were languishing in the fridge)
--also made up a hibiscus/orange/ginger drink to take instead of wine since there are pregnant ladies & drivers and I have heaps of hibiscus

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 23, 2018, 08:52:53 PM
We did well eating everything before we left on vacation. Then we came home & promptly made a bunch of Thanksgiving food. Today I ate Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch, and then made this recipe to use up leftovers. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a50229/thanksgiving-in-a-blanket-recipe/

However, I discovered a giant stuffed turkey at Costco for $9 (marked down from $30) tonight, so I couldn't resist. Making that tomorrow & we will have even more leftovers. :-)

Our freezer was finally looking good, but I need to start working it down again, to make space for all of the turkey!

In positive news, we did use 2 cans of crescent rolls + 4 cans of green beans.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on November 24, 2018, 03:29:29 PM
The "clean out the freezer" project is coming along well. So far:

Frozen blueberries went into a cake (plus full-fat sour cream I bought by accident).
Half a package of crumpets eaten for breakfasts.
Smoothie cubes went into a breakfast shake.
A few strawberries went into a berry compote.
Frozen edamame went into a salad which also used up pomegranate seeds, pepitas and a fancy hot sauce

Next up to use: cauliflower gnocchi, mango, Trader Joe's mini samosas, and some tater tots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 26, 2018, 12:39:20 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache , that "Turkey Blanket" looks yummy!

@Noodle , when it comes to tater tots, I think of a breakfast casserole.  I usually make one for Christmas Day, along with overnight French toast.

@Serendip , I second the part 3!  :D

Lately:
~I made the banana bread mentioned in my earlier post over the weekend.
~To lighten things up after the heavy holiday eating, I made tilapia and shrimp on a bed of spinach Saturday evening.
~I made a second apple crisp for DH since he didn't get any Thanksgiving Day.  This used up another large bag of apples, along with the hardened brown sugar (to soften, microwave 30 seconds at a time until pliable).  It also used up a bag of flour.
~Currently eating leftover chicken tenders from last night for lunch.  I served it on top of baby spinach.  Tomorrow's lunch should use up the rest of the spinach.
~Tonight I'll make turkey Alfredo to use up last Thursday's leftovers mom sent home with us.
~Halloween leftover alcohol is officially gone.  ;)

DH filled the freezer with the deer he harvested a few weeks ago.  And I received a VM saying our half pig will be ready in a few weeks.  I have no idea where we're going to put it.  :S
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on November 26, 2018, 06:26:54 PM
You just let me know if you need help with some of that venison...

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 26, 2018, 07:38:24 PM
@MountainGal - they were really great. I recommend! We served with cranberry sauce & gravy on the side. Yum.

I'm doing a mini freezer challenge, selecting a few items each week to cross off my list. I'm hoping that will feel more actionable than just "clean out my freezer". On the list for this week:
-Frozen edamame (will serve tomorrow night with a few other Asian inspired dishes)
-Lasagna (pan 1 of 2). This will make at least 2 dinners for the week while I'm out late
-Chicken potato chowder. I'll defrost this for my lunch on Friday.
-Wontons/potstickers. Will serve some of both bags in our Asian inspired meal tomorrow
-Chicken broth. I have a lot, this is one serving. I'll use in risotto this weekend.
-Rotisserie chicken. I'll also use this is risotto this weekend.

I have a package of Liptons onion soup/dip mix that my mom left in my pantry. I'm not partial to either the dip or the soup. Other ideas of how I can use this?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on November 27, 2018, 06:02:11 AM

I have a package of Liptons onion soup/dip mix that my mom left in my pantry. I'm not partial to either the dip or the soup. Other ideas of how I can use this?

I've seen some recipes for slow cooker meat dishes (maybe beef stew?) that use it as seasoning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 27, 2018, 12:44:13 PM
LOL @Rural , you got it!

@MaybeBabyMustache , I like your plan of action.  Glad the turkey blankets turned out!  Our turkey Alfredo was yummy last night, too.

I baked a half package of bacon that needed to be used up last night.  It warmed up the house, and now I have a garnish for today's salad.  There's STILL one more serving of baby spinach, LOL.

Tonight my first experience ever with venison begins with tacos.  (DH smoked backstrap and a loin a few weekends ago.  YUM.)  I'll keep y'all posted on how I do.  :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on November 27, 2018, 05:32:43 PM

I have a package of Liptons onion soup/dip mix that my mom left in my pantry. I'm not partial to either the dip or the soup. Other ideas of how I can use this?

I've seen some recipes for slow cooker meat dishes (maybe beef stew?) that use it as seasoning.


"Roast" chicken with vegetables (carrots, potatoes, maybe celery and real onions) in the crockpot.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 28, 2018, 07:33:33 AM
Venison tacos sounds good!

I'll definitely try out the roast chicken/Liptons recipe when I have more freezer space. The last thing I need right now is more chicken/turkey in my freezer!

My update from previous post:
-Frozen edamame (will serve tomorrow night with a few other Asian inspired dishes) Done, and no leftovers!
-Lasagna (pan 1 of 2). This will make at least 2 dinners for the week while I'm out late
-Chicken potato chowder. I'll defrost this for my lunch on Friday.
-Wontons/potstickers. Will serve some of both bags in our Asian inspired meal tomorrow Wontons are 1/2 used (bag 1 of 2. Potstickers are gone.
-Chicken broth. I have a lot, this is one serving. I'll use in risotto this weekend.
-Rotisserie chicken. I'll also use this is risotto this weekend.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 28, 2018, 10:22:18 AM
The venison tacos really were good!  DH mixed the ground venison with suet, and the result was about as much drained fat as, say 80% ground beef.  I seasoned it really well, and you couldn't tell the difference when it was in the pan.  I told DH he did a good job.  :)

@MaybeBabyMustache, you're doing a good job on that list!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on December 03, 2018, 08:36:54 AM
Still in freezer - 1 packages corn casserole, 2 packages chicken and corn casserole, 2 mini meatloaves, 2 packages (1lb ea) sloppy joe mix, 1 package turkey meat, 10 portions sausage egg strata.  Any ideas on repurposing would be welcome. 

Will be using up the last two meatloaves this week making fake gyro bowls - brown rice, chopped meatloaves, tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions.  This week's meal plan also using up 1 package of chicken and corn casserole and well as other odds and ends.  Only trying to buy produce and a few cheap deals in the stores this week. 

Anyone struggle with not adding things to your freezer when you are trying to eat it down?  I bought  turkey for 37c a pound over Thanksgiving then we decided to have steaks since it was just the three of us.  Also, one of our stores makes gourmet sausages in house, I bought three packs of tequila lime sausages and two packs of brats.  All were over a pound and marked down to $1 each.  I just couldn't pass them up, but am kicking myself now.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 03, 2018, 10:32:03 AM
  Also, one of our stores makes gourmet sausages in house, I bought three packs of tequila lime sausages and two packs of brats.  All were over a pound and marked down to $1 each.  I just couldn't pass them up, but am kicking myself now.

Yum!  Why not make a choucroute garnie with the sausages?  Makes me hungry just to think about it.

My husband saved me this week... I took a giant picnic ham out of the freezer before Thanksgiving and thawed it in the fridge, meaning to turn it into barbecue.  After the holiday, I've been exhausted and busy, so I just gave up the ham for lost.  Mr. Poundwise opened up the package, found it was still fine, then cut it up and marinated it.   

On another win, I just had a salad with some croutons made by cutting up the leftover crusts from a massive platter of cucumber sandwiches that I did for a church brunch.  I had several pounds left and it seemed such a waste to throw them out. I just tossed the crusts with a drizzle of olive oil and Italian herb mix, scattered on a cookie sheet, and baked at low heat until they were crisp. The butter and leftover cucumber on the crusts just dissolved into the croutons, and they are delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 03, 2018, 10:38:01 AM
Freezer challenge, week 1 recap:
-Frozen edamame - Done, and no leftovers!
-Lasagna (pan 1 of 2). - Done
-Chicken potato chowder. - Done, had it for lunch Saturday & Sunday.
-Wontons/potstickers. - Potstickers gone, wontons 1/2 used up.
-Chicken broth. I have a lot, this is one serving.  - Nope, punted to this week
-Rotisserie chicken. I'll also use this is risotto this weekend.- Nope, punted to this week

I did use up a few bonus items:
-Bag of chicken strips
-2 packages of chicken breasts
-Overly ripe bananas

Challenge for week 2:
-1 container of taco meat
-1 container of fresh tomato sauce
-Rotisserie chicken (bumped from last week)
-Chicken broth (bumped from last week)
-1/2 a package of tortillas
-Another container of chicken chowder

I'm keeping at it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 03, 2018, 12:59:52 PM
@Unique User, not sure if I'd call it struggle, but I do add things to the freezer on payday, mostly proteins and vegetables to use at a later time.  Those gyro bowls sound delicious!

@Poundwise, glad the ham was saved!  And, ohhh.... croutons are my weakness!

@MaybeBabyMustache, you are continuing to do an excellent job.  Well done!

We were out of town for a few days, so we ate a few meals away from home.  We did manage to make a rack of ribs last night, and I served it with a bag of frozen vegetable penne (made from lentils).  This week we'll also eat a pound of ground venison in chili, cod and shrimp, pork, and something to smoke/BBQ over the weekend.

I also need to make some of the Idahoan mixes which were a free Kroger Friday download awhile ago.  There are 3 envelopes in the pantry.  The good thing about those is they take water, not milk, which we don't have in the house.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 04, 2018, 07:07:02 PM
We had tacos yesterday, and I was able to use the rest of the meat & tortillas (plus some from a surprise pack in the freezer) for dinner tonight. I had eggs wrapped in a tortilla (of course) with a diced leftover tomato.

Challenge for week 2:
-1 container of taco meat
-1 container of fresh tomato sauce
-Rotisserie chicken (bumped from last week)
-Chicken broth (bumped from last week)
-1/2 a package of tortillas
-Another container of chicken chowder
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on December 07, 2018, 09:04:44 AM
In the last installment, I hoped to use up:

cauliflower gnocchi (made a skillet dish which was only sort of successful because I forgot how much more delicate cauliflower gnocchi is...but still edible)
mango (mango-coconut bread which also used up the end of a bag of unsweetened coconut that had been around for ages)
Trader Joe's mini samosas
tater tots (ate one serving but still have some left)

Mostly I've been eating up leftovers from the refrigerator: roasted mushrooms and asparagus, roasted pepper spread, risotto, a pasta bake, fruit juice that needed to be finished, soup from Trader Joe's, etc.

For the upcoming week:
Mini samosas (for dinner with more soup)
Tater tots (as a side)
Hot dog chili (in a casserole)
Refrigerator biscuits (also in a casserole)
Apple compote (with ricotta cheese or Greek yogurt)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nederstash on December 07, 2018, 11:57:48 AM
Anyone else gearing up to eat down the pantry for the end of the year? I'd love to start January 1st with a big deep clean, or maybe I'll do that in the days after Christmas. I'd also like to join Veganuary, so I need to eat down all meat and dairy from the fridge.

I'm shooting for a big clearout. Only spices, oils and condiments left (no way I'll use those up for another few months). Alright, and probably oats/rice/supplements.

Time to actually be a consumer... not just a buyer :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 07, 2018, 12:13:13 PM
Hiya, @Nederstash!  We live in a rural area, and like to stock up, so I don't think I'd be comfortable having an empty pantry.  :)

The garage freezer is almost empty of everything except the venison DH processed.  This is a good thing, since the butcher called and said our half pig is ready.  :)

The kitchen freezer is at a place where I can actually arrange things neatly again.  Veggies and frozen fruit in the top drawer, proteins in the bottom left, and leftover containers in the right hand side.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 07, 2018, 05:12:30 PM
I used up chicken broth & the tomato sauce that I was hoping for, plus was unexpectedly home this week for lunch, so ate four freezer burritos. Tonight we're having pizza, which will use up a full prepared pizza + leftovers from one night we had delivery a ways back. I also defrosted soup for myself for lunch tomorrow, and a different soup for my husband's lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Nederstash on December 08, 2018, 03:02:40 AM
Hiya, @Nederstash!  We live in a rural area, and like to stock up, so I don't think I'd be comfortable having an empty pantry.  :)

That might be the only downside to living in the country, lol! I'm in the city, I grow a few herbs, but mostly I get everything from the supermarket. I'd like to be more conscious of what I bring in. This challenge is great for that!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 08, 2018, 10:46:30 AM
In the spirit of the thread, I decided that breakfast salad can be a thing.  We are going out tonight for DH's birthday, so the salad wasn't going to get used.  Used up the green onions and a sweet potato that I'd cut the nasty ends off of and stashed in the freezer.  Bonus points for starting out the day by getting my veggie servings in!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on December 08, 2018, 11:48:19 AM
We were given a dairy free gluten free cheesecake months ago which has to be freezer stored and then thawed the perfect amount of time before serving and not refrozen. That thing stressed me out since I knew I was the only one in the house willing to try it, and I could never coordinate the thawing time properly for hosting. After months I finally took it to a pot luck this week and it was successfully consumed and was actually pretty tasting - success!   

However, I had a few fridge fails.  My dad stayed with us months ago and left most of a giant salsa and nacho cheese sauce we don't normally use in our fridge. He's coming back in a few weeks so I started focusing on using that up (plan was to use either the salsa or the nacho cheese in a pasta sauce) but when I opened the jars they were both moldy. In the bin they went. I really hate wasting food. Going to pay better attention to our odd items now.

He had also given us some freezer foods when he moved. At least I can report that all the freezer food has been eaten except one package of real juice freezies. Now that have discovered that 2 tropical juice freezies + alcohol = a decent boozy slushy beverage    I know they will not last long now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 08, 2018, 12:20:14 PM
Love it @horsepoor ! Breakfast salad sounds great.

I'm on it today:
-Found a package of deli meat that had dropped below the freezer drawers (along with a popsicle that somehow ruptured). Cleaned the super fun sticky/frozen popsicle mess, and making my husband a sandwich for lunch with the scraps of shredded mozzarella that need to be used + the deli meat. He will also be eating the soup I defrosted yesterday.
-For tonight's dinner, I've already defrosted the sauce with meat tips, and will make rice to go with that.
-For tomorrow's dinner, I've put a few items in the fridge as well to defrost.

Now, if I stick to my plans, I'll be crushing the freezer challenge & reducing waste. Woohoo! Yesterday I was so proud for using up the leftovers of a delivery pizza (stashed in the freezer), with a small Costco frozen pizza. Unfortunately, we normally make two pizzas, and I underestimated how much delivery pizza we had. Everyone else but me got to have pizza. I had eggs on a bagel. Still fine, and avoiding dairy is by far the best choice for me, but I was actually craving pizza. Foiled by myself! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lettuceevangelist on December 09, 2018, 05:07:15 PM
This thread is extremely motivating! We have too much in both our regular freezer and our upright freezer, so I am committing to cooking at least one meal out of the freezer every week. It was around 35F and raining this afternoon, so it was a good time to get busy. I made:
--a big batch of soup in the Instant Pot: turkey from Thanksgiving, kale I grew this spring, white beans, a cube of "hot sauce" I made from our peppers, sauteed bacon ends, onion, garlic, various seasonings. It was delicious, and got rid of two large freezer items.
--beef broth from bones we bought last year that have been languishing in our big freezer;
--roasted pumpkin (the neighbors brought us a bunch);
--split pea soup (chipotle peppers go in this, which had been lurking in the freezer for quite some time);
--turnip greens (okay, these didn't clear anything out of the freezer, but still involved items we already had).
I'd love to experiment with how long we could go without doing a "big shop". We'd still need to buy things like milk, coffee, etc. My spouse prefers to take the cautious one meal per week approach.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 09, 2018, 06:07:57 PM
Love it @horsepoor ! Breakfast salad sounds great.

I think it could become a regular thing in the summer!  My co-workers probably won't even blink if I'm eating salad at my desk at 9am, lol.

I'm headed out of town for the work week, so this morning I picked all the meat off of a leftover roasted chicken and made a quick stock in the Instant Pot with the carcass.  Strained it and threw in a couple potatoes and cooked them until they could be mashed up to thicken the stock.  Added herbs, garlic and random veg from the fridge, plus the leftover chicken meat, and ended up with a nice soup.  Hopefully DH will eat any leftovers while I'm gone.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on December 09, 2018, 08:31:43 PM
This thread is extremely motivating! We have too much in both our regular freezer and our upright freezer, so I am committing to cooking at least one meal out of the freezer every week. It was around 35F and raining this afternoon, so it was a good time to get busy. I made:
--a big batch of soup in the Instant Pot: turkey from Thanksgiving, kale I grew this spring, white beans, a cube of "hot sauce" I made from our peppers, sauteed bacon ends, onion, garlic, various seasonings. It was delicious, and got rid of two large freezer items.
--beef broth from bones we bought last year that have been languishing in our big freezer;
--roasted pumpkin (the neighbors brought us a bunch);
--split pea soup (chipotle peppers go in this, which had been lurking in the freezer for quite some time);
--turnip greens (okay, these didn't clear anything out of the freezer, but still involved items we already had).
I'd love to experiment with how long we could go without doing a "big shop". We'd still need to buy things like milk, coffee, etc. My spouse prefers to take the cautious one meal per week approach.



Ok I have got to hear more about this "hot sauce" cube...do tell, how exactly do you make them?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 09, 2018, 09:32:16 PM
I was given our Chanukah dinner leftovers to take home since my parents are going on a trip and didn't want to have to figure out what to do with half a rib roast in the next two days. So... anyone have any great ideas for gorgeous tender leftover beef aside from "eat a big slab of meat every day"? :-) 

Also I'd love to know if anyone's used beef rib bones to make stock. I was thinking of throwing them in the Instant Pot to see what happens. I only ever tried to make beef stock once before (not in the IP) and it didn't go very well... there are only two ribs but they are pretty big and have a lot of meat still attached, so I thought it might be worth a shot. Seems such a waste not to use them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lettuceevangelist on December 10, 2018, 04:43:35 AM
Ok I have got to hear more about this "hot sauce" cube...do tell, how exactly do you make them?
[/quote]

Hot peppers (de-seeded), a clove of garlic, salt, olive oil--throw in blender, blend till smooth. Pour into ice cube trays, freeze. When they're frozen, they can go in a Ziploc bag. If they were bigger peppers, I would also roast them and remove the skin, but most are smaller than my little finger (they're African fish peppers).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on December 10, 2018, 05:39:40 AM
I was given our Chanukah dinner leftovers to take home since my parents are going on a trip and didn't want to have to figure out what to do with half a rib roast in the next two days. So... anyone have any great ideas for gorgeous tender leftover beef aside from "eat a big slab of meat every day"? :-) 

Also I'd love to know if anyone's used beef rib bones to make stock. I was thinking of throwing them in the Instant Pot to see what happens. I only ever tried to make beef stock once before (not in the IP) and it didn't go very well... there are only two ribs but they are pretty big and have a lot of meat still attached, so I thought it might be worth a shot. Seems such a waste not to use them.

I make broth/stock out of everything. I keep a few bags in my freezer, one for veggie scraps, one for chicken scraps/bones, and one for pork or beef scraps/bones. When the bag is full I dump into the crockpot, and make broth. You could always freeze the rib bones, and wait until you have a few more bones to add, or buy a femur bone or two to add some flavor to the broth.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 10, 2018, 06:04:32 AM
I'm working on clearing out all my assorted odds and ends in the freezer before I travel for the holidays.  Yesterday, in a quest to use up my frozen ball of fresh mozzarella, I made pizza.  I ended up putting together the toppings entirely from freezer ingredients too, which made it a little random, haha.

Homemade dough used up the rest of my (getting slightly old) white flour and wheat flour, then I used garlic & basil flavored oil (leftover from my local creamery's delicious goat cheese in oil) as the "sauce", added caramelized onions and roasted eggplant, and cooked some sausage to add as well.  It turned out pretty darn good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 10, 2018, 11:32:43 AM
Hiya, @Nederstash!  We live in a rural area, and like to stock up, so I don't think I'd be comfortable having an empty pantry.  :)

That might be the only downside to living in the country, lol! I'm in the city, I grow a few herbs, but mostly I get everything from the supermarket. I'd like to be more conscious of what I bring in. This challenge is great for that!

Truth, LOL!  I lived in Chicago for a short period of time, on the 33rd floor of a high rise, and my stocking up tendencies didn't mesh too well there.  It was a lot of work hauling two week's of groceries from the parking garage, down one elevator, across the lobby, then up another elevator.  ;)

This weekend, DH and I rearranged both freezers to make space for the half pig we bought.  I cannot wait to become a bacon snob, LOL!  I pulled out the rest of my birthday cake from earlier this year, a loaf of homemade zucchini bread, and a small bag of cherry tomatoes from DH's garden. 

Yesterday DH smoked a rack of ribs from the freezer, and we ate a bag of cauliflower fries with it, which freed up even more room.

Tonight's dinner will be Crock Pot country style ribs (bought on sale several months ago) with a container of Budget Bytes not refried beans and a half can enchilada sauce all from the freezer, a remaining 1/3 bottle of BBQ sauce from the fridge and a can of chicken broth from the pantry.

Tomorrow night will be cod and shrimp, and Wed venison steak.  Life is good.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 10, 2018, 01:38:38 PM
cauliflower fries
What are cauliflower fries?  I love fries and cauliflower!

I've used all of the bones and vegetable odds and ends in my freezer to make soup.  I've made a huge batch of soup every weekend for the past month. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 10, 2018, 09:11:47 PM
Freezer challenge week 3:
-2 containers of beef tips in a red wine sauce
-Stuffing
-Gravy
-Chicken broth
-Chicken chowder (single serving)

I used everything from week two, with the exception of rotisserie chicken. In fact, today I realized I had an entire turkey breast in the fridge, & made that. I now have lots & lots of turkey for the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on December 11, 2018, 10:04:48 AM
Cooked up some kidney beans, now using some adobo paste (from the freezer) to add interest
Also making the forbidden rice (black rice) that I've had in my pantry for a bit..will serve with roasted yams and tahini dressing
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 11, 2018, 01:01:14 PM
cauliflower fries
What are cauliflower fries?  I love fries and cauliflower!

I've used all of the bones and vegetable odds and ends in my freezer to make soup.  I've made a huge batch of soup every weekend for the past month.

Hiya, @4alpacas!  Thank you for asking.  We had these for the first time:  https://www.google.com/search?q=birds+eye+cauliflower+fries&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGo9zZy5jfAhVmtIMKHdAPDhAQ_AUIDygC&biw=1280&bih=910#imgrc=RcA36THSozfhzM: They are really good, IMO, but have a lot of "stuff" in them.  If you'd rather go a more natural route, check out:  https://gimmedelicious.com/2014/07/24/skinny-baked-cauliflower-tots/  I make them with almond flour instead of bread crumbs, and serve them with reduced sugar ketchup mixed with mayo.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: 4alpacas on December 11, 2018, 01:44:24 PM
cauliflower fries
What are cauliflower fries?  I love fries and cauliflower!

I've used all of the bones and vegetable odds and ends in my freezer to make soup.  I've made a huge batch of soup every weekend for the past month.

Hiya, @4alpacas!  Thank you for asking.  We had these for the first time:  https://www.google.com/search?q=birds+eye+cauliflower+fries&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGo9zZy5jfAhVmtIMKHdAPDhAQ_AUIDygC&biw=1280&bih=910#imgrc=RcA36THSozfhzM: They are really good, IMO, but have a lot of "stuff" in them.  If you'd rather go a more natural route, check out:  https://gimmedelicious.com/2014/07/24/skinny-baked-cauliflower-tots/  I make them with almond flour instead of bread crumbs, and serve them with reduced sugar ketchup mixed with mayo.
Thanks!  I'll have to try out that recipe.  We have two containers of breadcrumbs in our pantry!

I've been slowly eating our pasta stash.  I don't know how we acquire so many bags and boxes of pasta!  I've even started cooking various types in the same pot of water.  I line them up based on cook time.  The pasta is usually a little overdone with this method, but I also don't want to cook 1/2 cup of pasta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 11, 2018, 07:19:00 PM
2 containers of beef tips in red wine sauce - gone! Once again, underestimated volume, and ended up eating an egg on a bagel. Don't mind at all, as I don't eat breakfast anymore (fasting), so I miss eggs!

We ate half of the mashed potatoes, stuffing & gravy yesterday, & will polish off the rest tomorrow with the remaining turkey in the fridge.

Now to figure out what to eat on Thursday. . . if I have time, I'll make pizza. If I'm pinched for time, things will have to get really creative. May be leftover pasta with a red sauce & meatballs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 13, 2018, 07:28:57 PM
Follow-up on my standing rib roast leftovers, in case anyone ever finds themselves in such a situation. I did some reading and figured out that the standing rib roast ribs are the same as beef back ribs, so I looked up a recipe for cooking those. I put the meaty ribs into the Instant Pot for 22 minutes w/NPR and then checked them to see if the rib meat was good. It was! There wasn't much of it but I pulled off a couple of ounces maybe, and it was tender and delicious (very fatty/greasy, though). Then I put the ribs/trimmings back into the IP, along with all the gristly/fatty/unpalatable parts trimmed from the roast, and cooked them for another hour or so under pressure, plus NPR. The stock came out OK, lots of gelatin but a little too salty (I guess from the outside of the roast being heavily salted). I didn't love the flavor (could be more meaty) but it was OK. I ended up using the stock combined with tomato puree for a vegetable soup. I prefer chicken stock, but I was happy to get some goodness out of those meaty bones.

I ended up using the rest of the roast beef leftovers for Philly-esque cheesesteak sandwiches. Pretty tasty. And I will probably never eat this much beef in one week for the rest of my life...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 13, 2018, 08:32:38 PM
Freezer challenge week 3:
-2 containers of beef tips in a red wine sauce
-Stuffing
-Gravy
-Chicken broth

-Chicken chowder (single serving)


I'll use the chicken chowder for lunch tomorrow. I also managed to use a container of taco meat + a bag of tortilla shells for dinner yesterday. Yes! Tomorrow for dinner I'm defrosting a Persian ground beef, rice & green bean dish. My freezer is actually easier to navigate these days!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 18, 2018, 01:14:43 PM
You're welcome, @4alpacas!  Hope they turn out for you!

@MaybeBabyMustache, you're doing such a great job!  Way to stay focused!

@Dollar Slice, those sandwiches sound good!

Did some baking last weekend which used up a bag of flour and granulated sugar, and all of the butter in the house!  Nearly 2 lbs.  :S  And last month I bought BOGO loaves of bread, so DH pulled the second out of the freezer which we had stashed.

Christmas dinner will use up a 11+ LB bone-in ham from the freezer, and the rest of the non-dairy creamer in the au gratin potatoes I make every year.  I'm also going to make French Onion green beans for my first time ever in order to use up the French's crispy fried onions I bought for some reason earlier this year, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 18, 2018, 02:20:25 PM
Okay, so I used the Persian bean & rice dish (the last serving will go tonight) & we ate 6 freezer burritos last night, so that's a big chunk of the bag out of the way. Progress! Once we're back from the holidays, I'll re-inventory our freezer at home. We're also heading to our vacation house this weekend, and I'll do a similar process where I identify what we need to use up from the pantry & freezer, and target those items for consumption eat each meal. :-)

For tonight, I'll serve the leftover lasagna to two diners, the leftover Persian bean dish to a third, and my picky eater will have pasta & chicken (already in the fridge).

Before we leave, I need all prepared food out of the fridge, and fruit & veggies consumed, frozen, or packed for the flight. Dairy is harder, and I need to decide what to do with a few half bricks of cheese. I'll freeze, but the texture never quite bounces back.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on December 18, 2018, 08:52:00 PM
Good progress being made!

Previous plans:
Mini samosas (for dinner with more soup)
Tater tots (as a side)
Hot dog chili (in a casserole)
Refrigerator biscuits (also in a casserole)
Apple compote (with ricotta cheese or Greek yogurt)

Also finished the end of a package of crumpets, a Trader Joe's frozen veggie side dish, a can of refrigerator biscuits, and a lot of leftovers hanging around the refrigerator.

Next plan:

The other can of refrigerator biscuits (another casserole)
Frozen hash browns (Breakfast)
Ham and cheese squares (with tomato soup from a box)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on December 18, 2018, 08:57:56 PM
I was doing really well at this challenge, and then a local restaurant closed (all organic, really good food) and I somehow managed to fill my freezer back up with reduced/mostly free food! I feel super lucky, but I also was getting excited about clearing out my freezer, giving it a good defrost, and saving space to do a big meat purchase in the spring/summer. I have a lot of eating to do!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on December 19, 2018, 05:53:51 AM
@mountain mustache that sounds like a good problem to have!

I've been chipping away at the cooked frozen food, still in the freezer - 1 package corn casserole, 1 package chicken and corn casserole, 9 portions sausage egg strata, plus other items too numerous to list.  We've done pretty good at using up other items also.  I made a batch of ginger lemon cheesecake squares using several food show leftovers that were just sitting around - 1/2 bag gingersnaps, 2 packages of cream cheese and a couple lemons.  Cooked a turkey over the weekend and although we added 5 pints of gravy and 4 packages of turkey to the freezer it takes up much less room.  Almost all dinners the last two weeks have been from the freezer (with the exception of fresh produce) except for a pot roast night.  One of the grocery stores had a 1.5 pound chuck roast marked down to $2 and I couldn't resist.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 19, 2018, 10:04:19 AM
@Unique User - like you, as I take things out, new things are somehow making their way back in. ;-)

We finished off the Persian rice dish last night. Tonight will be leftover lasagna for a a couple of dinners, with the other two having freezer burritos with guacamole. The burritos are quite small, so I'm hoping we can make our way through all of the burritos tonight.

For Thursday, I'm thinking of making the kids & my husband a pizza from the freezer. It will remove one more thing from the freezer, but I'm also expecting that we'll be out of leftovers by that point.

Our flight is early on Friday, but my plan is to dump all of the easily transported fruit/vegetables into a bag & bring on the flight. We'll be near a fridge again in a few hours, so shouldn't be too bad & I'd like to use up whatever we have vs freezing or tossing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 26, 2018, 08:05:16 AM
Anyone else going to do a pantry/freezer challenge in January?  That's become an annual tradition for my mother and me.  I'll report back as the month progresses.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 26, 2018, 09:36:46 AM
@SquashingDebt - I'm in. We do something similar.

For today, we have a giant food full of fridge (plus leftovers coming in from elsewhere) & need to menu plan to ensure nothing goes to waste. We unexpectedly have no kids (my parents kept them for another day), so we will likely go out & have a glass of wine tonight, but I think we'll do spaghetti & meatballs for dinner. Leftovers!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on December 26, 2018, 11:07:45 AM
I'm in for a pantry challenge! Between holiday cooking and a winter farmer's market bulk buy, my grocery spending was high in December.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on December 30, 2018, 12:23:05 AM
I have another week off before I go back to work, and had planned to spend a couple of days batch cooking meals for the freezer.

It's been so hot here, so I put a batch of coconut curried lentils in the slow cooker.

I used up some veggies I had stashed in the freezer (a cup of celery, two cups of zucchini, a cup of diced tomato, and a cup of diced broccoli stems).

Also used up the last of the arborio rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mountain mustache on December 30, 2018, 06:49:00 AM
I'm making my way through a gallon of veggie chili from the freezer, and yesterday cooked up a pork shoulder with green chile sauce...now there's actually breathing room in my chest freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: chasingthegoodlife on January 01, 2019, 01:51:08 AM
Dipping into this thread again after a while away for a January freezer/pantry clear out.

After reading through some of the posts I am now craving lasagna something severe and sadly I don't have any of the makings to use up :) Oh well.

I went through the freezer and pantry today and identified the odds and ends that have been hanging around for a while and need to go.

Stewed plums became muffins.
Frozen raspberries, the last of the oat bran, frozen coconut milk and soy milk left by guests became Raspberry Coconut Bread (so good!)
Another frozen container of coconut milk and the bottom of the produce drawer became red Thai curry.
Leftover stewed lamb and red lentils became an Indian style curry.

Made a spicy pork stir fry while I was at it to take advantage of the new freezer space.
All were packed for lunches using the brown basmati rice which I don't really like and won't buy again. There's still another cup or so to go on that so should finish in the next few weeks.

Next on the list:
Frozen mango (chia puddings)
Pastry sheets (fetta and spinach pie)
Blackberry sauce - homemade and frozen (no idea??)
Rest of weird brown rice
The open packages of almonds and pistachios (toasted, used on breakfast oats/in salads)
Reduce the noodle stash (vietnamese style rice noodle salads, miso seafood hot pot with soba)
Reduce the pasta stash (pesto pasta salad with roasted veggies and nuts)
Convince husband to eat the crackers guests have left instead of buying more of the ones we prefer (this will be a challenge).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 01, 2019, 09:02:51 AM
Dipping into this thread again after a while away for a January freezer/pantry clear out.

After reading through some of the posts I am now craving lasagna something severe and sadly I don't have any of the makings to use up :) Oh well.

I went through the freezer and pantry today and identified the odds and ends that have been hanging around for a while and need to go.

Stewed plums became muffins.
Frozen raspberries, the last of the oat bran, frozen coconut milk and soy milk left by guests became Raspberry Coconut Bread (so good!)
Another frozen container of coconut milk and the bottom of the produce drawer became red Thai curry.
Leftover stewed lamb and red lentils became an Indian style curry.

Made a spicy pork stir fry while I was at it to take advantage of the new freezer space.
All were packed for lunches using the brown basmati rice which I don't really like and won't buy again. There's still another cup or so to go on that so should finish in the next few weeks.

Next on the list:
Frozen mango (chia puddings)
Pastry sheets (fetta and spinach pie)
Blackberry sauce - homemade and frozen (no idea??)
Rest of weird brown rice
The open packages of almonds and pistachios (toasted, used on breakfast oats/in salads)
Reduce the noodle stash (vietnamese style rice noodle salads, miso seafood hot pot with soba)
Reduce the pasta stash (pesto pasta salad with roasted veggies and nuts)
Convince husband to eat the crackers guests have left instead of buying more of the ones we prefer (this will be a challenge).

That's a lot of progress!  For the blackberry sauce - stirred into yogurt? stirred into oatmeal? as the basis for a salad dressing with added oil and vinegar?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 02, 2019, 02:17:38 PM
A pork dish comes to mind when thinking about blackberry sauce.  :)

Count me in for the pantry/freezer challenge!  During the holidays, the kitchen freezer was so full we could barley close it.  Lately:

2 boxes of pre-made appetizers were used during a football game and NYE
A bunch of seafood was cooked last night
A half bag of strawberries frozen in season was used for brunch
A pound of venison was used in enchiladas
A leftover half jar of spaghetti sauce and a can of tomatoes will be used with tomorrow's pork chops
A ham was used for Christmas dinner
Another pound of bacon was pulled from the freezer and put in the fridge
Chicken breasts bought a few months ago will be next Monday's dinner

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on January 04, 2019, 10:10:04 AM
We are trying to see how long into 2019 we can go without buying groceries (my SO usually drops by everyday for at least a few things)

Last night we made chili with soaked kidney beans, blackbeans from the freezer, celery and tofu languishing in the fridge, leftover tomato paste and heaps of onions, garlic, and spices. Very succesful taste-wise, plus we had leftover baguette from our NY Eve fondue.

I thawed black rice and will have that with bananas and oatmilk (home-made) for breakfast.
If we make it even for another day or two, I will be pleased :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 05, 2019, 01:50:23 PM
Pantry challenge is going well so far.  I've only spent $21 on food at the grocery store, and only bought smoothie ingredients and parmesan cheese (because who wants to eat up all the pasta in the pantry without parmesan cheese?).

I live alone, so I only cook one or two big-batch meals a week and eat leftovers from them or out of the freezer the rest of the time.  I decided to use a different strategy this year to work through my freezers.  I usually try to inventory them and keep a spreadsheet going, but end up never keeping it up-to-date.  It can also get a little overwhelming.  So, my plan this year is just to grab whatever's on the top layer that looks good and make a meal out of it.  It's been working well so far.

First, I thawed and ate some pasta sauce that had tomatoes, red peppers, and eggplant, eaten with some pasta from the pantry.

Tomorrow I'm making country-style ribs (from the quarter pig I bought last year) in the Instant Pot.  I decided to keep it simple and just cook them with the 2/3 bottle of BBQ sauce that's been in my fridge for about a year.  I'll eat that with rice from the pantry and green beans from the freezer.

If I'm ambitious, I'll also make green curry tomorrow, with the green curry paste past its sell-by date that I just found in the fridge, along with coconut milk from the pantry, veggies from the freezer, and probably either pork or tempeh from the freezer.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 07, 2019, 12:57:05 PM
Doing well here, too.  I did go to the store last Friday, but only because I had to go pick up a RX.  Bought several things we were completely out of, including some HBAs, as well as fresh produce and eggs.  Using coupons, ecoupons, and buying sale items saved me 31% off my total order.

Also used up:
1 large can of chicken, only 5 more to go
A bag of frozen corn, a bag of cauliflower
A can of leftover ginger soda from a party last year to a neighbor's kiddo.  Only 6 more to go, LOL.
1 can fruit cocktail
A pint of sour cream
Tonight I'll serve turnips and zucchini with salmon

And I made sure I prepped the produce bought Friday for lunches.  The berries bought last month went to waste due to illness.  :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 15, 2019, 07:17:17 PM
I make pies a couple of times a year. The other day, I found a ziploc with leftover trimmed bits of pie crust, from the last few rounds, in my freezer. Thought about making some sort of mini-pie or hand pie with it, but I'm trying to cut out sweets post-holidays. Decided to do a half-assed mushroom pot pie - fried up some mushrooms and an onion in butter. added some thyme I dried from the garden, tossed in a few glugs each of leftover veggie broth and some chardonnay I didn't like.

It's in the oven now - smells pretty good, so we'll see how my half-assed efforts turn out.

ETA: it was delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 16, 2019, 06:19:12 PM
My second week of the pantry challenge hasn't been as good as the first.  The combination of a busy weekend and a craving for salads led me to buy a bunch of salad ingredients to eat for dinner all week.  I did do a good job eating not-particularly-appealing leftovers from the freezer for my lunches.

Anyone else seem to always try to re-start healthy eating at the same time as a pantry challenge?  (Got to love January and all those goals...)  They're kind of tricky to do at the same time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 16, 2019, 06:51:14 PM
Made butternut squash mac and cheese.  we’re not particularly doing a pantry challenge right now, but the squash was on its way out and I determined not to waste it.  Some googling for receipts found several delicious looking ones that needed extra ingredients, but it is a truth universally acknowledged that a trip to the grocery for one item leads to many unplanned purchases.  I kept looking until I found the one that we had all of the supplies for. Used up a chunk of cheddar cheese from the freezer that wasn’t good for slicing anymore. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 16, 2019, 08:06:43 PM
I'm doing this somewhat inadvertently as the government shutdown/furlough drags on.  I have plenty of time on my hands, and want to keep the grocery spend down.

For breakfasts I've been working on the oatmeal supply, along with random nuts and the non-dairy milk we overbought at CostCo.  Also adding random dried and frozen fruits and some protein powder that's been around way too long.

Tomorrow I'm making cornbread with my stock of masa.

Other things I should work on using:

Lots of plain, raw almonds
Tons of frozen green chile and poblanos
Partially dried tomatos
Thai and regular basil pesto
Spiral sliced ham
Remainder of an overcooked lamb roast with the bone
Canister of unsweetened coconut flakes
Canned peaches
Apple and apricot butter
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 17, 2019, 11:06:10 AM
@SquashingDebt , kind of.  My lunches of topping fresh baby spinach with leftovers worked pretty well last week.  I bought a fresh bag of spinach this week and it seems to be going well.

Cold weather had me nesting over the weekend and focusing on using up what we have:
~Cherry tomatoes from last season went into homemade pasta sauce
~Mulling spices given to me as a Christmas present went into orange mulled wine
~Instead of smoking new cuts of meat, we ate leftover backstrap and loin from the freezer
~Brought up the container of Folgers and bottled waters from the guest room to use them up
~Been nibbling on leftover Christmas treats I froze instead of throw away last month
~Instead of buying more zucchini at the store this week, I remembered we have grated garden fresh zucchini from last season in the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on January 21, 2019, 07:05:50 AM
Haven't done very well lately, but with lots of teenagers in the house this past week, I used up some lingering cinnamon rolls in a can to make monkey bread, a cake mix and vanilla greek yogurt to make coffee cake and another cake mix to make cookie bars.  Only 5 boxes of cake mix left!  Will be making turkey chili tonight to use up some lingering turkey meat, cans of rotel and pinto beans.  I found a couple cans of mandarin oranges and refried beans behind black beans.  Not something we like or use, so I'll be looking for uses of those. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 24, 2019, 10:54:44 AM
Having been down with pneumonia had me going stir crazy stuck in the house.  Baking and cooking kept me sane, LOL.

~Leftover Christmas baking ingredients went into biscuits and muffins
~1 lb sausage went into gravy
~Used the rest of the nori sheets in sushi Sunday
~Used leftover sushi crab on top of salads twice this week
~Thawed blueberries and have been using them on top of dairy free yogurt and salads.  Here's to healthy antioxidants!
~Used 2 large chicken breasts and 2 lbs pork ribs in various entrees
~Similar to 2 weeks ago, bagged spinach has provided lunches this week, with leftovers on top and homemade blue cheese dressing.

Next up:  Figure out how to use frozen sandwich rolls from Halloween.  A strata?  French toast bites?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 24, 2019, 12:27:02 PM
Made pancakes from leftover sourdough starter this morning, and topped them with the remains of a jar of apricot butter.

I have several jars of peaches that I need to cook down into a jam or something.

Tonight DH will be out skiing, so I'll cook myseelf a lone sweet potato that's looking a little sad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on January 24, 2019, 05:36:39 PM
We didn't eat a bakery loaf quick enough and it hardened up, so I made Tuscan Bread Soup (https://food52.com/recipes/33081-pancotto-tuscan-bread-soup (https://food52.com/recipes/33081-pancotto-tuscan-bread-soup)) and used some other bread ends from the freezer at the same time.  I also used a bit of leek dip mix from the cupboard, and it turned out delicous. I will definitely make this again. Frozen bread ends are something that pile up around here (I already use them in casseroles, meatballs or meatloafs and other things when we need bread crumbs).   I need to commit again to using up all our random bits that end up in the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Unique User on January 25, 2019, 07:33:14 AM
Next up:  Figure out how to use frozen sandwich rolls from Halloween.  A strata?  French toast bites?

Croutons?  I do that a lot as my family won't grumble about salads if it has a lot of different veggies and other stuff in it. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 25, 2019, 11:35:07 AM
Thanks, @halftimer and @Unique User
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 27, 2019, 08:13:32 PM
My pantry challenge went better this week.  All of my lunches and dinners were at least partially from the pantry/freezer:

I also thawed, marinated, and roasted some tempeh from the freezer to use on salads this week.

I'm going to keep going right into February with my challenge.  I feel like I haven't really even made a dent in my freezers yet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 28, 2019, 07:31:26 AM
I'm really struggling these days, as my husband is on a very different diet (keto, not as a health/weight loss, but to narrow down allergy symptoms that have caused hives for months). The hives are finally gone, so now he can undergo extensive allergy testing. However, it means that he is eating pretty much entirely separate meals each night. I already have had to go dairy free (again, food sensitivities) over the past few months, so much of what's in the freezer/pantry right now, neither of us can eat. The kids can eat most of it, but it takes more time, & effort to prep multiple meals.

But, I made egg roll in a bowl yesterday with cauliflower rice. It did require purchasing a few ingredients, but I used hoisin sauce & pickled ginger, both of which were in the fridge from a recipe my son needed for cooking class. It didn't use them up, but I will likely make this again another night soon, and finish both of those.

My goals for this week are mostly to eat down all leftovers in the fridge, and focus less on the freezer/pantry until we're all able to have the same meals. I also want there to be pretty much nothing in the fridge when I leave for London on Saturday, as last week when I traveled. . . I came home to a bunch of food waste in the fridge. :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 31, 2019, 06:38:47 PM
I am presently putting together a homemade approximation of a boozy hot cider that the bar down the street serves:

Found some frozen apple juice concentrate, left over from a canning recipe from who knows how long ago, in the freezer.
Found some old-ish, but still flavorful, mulling spices in the pantry.
Found some amaretto in the liquor cabinet, also left over from a canning recipe probably a couple years ago

Frugal drinking during the polar vortex!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 01, 2019, 12:11:20 PM
Am I too late to join y'all, @Tris Prior?  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 03, 2019, 11:05:58 PM
I used a jar of apricot butter in banana bread today.  I used Mark Bittman's recipe, which includes unsweetened coconut.  OMG, so good.  I know how I'm using the rest of the jars of apricot butter!

The guy I've been buying lamb from totally flaked on me this year, so I'm feeling a little conflicted about using up last year's lamb.  It is the best ever, and who knows if I'll be able to get any more.

In the spirit of using everything, I've been making pancakes from excess sourdough starter most weekends.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 04, 2019, 12:50:54 PM
~Used very brown bananas in a banana bread.  This also helped to use leftover Christmas baking ingredients.
~Used the aforementioned leftover slider rolls in a cream cheese French toast casserole
~Used strawberries frozen last season to top the above casserole
~Used leftover pork roast and refried beans in quesadillas
~Continuing to use up leftovers on top of a bed of spinach for lunches.  Today's combo is leftover goat cheese from last weekend's wine and cheese plate along with a few other things from the fridge.
~If I have the time and energy after work tonight, I'm going to make flax muffins which will use up a bit of the flax seed
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 12, 2019, 05:39:39 PM
There have been few wins lately, as everyone is eating different things in our house these days.

But, yesterday I remembered to bake chicken empanadas before they went bad, so served them with dinner last night, & we will eat the remaining with tacos this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 13, 2019, 10:50:46 PM
I was a little over-zealous in meal-prepping over the Christmas break. It's now mid-February and I'm still playing Tetris every time I try to get something out of my freezer.

Coupled with a weekend away at the last minute (family issue) a few weeks ago that left me frantically poking things in the freezer before they expired, without bothering with labels and ... the situation isn't good. Is it bolognese? It could be bolognese.

This week I'm aiming to use up:
- the bolognese (I'm pretty sure it's bolognese)
- one of three jars of salsa (salsa chicken)
- peri peri chicken (salads for work)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on February 15, 2019, 12:06:14 AM
My spouse was hungry for a complex nutty seedy fruity muffin.  We’re out of those kinds of ingredients but I used a granola with a too strong / synthetic tasting vanilla flavor as the base for a quick muffin. Not an amazing muffin but passable enough to satisfy him and it made the granola edible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 19, 2019, 12:18:11 PM
@mustachepungoeshere, I am the same way when it comes to stashing things into the freezer in a rush and not labeling them.  I always think, oh, I'll remember/be able to tell what the contents are.  Nope.

Still doing my put-whatever-we-have-on-top-of-baby-spinach for work lunches.  It's been working out great!

I'd been out of town, so not much of the stockpile has been used.  DH did eat the leftover chipotle pork from the freezer while I was gone.  However, before I left I went grocery shopping, and apparently I need to work even harder on this challenge, because the protein and bags of veggies barely fit into our 2 freezers.  In my defense, however, we were completely out of chicken, and running low on fish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 21, 2019, 09:17:48 PM
Our freezer has exploded like a bomb. I blame the fact that everyone is now eating different things (allergies & assorted new food issues), which means that there is no one single meal that any of us can eat. We have stuff everywhere, leftovers stashed ... it's making me crazy.

I need to go through the freezer this weekend & come up with a plan, even if it's using 1-2 items/week. Today, I managed to remove two small items (taco meat turned into taco quesadillas for the kids, & a rice/chicken single serving that I rolled into a taco shell & turned into a burrito).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 23, 2019, 11:50:41 AM
Progress:
-Used four pieces of chicken for dinner last night
-Rescued fruit about to go bad into smoothie
-Shredded brick of romano, and bagged for the freezer
-Used six way overripe bananas + a small bar of chocolate (that I shaved) for a chocolate banana bread
-Used a small can of chiles + the last of the chicken bouillon to make pork carnitas (currently in the crock pot). I've never tried carnitas before, so fingers crossed
-Defrosted turkey, gravy & stuffing for dinner tonight
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: krmit on February 23, 2019, 07:20:15 PM
I have a TON of random bits of leftovers in the fridge from a week of hosting guests, and next month I want to put a down payment on a veggie CSA and a half a pig for later in the summer, so it's time to eat down the pantry.

First priorities are:
cabbage stirfry leftovers
A quarter cabbage leftover from making that cabbage stirfry
2 slices of pizza
potato soup leftovers

But first I'm sipping whiskey because I just survived a week of hosting guests. :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 23, 2019, 08:03:21 PM
@krmit - I think the whiskey is well deserved :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 25, 2019, 12:32:25 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, how did the carnitas turn out?

Well done, @krmit!

This weekend I made cranberry, white chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies which finished up the first two ingredients, and left about a cup worth of oatmeal.

I also made the flax seed muffins I meant to make several weekends ago.

This week's dinners will use up a smoked sausage, the last package of pork ribs, chicken drumsticks and the salmon.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 25, 2019, 02:26:56 PM
@MountainGal
The carnitas were great! I thought they needed a bit more salt. I used this recipe. https://chefsavvy.com/crispy-slow-cooker-pork-carnitas/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 26, 2019, 03:08:20 PM
Thank you for posting the recipe, @MaybeBabyMustache!  I like the 10 minute prep time, and the fact it's low carb friendly.  Cannot wait to try it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on February 27, 2019, 03:33:26 PM
Any suggestions for using up a lot of cloves? I bought a jeroboam of cloves at Costco, forgetting that I had already bought cloves at another store... then meant to return the original jar but procrastinated too long...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 27, 2019, 04:46:14 PM
Any suggestions for using up a lot of cloves? I bought a jeroboam of cloves at Costco, forgetting that I had already bought cloves at another store... then meant to return the original jar but procrastinated too long...

I had a teacher who chewed them, presumably as a breath freshener... or, um, you could extract clove oil and use it as a local anesthetic? Maybe not practical. ;-)

I think there are recipes for baked ham that use a lot of cloves.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 27, 2019, 06:07:52 PM
Any suggestions for using up a lot of cloves? I bought a jeroboam of cloves at Costco, forgetting that I had already bought cloves at another store... then meant to return the original jar but procrastinated too long...


I use them in herbal teas, especially good for sore throat. Cloves won't come out of a mesh or metal tea ball, which is nice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on February 27, 2019, 09:29:03 PM
Hmm, never thought of a clove tea! Will have to investigate.

Good idea about a ham too. Maybe I'll make those oranges studded with cloves sometime too.

Actually I think some of our pet fish have Neon Tetra Disease... maybe I will make clove oil in case they have to be euthanized one day. :~(

Thanks for the suggestions!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 28, 2019, 10:07:35 AM
Minor progress to report from the week:
-Defrosted chili for dinner tonight
-Ate a breakfast sandwich for dinner (long day, plans fell apart)
-Ate ALL of the leftovers in the fridge
-Defrosted carnitas for my husband tonight
-Use pickled ginger in a cabbage/beef recipe. That was a super unusual purchase I made for one of my son's cooking graded projects, so happy to find a way to use it. It's not gone yet, but progress.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 28, 2019, 11:00:00 AM
~Ate leftovers from Sunday's brunch for today's breakfast
~Used up Gouda and salami from last month in yesterday's spinach salad
~DH brought last night's leftover ribs and tempura fried eggplant for lunch today
~Will eat Tuesday's leftover pesto spaghetti squash for dinner tonight
~I pulled chicken drumsticks out of the garage freezer for Saturday's dinner.  There's actually empty space in it now.  ;)

I will retrieve frozen leftovers this weekend for next week's dinners.

Our fridge is looking a bit bare.  (Thumbs up!)

ETA:  Does anyone know if pesto freezes well?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on February 28, 2019, 12:53:33 PM


ETA:  Does anyone know if pesto freezes well?


Pesto freezes really well. Either put it in an ice cube tray and transfer to a baggie when frozen or dump in a baggy and flatten to freeze. Then you can use small amounts as needed, either by breaking off what you need or taking however many cubes you need.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 01, 2019, 11:13:40 AM


ETA:  Does anyone know if pesto freezes well?


Pesto freezes really well. Either put it in an ice cube tray and transfer to a baggie when frozen or dump in a baggy and flatten to freeze. Then you can use small amounts as needed, either by breaking off what you need or taking however many cubes you need.

Thank you very much, @Rural!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on March 04, 2019, 10:51:00 AM
Hopping in on this for a month or so, we're going to be moving and I want to clear out as much as possible so we don't have to take it with us.  I want to at least empty fridge and freezer, so we don't have to worry about keeping cold in transit.  This week's menu should require no new grocery shopping.  My stretch goal is no grocery shopping before moving, except milk and fresh fruit/veggies (only after finishing frozen).  This may entail going vegetarian after a week or so, as we run out of frozen meats/fish.

Monday: Rajma to use up canned kidney beans, also using rice, stock from freezer, onions, canned tomato
Tuesday: Thawing chicken for chicken tinga tacos, canned tomato and corn tortillas from pantry
Wednesday: Saag to use up frozen spinach, can be served with more rice or tortillas
Thursday: Lasagna to use up ricotta in fridge, open box of lasagna noodles, and whatever veggies are handy (probably carrots, onions, and any spinach leftover)
Friday: Any leftovers not used for lunches
Saturday: Might be going out with friends, but if not, tuna steaks with more rice/stock and frozen veggies
Sunday: Possibly make soup to use up celery and carrots?  Or fried rice to use up leftovers and eggs?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 04, 2019, 12:48:16 PM
@Raenia, that menu looks great!

@Rural, the pesto has been frozen.  I'll transfer to a baggie tonight if I remember.

This weekend we used up a package of chicken legs, pork chops and a can of green beans.  I rediscovered the unopened gluten free flour, but realized I'll need to buy yeast for any recipes I researched.  There is a ham hock in the Crock Pot with several cups pinto beans today.

I pulled 3 containers of leftovers for us to eat for lunches.   Here's to restocking the plastic containers, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 04, 2019, 02:47:07 PM
I managed to get everyone to finish all of the leftovers in the fridge, so that was good progress for the week. We also used ground beef from the freezer, used the last of heavy cream that we bought for a recipe, and finished off the remainder of green cabbage.

I have a few random freezer items that I need to start working through with the kids, as they are the only ones who eat bagel bites & pizza rolls. We bought these for a party, and have leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on March 05, 2019, 08:03:20 AM
Thanks @MountainGal!  This is a little more complex than my usual menus, because of planning around what is in the house, rather than around 1-2 bought ingredients for  the week.

The chicken wasn't thawed enough yet this morning, so I'll be swapping Tuesday and Wednesday on the menu.  Also remembered that the saag will use up the last can of coconut milk in the pantry, so a bonus win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 06, 2019, 08:17:22 PM
-We finished off a bag of tortillas & have eaten half of a container of taco meat from the freezer
-We've eaten all of the mini beef patties cooked in a tomato cream sauce (weekend cooking)
-We used two chicken breasts leftover from a meal out in a cauliflower/cheese/chicken casserole (weekend cooking). There's probably one serving left of that.
-I have made SO MUCH progress on my tea stash! I've previously had to store it in a giant box, which was ugly & difficult to see into. I now have it in a tiny transparent tupperware container

I love heading into the weekend with zero leftovers, because it means we won't waste any food. We start the cooking process over again on Friday/Saturday/Sunday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on March 07, 2019, 05:35:22 AM
Last night I made blueberry muffins to use up a bag of frozen blueberries.  Didn't have any milk, so I substituted yogurt and water to get a similar consistency, and they came out fine.  Of course, now there's a half dozen muffins in the freezer (last time I made muffins the last few got moldy), but I'm sure they'll be gone in a week or two.

I also opened up a jar of poached plums I made in the summer, to eat in yogurt or oatmeal in place of fresh fruit, so I didn't have to go shopping yet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 07, 2019, 10:14:42 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, well done on the tea!

@Raenia, I love the substitution idea!

Been trying to stay out of the grocery store until next payday.  We're out of almond flour, so I used flax seed in Tuesday's meatloaf and as a breading on last night's cod.  The latter was different, but it worked.

I pulled out a freezer bag full of IDK what kind of homemade muffins for DH this week, which leads me to:

I am so glad I remember to label most items, LOL.  When poking around the freezer last night I came across a bag full of "red stuff."  I had no idea what it was until I turned it over and read what I'd written.  Ah.  Homemade pasta sauce.  Got it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on March 07, 2019, 02:03:03 PM
Finally cooked down one turkey carcass from the deep freezer for broth, and pulled off all the meat and skin remnants for the dog, who will be very happy tonight. I give him cooked down chicken bones if they get soft enough to crumble in my fingers, but turkey never gets there before the broth is ready, probably because of the size of the bones, so he only gets his "turkey goo."


That was this year's Thanksgiving. I think last year's is still down in the bottom of that freezer, so I have to decide what I'm going to do with it (cook down or throw out), but it's a start.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on March 12, 2019, 05:23:44 PM
Didn't keep to my menu last week, it was a little too ambitious!  I finally made the lasagna today, but I realized I would not have enough pre-made tomato sauce (homemade from canned tomatoes), so instead of opening a new can of tomatoes and using it unseasoned, I supplemented with an open jar of roasted red pepper spread that was in the fridge.  Turns out peppers are not my favorite thing in lasagna, but it's not bad, and at least I used up the red pepper spread.  Also used half the carrots and some onions.

We did not have the tuna last week, so we'll have it this week instead.  I'm sprouting some mung beans from the pantry to throw in a stir-fry as a side dish.  I also plan to have a meal this week of veggie soup from the freezer with fresh homemade bread, whichever day I have time to bake the bread.

I've been good about remembering to use stock to cook rice instead of water, hopefully I will be able to use it up at least as quickly as I create it.

I've been using a jar of ginger syrup in my oatmeal every morning, to use it up.  It's very good, but I haven't thought of many uses for it.  The syrup was a byproduct when I made crystallized ginger for Christmas.  We have a giant pile of ginger root in the fruit bowl, but I don't want to make another batch of crystallized ginger before I've used up the first batch of syrup!

Lastly, I finally have a tentative deadline for this challenge!  We made an offer on a house which was accepted, with the closing date 5/31.  Still some hurdles to make sure that happens, but I'll use that as my target date for now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 12, 2019, 08:15:37 PM
@Raenia - I've always found it helpful to have a moving deadline to motivate myself

As for us, we've done a good job of eating up leftovers this week. I'm trying to cook meals that most of us can eat, and that's working out well. I also organized the pantry a bit better, so I can see everything that we need to go through.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 13, 2019, 11:46:51 AM
~Ate half of the raspberry pie given to us at Christmastime (we had the flu, so I tossed it in the freezer)
~Used the rest of the pesto in pasta
~Used up another package of bacon
~Tonight's dinner will use a package each of ground venison and beef, and use up the rest of the spinach
~Used another can each of pineapple, green beans, beef broth, Vienna sausage, and corned beef hash
~Used several cups of dried pinto beans with a ham hock
~We're out of cheddar, so I've been substituting with mozzarella
~Made my own salad dressing

Money spent so far this month at the grocery store is $15.31.  My goal is $200 which will include a Sam's Club (for only the things we are completely out of) trip.  I'm resisting the urge to stock up on sale items at the grocery store this week.  We have so much on hand!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on March 14, 2019, 06:47:04 AM
One less packet of 'ham glaze' in my fridge now. I was making a crockpot version of a pork roast, and the recipe called for a cup of chicken broth. No chicken broth, and couldn't find the herbox bullion cubes anywhere in the cabinets.

Noticed I still have 3 packets of 'ham glaze' in the fridge. Always was afraid of it, now I got brave and substituted the ham glaze (which is actually a powder, though I thought it was a gel) by dissolving it in one cup of water.

Made the roast, turned out good. 

Two more ham glaze packets waiting to be used up. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on March 17, 2019, 12:33:14 AM
Used up a portion of bolognese and a portion of frozen pasta shells (which reheated surprisingly well) for lunch yesterday.

Just got out steak and chicken breast to defrost for dinners this week.

Added another broccoli stalk to my tub of soup ingredients. Thank goodness it's finally cooled down here and is almost soup weather.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 17, 2019, 08:08:40 AM
I finally used a small package of cheese that was some sort of holiday gift, plus most of the bottle of Frank's red sauce. Tried a new buffalo chicken dish & it was really good. It will go on the menu again. The dish also used up a package of chicken breasts.

As for today, I'll be making meatloaf (hopefully using some of the almond flour) & crispy pork carnitas for the freezer. We're in a reasonably good shape for the freezer & fridge. There are some oddball things that I need to figure out how to more actively eat down. Most especially a couple of loaves of bread. I have a chocolate chip banana bread that I'll take out when my parents are here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on March 17, 2019, 08:49:34 AM
I will probably buy some new food this week, DH wants milk or yogurt for his morning cereal, and we could use some fresh fruit and eggs.  However, the following meals should be entirely from the pantry/freezer:

Mon: Chana masala (dried chickpeas, fresh ginger, canned tomato, onion, frozen hot peppers, rice cooked with frozen stock)
Tues: Chicken fried rice (leftover rice, frozen chicken, frozen peas, onions, frozen corn, leftover bean sprouts from last week)
Wed: Pasta with pesto sauce and peas
Thurs: Gingered carrot and parsnip soup from freezer
Fri: Pizza (homemade crust, canned tomato, cheese, maybe onion)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Maya on March 18, 2019, 07:01:47 PM
Rejoining here as been trying to keep the grocery bill in check. Budget/goal for this year is $700/month. So far I'm under by $700 from the last two months. Cleared out a lot of meat in January and February but recently stocked up on chicken that was on sale.

It does feel good to use up things that have been around for ages.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 20, 2019, 10:26:10 AM
I went grocery shopping and to WalMart for since my last post.  Total spent this month is $231.26.  $57.02 of that is TP, vitamins and HBAs.  Goal was $200, and I haven't yet gone to Sam's Club.

Over the weekend I baked Irish soda bread which used up the flour from Christmas baking.  I opened the bag of gluten free flour for brownies, which really needs to be used up.  I bought yeast at the store which will help with a future quick bread.  I used a cup or so of mini marshmallows, also leftover from Christmas, on top of the brownies.

I made overnight oats for DH which used up the rest of the oatmeal, also from Christmas baking.

Also consumed was a bag of ranch flavored cauliflower (blegh-kinda mushy) from the freezer, a can of fruit cocktail, a can of diced chiles, and a pound of ground venison.

Out of the freezer for dinners this week:  2 packages of pork chops, a pound each ground sausage and venison, and a whole chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on April 05, 2019, 08:50:29 AM
Going to have to make a BJ's run this weekend (we're out of all meat and fish, and running low on canned tomato products), but I'll try to restrain our usual stock up mentality this time to not take too many steps back.  The freezer is slowly going down - only one quart of soup left, and we finished the frozen fruit and all the veggies except the corn.  Time to put chili on the menu!

I've been better at remembering to use the jars of fruit and jams I canned last year.  Ate most of a jar of peaches, a half-pint of cranberry marmalade, and opened a jar of strawberry preserves to have with toast.

Last night we had chana masala from dried chickpeas and canned tomato.  Earlier this week we had beans and rice with a 4-bean mix in the crockpot.

I have one lone can of tuna that I can't figure out how to use - DH doesn't like canned tuna, so I had them as snacks for just me, but I haven't been snacking in the afternoons as much recently.  Gotta think of some way to use it up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 05, 2019, 09:31:00 AM
I made a bolognese sauce this weekend that used up a bunch of stuff: wilty veggies, an open jar of marinara, two tubs from the freezer of homemade tomato sauce, plus frozen ground turkey that I bought for $.50/pound. It was delicious, and I loved making it from freezer items.

We also ate lasagna from the freezer last night, and we're entering the weekend with zero leftovers from the week, which is just how I like it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 05, 2019, 10:28:46 AM
@Raenia, that marmalade sounds really good!  Re: canned tuna, I usually put it on top of my lunch greens then doctor it up with olives, diced cucumber, and whatever else I have lying around.

As part of the eat all of the food and avoid waste, last month I focused on take out condiment packets:
Ketchup went on top of a meatloaf
The honey packet was used in tea
Soy sauce was used in an entree recipe
Parmesan packets went on top of pizza
Taco sauce packets are ongoing and never ending, LOL.

The two freezer basket levels are going down.  And the extra freezer in the garage now contains only venison and pork items.  This week we used up the orange roughy, lamb, and ground beef I cooked, seasoned and tossed into the freezer a few months ago.  So convenient to warm up for a work night dinner!

Kroger/City Market is currently having their buy 10 for $10, so I stocked up on items we were completely out of:  Rotel, broth and pineapple.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jnnfr on April 05, 2019, 05:43:36 PM
Greetings! First time poster here but I seem to have hit a second wind for using up stuff so thought I’d track it:
- ate the last pack of soba noodles for lunch with frozen peas, soy sauce, sriracha and Ume vinegar (which also needs using up)
- a pack of vegetarian gelatin, a sample pack of vanilla paste and a can of coconut cream went into a decent pannacotta.
Honestly I thought I’d done everything I could but somehow more stuff keeps appearing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on April 06, 2019, 08:18:51 AM
@Raenia, that marmalade sounds really good!  Re: canned tuna, I usually put it on top of my lunch greens then doctor it up with olives, diced cucumber, and whatever else I have lying around.

It's a cranberry and red onion marmalade from Ball's Back-to-Basics canning book. I can pm you the recipe if you want.

Used up the tuna as an afternoon snack yesterday, mixed up with garlic, basil, and balsamic vinegar and spread it on toast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 07, 2019, 08:20:03 AM
Greetings! First time poster here but I seem to have hit a second wind for using up stuff so thought I’d track it:
- ate the last pack of soba noodles for lunch with frozen peas, soy sauce, sriracha and Ume vinegar (which also needs using up)
- a pack of vegetarian gelatin, a sample pack of vanilla paste and a can of coconut cream went into a decent pannacotta.
Honestly I thought I’d done everything I could but somehow more stuff keeps appearing.

In my experience, more stuff always appears!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 08, 2019, 11:54:15 AM
@Raenia, that marmalade sounds really good!  Re: canned tuna, I usually put it on top of my lunch greens then doctor it up with olives, diced cucumber, and whatever else I have lying around.

It's a cranberry and red onion marmalade from Ball's Back-to-Basics canning book. I can pm you the recipe if you want.

Used up the tuna as an afternoon snack yesterday, mixed up with garlic, basil, and balsamic vinegar and spread it on toast.
Thank you for offering.  Alas, I do not can.  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: LostGirl on April 12, 2019, 10:57:34 AM
In an effort to keep food on hand all the time, I stocked up on frozen meats and seafood. So now we are working our way through that, which is good because our groceries and overall spending has been WAY TOO HIGH for comfort.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 05, 2019, 09:00:32 PM
I'm back with a challenge to remove 10 items from our freezer this month. I'm hoping for more,  but will start there. SO far, we're off to a good start, with a double serving of lasagna & a double serving of chicken enchiladas both being eaten. Additionally, I ate two different kind of chicken strips, grilled, over salads for lunches. I also defrosted a bag of ciabatta rolls for kids lunches for the week.

One kiddo is out of hot lunch money for the year, so today I helped him make easy lunch options: taquitos, mac & cheese, pizza, & wontons. Those are all prepped & ready to go in his thermos, along with fruit & veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 06, 2019, 12:26:49 AM
Made apple crumble last night to use up six very soft apples and some pantry ingredients.

Oh, and I used up one of my butter wrappers from the freezer. (Whenever I buy blocks of butter, the butter goes in the dish and the wrapping goes in a ziplock in the freezer. When I need one, I just get it out and hold it between my hands for 30 seconds to soften the small amount of butter left on it, and use that to grease a pan.)

The only thing I had to buy was the ice-cream...

Need to make another batch of veggie soup to use up some of the odds and ends I have stashed in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 06, 2019, 10:28:44 AM
@mustachepungoeshere, I love the butter wrapper idea!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lately:
~Gave DH's aunt the rest of the frozen cherry tomatoes from last year's harvest.  Here's to a bountiful garden again this year!
~Made bread which used up some of the gluten free flour and the rest of the granulated sugar
~Used up two types of olives, pepperoncini and almonds in a snack plate while entertaining a few weekends ago
~This week's suppers will include a BOGO pot roast, pork chops (last night), chicken legs, and cod from the freezer stash
~Cooked up some of the asparagus given to us by a neighbor, and processed and froze the rest for future use
~Canned items used:  Pineapple, peaches, bean-less chili, a can of soup, green beans, corn, 2 cans and a box of broth
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 08, 2019, 08:35:52 PM
Nice work, @mustachepungoeshere and @MountainGal . I'm up to 7 of 15 items for my May freezer challenge. Recent additions are: pulled buffalo chicken & a dinner serving of bolognese sauce.

For dinner tomorrow, we will eat the leftovers in our fridge. They include: a small serving of both the buffalo chicken & bolognese sauce. Several taco quesadillas. Mac & cheese. Salad fixing with a grilled chicken breast to go with. It should be an interesting spread. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on May 10, 2019, 08:10:21 AM
My SO has been away for a week so I've been slowly eating my way through the freezer and fridge.

Mainly making smoothies with frozen banana's/berries that have been in there too long, but also found some frozen nettle so will make lentil & nettle soup today (all with ingredients that I have in my cupboards already) as well as a few bags of frozen greens so will make a vegan palak paneer tonight or this weekend :) SO satisfying to almost have an empty freezer and fridge!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on May 16, 2019, 09:35:43 PM
Thursday night is "Iron Chef" night, which means that I cook something meant to use up the bits and bobs hanging around, as opposed to a recipe. Today it was gazpacho to dispose of a boatload of produce that was on its way out. Turned out pretty well!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 20, 2019, 08:54:00 PM
I spent a couple of hours cooking on Sunday and made some real progress clearing out the fridge, freezer and pantry.

- chicken enchiladas - I used beans, corn and enchilada sauce from the pantry with two packets of tortillas from the freezer, and fresh chicken and cheese.

-stuffed sweet potatoes - I had some chicken enchilada filling left over, so I defrosted two roasted sweet potato halves and topped them with the chicken and bean mix for lunches.

- chicken and veggie pies - easiest thing ever as I had already done all the prep. I defrosted a container of chicken and vegetable pie filling, defrosted a few sheets of puff pastry and made pies in my Texas muffin pan. I whisked an egg to glaze the pastry, then stashed it in a jar in the fridge and used it in scrambled eggs the next day.

- vegetable pasta bake - shells and pasta sauce from the pantry, with grated carrot and zucchini. I cut up the leftover carrot into sticks to snack on.

All up it was 26 meals, so lunches and dinners are sorted for the week.

I have another half bottle of white wine in the fridge and celery in the freezer, so those will go into another batch of chicken pie filling.

And I need to make another batch of vegetable soup to use up all my frozen broccoli stalks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 21, 2019, 07:32:41 AM
@mustachepungoeshere - wow! That is an amazing amount of cooking. Nice work! For us, we had takeout this weekend (long story, and mostly planned, but a few frugal fails in there). My goal is to not waste the leftovers, so we'll be having leftover Chinese today & tomorrow will be soup from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 21, 2019, 10:00:42 PM
@mustachepungoeshere - wow! That is an amazing amount of cooking. Nice work! For us, we had takeout this weekend (long story, and mostly planned, but a few frugal fails in there). My goal is to not waste the leftovers, so we'll be having leftover Chinese today & tomorrow will be soup from the freezer.

Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache. It actually came together really easily.

I put on some Netflix, poured a drink and got to work.

For me the key is to pick meals with minimal prep if I'm tackling more than one dish. Nothing with too much peeling or chopping, and no complicated recipes.

Chinese sounds good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on May 22, 2019, 10:28:41 AM
@mustachepungoeshere, I love the butter wrapper idea!


That IS a good idea, but unfortunately my dog voted it down - she lives to lick the butter wrapper!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on May 23, 2019, 12:38:49 AM
@mustachepungoeshere, I love the butter wrapper idea!


That IS a good idea, but unfortunately my dog voted it down - she lives to lick the butter wrapper!

:D :D :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on May 23, 2019, 10:06:26 PM
Very motivated by your batch cooking @mustachepungoeshere great work!

For anyone interested, there is a page you can download with ingredient substitutes here (https://s3.amazonaws.com/stonesoupebooks/Stonesoup-Ingredient-Substitute-Cheat-Sheet.pdf (https://s3.amazonaws.com/stonesoupebooks/Stonesoup-Ingredient-Substitute-Cheat-Sheet.pdf)) that could really help with fridge clean out.  If you have an orphan ingredient, try to use it as a substitute in another recipe for a similar ingredient type.  The author sent the page as a free download, so it should be fine to share here.

It's a very simplified resource, and I'm sure many of you already know some of these ideas but I liked that it gave me a few quick ideas on a single page.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 24, 2019, 08:01:12 AM
I've completed my May freezer challenge of using 15 items from the freezer:
Lasagna
Bag of chicken tenders
Chicken enchiladas
Bag of grilled chicken
Bag of ciabatta buns x2
Shredded chicken leftovers
Bolognese sauce
Breakfast sandwich
Bag of shredded turkey - x3
Wontons
Taco meat
Mystery chicken dish

I'll also be using one of two frozen pizza crusts tonight, to make the kids pepperoni pizza. The freezer is looking great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on May 26, 2019, 09:48:57 PM
I'm home on my own for the long weekend--my local family went out of town and my usual Memorial Day houseguest is coming later in the year. So it's a good weekend to use up:

Frozen bananas, coconut, and almonds in a loaf of banana bread--which also let me finish, finally, the bottle of vanilla that has been hanging around for ages
Half a bag of shrimp in a shrimp/feta dish that will be lunches next week
The end of a can of coconut milk in a frozen coconut limeade
The last ham and cheese pastry from a Trader Joe's package (had it with a poached egg over top)
A couple of slices of bacon in a fruit and cheese salad
The last two slices of Texas toast as mini-pizzas
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on June 24, 2019, 08:21:27 PM
Cleared up my freezer scraps and made a big batch of chicken stock this week. First part of the broth + pantry barley and frozen butternut squash became risotto.  Today I felt a cold coming on, so soup was the only option. I used more stock, plus a bunch of freezer items and pantry items (packet of thai soup seasoning, a tiny bit of garlic dip mix, pancit noodles, frozen veggies) to make a fantastic creamy, spicy soup.  The creamy part is my proud last minute innovation - I had 1.5 frozen avocados, so I thawed them, mashed them, and added them to the broth before anything else and used an immersion blender to make a nice smooth soup base. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 28, 2019, 03:02:09 PM
@halftimer , does freezing change the color/texture/whatever of the avocado?

Last weekend, DH smoked the remaining ham from the half pig we bought last year.  I put the ham hock in with pinto beans, etc. and it made several cups for consumption and freezing.

From the freezer last week, I ate leftover chicken Alfredo with spaghetti squash noodles, and a frozen prepped lasagna for one for lunches.  I used up a package of ground beef and Italian sausage in a Crock Pot meatloaf.  DH recently used a combo of both for burgers.  Yum.  Pulled out a package of lunch meat for DH's lunches.

Next week, except the 4th, we are going to focus on frozen leftovers.  It's time to gain back storage containers, LOL.

The grocery cost is down by about half this month vs April and May.  Closing the freezer drawer is getting a bit easier.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on July 03, 2019, 04:21:15 AM
I'm working on using food from my pantry & freezer, as always, but never seem to be too successful.  It takes a long time to eat all your food as a single person, haha.

My latest strategy was to move all of my "old" freezer contents (all produce I've gotten for free at work and from my CSA and frozen over the past few summers) into one of my chest freezers, and leave the other one with only new veggies I've frozen in 2019 and the meat I have.  I figure this way at least I can try to use up the oldest stuff first, and it'll be satisfying to watch the level of the freezer contents go down.

One thing I discovered was a ton of frozen corn from last year.  Anyone have any suggestions of how to use it?  It's really sweet (it was nice and fresh when I froze it), so that can get weird in some dishes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on July 03, 2019, 05:38:28 AM
One thing I discovered was a ton of frozen corn from last year.  Anyone have any suggestions of how to use it?  It's really sweet (it was nice and fresh when I froze it), so that can get weird in some dishes.

Chili and Shepherd's Pie are my top things to do with frozen corn.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 03, 2019, 12:20:31 PM
Corn chowder comes to mind.  :D

Fun with leftovers:

Monday I disassembled a leftover deli sandwich from a club outing and put the turkey and Swiss cheese on top of baby spinach which needs to be used up.  I added kalamata olives, a few almonds and cherry tomatoes, and topped everything with a homemade vinaigrette.  Yum.

Last night I reheated chili con queso from February with a little heavy whipping cream to loosen it up.  I made homemade tortilla chips out of a few tortillas for DH, and served pork rinds for me.

Tonight is a a funky mix of leftover enchilada spiced chicken with veggies from last month (?).  I'll saute some of the baby spinach and serve the chicken and veggies on top.

DH decided to grill ground venison and sausage burgers tomorrow.  They will go nicely with the hand picked asparagus given to us by our neighbors a few months ago.

For lunch, I am currently eating a leftover cheeseburger patty from the freezer on top of baby spinach, olives, cherry tomatoes and cheese with a drizzle of vinaigrette and mayo.

Happy Independence Day!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on July 07, 2019, 03:39:27 PM
@halftimer , does freezing change the color/texture/whatever of the avocado?
Hey @MountainGal this was the first time I used frozen avocados, so I'm not too sure since I just used them blended in soup. I don't think I would use the frozen ones in a fresh salad, but they looked ok for guac or smoothie purposes.

This weeks use up - crumbled leftover meatballs with mashed potatoes and added my one last portion of shepherds pie filling, heated them up together in the cast iron pan then topped with spicy shredded cheese and a layer of puff pastry. Baked for 15 minutes and had a psuedo-shepherd's pie that was a success.

Moving soon, so we are in big time use up mode. Also I'm swapping out my medium size freezer for my neighbour's tiny apartment size one when we go so that we have less weight to move. Made a cake yesterday and used up exactly all of our sugar and icing sugar. Washed the containers and packed some small glass spice jars inside for now. I'll re-stock on those baking basics once we unpack.

I have some phyllo pastry in the fridge thawing now to use up. I also have some pomegranate flavored honey that I've never used (why did I even buy it?!). I feel like those can go together in another sweet dessert this week. Still googling ideas on that..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 08, 2019, 01:33:16 PM
@halftimer, thanks for letting me know.  And that shepherd's pie sounds tasty.  Good luck on your move!

~~~~~~~~~
Am currently eating the remaining ground venison and pork sausage patty from the 4th of July.

Last night we ate the leftover BBQ pork chops from February I think the container said....?

While warming up last night's dinner I cooked the remaining package of ground beef (need to restock!) then simmered it in pasta sauce and spices.  Will serve it over angel hair pasta tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on July 08, 2019, 01:52:37 PM
Today I used frozen cheese and frozen cream (I freeze leftover heavy cream in a silikone icecube mold and then pop them in a glass container once frozen) to make delicious pasta with prawns and lemon sauce.

I need to use up some more frozen soup vegetable because they are getting too old in my freezer. It is summer but quite fresh right now so some potato soup might be in the books.

I also need to get grip on my spice collection... it is insane.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 12, 2019, 10:06:57 AM
Hoping someone here will have an idea... I bought some fancy yogurt on sale (organic whole milk grass-fed etc.) and... I *hate* the flavor. It's plain yogurt but has a really unpleasant (to me) eau de barnyard flavor. I guess it's just THAT organic. :-/  (It is cow's milk, not goat or sheep, for the record...) So, luckily I only bought two cups, but is there something I can do with the second cup that will really mask the flavor of it? I put fruit compote in the first one and still couldn't stand eating it. I was thinking baked goods or something, but I'm afraid it will make a whole batch of something taste bad... has anyone ever run into this? Is it not worth wasting other food to use up a sub-$1 cup of yogurt?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on August 12, 2019, 01:59:06 PM
Use it in a batch of pancakes or cornbread?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 13, 2019, 11:50:24 AM
Re: yogurt, I eat a low carb brand yogurt with a bit of an aftertaste.  Fresh blueberries or strawberries help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Am glad this thread revived a bit!  I've been concentrating on the freezer foods lately, and always think about y'all when doing so, LOL.

DH and I have been cooking the rest of year's half pig as another is coming in soon.  Lately:
-Sausage and beef hamburgers
-Grilled pork chops
-Leftover pork belly from May and yellow squash stir fry
-This weekend:  Sausage in a breakfast for dinner meal, and more pork chops

Other items:
-Last year's apples given to us by a friend went into a Crock Pot apple crisp
-Used up the shrimp, salmon, and 2 bags frozen veggies, oh, and one of the frozen pizzas, LOL.
-Been using last year's fresh frozen berries in cocktails and ice water
-An old box of mac and cheese will pair with the last of the ground beef tomorrow night

I can see the bottom of the freezer basket!  Time to go shopping for proteins...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 13, 2019, 03:53:03 PM
I have a new challenge on my monthly goals where I try & get rid of 10 items from my freezer that aren't part of our "core staples". I added a similar challenge for 5 random pantry items. So far, so good. Here's what we've used so far:

Pantry:
-Sleeve of cookies the kids didn't like - donated them to son's camp party
-family sized bag of Doritos (how do the kids not like Doritos???) - donated them to son's camp party
-8 individual sized bags of chips - donated to camp party
-Attempted to salvage, but ended up tossing 1/2 a bag of goldfish & the very last dregs of a giant tub of party mix. Both were stale, sadly.

Freezer:
-1 container of carnitas
-1 container of tacos
-1 package of mini naan bread
-1 large package of rotisserie chicken
-1/2 package of tortillas
-Remainder of a bag of chicken strips
-2/3 of a family sized package of pizza rolls (again with the summer camp donation)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on August 14, 2019, 06:15:50 AM
Hoping someone here will have an idea... I bought some fancy yogurt on sale (organic whole milk grass-fed etc.) and... I *hate* the flavor. It's plain yogurt but has a really unpleasant (to me) eau de barnyard flavor. I guess it's just THAT organic. :-/  (It is cow's milk, not goat or sheep, for the record...) So, luckily I only bought two cups, but is there something I can do with the second cup that will really mask the flavor of it? I put fruit compote in the first one and still couldn't stand eating it. I was thinking baked goods or something, but I'm afraid it will make a whole batch of something taste bad... has anyone ever run into this? Is it not worth wasting other food to use up a sub-$1 cup of yogurt?

Maybe use it to make a smoothie?  The proportions make it more likely to mask the flavor, but it's also only one serving to choke down if you don't like it, vs. ruining an entire batch of baked goods.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on August 14, 2019, 06:19:47 AM
I'm at the weird time of year where I'm trying to freeze all of the free produce I get at work, but also have a lot still in the freezer from previous years.  (It's always surprising to me how little food I seem to use up from my stores as a single person - and it's not like I have a small appetite, haha.)  I did rearrange my 2 (small) chest freezers so one has all the pre-2019 food in it and the other one is being filled up with food from this summer.  That way I can see myself making progress in eating down the one freezer, which is satisfying.

Another complicating factor is that due to some minor jaw issues, I've been on a no-chew/soft-chew diet for the last 2 weeks (luckily today is the last day!), so I bought a bunch of food to accommodate that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lazycow on August 24, 2019, 05:49:26 AM
Greetings! First time poster here but I seem to have hit a second wind for using up stuff so thought I’d track it:
- ate the last pack of soba noodles for lunch with frozen peas, soy sauce, sriracha and Ume vinegar (which also needs using up)
- a pack of vegetarian gelatin, a sample pack of vanilla paste and a can of coconut cream went into a decent pannacotta.
Honestly I thought I’d done everything I could but somehow more stuff keeps appearing.

Yes, I feel the same way. Love soba noodles, but never thought of adding frozen peas. I usually add a dehydrated sachet of vegetable flakes, as my son likes spicy ramen but not the veg flakes.

I have a jar of bonito flakes (which, I found out, is dehdrated skipjack tuna) to use up which apparently can be used instead of salt. Added some to my overly sweet pumpkin soup and it tasted a lot better.

My personal challenge is to use up all the stuff in the freezer that the rest of the family doesn't eat before I go on a solo trip overseas for 3 weeks. Otherwise my husband will take the opportunity to 'organise' the freezer, which means chuck out anything he doesn't like!

Over the next 10 days I need to use up:

- container of poached quinces (will add to my morning porridge)
- frozen bananas (smoothies and/or banana bread)
- small jar of leftover bechamel sauce (might make cheesy leek topping on toast for lunch)
- a kilo of pecans (making pecan scrolls tomorrow and maybe pecan pie later in the week. I have a recipe that uses  maple syrup rather than corn syrup)


-

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 24, 2019, 11:09:54 AM
Stumbled into something very successful while using things up...I had the end of a bottle of ridiculously spicy ranch dressing that Trader Joe's put out awhile back. Decided to try cutting it with other dairy products, so I did a dip with one part Neufchatel and about two parts cottage cheese, blended up with the various seasonings. The flavor is fine, but the consistency is amazing. Where cream-cheese based spreads get stiff in the refrigerator, this does not...it stays creamy and dippable. I have tried just cottage cheese in the past, blended, and it's OK, but including some cream cheese really improved it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 26, 2019, 01:08:33 PM
The freezer is back to full after last week's grocery shopping.  Lately:

~Deer chili:  2 packages deer sausage, the rest of the dried pinto beans, and 5 cans of various tomatoes and a can of diced chiles
~Pasta dish:  Birdseye penne "pasta", half bag shrimp, scallops
~Brunch:  The rest of the eggs, the last tortilla, and a bagel
~Crock Pot meal:  2 deer steak, a can of diced chiles, and a few random not quite ripe cherry tomatoes from our garden.  Oh, and a can of unpopular beer leftover from a June BBQ, LOL.
~Snacks:  I bagged up the rest of some interesting baby dill pickles for the work week
~Random:  I'll eat the rest of the Atkins prepared meals this week while DH is out of town

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 26, 2019, 06:48:50 PM
I need to start working through our freezer & pantry. Unfortunately, my husband has food allergies that have changed the way I cook, and now have a bunch of 1/2 opened items that we aren't using up. I feel terrible tossing them & can't donate them because they are 1/2 opened. I'll have to see what I can make that the kids will definitely eat up, as they aren't eating the same diet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 29, 2019, 11:09:50 AM
-Used four bananas to make a chocolate chip banana bread for an event I'm attending tomorrow. The freezer is still packed with bananas. I chose a recipe with sour cream to use up the rest of a sour cream container in the fridge. It didn't quite use it up, but at least it's close to empty.
-Sent my son to school with a hot dog from the freezer (in his thermos) & I'll be having the last hot dog on a salad today. It sounds awful, but it's actually fine. I buy the premixed salad kits (I know, totally not MMM) & then top with whatever protein is available. This clears out the last of hot dogs from a barbecue we hosted.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 29, 2019, 05:05:06 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, the bread sounds delicious!  And, yes, putting whatever protein available on top of salads is something I do as well.  The hot dog sounds good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on September 02, 2019, 12:24:54 PM
I did a long-overdue freezer inventory today.  I purchased bins to help organize the contents of my 2 chest freezers and took the opportunity to make a new spreadsheet of the contents (and get rid of a few sad things).  Between my 3 total freezers, I have 107 unique items in my inventory, and often multiples of those items.  (How do I still have 8 jars of corn salsa I made in 2017?  Or 31 portions total of 6 different variations of pesto?)

I want to tighten up my (rising) grocery budget for the rest of the year, so hopefully I can manage to both free up freezer space and save money.  Seems realistic!  I also get free produce at work so I need to eat up some of the older stuff over the next month or so in order to make room to fully take advantage of it.

This weekend, I'm doing more adding to the freezer than using up stuff, though I did use some frozen leeks from 2015 in the tomato risotto I made yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 02, 2019, 02:18:26 PM
@SquashingDebt - when I see things like the duplicates or high volume from a long time ago, it typically indicates I didn't plan well with how much I made. Insert my own issues with the four jars of pesto I have from 2 summers ago, while we have a huge basil bush outside.

For me, I used a package of ground turkey & combined it with a super inexpensive ($.99/lb) seasoned ground beef that I bought on mark down. They had both been in the freezer for a while. I turned them into taco meat (browned together) & they are now back in the freezer for easy meal prep.

We used the last of a jar of mayo, and we are so close to using the last of the half & half. That one gets away from me sometimes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 03, 2019, 01:44:53 PM
DH picked up the half pig this past Saturday.  And it's bigger than last year's, LOL.  To make room, we moved the remaining sausage from the garage freezer into the kitchen freezer, and a small container of leftover pumpkin pie and pork belly went into the fridge to use up.  Both freezers are FULL, so there will be no reason to buy proteins this month.

Recently:
More ground beef and pork sausage burgers, and a package of hot dogs
Italian sausage spaghetti sauce
Blueberries in my cocktails, smoothies and on top of yogurt
A bag of frozen cauliflower was made into mock tater salad
Flaxseed has been used in smoothies and mug muffins
Breaded and fried yellow crookneck squash from the garden
Cherry tomatoes from the garden into salads
Tomorrow night will be something with chicken breast and Thursday will be fish
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 03, 2019, 05:59:04 PM
I defrosted a container of chicken enchilada leftovers. I have to eat out of sync with everyone else tonight, so may as well use something up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: hipposrock on September 11, 2019, 05:31:00 PM
I'm jumping into this challenge! Starting nowish! I will be going on vacation on Saturday, so priority for now will be perishables. There's not much there, some cheese, eggs, and soy milk are the main ones. The freezer is pretty empty. What's really got me right now is my overflowing pantry shelves. Bags of Tasty Bites Madras Lentils (I like the brand so when I saw it at Costco it was a MUST, but then... meh). Lots of Annie's Mac and Cheese, brown rice cripsies, three bags of flour, a ton of canned goods, etc, etc. And then things that I bought for "emergency food" to bring hiking/skiing and never did so it will expire soon. Lots to get through!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: imadandylion on September 11, 2019, 07:07:55 PM
I've been doing this challenge without even realizing it! My fiance has been on a really long work trip, and I've for some reason been pretty lazy to go to the grocery story. I think I went 2 weeks without going, and then another 2 weeks where I only stopped by once just to pick up some fruit/veggies just for me. I'd been living on things in the pantry and frozen produce. This, plus moving and having less pantry space in the new house, really opened my eyes up to just how much food we'd been hoarding without realizing it, just because our last place had such a big pantry by comparison.

Some things I'm aiming to use up soon:

- Some ground Quorn (frozen vegetarian crumble), which my fiance bought by accident but for some reason never ended up returning. I started using it the other day, so I think I'll throw the rest of the bag into making tomorrow's work lunch and dinner with pasta (which I also have a lot of in the pantry... those buy 2 for whatever price deals really get us throwing boxes of the stuff into the cart, I guess).

- Boca vegetarian crumble. We already started using this a couple months ago but should finish it. So probably this weekend, maybe do something with beans or lentils, or make some sort of vegetarian chorizo burrito?

- Lentils and legumes of all kinds. I have a lot of dried ones and some canned. My priority will be to soak and cook the dry ones first.

- Baking stuff. Flour. Powdered sugar. Baking soda. Baking powder. I have so much of those last two items because I keep forgetting I already have those, and just buy new ones. :/ They have dates on them, and they're still good. I've been meaning to make bread or other baked goods AND use that kitchen aid mixer I received as a gift for christmas, so this is a good excuse to do all of those things.

- Agave syrup. One of us bought this stuff for a recipe, and i gotta say, I'm not really a fan. It's somehow too sweet/candy-like for my taste. Yeah, I know, it's a sugar. But I prefer maple syrup.

- Any condiments in the side fridge - some varieties of vegetarian hoisin or 'oyster' sauce. I kind of don't even want to use them, so I don't know why we have them, but I also don't like to waste, so... I will try to do something.

- Old spices. I'd like to just use them up finally and then replenish with new ones as we need them. We just don't have space for a lot of spice jars.

- Some liver cleanse protein powder mixture that I got from my doctor that I never finished. It comes in one of those big plastic cylindrical containers, like most protein powders, so it takes up a lot of space.

- Frozen cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and other veggies. I decided I really hate frozen produce because no matter what, the texture is never as good, so I need to eat this asap! Maybe in some version of vegetable soup with old spices and legumes and some fresh leafy greens? lol

- Dried porcini mushrooms. I have a couple of bags of this when I thought I was going to do something really cool and fancy. But then I didn't, so here we are. I'll have to look up a recipe.

- Random tetrapak of carrot ginger soup. Work lunch?

- Tubs of miso paste. I have 3 different kinds, only 1 is my favorite. So I need to start using and getting rid of the other 2 ASAP.

- Pine nuts. Again had the intent to do something fancy. Maybe I'll just throw them on top of salad or pasta.

- Buckwheat porridge, quinoa flakes, and rolled/quick-cooking oats. Meant to be healthy breakfast items, but I vastly prefer steel cut oats, I've learned, so these things need to just go away.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on September 13, 2019, 12:05:01 PM
I'm making some progress.

Meals last week:

Corn soup (used corn, corn stock, and onions from the freezer, plus coconut milk from the pantry)
Pasta salad (used peas from the freezer)
Asian noodle bowls (used scallion sauce from the freezer, rice noodles from the pantry, and broccoli and eggplant from the fridge)
Normal breakfast smoothies (used frozen berries I had uncovered instead of buying more from the grocery store like usual)

Meals/snacks this week:

Tomato risotto (will use rice from the pantry and leeks from the freezer)
Stuffed peppers (will used leftover pepper stuffing from the freezer)
Honey cranberry cornmeal bread (will use cranberries and walnuts from the freezer and cornmeal from the pantry)
Chocolate oat milk pudding (will use oat milk I got free with a coupon from the grocery store)
Peach jam (using up peaches before they go bad)
Coleslaw (using a cabbage that's been in the fridge for a few weeks now)


I'm also about to wash some mason jars so I can fill them with my pantry items that aren't properly stored (cornmeal in a paper bag, tea in the plastic bag it came in, etc.) so I can extend the shelf life of those items.  It'll look pretty too.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 13, 2019, 01:09:00 PM
wow - great progress @SquashingDebt & @imadandylion !

I was traveling all week, so there was a bit of food waste (my husband isn't the leftover ninja that I am). I did defrost some seasoned ground turkey for dinner tonight, and will make a spaghetti sauce. Adults will have with zoodles, kids will have with regular pasta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 15, 2019, 09:22:49 AM
Since Friday, we've made good progress:
-Used up a very discounted Italian seasoned lb of ground turkey (freezer) - went into spaghetti sauce
-Marinara sauce (pantry) - went into spaghetti sauce
-Taco meat (freezer) - went into taco slaw
-Tiny container of homemade tomato sauce (freezer) - went into spaghetti sauce
-Used a ton of basil for pesto - one for us, dropped off one with our neighbor
-Used tahini & a can of garbanzo beans - made hummus
-My 12 yo wanted to make pizza, so finally used the rest of a brick of shreddable mozzarella & pepperoni that were in the use it or lose it phase of the fridge

For today, I'm making crockpot carnitas for the freezer. We do all of the steps but the crisping. Defrost from the freezer, and then crisp before serving. They are a freezer staple. Now that there's more room in the fridge, we can fill it with carnitas. Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 22, 2019, 01:23:58 PM
I didn't have quite enough peanut butter for my protein bars today. I used my food processor & turned the remainder of a bag of macadamia nuts that had been lingering in the pantry for way too long into a nut butter, and mixed that with the peanut butter. One more item out of the pantry!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 23, 2019, 01:36:24 PM
Lately:

Remaining pecan pieces went on top of today's salad
Leftover cauliflower was made into a puree to use as a side dish last night
Leftover broccoli was sauteed with baby spinach and asparagus for a side last week
A jar of rather runny homemade apricot jam will go on top of a pork roast in the Crock Pot tomorrow
Garden fresh crookneck squash will be cooked as a side dish tonight, and in Wednesday's stir fry
Frozen leftovers such as deer chili will feed DH when I soon go out of town

I need to dig around the bottom freezer drawer to figure out what else is lurking there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dee_the_third on September 23, 2019, 09:29:01 PM
Here's an interesting one: found half a bag of gummed together stale marshmallows at the back of the pantry. In the absence of any prepared cereal in the house, we're having marshmallow popcorn for dessert tomorrow!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on September 26, 2019, 11:09:03 PM
I Need to get back to this... I am away on the weekend, but on Monday I will put a basket on the kitchen counter and will put in all dry items that need to be used up. I am overwhelmed by the content of my kitchen cabinets...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on September 28, 2019, 09:56:51 AM
I haven't been cooking much the last week, so no major progress on the freezer contents, but I did eat 3 frozen leftover meals (lentils makhani, corn-coconut soup, and stuffed squash) for lunches this week.  I also finished off 2 more bags of frozen fruit from 2017 - 4 to go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on October 03, 2019, 11:01:06 AM
I put 25 items in a basket in the kitchen that i would like to use up in October. Tonight I will use a pack of naan bread and two packs of Curry Sauce in a indian style fish curry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 04, 2019, 01:15:27 PM
I have a couple packages of ham in the freezer still from buying it on sale before Christmas.  Using that up along with some homegrown potatoes and leeks to make soup for dinner tonight.  I've been eating low-carb all summer, so the stash of potatoes has been going very slowly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 06, 2019, 02:17:08 PM
This weekend I'm keeping it simple and only making one dish (I have lots of frozen leftovers to round out my week).

I have Cabbage-Farro soup from Smitten Kitchen on the stove right now.  It used cabbage and rosemary from the fridge, farro from the pantry, and onions, leeks (because there weren't enough onions), and 2 portions of pork broth from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 06, 2019, 03:38:32 PM
We are out of peanut butter, so I used the last of a can of peanuts, and maybe 2 tbsp of very old pistachios to make nut butter for my protein bars.

My son used up a couple of freezer bananas for smoothies this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 07, 2019, 11:06:54 AM
Nicely done, @MaybeBabyMustache!

As posted earlier a few weeks ago, I dug around the kitchen freezer Saturday, and asked DH for a summary of the garage freezer.  These resulted in:

Ham steaks:  Some went onto last night's pizza, the rest will be used for lunches.
A pound each deer and pork sausage is in today's Crock Pot meatloaf.
I pulled June's leftover chicken and "dumplings" for tomorrow night.
I also pulled last month's leftover rotisserie chicken for my salads this week.
The last of the salmon will be eaten Wednesday night.

Pantry/fridge:
The rest of the coconut flour went into last night's Fathead pizza crust.
Cheddar remnant was used in Saturday's cheesy scrambled eggs.
The rest of a jar of peanut butter went onto last week's pork chops.
I processed grapes, strawberries, and cauliflower for lunch sides this week.
The rest of the kalamata olives went on top of this week's salads.

We've got half a cow coming so we REALLY need to make freezer space!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 07, 2019, 02:29:56 PM
My dad was in town, so I took a break from the low-carb diet and used a large portion of a bag of masa to make tortillas.  Cooked some black beans we also haven't been using, and used a jar of green enchilada sauce I canned in 2018 to make a big pan of enchiladas Suizas.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 07, 2019, 03:55:40 PM
Wow @MountainGal - that's a lot of progress! Awesome work
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on October 07, 2019, 04:27:16 PM
i need help...

we just picked up many, many, many pounds of root vegetables from our CSA.  so yummy but so many!

potatoes, yams, garlic, onions, winter squash-- I have a handle on what to do with these..

but the tricky one is BEETS.

I really only cook roasted beets as a side dish or thinly slice raw baby ones for a salad.  But I need more ideas/recipes as to get through the amount I have (almost 20lbs).  what's your favorite way to use beets?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on October 07, 2019, 05:55:31 PM
i need help...

we just picked up many, many, many pounds of root vegetables from our CSA.  so yummy but so many!

potatoes, yams, garlic, onions, winter squash-- I have a handle on what to do with these..

but the tricky one is BEETS.

I really only cook roasted beets as a side dish or thinly slice raw baby ones for a salad.  But I need more ideas/recipes as to get through the amount I have (almost 20lbs).  what's your favorite way to use beets?
Beet soup!
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/215037/lithuanian-saltibarsciai-cold-beet-soup/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on October 07, 2019, 06:51:49 PM
i need help...

we just picked up many, many, many pounds of root vegetables from our CSA.  so yummy but so many!

potatoes, yams, garlic, onions, winter squash-- I have a handle on what to do with these..

but the tricky one is BEETS.

I really only cook roasted beets as a side dish or thinly slice raw baby ones for a salad.  But I need more ideas/recipes as to get through the amount I have (almost 20lbs).  what's your favorite way to use beets?

Pickled beets!  Great way to preserve too many beets, I like them cold as a side dish or in salad.  For fresh cooking, I also like boiled (until the skins slip off, then they're done), but I just really love the flavor of beets.  If you're not a beet person, that might not be for you.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 07, 2019, 08:37:28 PM
i need help...

we just picked up many, many, many pounds of root vegetables from our CSA.  so yummy but so many!

potatoes, yams, garlic, onions, winter squash-- I have a handle on what to do with these..

but the tricky one is BEETS.

I really only cook roasted beets as a side dish or thinly slice raw baby ones for a salad.  But I need more ideas/recipes as to get through the amount I have (almost 20lbs).  what's your favorite way to use beets?

Red Flannel Hash with eggs on top makes  a good dinner.  Ham or bacon is good if you don't have corned beef (or go vegetarian if that's your thing).  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/red-flannel-hash/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 08, 2019, 05:07:13 AM
i need help...

we just picked up many, many, many pounds of root vegetables from our CSA.  so yummy but so many!

potatoes, yams, garlic, onions, winter squash-- I have a handle on what to do with these..

but the tricky one is BEETS.

I really only cook roasted beets as a side dish or thinly slice raw baby ones for a salad.  But I need more ideas/recipes as to get through the amount I have (almost 20lbs).  what's your favorite way to use beets?

Shredded along with carrots to make a coleslaw-like salad.  I usually use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and cumin as the main parts of the dressing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on October 08, 2019, 10:15:13 AM
but I just really love the flavor of beets.  If you're not a beet person, that might not be for you.

we have a sliding scale of beet lovers in our house.  Spouse loves beets and would eat them every week.  I also like beets but not as much as spouse.  Kid2 is well on the road to liking beets and eats them roasted without complaint.  Kid1 is slowest on the journey to liking beets but keeps trying them (with some nudging from us).

Mainly with this fall season,  I hope to explore all the cool ways to eat beets to find which way(s) work(s) best.

Borscht is out-- it was one of my first thoughts as well, but it failed.  will try again later, maybe after a little time.

@horsepoor Red Flannel Hash is a great idea!  will definitely be trying that (Kid1 is a big bacon eater).

@Raenia Pickling is also a cool idea.  Kid1 and Kid2 both loved eating pickled mushrooms last weekend ( mushrooms are a food they normally skip).  so pickling might help.  is there a specific recipe that works best for beets or can I just use something like a quick pickle?

thanks everyone for the suggestions so far!  Let me know if you have more ideas to help Kid1 and Kid2.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Raenia on October 08, 2019, 10:35:30 AM
I think the recipe I used was something like this: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/38109/pickled-beets/, however there are also recipes with more savory spicing or apple cider vinegar.  I can dig up my recipe tonight and double check.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 13, 2019, 05:46:38 PM
Today's project was stuffed peppers.  I got lots of free poblano peppers from work, so I used 2 bags of tomato sauce, 1 bag of leeks, and 2 packs of chorizo from the freezer along with 1.5 bags of rice that was near its use by date to make stuffed peppers, with the only ingredient specially purchased for the recipe being the cheese.  I also used up some more of the fancy taco seasoning my grandmother bought me.  My grandmother passed away 10+ years ago...

I made 14 servings of stuffed peppers to go in the freezer for winter lunches and have about 3 servings to eat this week.  (Note, this may have actually resulted in a net increase of freezer space used, but now the ingredients are in a much more usable form.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 20, 2019, 06:56:39 AM
A few wins this week:  I had some "almost-finished" meals in the freezer - stuffing for delicata squash I froze a year ago when I had extra, and makhani sauce from June.  I bought paneer and finished the meal of paneer makhani on Friday, and I have free delicata squash from work that I'll make into stuffed delicata this evening.

I also finished a jar of jam so got a new jar out of the freezer.  Strawberry, that I froze in 2016, apparently.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anoushka on October 20, 2019, 09:54:15 PM
This is such a great idea! And a good time for me to try it out, since the grocery budget is dwindling and we are prone to wasting food around here.

Tonight my daughter made pasta with a sauce made from white wine, peas, mushrooms, and cream cheese. It was delicious. We have lots of rice and dried beans, some chicken thighs, bacon, and a bunch of canned food. I'm looking forward to getting creative with the pantry ingredients this week and just supplementing with some produce from a veggie stand nearby, and maybe a gallon of milk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 21, 2019, 12:57:20 PM
Hi, @Anoushka!  That pasta sauce sounds divine!!!

Lately:
Made a stir fry using a bag of riced cauliflower and a beef sausage from the freezer, and a few fresh ingredients
Used up a package of bacon for brunch
Used the rest of the mozzarella cheese in low carb Fathead bagel bombs yesterday
Made tacos using up a pound each regular and spicy pork sausage
Reheated frozen chicken Alfredo from the freezer
Sauteed the rest of a jar of marinaded asparagus

Frozen veggies piled up over the summer as we were eating from the garden.  A nice problem to have.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anoushka on October 21, 2019, 10:06:20 PM
@MountainGal Tacos with spicy sausage sound amazing!

My kids are sick, so my brother's fiancee gave me some homemade chicken broth and I made chicken soup with a few chicken thighs and the random mushrooms, onions, garlic, and potatoes we had that needed to be eaten. I put a little more of the leftover white wine in there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 27, 2019, 08:45:38 AM
Over the past few days:
-used a tiny tub of sunflower butter (along with peanut butter) in protein bars. I rescued the sunflower butter at a summer camp pick up when I saw all of the kids throwing their unopened butter in the garbage
-a gifted container of Trader Joes tomato & red pepper soup, which was quite good
-Turned cabbage & carrots into a coleslaw mix, & then used the dressing I have prepped in the fridge to make coleslaw
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 28, 2019, 04:37:41 PM
This is more of a hypothetical future question since I'm considering a bulk purchase... does anyone know how long organic whole wheat pasta will keep? (Probably organic makes no difference, but who knows.) I've been stung a few times by brown rice going rancid fairly quickly so I'm worried that whole grain pasta will be similar. There's a brand I like that's no longer carried in any stores I can find locally and I was thinking of ordering a case of it online... but I can't check the expiration dates before I order.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 31, 2019, 01:50:23 PM
@Dollar Slice, we don't usually eat pasta, so I'm not sure on the expiration date.  Did you try looking it up online?

According to my spreadsheet, this month I spent:
 $455.28 food
 $95.71 HBAs

Crazy!  And this reflects nearly zero food waste.  I partly blame it on Halloween candy.  (blush)

I've been majorly stressed which is when I do my best cleaning.  Yesterday was the fridge:
~Boiled eggs for breakfasts and lunch snacks
~Moved eggs from the cartons into the fridge bin and put the cartons into the recycle stack to give to a chicken owning friend.
~Processed celery, berries, baby spinach, etc. for lunches
~Put cream cheese and pb into single servings for the celery
~Divided leftover chili into two servings, one for DH and I each
~Grated the rest of the cheddar for DH to put on his chili today
~Tossed 2 old, bought on sale, portobello mushrooms as I just didn't want to chance it
~Poured out an expired mini bottle of apple juice DH bought over the summer for smoking meat purposes
~Put yogurt into several single servings for breakfasts here at the office
~Put olives and pickle slices into single servings for DH's lunches
~Wiped down every shelf
~Organized leftover juices from our Halloween party
~Will ask our neighbor if she would like the leftover bloody Mary mix from said party

The fridge is looking really good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 31, 2019, 04:53:35 PM
Pretty good progress since I last posted - I made lentil soup which used the rest of a bag of lentils from the pantry, a pack of sausage, a bag of tomatoes, some leeks, and some celery all from the freezer, and Swiss chard from my CSA.  Yum!  (https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/01/lentil-soup-with-sausage-chard-and-garlic/ for anyone who's interested - it's one of my favorite soup recipes)

A slight fail involved buying lots of expensive cheese to make a pumpkin-kale-cheese-pasta bake.  But it was delicious at least!  And I have mozzarella and ricotta left over that I'm going to use for a baked ziti-type dish this weekend.

My freezers are all reaching capacity with all the free veggies I've been putting in them, so I need to focus on clearing out bulky items by eating them so that I can freeze some more free spinach (for my daily smoothies) while it's still available.  It's very satisfying freezing the spinach, because each bag frozen is $6 I won't have to spend this winter on greens.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 31, 2019, 05:57:24 PM
Made a chicken stirfry with peanut sauce tonight to address some of the expired jar of peanut butter that was lurking in the back of the pantry cupboard.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on November 26, 2019, 11:14:52 PM
OH BOY THAT'S TASTY!

I've had a loooong hiatus from the forums, but this thread is among the first I checked when I came back. I probably still have food in my freezer and cupboards from the last time I posted.

*sob*

Anyway, tonight I was inspired by the simplicity of the baked rice and bean dish in this video:

https://youtu.be/DawtW1CWhIw (https://youtu.be/DawtW1CWhIw)

But I made it with completely different ingredients and a completely different flavour profile...

1 large can red kidney beans
1 large can diced tomatoes
Chopped celery and red pepper (from freezer)
Most of a pkg of taco seasoning
Unused pkg of seasoning from a broccoli cheddar rice mix
Long grain brown rice
Pop in oven and bake

Yummy!

Also had a take-out container of pumpkin soup that I just wasn't in the mood for. So, supplemented with some extra milk, it became the liquid necessary to make some gorgeous looking pumpkin cornbread muffins, complete with a sprinkling of pepitas on top.

Yup, I'm a happy camper at the moment...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 30, 2019, 02:21:26 PM
Our fridge & both freezers are stuffed. I need a plan stat to start working everything into the menu!

So far, here's where we're at:
-Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner tonight. May make more brussel sprouts to use up the last
- I've defrosted a pound of ground beef (adios from the freezer) to make a bolognese sauce for the week. I'll also use up some celery, carrots & onion that are lingering in the house
-I'll serve the bolognese on Monday over zoodles (freezer) for the adults, and pasta (kids)

I need to seriously make an inventory of other things that need to be used up:
-A parmesan gnocchi quick meal kit
-ravioli
-2 giant containers of soup

Okay, that should keep me going for a few days. More updates coming. I may need a December/January challenge!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 01, 2019, 01:34:20 PM
-I ate the last of broccoli cheddar soup for lunch today
-Made the bolognese sauce as planned (using carrots, celery & the remainder of an onion) + ground beef from the freezer. Also used the rest of an open can of spaghetti sauce that was in the fridge
-Made the kids an eclectic lunch - smoothies + taquitos & chicken. Used the last of a bag of frozen strawberries, the last of a bag of taquitos & the last of a bag of chicken

I MUST package the pumpkin cake into serving sizes for the kids, because otherwise, I keep eating it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Yasha on December 01, 2019, 02:17:50 PM
Haven’t been on the forums in ages, but so glad I remembered this thread!

Last night I made chicken stock from the freezer stockpile (heaps of onion ends, carrots about to turn, the carcasses of three rotisserie chickens. So good to have space in there, even though it only lasted a moment before I put back in the made chicken stock and the drained solids until I can either burn them in the bbq or find someone who’s chooks want to be cannibals. This house has had rat issues, so I am hesitant to chuck the bones etc in the compost.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 02, 2019, 08:07:40 PM
@Yasha - I laughed at your comment about making space with the broth, and then putting it back in the freezer. I can relate!

Progress from today:
-Last of the Thanksgiving beans & sprouts were added to a salad for dinner
-Used the last of the goat cheese spread on 1/2 a baguette, and toasted it to serve with soup
-Managed to repurpose the last of the Thanksgiving steak (without overdrying it...whew)
-Sent one of the last two pieces of pumpkin cake with my hollow legged 13 year old in his school lunch

Maybe one day I'll be able to close the freezer without shuffling things, lifting, and quickly sliding the drawer closed before everything falls back out again. One can dream.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on December 02, 2019, 09:15:55 PM
I took a few things out of the freezer to make room for freezing the pierogi I was making aaand now my freezer is full of pierogi. That's fine though, they're delicious and they'll all get eaten by Christmas. Other than that I'm trying to get by on the food I already have cause things are piling up, maybe I'll be able to start fresh by the new year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on December 02, 2019, 11:11:01 PM
I took a few things out of the freezer to make room for freezing the pierogi I was making aaand now my freezer is full of pierogi. That's fine though, they're delicious and they'll all get eaten by Christmas. Other than that I'm trying to get by on the food I already have cause things are piling up, maybe I'll be able to start fresh by the new year.

Back in the origin of this thread (version #1) the idea, I think, was to try to use up everything, or virtually everything, before shopping again. It's a good thing to do, once in a while, and especially if you want to pay for a Christmas in cash, make a year end savings deposit, or if you hit a financial crunch- have an extra bill or two to pay this month. Shop from your own fridge, freezer and cupboards!

But for me, it's more about keeping food circulating, because I always go for the easy and surface stuff first, leaving other - often more nutritious - stuff to languish. And then I get it in my head that that stuff is just too "complicated" or will take too much time. When really, it's not at all complicated, and often is really quick and easy. And, again, better for me.  Or, I forget what I have, and it goes bad before I get around to using it, and what a waste that is!

Anyway, no great progress today, but I had some leftovers from the lunch we had after church yesterday. So I ate those, including a nice container of salad. But for my salad dressing, I used a single serving package left over from I don't know when, rather than the new and unopened bottle of dressing I recently bought. There are a couple more single serve packages in the fridge, though I have no more  salad fixing around at the moment!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on December 03, 2019, 05:47:40 AM
I took a few things out of the freezer to make room for freezing the pierogi I was making aaand now my freezer is full of pierogi. That's fine though, they're delicious and they'll all get eaten by Christmas. Other than that I'm trying to get by on the food I already have cause things are piling up, maybe I'll be able to start fresh by the new year.

Back in the origin of this thread (version #1) the idea, I think, was to try to use up everything, or virtually everything, before shopping again. It's a good thing to do, once in a while, and especially if you want to pay for a Christmas in cash, make a year end savings deposit, or if you hit a financial crunch- have an extra bill or two to pay this month. Shop from your own fridge, freezer and cupboards!

But for me, it's more about keeping food circulating, because I always go for the easy and surface stuff first, leaving other - often more nutritious - stuff to languish. And then I get it in my head that that stuff is just too "complicated" or will take too much time. When really, it's not at all complicated, and often is really quick and easy. And, again, better for me.  Or, I forget what I have, and it goes bad before I get around to using it, and what a waste that is!

Anyway, no great progress today, but I had some leftovers from the lunch we had after church yesterday. So I ate those, including a nice container of salad. But for my salad dressing, I used a single serving package left over from I don't know when, rather than the new and unopened bottle of dressing I recently bought. There are a couple more single serve packages in the fridge, though I have no more  salad fixing around at the moment!
I don't think I was part of this the first time around, but I have a couple reasons for doing this. Right now it's the fact that I had a couple of extra bills this month (unexpected car repair and flight) so I'm trying not to buy anything extra (except Christmas presents, but that's mostly done anyway). I love having a good stock of food in the freezer and pantry, it's great for when I don't want to shop or don't have time. But there's certain times of year where I need that space back, like Christmas since I'm hosting a big dinner, so it's a good time to eat down the food.
I had a duck in the freezer, making that in the slow cooker today. Had frozen soup, having that for lunches this week. Need to use up broth, but I have a great recipe in mind and I think I have all the other ingredients.
And I've been saving up my grocery card points all year, so I'm planning on just using that when I need to shop for the Christmas meal. If all goes according to plan, I'm set!

*edited for typo
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 03, 2019, 07:13:36 AM
@PJ  & @PoutineLover - for me, this is mostly about minimizing food waste, although any reduction in the grocery bill would be a glorious side product. Interestingly, our grocery bills don't vary much when we do freezer/pantry challenges. They do go down, but not by enough. We buy a lot of fresh produce for salads & fruit for the kids. So, that doesn't change week on week. But, I love ensuring we're not wasting money we've already spent. And, we do typically see a decrease of 10% or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 03, 2019, 11:21:43 AM
I'm having a very spendy November and December and also have totally packed freezers, so I should have a little pantry challenge too.  I'm only back home for 17 days before I head back to my parents' for Christmas, so I'll try to buy only what's absolutely necessary.  That'll include dairy, maybe some fruit for my smoothies, and ingredients for a FaceTime cooking date I already scheduled with my long-distance SO.  (He wants to learn how to cook, which is awesome, so I'm trying to pick recipes to make together that'll be fun, not too hard, and tasty.  I'd love suggestions, if anyone has any - he's excited to use his new Instant Pot in recipes and has typically been a meat and potatoes kind of eater, though he wants to branch out.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on December 03, 2019, 07:36:56 PM
Eating more healthy, reducing food waste, saving a little money - it's all good!  Whatever the motivation, I'm just always amazed and thrilled by the longevity of this thread.  :-)

Because I'm not necessarily trying to use up everything in my cupboards, fridge and freezer, I didn't mind doing some shopping over the weekend.  Stocked up mostly on canned goods, freezer food (frozen veggies, etc) and other staples, with just a few vegetables and a couple of "treat" foods.  Hopefully this will help me mostly stay out of the grocery store for the next month or two, when I'm really busy, because when I'm stressed, I tend to buy lots of non-essentials, or, to buy an unrealistic amount of "cook from scratch" food that ends up going to waste.  I did do a pretty big shop, but I paid with points, not cash!  So now my cupboards are extra full, and my freezer has been reorganized to have the oldest stuff at the front, and it didn't cost me anything, in terms of cash.

Now, I need to process some of the stuff!

So tonight I threw some long grain brown rice in the rice cooker, just plain.  Then, I figured out which can of canned beans was the oldest.  Turned out to be lentils, which I've probably overlooked because I usually just use dry lentils.  I actually think my mom might have given me that can, after it had been kicking around in her cupboards for a while!

To the can of lentils I added some diced and sautéed onions and carrots, plus a small baggie of some kind of chopped greens from the freezer.  I think it was bok choy, and honestly, pretty sure it was from *last* summer, not this year!  For flavour, I had a packet of seasoning from an "herb and wild rice" mix.  Actually surprised at how tasty it all turned out to be - I really wasn't expecting much!  Pretty sure most of the flavouring mix was just salt though.

My late night snack tonight will be some fruit they sent me home from church with on Sunday, and either one of the pumpkin corn muffins I made last week, or a blueberry muffin left over from a work meeting last week.  Froze some to keep them fresh.

The other thing I want to do tonight is cube a couple of blocks of extra firm tofu, then add some packaged sauces I picked up.  I'll make two containers with different flavour sauces, and throw them in the freezer, so that "future me" can grab some pre-marinated tofu out of the freezer and cook something up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 03, 2019, 07:50:19 PM
Nice work getting all of that done, @PJ

My husband decided to put a huge package of sandwich bread in the freezer. The freezer didn't shut all the way. See previous comments about how packed everything currently is. So, dinner was a bit of impromptu freezer items:
-Baked a bag of mini won tons (some leftovers now in fridge)
-Defrosted a container of chicken curry (some leftovers now in fridge)
-Found another bag of frozen zoodles, and served that with bolognese sauce

In the fridge, we currently have 1 serving left of curry, a couple of bolognese servings (froze some, unfortunately adding to the freezer stash) & 2 servings of soup. I think tomorrow will once again be "eclectic leftover night"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on December 03, 2019, 08:01:54 PM
I have had more than one "eclectic leftover night" myself over the years, @MaybeBabyMustache!  Sounds like a plan!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 04, 2019, 08:05:07 PM
I can actually see some of the shelf of my fridge (the one where I keep leftovers), which is making me incredibly excited.

-13 y.o ate remaining won tons as "after school snack". It's good to have the metabolism of an active teen boy
-One diner polished off all of the leftover curry
-We *almost* finished the bolognese sauce
-I defrosted & cooked a bag of cauliflower rice stir fry (served as the base for curry & bolognese)
-Picky 12 y.o. had two pieces of chicken on a sandwich bread

Net/net, one more item out of the freezer, and almost out of leftovers for tomorrow. Woohoo! Now I can think ahead to what I should serve for dinner for the rest of the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 05, 2019, 07:39:57 PM
Made two different types of pizza tonight:
-Pizza one, made from cauliflower crust. Added pepperoni & mozzarella
-Made naan pizzas for the kids. Used 4 naan crusts, some of an open jar of pizza sauce, the rest of the mozzarella, and about 1/2 of a package of pepperoni

The cauliflower pizza crust is from the freezer, so one less thing in there. I'm thrilled to have used the last of the mozzarella, as that sometimes gets away from us before we can use it all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on December 05, 2019, 09:46:47 PM
I can actually see some of the shelf of my fridge (the one where I keep leftovers), which is making me incredibly excited.

Isn't it great to see the shelf under all the bags, boxes, and Tupperware containers? I even cleaned some of my fridge shelves in preparation for last weekend's shop!

Made two different types of pizza tonight:
-Pizza one, made from cauliflower crust. Added pepperoni & mozzarella
-Made naan pizzas for the kids. Used 4 naan crusts, some of an open jar of pizza sauce, the rest of the mozzarella, and about 1/2 of a package of pepperoni

The cauliflower pizza crust is from the freezer, so one less thing in there. I'm thrilled to have used the last of the mozzarella, as that sometimes gets away from us before we can use it all. 

Twinsies! I had pizza tonight too!

Had a good, but waaaay to long day at work today. On the way home, I passed someone carrying a pizza box home. There's a pizza place nearby, and it is not at all uncommon for me to stop in for a "walk-in special."  I pick up a large or extra large pizza, $10-12, and eat for several days. Pizza is my kryptonite!

But, I'm trying to not spend any money unnecessarily, and I had lots of food at home to eat. Ah ha! Including everything I needed to make pizzas.

Naan, bottled tomato sauce, orange pepper, sliced tomato, grated cheese from the freezer. Washed down with (so far) half a bottle of cranberry cider. Soon to be all of a bottle of cranberry cider. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 06, 2019, 07:07:51 AM
Great work with the homemade pizza, @PJ . I paired mine with a hard seltzer, because it was that kind of day. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dcheesi on December 06, 2019, 07:29:28 AM
Slight twist --trying to eat up the backlog of food in my cubicle! I've been trying to eat in more often, but I'm terrible at remembering to bring lunch from home, so I've been buying microwaveable ingredients and keeping them at work. But I spent way more than intended last month (enough to almost equal my previous fast food budget!), so this month I'm trying to eat only the food that I already have on hand. So far I have enough of everything to assemble my pre-planned meals, but eventually I'll get to the point where I have to improvise...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 07, 2019, 11:30:57 AM
@dcheesi - I like that challenge! Sounds like it will get interesting

My freezer pare down continues. I'm heading to London tonight for work, so prepping in advance. So far today:
-Made 6 naan pizzas for the kids for dinner. Used the last of the pepperoni & more of the pizza sauce. Had to buy more mozzarella, so will be conscious about using it before it goes bad.
-Found a single corn dog buried (wrapped) in the freezer. One child is having that with lunch.
-Defrosted a bag of frozen fruit + 2 frozen bananas. Used that, plus the end of a melon & apple juice to make the kids a smoothie
-Also found a reasonably large bag of seasoned/marinated/grilled hot dogs. Leftover from this summer? I'll have one in my salad for lunch. Using up the last of a bagged salad before i leave.

It's getting a bit easier to move things around in the freezer. Hurrah!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PJ on December 07, 2019, 10:18:24 PM
-Also found a reasonably large bag of seasoned/marinated/grilled hot dogs. Leftover from this summer? I'll have one in my salad for lunch. Using up the last of a bagged salad before i leave.

And twinsies again!

A woman from church had told me that she had some veggie dogs she had bought for grandkids, but they didn't like. I'm probably the only vegetarian that she knows! I said I'd take them. Thought there would be 3 or 4. It must have been a huge package - 20 or so? Well, I guess 18 or 19, since they must have eaten one or two! I mean, I don't mind the occasional veggie dog, but that's a lot of them!

Slight twist --trying to eat up the backlog of food in my cubicle! I've been trying to eat in more often, but I'm terrible at remembering to bring lunch from home, so I've been buying microwaveable ingredients and keeping them at work. But I spent way more than intended last month (enough to almost equal my previous fast food budget!), so this month I'm trying to eat only the food that I already have on hand. So far I have enough of everything to assemble my pre-planned meals, but eventually I'll get to the point where I have to improvise...

Over the summer, I bought a mini fridge for my office. Have been trying to figure out what works for me, since my schedule means I'm not always eating lunch there five days a week. So far, hummus, baby carrots, cheese and crackers have the best chance of being eaten in time. I also keep granola bars, instant oatmeal, pudding cups and single serve applesauce in my drawer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dcheesi on December 08, 2019, 07:17:27 AM
Slight twist --trying to eat up the backlog of food in my cubicle! I've been trying to eat in more often, but I'm terrible at remembering to bring lunch from home, so I've been buying microwaveable ingredients and keeping them at work. But I spent way more than intended last month (enough to almost equal my previous fast food budget!), so this month I'm trying to eat only the food that I already have on hand. So far I have enough of everything to assemble my pre-planned meals, but eventually I'll get to the point where I have to improvise...

Over the summer, I bought a mini fridge for my office. Have been trying to figure out what works for me, since my schedule means I'm not always eating lunch there five days a week. So far, hummus, baby carrots, cheese and crackers have the best chance of being eaten in time. I also keep granola bars, instant oatmeal, pudding cups and single serve applesauce in my drawer.
We have a communal fridge at work, so I keep a few things in there; yogurt for late afternoon snack1, and I keep a big Sam's Club jar of nuts in the freezer for freshness. But most of my meal options are shelf-stable, since I don't want to take up too much room in the fridge. I always try to keep fresh fruit on hand for midday snacking.

The cheapest and easiest solution for lunches would be complete meals in a can (soup, spaghetti-o's, etc.); however, I'm also trying to eat healthy, and I find that few canned/packaged meals meet my dietary goals. So instead I end up combining elements, say a small can of chicken or tuna with a pouch of instant brown rice, and some kind of jarred sauce. Common combinations:

Black beans + salsa
Chicken + salsa + rice
tuna + teriyaki sauce + rice
salsa + potatoes + cheese (laughing cow)
Tasty bite curry + rice (+ maybe chicken/tuna)

1My SO works a later shift than I do, and I need something with protein to hold me over until dinner. Plus I often find that my hunger can go from zero to Joe-Pesci-Snickers-Commercial in the time it takes to drive home :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 08, 2019, 09:25:29 AM
Small win - for our cooking date, my SO picked a recipe that I actually already had all the ingredients for (with slight modifications)!

Leaving the freezer/pantry/fridge today:  3 bags of frozen tomato sauce (2 from 2015, eek!), a bag of frozen celery, a bag of frozen kale, chorizo, carrots, and lentils. 

Entering the freezer tomorrow - lots of servings of sausage-lentil-tomato soup.


On another note, anyone have any good cabbage recipes?  I got a double delivery from my CSA and now have 3 HUGE cabbages taking up the bottom shelf of my fridge.  (They're the standard green kind, if that matters to the recipe.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on December 08, 2019, 10:56:04 AM
On another note, anyone have any good cabbage recipes?  I got a double delivery from my CSA and now have 3 HUGE cabbages taking up the bottom shelf of my fridge.  (They're the standard green kind, if that matters to the recipe.)

This one might not be for everyone, but it is a highlight of fall for many Norwegians: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/83349/farikal/

I usually make mine in the crockpot, at high for around 4-5 hours. The meat has to be one the bone and contain some fat. In the crockpot I use less water than this recipe, usually no more than a cup or so. And I would put pepper and salt between each layer of meat and cabbage, not just add a bag of peppercorns.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on December 08, 2019, 11:28:40 AM
Kitchen cabinet. Big box of instant mashed potatoes. Down to last half cup or so. Its days are numbered. Won't replace it.

Also, same cabinet. Just noticed I have six little boxes of muffin mix. Used up 2 of the boxes over the last few days making muffins (cornbread and apple/cinnamon). Won't replace them.

And more!  Found 3 empty little tins of seasoning. Toss, toss, toss. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on December 08, 2019, 03:24:51 PM
Joining in!  I just quit my job on Friday, and I’ve got a ton of “work lunches” (leftovers) in my freezer to work through.  I also need to use some fancy dried beans before their “best by” date this year, as well as an abundance of butternut squash and sweet potatoes left over from the CSA (not a big rush as they should last into next year).

On another note, anyone have any good cabbage recipes?  I got a double delivery from my CSA and now have 3 HUGE cabbages taking up the bottom shelf of my fridge.  (They're the standard green kind, if that matters to the recipe.)

My favorite - Hot Sauce Cabbage (I use fennel seed instead of fresh fennel so I have all the ingredients on hand) - http://orangette.net/2009/01/the-best-we-can-hope-for/ (http://orangette.net/2009/01/the-best-we-can-hope-for/)

Made this cabbage soup recently and it is very good - the lemon really does transform it at the end - https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/01/cozy-cabbage-and-farro-soup/ (https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/01/cozy-cabbage-and-farro-soup/)

My BF likes cabbage as a simple side dish - chopped and cooked in a pot with a little butter, salt, and pepper.

Easy sauerkraut (keeps in the fridge for a while) - https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-homemade-sauerkraut-in-a-mason-jar-193124 (https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-homemade-sauerkraut-in-a-mason-jar-193124)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shadesofgreen on December 09, 2019, 04:19:51 PM
I got a jar of molasses out of the cabinet! I made molasses cookies and shortbread cookies yesterday. Every single cookie has been bagged for specific people or I took into work so that I would not eat them all. I am getting rid of the bags by the end of the week. Now to figure out what to do with the Karo lite syrup...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on December 09, 2019, 05:22:39 PM
On another note, anyone have any good cabbage recipes?  I got a double delivery from my CSA and now have 3 HUGE cabbages taking up the bottom shelf of my fridge.  (They're the standard green kind, if that matters to the recipe.)

This one might not be for everyone, but it is a highlight of fall for many Norwegians: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/83349/farikal/

I usually make mine in the crockpot, at high for around 4-5 hours. The meat has to be one the bone and contain some fat. In the crockpot I use less water than this recipe, usually no more than a cup or so. And I would put pepper and salt between each layer of meat and cabbage, not just add a bag of peppercorns.

ooh. this sounds good. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on December 09, 2019, 05:41:56 PM
I love cabbage!  It is so versatile.

A family favorite in our house is this:
https://www.budgetbytes.com/beef-cabbage-stir-fry/
easy button:  I serve it with rice
if in the mood:  I make these  https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/mandarin-pancakes

My husband started making this a lot for breakfast recently
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/korean-cabbage-pancake
sometimes he skips the flour/water and subs in carrots, sometimes not.

Do you like Ethiopian?  We love this
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/152937/ethiopian-cabbage-dish/  (double the spices,  keep the salt the same,  halve the oil)
and usually serve it with these lentils https://www.africanbites.com/ethiopian-lentil-stew/  (with kids  only 1.5teaspoon berbere).

This is a popular dish in our house over the summer
https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-almond-coleslaw  (I sub sunflower seeds for the almonds since that is usually what I have in the house)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on December 09, 2019, 05:49:31 PM

Made this cabbage soup recently and it is very good - the lemon really does transform it at the end - https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/01/cozy-cabbage-and-farro-soup/ (https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/01/cozy-cabbage-and-farro-soup/)


this sounds good too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shrimpwd on December 09, 2019, 07:59:48 PM
Colcannon is also a nice simple cabbage dish. Quite a few recipes, depending on taste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on December 10, 2019, 10:21:06 AM
Colcannon is also a nice simple cabbage dish. Quite a few recipes, depending on taste.

Thanks for that suggestion - just whipped up a single-serving version of colcannon using leftover mashed potatoes.  I'm eating it with some butternut squash soup from my freezer.

Last night I finally made beef stew with many things I had saved in the freezer for that purpose - stew meat, turnips, carrots, and mashed potatoes.  Two servings went back into the freezer, and two are in the fridge to eat this week.  I was pleased with the frozen mashed potatoes - I made them a month or two ago when I needed to use up my CSA potatoes.  I froze them in an oven-proof dish, and reheated in the oven last night (after defrosting for a while) - they tasted 'good as new' to me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 10, 2019, 02:24:14 PM
@SquashingDebt , for the cabbage:  https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/253157/weeknight-crack-slaw/ (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/253157/weeknight-crack-slaw/)  It's one of many Crack Slaw recipes out there.

This month I MUST be more frugal than usual.  With my niece's wedding, Christmas, etc. coming up, it's been a spendy last few months.  There is venison chili in the Crock Pot for tonight, and I pulled out two unmarked mystery leftovers for tomorrow night.  Should be an adventure.  ;)  (I usually label leftovers w/  freezer tape and a Sharpie, unless we are scrambling to leave town.  Instead of letting the food go to waste during our absence, I toss them into the freezer for later use.)

Lately:
1 package each ground beef and pork
2 cans beans, 1 can each diced green chiles, diced tomatoes and tomato paste
2 free envelopes instant pasta
2 packages venison steak
Several packages of different kind of ribs
Several packages pork chops
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 10, 2019, 03:19:04 PM
Thanks for all the cabbage ideas!  I made colcannon on Sunday, though because I didn't have very many potatoes to use up, it only used 1/4 of 1 of my 3 cabbages, haha.  I made that Smitten Kitchen soup a few months ago with another CSA cabbage - it was yummy!

Looking forward to trying some of the other recipes :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on December 12, 2019, 11:11:51 AM
I made a single-serve Shephards/Cottage Pie for lunch today that used up the rest of my mashed potatoes, a single serve portion of pulled pork from the freezer, and a small baggie of frozen peas from the CSA (plus carrot and onion from this week's groceries).  It was really good!

I cooked a bag of dried hominy from the pantry yesterday (I had never had hominy before).  I used 1.5 cups to make chili (also used some frozen beans and lots of frozen tomatoes - yay! - I have like 4 bags of frozen tomatoes left over from summer), but now I have to use up the rest of the hominy.  I'll probably freeze a cup or two for future use in another chili.  Seems like a common way to eat it as a simple side dish with butter/salt/pepper.  I'm also envisioning maybe a salad with spinach, hominy, beans, perhaps some sweet potato, and avocado?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 12, 2019, 01:05:14 PM
@NotJen, that Shepherds/Cottage Pie sounds like a creative way to use up those small amount of leftovers!
~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night's mystery leftovers (unlabeled) turned out to be chicken I'd pulled off of a beer can chicken DH grilled over the summer. I googled recipes for ingredients we had on hand, and ended up making Cheesy Chicken Spinach Bake.

So flavorful and garlicy, it turned out really well (I normally dislike leftover chicken, and panicked a little when I first opened the container).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on December 12, 2019, 07:34:44 PM
Leftover hominy is particularly good fried in cast iron ( preferably) with onions and Bacon or ham if you eat meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 14, 2019, 10:13:06 AM
On another note, anyone have any good cabbage recipes?  I got a double delivery from my CSA and now have 3 HUGE cabbages taking up the bottom shelf of my fridge.  (They're the standard green kind, if that matters to the recipe.)

If you eat meat, you could make kalpudding (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018628-kalpudding-meatloaf-with-caramelized-cabbage?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page&region=recently-viewed&rank=9) (I don't bother with the sauce)
Also look up eggroll in a bowl and unstuffed cabbage.

I also like to just roast cabbage wedges with a little fat drizzled on the the cut edges, salt and pepper, or with a slice or two of bacon draped over.  Wrap in tinfoil if you want them more soft, or unwrapped if you prefer crispy edges.

Working on using up some leftover root vegetables from the garden.  This week we'll be having beets, potatoes and parsnips.  Also planning to use up the last package of salmon from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 14, 2019, 01:41:48 PM
Back from a business trip, super jet lagged. So far from the freezer:
-Made a container of butternut squash mac & cheese (ate half, put half in the fridge)
-Used the last of the chicken for sandwiches
-Ate one lonely frozen burger, after getting back from the airport, and not having eaten for 16 hours. It was perfect to eat in a crunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 15, 2019, 06:14:29 AM
I'm heading out of town on Friday, so made sure not to cook too much this weekend.  (The cabbage will have to wait until the new year, haha.)

I did another FaceTime cooking date with my long-distance SO, this time chicken chili.  I only needed to buy chicken to make the recipe, and used up some very old beans in my pantry, some sprouting onions, and some cornmeal that needs to be eaten before it gets rancid.

I'm going to need to go into full pantry challenge mode in January (and probably continuing through the winter) to use up my stores of things and start fresh in the spring.  The good news is I have a lot of tasty things to eat in that process!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 15, 2019, 11:39:51 AM
-Defrosted a package of chicken sausages for dinner tonight
-And a small package of hot dogs for the child who won't eat sausage
-We'll pair that with ravioli that's in the fridge & needs to be eaten

Made the kids pizza rolls for lunch. Not the healthiest, but need them out of the freezer. Only 1/2 a package left!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 16, 2019, 08:13:24 PM
It's actually worked out well that I didn't cook over the weekend. It wasn't the plan, but with jet lag & a crazy kids soccer schedule, it just happened. We are making our way through the open ravioli, the last container of broccoli cheddar soup, a few lonely hot dogs, & the last two chicken sausages. Tomorrow the adults have work dinners, so I'm guessing we will have the fridge mostly cleaned out by Thursday. Which is perfect - we head out on vacation on Saturday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on December 17, 2019, 09:00:17 AM
Yesterday I cooked a pound of beans from the pantry, and also made a butternut/tofu curry with one of the squashes in the pantry and tofu that was just at its best by date.  The day before I made chicken stock with the last of my saved veggie scraps and chicken parts.

Aside from the chili/cornbread I've promised to make tomorrow, I AM NOT COOKING ANYTHING NEW BEFORE I TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS.  My freezer is still full and I need to not add to it for a while.

Of course, I now have leftover buttermilk and coconut milk to use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 17, 2019, 01:25:08 PM
Have returned from a 3 day weekend of wedding celebrations.  Mostly ate out, but I did bring snacks from the pantry for the hotel room.

This week will include:
The rest of the salmon from one of the packages, and remaining shrimp
A roasted turnip
Deer chili from this summer
The remaining mozzarella cheese and pepperoni will turn into a Fathead pizza

This Saturday is holiday baking day.  Though I had to buy more flour and sugar for other items, I'll turn brown sugar and rest of the almonds into a homemade Almond Roca.  I also might use up some beat up phyllo dough (long story) and some of DH's HUGE bag of walnuts into my first attempt at baklava.  We'll see.  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 19, 2019, 02:34:55 PM
Right on, @MonkeyJenga!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 20, 2019, 02:11:01 PM
Nice progress, everyone! I finished the last of the ravioli & chicken sausage, my husband finished the soup & the fridge is looking pretty cleared out. We do still have some perishables (fruit & veggies) that I need to decide on freezing or packing. For tonight, I'm thinking pizza. We are opening gifts with the kids before we leave, & that will be an easy meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 30, 2019, 12:48:08 PM
Friday for lunch I had the last serving of the Cheesy Chicken Spinach Bake I made a few weeks ago with leftover chicken from summer.  I didn't get to it earlier this month, so into the freezer it went.  I love the fact freezing leftovers is a thing.  :D

Saturday I did more baking in anticipation of family coming over yesterday.  I made hand pies from leftover pie crust and apple crisp from the summer, my first baklava to use up phyllo dough, honey and walnuts.  Chocolate chip cookies used more flour and sugar from pre-Christmas baking.  When my sister called the day before asking what she could bring, I told her about my quest to not buy anything.  She said she did have leftover tortilla chips, etc. from her daughter's wedding meals.  So, she brought them, and I cooked up one pound each pork sausage and ground beef and made my own taco spice blend.  We also used two cans refried beans and a can of olives.  The family enjoyed our impromptu nacho bar.

The weekend prior featured dinner with neighbors where we used up a ham, fresh strawberries frozen over the summer, and two cans green beans, another can of olives, among other items.

This month's grocery bill is the lowest since June.  We can actually slide open the top freezer drawer without things in the bottom drawer touching, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 30, 2019, 02:41:29 PM
My phone autocorrected a "t" to a "T" when I was jotting down a recipe, and as a result I made a batch of very tangy but very runny mayonnaise. I tried adding more oil to compensate, but then realized what happened and stopped since I would have to triple the oil to make it work and no one needs that much homemade mayonnaise. So now I have a LOT of runny mayo spoonable mustard aioli. :-P I dug around the freezer in desperation and found a couple of lightly freezer-burned chicken breasts way down in there. Instant Potted them and turned it into a pretty successful chicken salad with the mayo! Hooray. Now I only have half a batch of the mayo to use up... :-|  Not sure if there is anything besides chicken/tuna/potato salad that uses up any serious quantity of mayo. I live alone and you can't freeze it, so this is a tough one to get through.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 31, 2019, 10:29:50 AM
@Dollar Slice, maybe some sort of mayonnaise based dip?  One of our favorites this time of year is my mom's cream cheese/mayo/sour cream with bacon bit dip.  We eat it with raw veggies, though I'm sure it would go well with crackers or chips.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on December 31, 2019, 10:48:33 AM
Hi everyone!

for the first quarter of 2020 I committed to a pantrychallenge. I will still get my weekly delivery of veggies, fruits, one litre of milk and one large tub of yoghurt plus 6 eggs. But everything else has to be from the pantry/freezer/fridge or be necessary for a specific planned meal. And that meal has to be cooked that week. These are the rules I set for myself.

Tomorrow I will inventory everything I have - including all the half packs of flour, spice packs and knickknacks that are in my cupboards. I dread this task and look forward to it at the same time.....I will keep you posted how my journey goes :-)
Happy 2020 to everyone! Love this board and the thread especially.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 31, 2019, 04:37:08 PM
Hi everyone!

for the first quarter of 2020 I committed to a pantrychallenge. I will still get my weekly delivery of veggies, fruits, one litre of milk and one large tub of yoghurt plus 6 eggs. But everything else has to be from the pantry/freezer/fridge or be necessary for a specific planned meal. And that meal has to be cooked that week. These are the rules I set for myself.

Tomorrow I will inventory everything I have - including all the half packs of flour, spice packs and knickknacks that are in my cupboards. I dread this task and look forward to it at the same time.....I will keep you posted how my journey goes :-)
Happy 2020 to everyone! Love this board and the thread especially.

I am doing a pantry challenge for Jan myself. Hubby and I just did our annual what we spent process. And our food was very high at $654 a month for just 3 of us and our little is only 9. My pantry is packed, and I have quite a bit in the freezer also. I will still have to buy a few fresh veggies and fresh fruit and milk.

I started this project last week. And man I still have the most random in my pantry. I am sure it was items I was to make meals with that I never got around to. So I have things like a massive container of rice seasoning from a trip to the Asian grocery store. So tonight I pulled out some ground pork I had stashed and added the rice seasoning, some oats, a sprinkle of home dried kale, some garlic and soy sauce a dash of fish sauce and made meatballs and topped it with a BBQ sauce I made from two McDonald bbq sauce packets, some soy, a bit of orange marmalade and the bit of brown mustard that was left in the container. I will bake those up for finger foods tonight. I will also cook up the cabbage that is in the back of the fridge and maybe some rice. 

I am spending 2020 really simplifying our food, how we eat and how I shop. I no longer want to have to comb though my freezer or pantry trying to find what I am looking for. This is a massive undertaking for me as I have always bought in massive bulk and have had many options on hand at all times. I would love to get our food budget down to $500 and take that extra $150 a month and save towards a extra vacation a year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on January 04, 2020, 12:58:34 PM

I am spending 2020 really simplifying our food, how we eat and how I shop. I no longer want to have to comb though my freezer or pantry trying to find what I am looking for. This is a massive undertaking for me as I have always bought in massive bulk and have had many options on hand at all times. I would love to get our food budget down to $500 and take that extra $150 a month and save towards a extra vacation a year.
Me too! My plan and dream is to find out what items REALLY are a staple for us and only buy those. Since I am also trying to buy packagefree whereever possible this would simplify things even more for me.

I always try out new kinds of oils and nuts but don´t really note a difference to what we usually use. So I know already that I only need two kinds of oils - olive oil and Rapsöl (don´t know what it is called in english, sorry..). No need for pistachio oil and hazelnut oil and all the other kinds. It would make shopping and storing so much easier. Now to find the perfect products for rices and pasta (don´t get me started on pasta... I always buy the funny shapes but to me they taste the same... )
I finished my inventory and am really proud. The not buying thing is really challenging. I thought several times during the last few days "oh, I need this and that". Even writing it on the shopping list. And then I thought " no, you can use Y and Z instead". But I didn´t think it would be such a struggle......


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: zee dot on January 04, 2020, 03:24:04 PM
I'm back for my annual eat-in January.
Today I ate some smoked salmon, crackers and cheese.

Goals to use up this week: cheese,  quinoa, salami.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 04, 2020, 09:53:35 PM
Our freezers are actually in a manageable state, after our "eat as much as possible out of the freezer" December plan. I now need to focus on the pantry, meal planning & ensuring we use up bits & bobs that aren't part of our normal menu. We have three bags of risotto rice, for example, but my husband avoids gluten, so making risotto for dinner isn't exactly part of the plan.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 06, 2020, 09:32:28 AM
I've been doing well at not buying anything.  The goal is to wait until the 15th to do a restock of canned items and frozen veggies.  I went to the store last Tuesday for fresh produce, cheese and water.  I'll go again this Wed for the same.  Similar to @GermanStache, I've been creative at using things up in lieu of going to the store.

Recently:
-Used the last of last year's venison, 2 cans tomatoes, and a can of tomato paste in a slow cooker recipe and served it on top of a bag of pasta from the freezer
-Used some mustard packets as the bottled mustard is almost gone
-Used one pound each ground beef and pork for hamburgers
-We were out of eggs (!) so I found an egg substitute recipe online to make corn muffins
-Sent DH to work with leftover muffins, leftover lovely spice cake our neighbor brought over, leftover chili, a huge tin of popcorn, cookies, etc.  His co-workers were appreciative.
-We finished the huge bags of grated cheese and tortilla chips my sister left last weekend
-The rest of the bacon was wrapped around asparagus served with the rest of the shrimp for NYE supper.  Yum!
-I was under the weather and a can of chicken noodle soup and TheraFlu from our stash came in handy
-This week will include salmon, the remaining chicken breast, the last smoked sausage, and package of ham steaks
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tess on January 06, 2020, 09:37:58 AM
I did a major pantry organization and clean out this weekend.  I have lots of food to use up, and have organized my canned goods to use the oldest first.  I have some out of date cans that I am sure are fine but do want to use.  On menu this month -- chili (use up out of date canned kidney beans and tomato sauce), tuna noodle casserole (use up tuna, out of date cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles), shepherd's pie (use up out of date canned green beans, out of date tomato soup and some old instant mashed potatoes) and taco soup (use up rest if out of date canned beans, and some canned corn).     

UPDATE:  Made a corn pudding last night using an expired package of Jiffy corn bread mix, an expired can of creamed corn and some expired sour cream (plus some melted butter and two eggs).  Came out great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: zee dot on January 06, 2020, 10:02:38 AM
I used a can of chicken, a can of black beans and some bread crumbs yesterday. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 07, 2020, 01:12:44 PM
We had our pantry doors replaced, and my 12 year old "helpfully" put everything back in the pantry before I got home again. His ideas about organization are ... quite different than mine. For example, the most visible & usable shelf now holds his snacks. ;-)

I'm going to use this as an opportunity go through the pantry, as I'll need to invest some time in getting everything reorganized, clean it out & come up with a list of things to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 07, 2020, 08:06:23 PM
This weekend I shredded one of my huge cabbages with my food processor (like magic!  I should use that thing more often!) and made 2 dishes - Egg Roll in a Bowl and braised cabbage with apples.  Both were really good and 100% of ingredients were from my freezer/pantry/fridge.  Of course, both have/will end up adding to the leftover stockpile in the freezer...

Yesterday I forced myself to eat one of the cooked sausages I froze this summer that I hadn't really liked back then.  It made me nauseous (more of a mental reaction than a physical one, I think) after a few bites so today I threw away the rest of them.  I don't like to waste food, but I'm definitely not willing to power through eating food that makes me feel sick.

I'm trying to go more than a week after getting back from an extended trip before going to the grocery store - I think I'll be able to pull it off!  To be fair, I did pre-stock my fridge with milk, almond milk, and yogurt beforehand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Naomi on January 07, 2020, 11:55:14 PM
I (this is just for me) want to participate in this thread as a way of keeping myself accountable and reducing food, not so much waste, but figuring out alternative uses for things so I can buy less.
For ex, I'm going to make meatballs tonight, but I don't have any bread crumbs. I do have oats though that I use to make granola and can turn those into flour because I only need 1/3 cup. This way I don't have to buy another container of something I rarely use.

I did buy some groceries earlier this week so I'm going to try to make it the rest of the month w/out buying anything other than vegetables, maybe fruit.
I buy pasture raised chicken and it was 50% off, so I stocked up.

8 lbs chicken, 2 lbs of ground beef, and 15 eggs. 
2 lbs of green beans, 1.5 lbs carrots, 1.5 lbs broccoli, 24 oz frozen strawberries and bananas (3 8 oz packs), and 2 lemons.
1 lb flour, 2 lbs pasta, 3 lbs oats, 2 cups rice (uncooked).
1.9 lbs honey, 7 oz coconut oil, 1.8 lbs sugar.
8 oz chocolate chips, 4 oz dried cherries, 3.75 candy bars (3 oz), 2 bags of chips (6.5 oz), 2 ginger ales (7.5 ozs).
*theses weights are estimates, I don't own a food scale*.

So, looking at that, I could live off chocolate and flour/oats for a little while. I go through phases where I try to quit ginger ale so this is the last of a 6 pk. I primarily drink water.

Tonight, I used one pack of the chicken (barbecued chicken), half a bag of spinach, and 3 old potatoes + 2 eggs (turned into potato salad). That will last me a couple more meals.
The strawberries and bananas, I thought I'd eat with granola, but the texture of the bananas is gross to me. Those are going to have to be smoothies even though I'm not really a smoothie person. I forgot about the thing (10 oz can) of collagen(powdered) I bought last year, about 8 oz left. Will add that to the smoothies.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 08, 2020, 09:23:38 AM
I'd forgotten about the few pounds of bagged potatoes leftover from Christmas.  The plan:

Last night: Steak cut fries went with our chicken tenders and cauliflower tots
Tonight:  Diced into the sausage and yellow squash hash
Tomorrow:  Diced on the side of our steak ham and eggs

That should take care of them.  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 08, 2020, 08:57:20 PM
We managed to eat the rest of the chicken curry (second half is in the freezer). And the rice. I was in a hurry to get dinner together tonight before a meeting. Kids also had quesadillas, to use up the last of the shredded cheese & tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on January 11, 2020, 10:05:53 AM
I've been doing really well eating out of the freezer after I got back from vacation on the 3rd!  I've eaten several frozen portions of meals I made last year, 3 sweet potatoes from the pantry, and 1 last-minute 'new' meal completely out of the freezer.  I spent $22 on fresh veggies, fruits, and some diary, and ate out only for social purposes.  Looking forward to making more progress on the freezer this week, and aiming for an unusually low-spend month for food!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 11, 2020, 12:01:44 PM
My grocery shopping list for later today has gotten longer than I'd like, considering that I'm trying to eat out of the pantry and freezer.  But, most of what I'm buying are either things I need to buy each week (dairy, etc.) or from this month's personalized coupons from my grocery store that are for things I buy on a routine basis (vitamins, frozen black bean burgers, etc.).

The good news is that I only need to buy one thing for my lunches and dinners this week:  lettuce.  (I'm having salads, freezer leftovers, and veggie burgers with homemade buns and coleslaw from the last of my cabbage.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 11, 2020, 02:20:23 PM
I'll echo @SquashingDebt and say that my grocery list is longer than I'd like, considering we are trying to eat down our pantry & freezer. Here's the most recent progress:
-Cauliflower crust & regular crust pizza for dinner last night. Two pizzas out of the freezer. Used up some of the fancy pepperoni my husband rogue purchased
-Made up edamame & tortellini today, and will have for lunch for the weekend. One package out of the fridge, one out of the freezer
-I had a travel oatmeal cup in the pantry from long ago. Turned that into breakfast today

My youngest son plans to make chicken stir fry for dinner tonight. We shall see how that goes ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on January 12, 2020, 09:33:04 PM
December is a bonkers month because I work a totally different schedule and have family in town (not staying with me, but I spend a lot of time with them) for several weeks. So happy to be back to normal pursuits and tackling the pantry again!

So far, used up the end of a bottle of wing sauce with some chicken fingers, and the end of a jar of jam in the coffee cake. Was especially proud that I discovered the buttermilk had gone bad in the middle of making the cake and subbed plain milk plus lemon juice--it worked fine. Made a chicken soup in the Instant pot that cleared out two frozen chicken thighs, a bag of baby spinach, ramen noodles that had been hanging around, and a partial can of coconut milk.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 13, 2020, 11:47:50 AM
The kitchen freezer (and pantry!) is really empty!  And my creativity has increased along the way.  :)  Thankfully, our garage freezer is full of the locally raised beef and pork we bought last year.

~Last night, I used a pound of ground beef and a few Nathan hot dogs in Coney Island pie.  The recipe calls for eggs, which I didn't have, and it turned out just fine.  Served it with the next to last bag of frozen veggies.
~Made two servings overnight oatmeal for DH using steel cut oats, some frozen berries purchased over the summer, and some of his dried apricots.
~I neglected to thaw anything for tonight, so DH will have soup and a sandwich, and I'll eat the last frozen Atkins meal.
~Tomorrow is Taco Tuesday and I'll make ground beef taco meat with a homemade spice blend, and cheese shells using whatever cheese we have on hand.

Similar to others, my grocery list is getting a bit long as we are completely out of what I consider staples in our home:  Chicken breast, shrimp, olives, etc.  Payday is Wednesday.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Naomi on January 14, 2020, 04:04:56 AM
Trying to make it until Thursday before I buy anything. I still have a lot of chicken. My cats got one chicken breast because I waited a day late to cook it and it smelled off.
The only thing I've bought in the last week was a bottle of lemonade at work for $2.

I'm going to make hamburgers today with last 1 lb of ground beef and eat those with the last of the potato chips and green beans. Have some leftover buffalo chicken (mayo+hot sauce packet from work), rice, broccoli, and carrots to finish. And I made some pancakes.

Since I'm only cooking for myself, I don't mind eating the same things all the time. I work 12.5 hr night shifts so I eat several times at work and it sometimes ends up being the most random things.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 14, 2020, 07:02:43 AM
Found some old cans of Herbalife powdered soup mixture (16 ounces, makes 21 cups of soup ) , and Slimwell Balanced Meal SHake.  No date on the Herbalife.  Best by Feb, 2004 on the SLimwell.        Guess I'll try them both and see how they taste. Some are unopened. May try to sell the unopened ones  at a  flea market.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on January 14, 2020, 09:01:38 AM
Found some old cans of Herbalife powdered soup mixture (16 ounces, makes 21 cups of soup ) , and Slimwell Balanced Meal SHake.  No date on the Herbalife.  Best by Feb, 2004 on the SLimwell.        Guess I'll try them both and see how they taste. Some are unopened. May try to sell the unopened ones  at a  flea market.   

No No No No .............  That's taking frugality too far.  Throw them out!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 14, 2020, 11:08:26 AM
Found about a half pound leftover pork sausage in the freezer I'd cooked for tacos a few months ago.  I'll add it to tonight's ground beef for Taco Tuesday.  :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 14, 2020, 12:34:55 PM
I get lost in the awesomeness of this thread, so thanks to all.

House goes on the market in a few weeks, and when we move I don't want to move (or waste) food. So the push is on to only shop when I need to (ie no veggies at all or half and half for my coffee, one of the things I refuse to go without) and (perhaps the bigger one) ONLY to buy what I need (said veggies and half and half). Let's see how it goes. I'm out of yellow onions and almost out of garlic (the horror), which will be a trigger for a store run; I'll buy a cabbage as a bulk veggie filler to be able to extend my time between the store past what lettuce would last.

Tonight: pork tenderloin with a greek salad
Options then left: pork and veggie fried rice, quesadillas. Shepherd's pie of some version with pork and whatever veggies I have and mashed potatoes on top. Pancakes for dinner. Grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Maybe I can put off the store until early next week. We'll see.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 16, 2020, 06:12:21 PM
Found some old cans of Herbalife powdered soup mixture (16 ounces, makes 21 cups of soup ) , and Slimwell Balanced Meal SHake.  No date on the Herbalife.  Best by Feb, 2004 on the SLimwell.        Guess I'll try them both and see how they taste. Some are unopened. May try to sell the unopened ones  at a  flea market.   


No No No No .............  That's taking frugality too far.  Throw them out!


SunnyDays,

I  appreciate your response, but why? Do you think they might be harmful to consume due to being old?   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: zee dot on January 18, 2020, 09:32:54 AM
Cooked a duck out of the freezer stash.
Used up the last of some peaches,  a bottle of eggnog,  the last of a bag of pecans. Continued good work!

Goals for this long weekend: eat the fruit and salad stuff before it goes bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 18, 2020, 12:55:38 PM
I found a little coconut flour (from what? Uncertain) and I have some heavy cream to use up so I'm going to give this recipe a try. I'm not keto but how bad can baked cheese be?

http://uplateanyway.com/keto/crazy-bread-breadsticks-low-carb-gluten-free/

I need to figure out what to do with the 2 1/2 tofurkey sausages in my freezer. They're horrible. Spongy and too salty, and just bad flavor. I didn't like them in an egg casserole. Maybe in a vegan jambalaya? Throw enough hot sauce in there and maybe I won't notice?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 18, 2020, 01:16:24 PM

I need to figure out what to do with the 2 1/2 tofurkey sausages in my freezer. They're horrible. Spongy and too salty, and just bad flavor. I didn't like them in an egg casserole. Maybe in a vegan jambalaya? Throw enough hot sauce in there and maybe I won't notice?

I was going to suggest grinding them up and using them in a spaghetti sauce or chili, but if they have bad flavor I'd pitch them. Why waste the other ingredients on a concoction that is yucky? Sometimes you win experiments and sometimes you don't. Don't buy them again, obviously.

I'm a big believer in using up leftovers in creative ways, but if an ingredient tastes yucky out it goes. Same reason I won't cook with wine I won't drink on its own.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 18, 2020, 01:25:19 PM
Found an old box of Lemon Bars mix in the pantry. Tried to cook it up. Kind of a disaster thanks to unclear instructions (male here, just following instructions, no innate sense of what is crust and what is topping!) The vague instructions did not identify which of the 2 packets was crust and which was topping, and no markings on them, of course. I'm supposed to just know.  think I used the wrong one for crust. I can eat half of it anyway. The bottom part (supposedly crust) is stuck to the bottom of the pan  and I'll have to soak it off over a few days.

Goos news is that I'll  have the box of Lemon Bars out of the house, never to return.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Tris Prior on January 18, 2020, 01:47:32 PM


I was going to suggest grinding them up and using them in a spaghetti sauce or chili, but if they have bad flavor I'd pitch them. Why waste the other ingredients on a concoction that is yucky? Sometimes you win experiments and sometimes you don't. Don't buy them again, obviously.

I'm a big believer in using up leftovers in creative ways, but if an ingredient tastes yucky out it goes. Same reason I won't cook with wine I won't drink on its own.

Yeah, Aldi was out of vegan sausage (which is surprisingly good)  so I went to Whole Foods and HOLY SHIT the fake meat is expensive there. Most of the vegan sausage was $7 or $8 per package, this was $4. I guess I know why now? Live and learn.

Oddly, I don't mind cooking with mediocre wine. I guess maybe because most of my recipes that call for wine call for white, and I don't usually drink white anyway?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 18, 2020, 06:45:06 PM
After some creative combining I can say I do not have to go to the store this week.

We are going to have things like Barley salad, homemade ravioli, and some tacos. All great food and will help me use up the random in my house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on January 19, 2020, 12:47:04 PM
Got all the bits and bobs of snacky stuff out of the house with a batch of snack mix. I got into a phase this fall of trying out different snack mix recipes (basically daisy-chaining recipes...try one recipe, have leftover ingredients. Make another recipe to use those ingredients, have leftovers of the ingredients I bought for the new recipe. Continue in an infinite loop.) However in the process, I found the Uber Recipe, which I share now in hopes of helping others use up their bits.

Melt one stick of butter in a melt-friendly container. I put it in a giant Pyrex bowl in the microwave, but you do you. Mix in about 3 tablespoons of zingy spices. The classic Chex Mix recipe is 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, half a tablespoon seasoned salt, half a tablespoon of garlic and onion powder combined, but use whatever you've got around. There should be salt involved, especially if you're using a lot of non-salted components like cereal. Come up with 8-12 cups of crunchy things. Unsweetened cereal (Chex or Cheerios), pretzels, cheese crackers, nuts, crushed tortilla chips, bagel chips, chow mein noodles, sesame sticks, etc. etc. etc. Toss the crunchies in the melted butter (thus why I use the giant bowl.) Now cook the butter-covered crunchies, stirring every so often. 6 minutes in the microwave works, stirring every two minutes. Or an hour in the oven at 200 degrees, stirring every 15-20 minutes. Or I think you can use the slow cooker somehow. Cool and eat.

Also made an oatmeal smoothie for lunch that cleared out some random fruit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 19, 2020, 02:51:26 PM
Had 2 kinds of leftover pasta and a few odds and ends from pizza night the other night (including both red and white sauce). Layered them into a "kitchen sink casserole" topped with 2 cheese sticks that have been in the cheese drawer for a REALLY LONG TIME (kids are both in college . . .). Will bake for 30 minutes and eat like a less cheesy, less sauce-y lasagna. Used up cream cheese as well as tablespoons of this and that.

One of my favorite go-tos for using up stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Monerexia on January 19, 2020, 03:03:49 PM
Interesting! I actually had this idea on my own a couple weeks ago when I discovered a case of soup that was about to go beyond expiration date. Ate 2-3 cans/day for a bit and thought I should go through all the canned goods and freezer stuff before putting anything else in there. Have eaten corn and tuna together in a bowl a bit, other things like that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on January 19, 2020, 08:34:33 PM
Found some old cans of Herbalife powdered soup mixture (16 ounces, makes 21 cups of soup ) , and Slimwell Balanced Meal SHake.  No date on the Herbalife.  Best by Feb, 2004 on the SLimwell.        Guess I'll try them both and see how they taste. Some are unopened. May try to sell the unopened ones  at a  flea market.   


No No No No .............  That's taking frugality too far.  Throw them out!


SunnyDays,

I  appreciate your response, but why? Do you think they might be harmful to consume due to being old?   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on January 19, 2020, 08:39:05 PM
(See above.). Yes exactly.  16 year old food just can’t be good for you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 20, 2020, 08:07:47 AM
(See above.). Yes exactly.  16 year old food just can’t be good for you!

I'm such a frugalist, this is really freaking me out. I can't find any definitive answer by searching the net. I guess I'll have to throw them out (the powdered shakes and Herbalife).   Better safe than sorry, right?

On the other hand.... did I mention the undated can of organic rye and organic brown rice cereal?  I've eaten three small bowls of that and so far so good! I boil it for 5 minutes before eating it.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on January 20, 2020, 10:46:06 AM
(See above.). Yes exactly.  16 year old food just can’t be good for you!

I'm such a frugalist, this is really freaking me out. I can't find any definitive answer by searching the net. I guess I'll have to throw them out (the powdered shakes and Herbalife).   Better safe than sorry, right?

On the other hand.... did I mention the undated can of organic rye and organic brown rice cereal?  I've eaten three small bowls of that and so far so good! I boil it for 5 minutes before eating it.
 

Anything that truly has NO date is really old, because dating food has been occurring for a long time.  Some items have codes, which are almost impossible to decipher, because the code formula differs from one manufacturer to the next.  I actually called a company, I think it was Maple Leaf, to ask about a canned ham that had a code on it.  Turns out it was from 2014, but the rep said it was actually still good for 2 years after that because they're conservative with the dating.  It was 2018, so I threw it out.  I've had food poisoning before, so now I don't take chances.  I've never been so sick.  And even if you don't get sick, there can't be much nutritional value left after all that time.  You deserve better!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Luz on January 20, 2020, 08:32:31 PM
I'm joining this challenge! I'll start with clearing out the pantry, fridge, and freezer. But my real focus is to deal with the upstream issues related to bringing more food into the house than we (my partner, toddler, and I +baby on the way) are able to consume.

I usually shop at Sprouts and Costco (and sometimes Fry's). This week I didn't have time to stop by Costco after Sprouts and I spent so much less than usual (I just bought a week's worth quantity from Sprouts). Sure, I bought a bag of 30 tortillas at Sprouts for the same price that I buy over 100 of them at Costco, but I'm guessing that we will waste much less food than usual. And I'm questioning whether we're actually coming out ahead by buying such large quantities.

I am taking a trip at the end of February. Between now and then, I'll clear out our coffers and shop for only what we can eat in a week (price per unit be damned). I'll be interested to see what comes of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 25, 2020, 02:38:48 PM
Lately:

~A can of enchilada sauce from last year, a can of sliced olives my sister left at Christmas, and a pound of ground pork went into a pan of enchiladas.
~A pound of ground beef and chopped portobello mushrooms made burgers
~Horseradish leftover from ? will be used with beef tomorrow
~Sometime next week I'll top something pork related with a jar of homemade apricot jam and slow cook it in the Crock Pot
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 26, 2020, 10:39:44 AM
Recently:
-Used the last of sushi rice in a chicken stir fry recipe
-Finished off the peanut butter making protein balls
-Used up 2 bananas from the freezer (and one very overripe one in the fruit bowl) to make chocolate chip banana bread.
-Used up the dregs of a bag of white chocolate chips to go in the bread
-Defrosted very discounted Italian sausage to use in eggroll in a bowl tonight
-Used up the dry Lipton chicken noodle soup mix. Everyone has been sick
-And cleared out the Trader Joes red pepper tomato soup. Same as above
-Made the kids two frozen mini pizzas for lunch. Those drop to the bottom of the freezer, and the kids are too lazy to fish them out & wait for them to bake. However, when mom is in charge... :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 27, 2020, 02:45:59 PM
~I remembered the horseradish was from last year's Halloween party next day Bloody Mary's.  ;)  DH toned it down last night w/ a bit of mayo.
~The apricot jam is in the Crock Pot with a rack of ribs today.   I also used some cream honey (bought last fall on impulse, and do NOT recommend) in lieu of brown sugar, and 3 chipotles in adobo sauce.  We'll see.
~Wed I'll use one pound each ground pork and beef in blue cheese burgers.
~Strawberries frozen last summer were thawed to use in yogurt.
~I remember next weekend I'll bake flax seed muffins which will use up some of the flax seed.

Oh, and 2 cans Chef Boyardee products purchased during possible wildfire bug out season two summers ago will be dropped off at our neighbor's with children house.  The 3rd can is months past it's expiration date and was tossed.

I organized the back pantry canned items, and took inventory for our next Sam's Club run.  We live 20 minutes from the nearest store, so it's ideal to have things in stock.


ETA:  Welcome to the thread, @Luz !!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on January 27, 2020, 05:21:47 PM
Still doing well eating through the freezer!  I am down to just a few servings of leftover meals, and soon it will be time to tackle the lower basket with random frozen fruits and vegetables.  I'm pulling things out every once in a while, but it hasn't made a big dent yet.  I did used two cups of frozen beans and a decent number of frozen tomatoes.

I resisted the urge to go shopping this weekend (ran out of fruit on Sat and greens and milk on Sun), and held out until today.  For breakfast, instead of overnight oats, I had a sweet potato, topped with half a banana I found in the freezer (I remember sticking it in there right before leaving town for the holidays) and butter/sugar/cinnamon.  I usually go for savory on my sweet potatoes, so it was a nice treat!

I had the potato left from trying a sweet potato stuffed with tuna.  I was not a fan of the flavor combination, so I ate the rest of the tuna mix on top of my remaining greens yesterday.  I bought the can of tuna last week, so I was happy to actually eat it instead of letting it sit in the pantry!

For dinner tonight I made a butternut squash pasta dish, using one of the 2 remaining squash from my CSA last fall and some discount pasta in the pantry.  I never eat pasta, but bought some from the 50% off table at the grocery store on impulse, so it was nice to get this out of the pantry.  There is still another kind of pasta for when the urge strikes to try something else.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 28, 2020, 10:34:04 AM
-Husband ate the last of the pomegranate seeds that no one else would touch (we all love them, but this batch was not terribly fresh & just tasted like mush).
-Finished a bag of chicken (freezer)
-Started eating down frozen eggrolls. Back is now 2/3 full.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: expatartist on January 29, 2020, 05:46:06 AM
Happy to run across this thread again! Lately I've been looking at my kitchen shelves full of so many misc dried goods - especially different kinds of rice - and it's time to clear them out. Fridge is full of organic eggs and remaining chunks of cheeses brought back from recent travels. I tend to bring back lots of food items from holiday and they don't always combine naturally so I'll focus on those too.

So I'll do a personal challenge of "eating off the shelves" for the next 30 days. The only exceptions will be fresh fruit and veg (fresh tofu can count as a veg and costs almost nothing) Oh - and if our city goes into full crisis mode due to coronavirus!

Tonight's soup was 100% off the shelves:
* 2 servings dried noodles unused from recent hotpot dinner
* 2 organic eggs from the USA
* dried mushrooms from the Vietnamese shop downstairs
* chunks dried purple Thai seaweed (souvenir)
* local soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and powdered ginger

Was delicious but will cut down on the salt next time, and use fewer mushrooms to extend them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on February 02, 2020, 07:49:17 PM
I am inspired by this thread for February!
We spent SO much money on food in January..and have a lot of dried goods & teas that need to used up.

Tonight I made a fantastic vegan tofu masala and tomorrow will do some baking/cooking with things I have in the house. Time to buckle down.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 02, 2020, 08:04:08 PM
I have a bunch of items on my "get rid of" list, between the freezer & pantry, & I've made a bit of progress. I used a jar of homemade frozen pesto from a few seasons back in a chicken dish last night. I need to research a few options for various chutneys that I've received as gifts and figure out a way to use them. I also used up the last of a dip (they tend to get pushed back in the fridge & the last scoop or so goes bad) for the Superbowl, & we continue to make a dent in our freezer/fridge stash.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 04, 2020, 02:22:50 PM
~Blueberries, blackberries, and baby spinach went into a smoothie
~Pork rinds were eaten up during the Super Bowl
~A few Halo Top ice cream bars have been in the freezer for months now, focusing on eating them up
~Used a pound of pork sausage in gravy last weekend
~2 cans Rotel and one can diced chiles were added to chicken breasts in yesterday's Crock Pot meal

Twice now I've purchased portobello mushrooms and haven't cooked them up quickly enough so they had to be tossed.  I need to watch that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on February 04, 2020, 06:07:26 PM
I've started making cocktails from the bottle of liquor I brought back from Peru in 2016.  What a hardship!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on February 04, 2020, 06:36:28 PM
I've started making cocktails from the bottle of liquor I brought back from Peru in 2016.  What a hardship!

Ha--Way to go @NotJen :)

Found some pineapple in the freezer so made a morning smoothie with that (as well as one mango about to go off, some dried coconut, ginger and a few handfuls of spinach from the fridge).

Making some lentil meatballs for dinner with linguini..cooked some dried lentils to use in them and also used sundried tomatoes, flaxseed, herbs & breadcrumbs from the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 04, 2020, 08:30:04 PM
I've started making cocktails from the bottle of liquor I brought back from Peru in 2016.  What a hardship!

Nice job. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the limoncello someone gave me a few years back.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on February 05, 2020, 06:21:55 AM
I've started making cocktails from the bottle of liquor I brought back from Peru in 2016.  What a hardship!

Nice job. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the limoncello someone gave me a few years back.

Might make a nice marinade for chicken or pork or fish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 05, 2020, 07:33:49 AM
Used up two bags of leftover pizza that were tucked back into the freezer. They filled in as an impromptu dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on February 08, 2020, 08:38:07 AM
I have a bunch of items on my "get rid of" list, between the freezer & pantry, & I've made a bit of progress. I used a jar of homemade frozen pesto from a few seasons back in a chicken dish last night. I need to research a few options for various chutneys that I've received as gifts and figure out a way to use them. I also used up the last of a dip (they tend to get pushed back in the fridge & the last scoop or so goes bad) for the Superbowl, & we continue to make a dent in our freezer/fridge stash.

Chutney:  Over chicken or pork.  (Cooked along with the meat or to be added at the table.)  Use in a tuna or chicken salad.  (Mixed with mayo or thinned with EVOO in a blender.)  Over a block of cream cheese as a dip with crackers. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 08, 2020, 08:57:38 AM
Thanks, @Catbert ! I will give those a try. Both chutneys look really good, but I was at a mental block on how to use them.

We've made progress on the mini pizzas I found lurking (they slip below bigger items in the freezer), so those are dwindling.

My husband & I went out to dinner for my birthday last night, and he brought home ribs, knowing our 14 year old loved them. They didn't even make their way into the fridge. 14 yo sees leftover box, grabs out of his hands, sits down & plows through an enormous pile of ribs... so, I suppose that's another win. Leftovers are eaten before they even get to the fridge!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on February 09, 2020, 11:22:57 AM
It's my turn to make dinner so I'm going for doing this recipe with things I have in the house so that I don't have to go shopping and can use some things up!
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-braised-coconut-spinach-chickpeas-with-lemon-recipes-from-the-kitchn-164551

I am making coconut milk from dried coconut,  will use frozen kale instead of spinach, we have chickpeas and sun-dried tomatoes in the pantry and can eat it over rice instead of sweet potato. The one thing I don't have is ginger..but will see what I can dig up :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 10, 2020, 02:33:52 PM
Happy birthday, @MaybeBabyMustache!!!

~~~~~~~~~~
~The last of the berries frozen during season last year went into smoothies yesterday, along with a can of coconut milk and baby spinach
~Leftover chicken breast made a nice pizza topping Saturday night
~Used up the granulated sugar and another can of coconut milk in blueberry muffins
~Currently eating leftover steak on top of a bed of baby spinach

I'm really appreciating the fact we stocked up on coconut milk last year.  It's nice to have around, is shelf sustainable, and is really tasty in recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on February 11, 2020, 10:36:52 AM
Here's what I have managed to accomplish this month :
Turkey noodle soup - I was sick, so I used a quart of frozen turkey stock, frozen chopped turkey, even some frozen mirepoix, and the last a bag of gemelli pasta.  All I had to do was chop fresh garlic. 
Banana bread - old sad bananas, baking supplies, most of a packet of walnuts
Cowboy caviar - used some dried blackeyed peas and black beans, frozen corn, and a rescued bunch of cilantro about to go wilty.  This made a great, healthyish snack while watching my Chiefs win the Super Bowl!
https://www.giovanniranausa.com/recipes/cheese-lovers-tortelloni-stuffing-with-bacon.html (https://www.giovanniranausa.com/recipes/cheese-lovers-tortelloni-stuffing-with-bacon.html) - the last of the Costco sized packet of cheese tortellini.  This was delicious!
Pasta with Cabbage and Salumi - the last of a pack of bucatini, part of a large cabbage in the crisper, a pack of frozen charcuterie from some dinner party
Plus, used several frozen chicken breasts that I grilled and froze last fall for quesadillas, and as protein for a batch of Charro Beans, which used some dried beans, and some old beer.

Here's what I'm still trying to figure out the best use for, so suggestions welcome :
I also have an incredibly well stocked spice cabinet, oils, vinegars, garlic/onions, etc., plus great stash of dried beans of all kinds.  The problem is I've eaten a lot of the meat from the freezer.  I'm down to bacon, chicken thighs, Mexican and Spanish chorizo, a ham bone, a little bit of ground Italian sausage some lamb shoulder cubes I'm avoiding because they were cut with bones in them, pancetta, miscellaneous salami, meatballs, and 2 tilapia filets, plus already grilled brats and kielbasa.  No real easy chunks for a crockpot creation left.  I'm really looking to minimize grocery shopping, because I have so much food in my house, and I've been trying to eat it down before March, when my husband and I do our annual Pescetarian month. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on February 11, 2020, 03:31:06 PM

Here's what I'm still trying to figure out the best use for, so suggestions welcome :
  • 8 cans of coconut milk
- Thai curry. Indian curry made with coconut milk. Add to smoothies. Make coconut ice cream.
  • Black bean garlic sauce - from the Asian market, expires soon!
This stuff is so salty I'd ignore the expiration date by at least a couple of years.
  • BBQ sauce - several local kinds (spicy, and apple flavored) + a King's Hawaiian
Are they all open?
  • Dried cherries
Make hot cereal for breakfast and add these cherries! (Or add the cherries to the granola!)
  • Lots of 5 Grain Hot Cereal (Bob's Red Mill) - I have a great granola recipe but it takes me a couple months to eat through it!
Bread? Hot cereal?
  • Jams, jellies, relishes, chutneys and marmalades - ranging from sweet to savory to spicy
Are they all open? If not, they'll last a long time (close to forever). Just put a moratorium on buying more.
  • A Costco sized container or dried shiitake mushrooms
  • Various gravy/seasoning packets - brown, chicken, turkey, and Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Chinese BBQ char sui mix, envelopes of Sazon Goya
  • Tons of different kinds of pastas and canned tomato products!
Pasta sauce with those shiitake mushrooms!
[/list]
I also have an incredibly well stocked spice cabinet, oils, vinegars, garlic/onions, etc., plus great stash of dried beans of all kinds.  The problem is I've eaten a lot of the meat from the freezer.  I'm down to bacon, chicken thighs, Mexican and Spanish chorizo, a ham bone (split pea soup), a little bit of ground Italian sausage (pasta sauce with those shiitake mushrooms and this sausage!) some lamb shoulder cubes I'm avoiding because they were cut with bones in them, pancetta, miscellaneous salami (lasts forever, makes a great "nibble dinner", adds spice to any pasta dish), meatballs, and 2 tilapia filets, plus already grilled brats and kielbasa.  No real easy chunks for a crockpot creation left.  (what about crockpot bean creations?) I'm really looking to minimize grocery shopping, because I have so much food in my house, and I've been trying to eat it down before March, when my husband and I do our annual Pescetarian month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 11, 2020, 08:05:48 PM
Here's what I have managed to accomplish this month :
Turkey noodle soup - I was sick, so I used a quart of frozen turkey stock, frozen chopped turkey, even some frozen mirepoix, and the last a bag of gemelli pasta.  All I had to do was chop fresh garlic. 
Banana bread - old sad bananas, baking supplies, most of a packet of walnuts
Cowboy caviar - used some dried blackeyed peas and black beans, frozen corn, and a rescued bunch of cilantro about to go wilty.  This made a great, healthyish snack while watching my Chiefs win the Super Bowl!
https://www.giovanniranausa.com/recipes/cheese-lovers-tortelloni-stuffing-with-bacon.html (https://www.giovanniranausa.com/recipes/cheese-lovers-tortelloni-stuffing-with-bacon.html) - the last of the Costco sized packet of cheese tortellini.  This was delicious!
Pasta with Cabbage and Salumi - the last of a pack of bucatini, part of a large cabbage in the crisper, a pack of frozen charcuterie from some dinner party
Plus, used several frozen chicken breasts that I grilled and froze last fall for quesadillas, and as protein for a batch of Charro Beans, which used some dried beans, and some old beer.

Here's what I'm still trying to figure out the best use for, so suggestions welcome :
  • 8 cans of coconut milk
  • Black bean garlic sauce - from the Asian market, expires soon!
  • BBQ sauce - several local kinds (spicy, and apple flavored) + a King's Hawaiian
  • Dried cherries
  • Lots of 5 Grain Hot Cereal (Bob's Red Mill) - I have a great granola recipe but it takes me a couple months to eat through it!
  • Jams, jellies, relishes, chutneys and marmalades - ranging from sweet to savory to spicy
  • A Costco sized container or dried shiitake mushrooms
  • Various gravy/seasoning packets - brown, chicken, turkey, and Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Chinese BBQ char sui mix, envelopes of Sazon Goya
  • Tons of different kinds of pastas and canned tomato products!
I also have an incredibly well stocked spice cabinet, oils, vinegars, garlic/onions, etc., plus great stash of dried beans of all kinds.  The problem is I've eaten a lot of the meat from the freezer.  I'm down to bacon, chicken thighs, Mexican and Spanish chorizo, a ham bone, a little bit of ground Italian sausage some lamb shoulder cubes I'm avoiding because they were cut with bones in them, pancetta, miscellaneous salami, meatballs, and 2 tilapia filets, plus already grilled brats and kielbasa.  No real easy chunks for a crockpot creation left.  I'm really looking to minimize grocery shopping, because I have so much food in my house, and I've been trying to eat it down before March, when my husband and I do our annual Pescetarian month.

take your lamb shoulder cubes, some of the dried mushrooms and make a bone broth, add a can of the tomato, some of the black bean paste and eat with some noodles or rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 11, 2020, 08:29:09 PM
Thanks, @MountainGal !

I used up the last of a small container of frozen chicken curry tonight. Ate that after driving the kids around to multiple activities. I also used two frozen mini baguettes to go with the kids dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 15, 2020, 09:47:16 AM
We have some extra stuff that didn't get used up in the weekly meal plan, and I have to travel a couple days next week, so I'm skipping the grocery shop this weekend.  I'd love to make it until next weekend, but will probably grab some vegetables when I get home on Wednesday night.

It's nice being at the middle of the month and well under budget for food.

I'm thinking of roasting broccoli with some butter chicken tomorrow.  Eggroll in a bowl on Monday to use up cabbage.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 15, 2020, 12:56:28 PM
Heading out on vacation today, so have done the following to reduce waste:
-Frozen leftover carnitas meat
-Made lunch out of the remaining carnitas, a little edamame (last in the container), about 2 tbsp of shredded cheese (last of the bag) & a tomato that needed to be used up. Plus an apple
-Made kids lunch out of frozen mini pizzas that I'm trying to use up, plus cucumber & an apple we need to eat
-Cubed & froze remaining fresh pineapple & melon for future smoothies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mustachepungoeshere on February 16, 2020, 08:10:00 PM
I have about a third of a jar of crunchy natural peanut butter that has dried out and just won't spread.

I bought a jar of smooth peanut butter and I'm using that to help dilute the crunchy stuff and use it up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on February 17, 2020, 08:20:15 AM
Found an old box of hamburger helper (do they still sell that?) Beef Stroganoff, which I will use up soon.

Alsop, found a package of Pillsbury chocolate cake mix. I followed the directions and baked myself a cake which turned out to be pretty blah, actually. Too dense and wet. Will eat it anyway. One less old box cluttering up the cabinet.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 20, 2020, 11:12:16 AM
Got home last night and scrabbled together a tasty soup with a bunch of kale, dried tomatoes, the last onion, carrot and some overly salty sausage from the freezer.  Even used up the rest of a small jar of carrot top pesto and a parm rind.  A partial cabbage was turned into pickleback slaw with extra pickle juice for my lunches today and tomorrow.  The produce drawers are entirely empty save a bunch of green onions.  Will pick up some salad to get us through to the wekend, then clean out the fridge and do a regular shop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 23, 2020, 03:35:35 PM
Used up pineapple & bananas from the freezer to make muffins. Tossed in a handful of dried cherries that had been lingering in the pantry forever. I should have diced the pineapple more finely. I'd assumed the mixer would make quick work of it. Nope, so the bigger chunks dropped to the bottom, making the bottoms drop out of some of the muffins. Taste was good, however, so I'll try it again.

I also made egg roll in a bowl yesterday, using a very discounted package of sausage ($.50 for a lb, I think) & served it with actual egg rolls, for those who eat carbs. So meta. The egg rolls have been on my freezer hit list for a while, as no one really loved them. They were pretty bland. However, the sauce from the egg roll in a bowl made for a nice dipping option for the actual egg rolls. Success!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on February 23, 2020, 03:43:25 PM
Making sweet potato/black bean burritos for dinner, with a cashew cream/avocado/cilantro sauce to drizzle over it. Used up the last can of black beans, the sweet potatoes, the half an onion, and made a dent in the cashew supply. It's a combination of this thread and the "what's for dinner" thread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 24, 2020, 11:01:33 AM
Continuing to utilize the locally raised beef we went in on with a friend last year:

~Last night DH used the flank steak by marinading and BBQing it into carne asada.  Yum!
~A beef roast is currently in the cock pot along with turnips, baby carrots, the last box of broth and 2nd to last can of tomato paste.
~Tomorrow we'll have tacos which will use up a pound each of the beef, and of the locally raised pig we went halves on with the same friend.

Continuing to make sure we eat the fresh produce on hand before frozen or canned.  Doing an excellent job avoiding food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 14, 2020, 08:52:06 AM
Is anyone else feeling very conflicted between trying to eat down their pantry and keeping food on hand for potential self-quarantines?  My wanting to be prepared side is definitely winning out - I've spent a ridiculous amount at the grocery store over the last week.  To be fair, a lot of that is replenishing pantry staples that I had been planning to restock after my 3-week vacation (which has now been cancelled) - I had been totally out of maple syrup, honey, flax seed, olive oil, etc.

I am, at least, sticking to mostly just buying a little extra of the things I use every day - dairy and fruit mostly (lots of veggies in the freezer) and will definitely use up soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 15, 2020, 07:02:17 PM
I'm really glad that I found this thread a few weeks ago. I've read through the whole thing, and it really inspired me to get to new lows with the grocery bill. It was great timing, because I got a lot of random crap out that was filling up my pantry. When I did a big grocery shop in case of quarantine, I knew exactly what I had on hand and what I needed to get. My shelves weren't stocked with freezer burnt meat, expired canned goods, and foods I don't like. This thread really inspired me with creative recipe ideas and reminded me of creative meals I've made in the past.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 15, 2020, 07:55:10 PM
Is anyone else feeling very conflicted between trying to eat down their pantry and keeping food on hand for potential self-quarantines?  My wanting to be prepared side is definitely winning out - I've spent a ridiculous amount at the grocery store over the last week.  To be fair, a lot of that is replenishing pantry staples that I had been planning to restock after my 3-week vacation (which has now been cancelled) - I had been totally out of maple syrup, honey, flax seed, olive oil, etc.

I am, at least, sticking to mostly just buying a little extra of the things I use every day - dairy and fruit mostly (lots of veggies in the freezer) and will definitely use up soon.

Definitely this. I'm focused on using up the one off, random things. While creating freezer space for the stuff we use regularly. Not really focused at this point on eating down the pantry and fridge, because we may want/need to avoid shopping for a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 16, 2020, 04:18:46 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache I like that idea for a focus - I do have some random odds and ends that have been around too long.  Then I can focus on just maintaining a stock of the basics. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 16, 2020, 04:27:47 PM
@SquashingDebt - we are now in a "shelter in place" required advisory for the bay area, so definitely don't plan to eat through our stores. But, maybe this will give us an opportunity to work through some of our less standard ingredients... Looking for those bright sides. :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on March 16, 2020, 07:11:51 PM
@SquashingDebt - we are now in a "shelter in place" required advisory for the bay area, so definitely don't plan to eat through our stores. But, maybe this will give us an opportunity to work through some of our less standard ingredients... Looking for those bright sides. :-(

That's a great attitude @MaybeBabyMustache --I was thinking we also will likely be getting creative with some of our random items..spice mixes, teas, flours that often get overlooked when there are more exciting things to consume :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 17, 2020, 01:48:52 PM
Was out for a week and a half due to medical reasons.  I remember eating smoothies consisting of almond milk, almond butter, cinnamon, lemon juice, and whatever produce we had on hand.  Also:

Made a quesadilla out of leftover chicken breast from low carb chicken and "dumplings" frozen last year.  Yuck.  Just glad I was able to use the chicken and not toss it.

Last week I used a pound ground beef in tacos.  Sunday DH smoked a pork belly which yielded at least 5 servings.

Also used up a can of chicken noodle, green beans, olives and Spam (the latter was purchased in case we had to bug out during the wildfires a few years ago).

Our canned items were very low, so DH and I went to Sam's Club Saturday do do our regular semi-annual stock up.  Yes, the shelves were sparse, but we managed to find almost everything on our list.  We then picked up an order at the grocery store later that day.  Yesterday, I went to Walmart for HBAs and a few other items.  We should be good for at least a month.  Here's to a quick end to this pandemic.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 19, 2020, 09:28:01 AM
Ok, today is self-quarantine/work from home day 1!  I stocked up on groceries over the past week with the goal of not needing to go back to the store for a least a month.  We'll see how it goes!

I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.  I also highlighted some items I want to make sure to eat soon - mostly related to potential spoilage.  First up for lunches are the bagels & cream cheese I got from my CSA, then switching over to salads with frozen veggie burgers.  I have cheese curds from my CSA which I'll have for snacks.

I've started maintaining my spreadsheets so that the order of food items is roughly the order I procured them, so it'll be helpful as I try to use up my older ingredients first.

Since I'll have more time to cook (and can use the distraction/reason to move around and not just sit down all day), I think I'll also focus on trying to stock up more frozen meals that I can eat all summer when my work is busy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 19, 2020, 11:18:06 AM
I'm not as organized as you, @SquashingDebt , but I do keep a list of items I'm trying to use up, and push those into the menu/meal rotations. We're making progress for sure.

I've planned the menu for the week ahead, so we can determine if we can get by with a small delivery option. I'm planning to use one of the last jars of pesto in my freezer (has been on the "get rid of" list forever. I have also sliced a fancy salami that was supposed to be used for a meat & cheese tray at an event. We aren't going anywhere, and if sliced, my husband will be much more likely to use it up.

Now I need to get the kids to eat the approximately 1 million cheese sticks they insisted we buy a few weeks back at Costco.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 23, 2020, 04:57:12 PM
We are doing a good job of managing our leftovers & eating everything on hand. I organized the pantry (inside & in the garage), and have been regularly rotating fridge items to serve for lunch.

Lately:
-We've gone through 1.5 of 2 of the fancy salami we're trying to use up
-The kids finished up cookies the neighbor lady made for us, as a thank you for getting groceries for her. What a hardship, right?
-We used fallen oranges off of the neighbor's tree (fell into our yard) to juice for smoothies
-We used an unknown citrus that grows in our yard, and juiced it over a salad. It's not a grapefruit, a tangerine, or a typical orange/lemon. It's some strange hybrid that's not very good. But, it worked fine.
-We used all of the sardines my husband bought on a whim & then didn't want.
-I ate a tuna pouch, which, let's be honest, I bought thinking about easy food storage during a pandemic, but not because I particularly like it. It was fine, & I'll finish them off.

Thinking that you may not be able to get more food to replace what you have (or, the items you like) & knowing that going out shopping carries risk, definitely encourages you to eat up what you have.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 25, 2020, 11:45:07 AM
Now I need to get the kids to eat the approximately 1 million cheese sticks they insisted we buy a few weeks back at Costco.

If you have a waffle iron, it seems you can stuff them in there and turn them into a crispy, melty treat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 25, 2020, 12:10:32 PM
@horsepoor - love that idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 25, 2020, 01:52:14 PM
Last weekend I poked around the bottom freezer drawer.  I tossed an unlabeled mystery freezer bag, and discovered one lone 1 lb chicken breast which I plan on making chicken tenders out of.

Recently:
~Finished the last of the salmon
~Used two more pork chops, the cream honey I don't care for and trying to use up, reduced sugar ketchup and soy sauce in this https://diethood.com/honey-garlic-baked-pork-chops/ (https://diethood.com/honey-garlic-baked-pork-chops/) recipe
~Been eating salads every day for lunch to get through the bag of baby spinach
~Tonight we'll have tacos which will use up a pound of ground beef.  We have about 6 or so pounds left of ground beef from the 1/4 beef we bought last year.
~When fresh chicken was unavailable at the store, I bought a 6 pack of canned.  I'll use one can tomorrow, along with a can of beans, tomatoes, and whatever else I find in a Crock Pot soup.  Looking forward to the comfort it will bring.

I've also been drinking lots of the tea packets we have on hand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 25, 2020, 04:16:02 PM
I'm doing a pretty good job eating my fresh ingredients to prevent waste.  I've made chicken paprikash, beef stroganoff, and mushroom pizza, and am almost done with the cream cheese from my CSA. 

Planning out all my meals is a good reminder of exactly how far each homemade meal stretches for me (1 person).  I really don't need to cook that often, and can take that into account when assessing my food stores. 

I'm going to continue to use up my older ingredients as I plan my next few meals.  I found a recipe for spaghetti with capers, sardines, and breadcrumbs (all of which I need to use up) that I'm going to try.  And then I think I'll make some sort of broccoli-potato-cheddar soup to use my potatoes in the pantry, broccoli in the freezer, and opened package of sharp cheddar in the fridge.

My goal is to make it past April 8th without going to the store.  (That's the duration of our non-essential business shutdown just enacted, which is kind of arbitrary but it doesn't hurt to have a goal.)  At that point I'll probably do a grocery store run to stock up on milk, almond milk, and frozen fruit.  I don't know that I'll need much more than that, though it won't hurt to make sure my pantry stays fully stocked.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 25, 2020, 09:31:41 PM
My husband just came back from Costco, so we are restocked. But, I used two cheese sticks in a quesadilla, & picked through the cilantro to find just enough for dinner. Our local shop hasn't been able to stock it recently due to a shortage. I've also been drinking a ton of tea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on March 25, 2020, 10:06:12 PM
I'm trying to use up stuff that's recently expired or not in regular use to free up space in my teensy tiny kitchen, since I've been stocking up on food for the coronapocalypse. I came up with a fairly successful bar cookie recipe that used up some expired-but-fine oats, half a cup of last summer's freezer jam, some rock-hard brown sugar (which I melted with a bit of water) and some chopped walnuts that I'd bought for another recipe last month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 29, 2020, 05:52:56 AM
My broccoli-potato-cheddar soup turned out quite well yesterday.  Of course, now I have 6-7 more servings of it to eat.  The recipe said it doesn't freeze well but I'll probably risk it.

So far I feel like I haven't even made a dent in my pantry and freezer supplies while avoiding grocery trips.  It'll be a fun project (since I like that sort of thing, haha) to figure out what staples I now want to always have on hand and in what amounts, for when I do my next shopping trip.  My attitude about keeping the pantry stocked up has definitely changed with recent events.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 29, 2020, 08:03:43 AM
Used the last jar of frozen pesto (at least 2 summers back), which has been on my target list forever. And, the last bag of frozen bananas. Hurrah! At one point, we had 20+ bananas in our freezer. They are all gone now.

Next up is to use the whipping cream before it goes bad, and use up that Liptons spice mix.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on March 29, 2020, 08:16:58 AM
I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.

I love the idea of a food inventory spreadsheet--I work in inventory control for my company, and can't believe I've never thought of doing something like that for my own pantry! 

Would you be willing to share your spreadsheet--not for the data, but for the format, and how you use it?  I'd love to have that as a springboard for something similar in my own world! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 29, 2020, 09:23:27 AM
I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.

I love the idea of a food inventory spreadsheet--I work in inventory control for my company, and can't believe I've never thought of doing something like that for my own pantry! 

Would you be willing to share your spreadsheet--not for the data, but for the format, and how you use it?  I'd love to have that as a springboard for something similar in my own world!


Sure!  I had been meaning to make a copy so I could show my friends who like chuckling at all the food I've managed to store up.  Some context:  I buy local meat, sometimes in bulk, which is why I have a good amount of it in the freezer.  I also get free veggies at work in the summer, which is where almost all of those came from.  I live alone, so definitely have enough food for a long time, haha.

I attached it as a spreadsheet since I think sharing in Google Docs will show my email?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 29, 2020, 12:42:10 PM
Right now I'm glad I didn't go too extreme on eating down all our stocks, but also glad I've gotten rid of most odds and ends of things we don't really use so the pantry is uncluttered.

Right now I'm working on the 5-6 quarts of frozen blueberries a co-worker brought me from her husband's small farm.  Today a bag of them went into a keto lemon ricotta cake, which was handy since I had an open container of ricotta to be used up.  Last week I did something similar with a coconut flour cake.  Makes for a nice weekday breakfast with coffee (still teleworking here, so trying to have ready-to-eat food for weekdays).

I've had a gallon bag of green chiles in the freezer from a bumper crop in 2018.  I ran short on time to process them all properly and just stuffed this giant brick of roasted chiles in the freezer "for later."  Getting them chopped up and canned is a perfect project for a rainy Sunday in social distancing land.

There are also lots of random bones in the freezer, so I think I 'll chuck them in the Instant Pot and cook down to a demi glace consistency.

I still have several 4-oz jars of carrot top pesto in the freezer if anyone has ideas for that.  I'm planning to use one as the sauce for a green pizza this week.  I've used it in soups and on fish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on March 29, 2020, 02:58:48 PM
Sure!  I had been meaning to make a copy so I could show my friends who like chuckling at all the food I've managed to store up.  Some context:  I buy local meat, sometimes in bulk, which is why I have a good amount of it in the freezer.  I also get free veggies at work in the summer, which is where almost all of those came from.  I live alone, so definitely have enough food for a long time, haha.

I attached it as a spreadsheet since I think sharing in Google Docs will show my email?

This is super-awesome--the Excel nerd and inventory control person in me are having emergency meetings to determine how to make something like for my own household.  ;-) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 29, 2020, 04:02:44 PM
My broccoli-potato-cheddar soup turned out quite well yesterday.  Of course, now I have 6-7 more servings of it to eat.  The recipe said it doesn't freeze well but I'll probably risk it.

Was it this? https://www.cookingclassy.com/cheesy-vegetable-chowder-aka-broccoli-cheese-potato-soup/

I made it a few days ago. Delicious but took so long to make.

I looked at that recipe but ended up with this one:  https://www.food.com/recipe/broccoli-cheese-and-potato-soup-139511

Very similar but no heavy cream, which I figured was for the best, haha.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 29, 2020, 04:03:25 PM
Sure!  I had been meaning to make a copy so I could show my friends who like chuckling at all the food I've managed to store up.  Some context:  I buy local meat, sometimes in bulk, which is why I have a good amount of it in the freezer.  I also get free veggies at work in the summer, which is where almost all of those came from.  I live alone, so definitely have enough food for a long time, haha.

I attached it as a spreadsheet since I think sharing in Google Docs will show my email?

This is super-awesome--the Excel nerd and inventory control person in me are having emergency meetings to determine how to make something like for my own household.  ;-)

Glad to be helpful!  I've definitely been channeling some of my nervous energy into meal planning - something I actually have control of right now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 29, 2020, 08:06:05 PM
Lipton's spice mix has been added to ground beef (along with other pantry stuff) for meatloaf tonight. Also realized I as out of mayo, so subbed Greek yogurt into my coleslaw dressing recipe. Thrilled to get rid of the last of a giant tub of Greek yogurt
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on March 30, 2020, 09:39:56 AM
My refrigerator was running extra cold & froze the celery I recently bought--so I tossed it a bag & then into the freezer and plan to make this celery soup today. I don't think I've ever eaten celery soup before so will do a half batch to start :)
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/celery-soup-51246210

I also found some frozen chiles in abodo sauce ---so plan to make some a spicy bean soup with those maybe later in the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on March 30, 2020, 10:41:00 AM
I made this Kale and Potato soup again today and finally used the last of a huge bag of kale from our neighbors garden.  It's ridiculously simple and surprisingly delicious and that's why I'm sharing it here. The author describes it as, not soup you'd serve to guests, but soup you'd eat standing at the kitchen counter. 

https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-simple-kale-potato-soup-weeknight-dinner-recipes-from-the-kitchn-13802
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 01, 2020, 11:54:31 AM
-Used up the last of a tub of Costco spinach
-Ate two chicken "snack" sandwiches, that my husband bought & the kids didn't like (one to go)
-Using a recipe with cream in it, to continue to use up what we have. It will also use up the last of our chicken, and we haven't been able to find it for three weeks, so that makes me a bit anxious.
-Froze the remaining meatloaf, other than what I'll have for lunch
-I've been planning ahead a bit with kid snacks, defrosting uncrustables (we had these for skiing, they aren't a regular purchase) to have at eye view in the fridge, and ensuring we're rotating through things.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on April 01, 2020, 06:12:30 PM
Had some sour milk so made a 'sour milk spice cake'..with mixed results (let's just say, I wouldn't serve it to guests:))
 It is very dense/but will do well as a warm breakfast loaf, soaked in oat milk. I added lots of extra cardamom so am sure to enjoy it regardless.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Freedomin5 on April 02, 2020, 12:44:00 AM
Previous tenant left a 5 kg bag of cocoa powder sitting on a kitchen shelf. We’ve had it since last summer. So today we made brownies. They were delicious. I still don’t know how anyone can go through that much cocoa powder.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on April 02, 2020, 05:10:28 AM
Previous tenant left a 5 kg bag of cocoa powder sitting on a kitchen shelf. We’ve had it since last summer. So today we made brownies. They were delicious. I still don’t know how anyone can go through that much cocoa powder.

Not saying that this is what your tenant was doing, but one of my favorite gluten-free cookie recipes uses a cup of cocoa powder per batch.  Here's a link:  https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/flourless-fudge-cookies-recipe

I don't do the gluten-free thing myself, but a frequent guest does, and I often make these for dessert when she's over for dinner.  I actually LOVE these cookies, gluten-free or not!  Give them a try--if nothing else, they can help you use up some cocoa!

They're a bit tricky to make; here's a link which discusses the recipe and some potential watch-outs for executing it:  https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2015/04/06/flourless-fudge-cookies-2

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on April 04, 2020, 03:58:33 PM
COVID-19 has me spooked. I have been waiting to go to the store for as long as possible. To buy my self a few more days till I have to go I got busy in the kitchen this morning. I made some barley raisin and hazelnut bread. I took barley as I had a bunch in the pantry and threw it in the blender to turn it to flour. Put it in the mixer and added some yeast one cup of regular flour, a few handfuls of raisins and some chopped hazelnuts and some yeast. Mixed it till it looked right. And baked it at 350 till golden and man it is great with a bit of butter and molasses. Should be great with a cup of tea in the morning.

I also had a bunch of quinoa in the pantry. I do not like quinoa but my family does. So I made some quinoa balls, with PB and coconut oil. And a banana bar thing that I hate but I am thinking my 9 year old might like it. If not I may try to turn it into a granola type thing.

I have a pot of boston baked beans in the oven. I will whip up a batch of corn bread to go with it tonight.

I am working hard to use what we have.     
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 04, 2020, 05:46:23 PM
We’re approaching the end of fresh food and most fun food. We have plenty that we won’t go hungry but we might get bored and it feels worrisome. We’re especially vulnerable and have been seriously avoiding stores. We expected a veggie box delivery Wednesday... but it’s now Saturday and fed ex still says “by end of day!”  So, when it does get here I’m not counting on it being very edible. So we’ll have to go out sometime soon...

But! Some successes today making something out of nothing.

I made a curry using an onion and the last bag of turnip greens from our neighbors garden. Used some red lentils and chicken bullion and added some black beans, garbanzos and some coconut milk I had stashed in the freezer. For very little actually fresh ingredients it’s got a lot of variety and turned out tasty. Not amazing. But satisfying.

This evening I used the pulp dregs of homemade grape juice from last summer to make icees. I am usually to squeamish to drink all the pulp.  There’s quite a bit in each jar. Why did I never think of this before?  It was seriously delicious. Half a tray of ice cubes, two spoons of yogurt and about 3/4 a cup of grape pulp. Mhmm.

We also got some garden planted and hope that in a few weeks we’ll have our own salad greens and radishes.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on April 05, 2020, 05:32:54 AM
Previous tenant left a 5 kg bag of cocoa powder sitting on a kitchen shelf. We’ve had it since last summer. So today we made brownies. They were delicious. I still don’t know how anyone can go through that much cocoa powder.

Not saying that this is what your tenant was doing, but one of my favorite gluten-free cookie recipes uses a cup of cocoa powder per batch.  Here's a link:  https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/flourless-fudge-cookies-recipe

I don't do the gluten-free thing myself, but a frequent guest does, and I often make these for dessert when she's over for dinner.  I actually LOVE these cookies, gluten-free or not!  Give them a try--if nothing else, they can help you use up some cocoa!

They're a bit tricky to make; here's a link which discusses the recipe and some potential watch-outs for executing it:  https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2015/04/06/flourless-fudge-cookies-2

Thanks for the recipe suggestion - I had 3 egg whites AND cocoa powder AND excessive amounts of powdered sugar to use up so this recipe was just about perfect for me.  I burned them a little bit and the cocoa powder was pretty old so they're not my favorite, but tasty enough to eat and so perfectly used up my ingredients :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 05, 2020, 09:21:55 AM
It sounds like we should really avoid grocery shopping if at all possible for the next two weeks. So, I'll need to be very thoughtful about spreading out the fresh ingredients. We will for sure get through, but the salads will start to look very interesting.

Today I'm making crockpot carnitas, and will likely use a very old jalapeno in place of a can of diced chiles (don't have). I won't have any cilantro (sad face), but will thinly dice sweet pepper to serve with it instead. I'll also use tortillas to make tortilla chips.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on April 05, 2020, 12:54:54 PM
I have an open bottle of wine I don't love, and a bunch of prunes I dried from a friend's plum tree.  Just pulled out a couple packages of lamb stew meat so I can make this, though I'll probably pressure cook it in the Instant Pot:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015744-braised-lamb-with-red-wine-and-prunes

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 05, 2020, 08:24:44 PM
Another dinner from almost nothing! Lentil tacos topped with lime honey cabbage salad.  Served with sun tea and then jello for dessert.

We had just a liiiittle wedge of cabbage and this was a great way to maximize it. Now we only have an onion and small wrinkly piece of ginger.   That veggie box better show up!

I’d been saving those tortillas to help make this meal special and different. I’ve got corn chips from last weeks non perishable order that will make nachos with leftovers tomorrow a different experience.

We’ll have to do a grocery trip and hope we find enough to allow us to hunker down for another three weeks.

Ooh!  I started sprouts this evening.  Why did it take me so long to remember sprouts??  We just do lentil sprouts. Cheap and easy.  I can’t eat them right now due to health concerns, but my partner will really enjoy them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 06, 2020, 09:15:22 AM
We're hoping to go two weeks without a grocery shop. My husband tends to get a little anxious when things run out, so let's see how we do.

-I tried to make cornbread yesterday, but there were bugs of some sort in my open cornmeal. So, that went to the garbage
-Made two loaves of quickbread (no yeast) & made cheese bread & chocolate chip bread. Both were quite good
-We made chicken tenders out of a couple of packages of chicken breasts
-I made crockpot carnitas out of a package of pork, and have that ready to go tonight. All leftovers to the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 07, 2020, 01:55:54 PM
Finding cooking and baking is helping to keep me grounded over the past few weeks.

~Saturday I made cupcakes and frosting from scratch.  I have about a cup of leftover frosting which I'll turn into:
~Leftover Frosting Cookies (there are recipes online)
~Still working through that meh cream honey purchased late last year.  DH put some on the ribs he smoked, and I used a bit on top of roasted root vegetables
~Yesterday I put leftover frozen beef roast and spaghetti sauce into the Crock Pot before work.  It was nearly annihilated, but I was able to save enough for 2 servings which I put on top of Birds Eye veggie pasta sprinkled with shaved parmesan

I'm focusing on increasing daily veggie intake, up to at least 6 servings, which has been fun and challenging.  Very happy our grocery store offers a variety.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on April 07, 2020, 03:09:22 PM
Leftover frosting cookies!! What a great idea. Frosting is just butter and sugar creamed together, so why not? I found a great recipe I can't wait to try out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 08, 2020, 10:20:13 AM
I made crockpot carnitas over the weekend, which I've made quite a few times before. My cut of pork must have been quite a bit bigger than normal, because there wasn't enough sauce & the pork got VERY dried out. I was so sad when I pulled it out of the crockpot. I decided I would attempt to save all of that meat. I left it (in the fridge), in all of the juice it was cooked with. Normally you drain, and then crisp the meat on broil. I couldn't shred the pork, so I finally chopped it.

We had it last night, and while it wasn't exactly the same, it was still good, and the extra soaking in the juice gave it a nice flavor that mostly offset some of the dryness. Whew! I would have been super upset to toss that much meat.

I also sketched out a loose menu plan for the next few weeks. Things we will run out of first include milk, bananas, and cucumber. Cucumber is my youngest son's favorite food, so we'll have to see if we need a small trip. I'd love to do a delivery, but there are no delivery windows. I'll keep checking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on April 08, 2020, 07:25:13 PM
I made crockpot carnitas over the weekend, which I've made quite a few times before. My cut of pork must have been quite a bit bigger than normal, because there wasn't enough sauce & the pork got VERY dried out. I was so sad when I pulled it out of the crockpot. I decided I would attempt to save all of that meat. I left it (in the fridge), in all of the juice it was cooked with. Normally you drain, and then crisp the meat on broil. I couldn't shred the pork, so I finally chopped it.

I absolutely LOOOOOOVE making carnitas in the crock pot; I have a bunch of leftover meat in the freezer from the last batch (big pork shoulder + 2-person household = lots of leftovers). 

One thing I've done when the flavor or texture has been less than inspiring (or when I just get tired of the existing profile after eating it for several days) is to mix it with barbecue sauce and pretend it's pulled pork barbecue.  Maybe give that a try if it needs any more "rescuing."  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 08, 2020, 08:22:30 PM
Thanks, @Zoot ! I'll give that a try.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on April 09, 2020, 10:18:22 PM
I’m buying lots of asparagus these days.  I finally decided to keep the ends from two bunches to make into a soup.

We’re also making a dent in our very tasty, but ginormous bag of frozen veg in the freezer.

I’m very proud of losing over 20 pounds since January.  I find that this forced at home period reinforces good habits.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 11, 2020, 08:54:07 AM
@Trudie - that is amazing! I've lost about 5 lbs since January (2 during the quarantine) & agree. I have to work really hard not to let stress impact my eating, but I don't have any business trips or vacation eating to contend with, and both of those throw me off track.

As for eating what's in our house, I was able to use the last of a small amount of takeout marinara sauce in a bolognese sauce I made yesterday. And, my son used a very fancy chocolate bar (a Christmas gift?) in the peanut butter cup recipe he made yesterday.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KBCB on April 13, 2020, 02:19:01 PM
Ok, today is self-quarantine/work from home day 1!  I stocked up on groceries over the past week with the goal of not needing to go back to the store for a least a month.  We'll see how it goes!

I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.  I also highlighted some items I want to make sure to eat soon - mostly related to potential spoilage.  First up for lunches are the bagels & cream cheese I got from my CSA, then switching over to salads with frozen veggie burgers.  I have cheese curds from my CSA which I'll have for snacks.

I've started maintaining my spreadsheets so that the order of food items is roughly the order I procured them, so it'll be helpful as I try to use up my older ingredients first.

Since I'll have more time to cook (and can use the distraction/reason to move around and not just sit down all day), I think I'll also focus on trying to stock up more frozen meals that I can eat all summer when my work is busy.

I would love to see what your spread sheets look like and how easy this is to do. I found myself with way more canned food than I usually have and am having trouble mapping meals. It would be cool to see something like this in action.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KBCB on April 13, 2020, 02:20:54 PM
I’m buying lots of asparagus these days.  I finally decided to keep the ends from two bunches to make into a soup.

We’re also making a dent in our very tasty, but ginormous bag of frozen veg in the freezer.

I’m very proud of losing over 20 pounds since January.  I find that this forced at home period reinforces good habits.

Congrats on the weight loss and more importantly the good habit :)

How do you make frozen vegetables. I realized I don't like them, and the only thing that works making them edible is loads of butter or lots of salt..?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 13, 2020, 03:32:25 PM
Since the last update, we've
-Used up two small, 1/2 used containers of powdered sugar (hot cross buns)
-Finished the remaining small jar of tahini (hummus)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on April 13, 2020, 03:41:30 PM
How do you make frozen vegetables. I realized I don't like them, and the only thing that works making them edible is loads of butter or lots of salt..?

I've found that some frozen vegetables just aren't very good, but the ones I like I tend to mix into things instead of cooking them up alone. Like this week I made chicken and vegetable enchiladas and used frozen cauliflower and broccoli in it, mixed with all the enchilada sauce. Plenty of flavor. I also add frozen veg to spaghetti sauce, or soups (e.g. adding frozen peas to a beef stew or frozen cauliflower to minestrone). The ones I try to keep on hand are peas, corn, broccoli, and cauliflower. Carrots are OK frozen, but I'll only use them where I want them to be cooked thoroughly (they're a little weird if you cook them 'al dente'). Frozen pearl onions are also good for soups and stews, but that's kind of a niche vegetable that I only use once or twice a year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KBCB on April 14, 2020, 05:57:21 AM
How do you make frozen vegetables. I realized I don't like them, and the only thing that works making them edible is loads of butter or lots of salt..?

I've found that some frozen vegetables just aren't very good, but the ones I like I tend to mix into things instead of cooking them up alone. Like this week I made chicken and vegetable enchiladas and used frozen cauliflower and broccoli in it, mixed with all the enchilada sauce. Plenty of flavor. I also add frozen veg to spaghetti sauce, or soups (e.g. adding frozen peas to a beef stew or frozen cauliflower to minestrone). The ones I try to keep on hand are peas, corn, broccoli, and cauliflower. Carrots are OK frozen, but I'll only use them where I want them to be cooked thoroughly (they're a little weird if you cook them 'al dente'). Frozen pearl onions are also good for soups and stews, but that's kind of a niche vegetable that I only use once or twice a year.

That's a great way to use them. I don't know why I didn't think of that. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on April 14, 2020, 05:59:55 AM
Ok, today is self-quarantine/work from home day 1!  I stocked up on groceries over the past week with the goal of not needing to go back to the store for a least a month.  We'll see how it goes!

I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.  I also highlighted some items I want to make sure to eat soon - mostly related to potential spoilage.  First up for lunches are the bagels & cream cheese I got from my CSA, then switching over to salads with frozen veggie burgers.  I have cheese curds from my CSA which I'll have for snacks.

I've started maintaining my spreadsheets so that the order of food items is roughly the order I procured them, so it'll be helpful as I try to use up my older ingredients first.

Since I'll have more time to cook (and can use the distraction/reason to move around and not just sit down all day), I think I'll also focus on trying to stock up more frozen meals that I can eat all summer when my work is busy.

I would love to see what your spread sheets look like and how easy this is to do. I found myself with way more canned food than I usually have and am having trouble mapping meals. It would be cool to see something like this in action.

If you scroll up, I posted my spreadsheet file on March 29 :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on April 14, 2020, 06:06:18 AM
I've made progress in this challenge in a sad and frustrating way - I was without power in my apartment for 57 hours this weekend.  By the time I woke up and realized the power was out, it was already past the safe interval for the food in the fridge (at least according to the FDA, and I'm not feeling inclined to be risky right now).  Around hour 40, I was able to bring some things (with a socially distanced driveway drop-off) to a friend's house to put in her empty chest freezer.  But, I was combining two small chest freezers and my fridge-top freezer into her one slightly larger chest freezer so I had to prioritize.  I was pretty stressed/frantic at that point, so I'm not entirely sure what I saved or kept, but I think I did a pretty good job getting rid of the things that have just been sitting in my freezer for a few years.  I'll be getting it back from her tomorrow.

When the power came back on Sunday I started defrosting and deep cleaning my fridge and freezers, so that's one small silver lining - a nice clean fridge to fill up again.  Now I have to figure out what the heck to buy when I go grocery shopping on Thursday.  What condiments do I replace?  How do I stock a fridge when I want to try to go another month before shopping again?  Very overwhelming.

On the bright side, this happened 3.5 weeks after my last grocery shop, so I lost far less than I would have if the timing were different.  And now I don't have any really old condiments in my fridge door!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on April 14, 2020, 09:08:29 AM
How do you make frozen vegetables. I realized I don't like them, and the only thing that works making them edible is loads of butter or lots of salt..?

I've found that some frozen vegetables just aren't very good, but the ones I like I tend to mix into things instead of cooking them up alone. Like this week I made chicken and vegetable enchiladas and used frozen cauliflower and broccoli in it, mixed with all the enchilada sauce. Plenty of flavor. I also add frozen veg to spaghetti sauce, or soups (e.g. adding frozen peas to a beef stew or frozen cauliflower to minestrone). The ones I try to keep on hand are peas, corn, broccoli, and cauliflower. Carrots are OK frozen, but I'll only use them where I want them to be cooked thoroughly (they're a little weird if you cook them 'al dente'). Frozen pearl onions are also good for soups and stews, but that's kind of a niche vegetable that I only use once or twice a year.

That's a great way to use them. I don't know why I didn't think of that. :)

To expand on Dollar Slice's excellent ideas (some of which I will be stealing!), here are a couple of formulas I often use in my own kitchen:

Leftover sauce + leftover starch + frozen vegetables = dinner
Leftover sauce + leftover starch + frozen vegetables + cheese and/or breadcrumbs on top = casserole

This is a great way to clean out the fridge, and it produces unique combinations that may never exist again.  ;-)  The leftover sauce and starch may of course be either replaced or supplemented by newly-constructed items, depending on what you have.  You can also add sliced/shredded leftover meat for more protein or bulk, or just to use up something else, or just because you like it. 

Ways this plays out often in our house:
Leftover rice + mixture of sauce ingredients (soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, sherry, ginger, hoisin sauce, etc) + frozen veggies = vegetable stir-fry (add meat if you like!)
Leftover pasta + leftover sauce (or can of cream-of-whatever soup) + frozen veggies + panko, cheese and herbs sprinkled on top = casserole

I will often intentionally make a double batch of sauces in recipes I'm making, or make extra rice or pasta to have on hand in the fridge, so that I will have leftover items on hand to use for just this purpose.  It is often a feature of my weekly meal planning--like I'll say Friday night is a "clean out the fridge dinner" night, where we see what the fridge has to offer that night and create dinner around it.  It helps that my husband is very open to consuming the results of this application of my creativity--it helps that 99% of them are edible, of course, and that many of them are actually qualitatively GOOD.  Even when we do have the occasional dud, we have fun talking about what went wrong and how we might avoid it next time.  ;-) 

I tend to keep big bags of Costco stir-fry veggies in the freezer for this very purpose.  I do occasionally buy other single-item frozen veggies for some recipe or other, but then use up little bits of leftovers from those bags in the same way described above.

Have fun!  :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 14, 2020, 12:31:36 PM
Leftover frosting cookies!! What a great idea. Frosting is just butter and sugar creamed together, so why not? I found a great recipe I can't wait to try out.

True!  And I made them Sunday with added mini marshmallows leftover from hot cocoa season.  They were delicious!  I had 1.5, and gave the rest to DH to take to work.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on April 14, 2020, 09:57:52 PM
How do you make frozen vegetables. I realized I don't like them, and the only thing that works making them edible is loads of butter or lots of salt..?

I've found that some frozen vegetables just aren't very good, but the ones I like I tend to mix into things instead of cooking them up alone. Like this week I made chicken and vegetable enchiladas and used frozen cauliflower and broccoli in it, mixed with all the enchilada sauce. Plenty of flavor. I also add frozen veg to spaghetti sauce, or soups (e.g. adding frozen peas to a beef stew or frozen cauliflower to minestrone). The ones I try to keep on hand are peas, corn, broccoli, and cauliflower. Carrots are OK frozen, but I'll only use them where I want them to be cooked thoroughly (they're a little weird if you cook them 'al dente'). Frozen pearl onions are also good for soups and stews, but that's kind of a niche vegetable that I only use once or twice a year.

That's a great way to use them. I don't know why I didn't think of that. :)

My favorite frozen veg are from Costco— Normandy Mix.  I have found that if I let them thaw and drain off the water, then toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast them on 400 degrees until they carmelize they’re quite good.  This veg mix has huge chunks of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on April 14, 2020, 10:19:45 PM
We’re doing grocery pick up these days.  I’ve found that it’s really helpful when making my lists to actually get in the fridge and start pulling stuff out to come up with meal ideas.  I also do a ton of prep at once.  Today, for instance, I took out carrots and celery and prepped them for snacking.  Some of the peelings and odd bits went in my freezer bag o’bits that I use when I’m making broth.  Some of the yuckier bits went into a freezer bag o’bits where I put everything from egg shells to onion skins to yucky potatoes...this is for my neighbor’s very productive worm composting system.  There was zero waste from this process.  I’m not hardcore about composting, but I found this very satisfying.

Within a very short period of time I had managed to roast potatoes, green beans, and a pan of sweet onions and peppers.  All will keep just fine until we eat them this week.  We love roasted veg.

I then decided to hard boil a half dozen eggs — again, an easy snack.  We’re getting more fresh eggs tomorrow.

Now I’m going to work on the carbs in the house.  I’m cutting down on simple carbs and heavy starches, so I happily donated my box of Arborio rice to my sister who needed some.  This week I think I will donate my unopened white rice to the food pantry.  Then I need to make some recipes with pearl and regular couscous.

I have Italian sausage and spinach in my freezer to use up.  Tonight I’m soaking white beans, and tomorrow I will riff on pasta fagiole soup and toss it all together with some chicken broth and a bit of Orzo pasta to make a soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: KBCB on April 15, 2020, 11:37:41 AM
Ok, today is self-quarantine/work from home day 1!  I stocked up on groceries over the past week with the goal of not needing to go back to the store for a least a month.  We'll see how it goes!

I made sure my food inventory spreadsheet is up-to-date and mapped out meal ideas for the next few days.  I also highlighted some items I want to make sure to eat soon - mostly related to potential spoilage.  First up for lunches are the bagels & cream cheese I got from my CSA, then switching over to salads with frozen veggie burgers.  I have cheese curds from my CSA which I'll have for snacks.

I've started maintaining my spreadsheets so that the order of food items is roughly the order I procured them, so it'll be helpful as I try to use up my older ingredients first.

Since I'll have more time to cook (and can use the distraction/reason to move around and not just sit down all day), I think I'll also focus on trying to stock up more frozen meals that I can eat all summer when my work is busy.

I would love to see what your spread sheets look like and how easy this is to do. I found myself with way more canned food than I usually have and am having trouble mapping meals. It would be cool to see something like this in action.

If you scroll up, I posted my spreadsheet file on March 29 :)

That's pretty amazing! Thank you.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 15, 2020, 02:15:40 PM
Leftover Easter ham:
Mon: ham tater hash
Tues: crustless ham spinach quiche (this also used up a wedge of mozzarella, and a half bag of baby spinach)
Tonight: eggs and ham

~Leftover prime rib (I know, life is rough!) went on top of two lunch salads this week. Yum!
~Sunday for brunch I made cauliflower hash patties with leftover riced (in the food processor) cauliflower.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on April 20, 2020, 12:04:29 PM
I have some leftover diced turkey breast in the freezer.  I’m also roasting chicken breast and making broth in my crockpot today.  My plan was to make a rice casserole.  Should I combine the two meats, or just make two separate casseroles?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 20, 2020, 04:18:06 PM
Odds & ends that have been eaten up lately:
-1 chicken nugget (???, teens)
-1 hot pocket that was cooked but not eaten (see above). The kids really do generally eat healthier than this
-1/2 of a pizza
-the ends of a bagged salad
-the remainder of a jar of red curry paste

Things that need to get used up quickly:
-3 bagged salads. We had a shopping list mix up
-a bag of coleslaw
-leftover coleslaw dressing
-pears (ditto shopping list mix up)
-A lot of carrots (see shopping list mix up)

Our shopping app didn't sync, so my husband was shopping off of a blend between our actual list, and a more outdated one... carrots & salad for everyone! ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on April 20, 2020, 08:15:47 PM
here are a couple of formulas I often use in my own kitchen:

Leftover sauce + leftover starch + frozen vegetables = dinner
Leftover sauce + leftover starch + frozen vegetables + cheese and/or breadcrumbs on top = casserole

I absolutely use these formulas in my kitchen too

We seem to have some good turnaround lately on our favourite meals and snacks, although we have to shop a little more frequently due to local shortages. So we keep quickly running out of the same things and the weekly grocery run is a simplified list of these few pantry items and fresh items (eggs, milk, fruit, favorite snack).  So I have noticed the languishing items in the pantry and fridge again and I'm making a special effort to use them up on days when I'm cooking for just me. Or when I can hide it effectively in the meal ;-)

So I made lentils for breakfast this week, which is a somewhat usual item for me, but added all sorts of tiny bits of condiments, unloved spices, last scoop of salsa, plus some garlic croutons at the end. It was fantastic, lasted me 3 meals, and emptied out a few things.
Then I made cookies with the last few servings of cereal that was too crushed to be tasty in a bowl with milk. These were a hit with the family even though no one wanted to eat the cereal for a long time (months, or likely longer)!
I had a few bags of frozen fruit that were taking up valuable space in the freezer I needed for proteins, so I made a cobbler with all the bits plus some oatmeal and brown sugar and a spice blend I don't usually use.

My next target is the container of peanuts I thought we would snack on, but that are slowly aging out. They will become toppings on the following meals (for just me) in the coming 2 weeks: Malaysian golden egg curry (Cole slaw cabbage slightly cooked, then topped with eggs poached in coconut oil with a spoonful of curry), stir fry, and possibly a dessert.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 21, 2020, 12:43:08 PM
@Trudie, I would make separate casseroles.  :)

We returned from camping and have been eating up leftovers from the trip:
Sunday night we had leftover burgers and dogs
Yesterday and today DH ate the pancakes for breakfast
I just ate the remaining celery and cream cheese with lunch
Leftover boiled eggs went into our lunches for snacks
I ate the remaining breakfast wrap (low carb tortilla with egg salad) yesterday morning
DH ate the remaining lunch wrap (LC tortilla w/ lunch meat and cheese) for lunch yesterday

For Taco Tuesday night tonight, I'm hoping to save sad looking avocados by putting them into a guacamole.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gaja on April 22, 2020, 04:18:29 PM
We are avoiding the stores, and don't have access to the ones we usually use. So now we are finally seeing a dent in the freezers. This week we've eaten bacon from 2016 and cod from 2017. Tomorrow it will be meatballs or tacos from fallow deer. It is only from 2018, so it should still be good.

Last autumn we took part in butchering a calf, and got half the meat. We also bought a small lamb. In total, it was a bit more than anticipated. I did not know how much meat there is on a calf. The liver alone was several kg of pate. When we slaughter lambs, the blood is usually eaten the first day (the kids love snacking on blood waffles). We still find frozen stacks of waffles from the calf. We have liters upon liters of bone broth, and there are still more bones in the freezer that I haven't boiled down. And there is just so much meat! Hopefully we will be able to reduce the stockpile during the barbecue season - I did prepare some nice t-bone steaks and ribs. But if we get this opportunity again, I'll be making a lot more ground beef, and cooking more of it before freezing. The small stack of bolognese sauce was gone before Christmas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on April 22, 2020, 04:44:22 PM
I've mostly gotten back to normal after my power outage required me to get rid of everything in my fridge and about 1/3 of the stuff in my freezer.  In a way, it's a relief to not need to deal with all of the stuff that had been in there, uneaten, forever.

I'm spending a LOT on food right now between being efficient in the grocery store, limiting my trips, and supporting my local food community via my CSA with add-ons such as bread and cheese.  I'm also continually reminded how long each dish I cook lasts as a person living alone.  Long enough for me to get sick of it if it's not something I can freeze, haha.

My current focus is figuring out how much I want to stock up in these uncertain times and how best to do so.  Does anyone have any thoughts about maintaining a separate emergency stock vs. just having a full pantry?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on April 22, 2020, 06:33:17 PM
I definitely have more food on hand and I'm trying to maintain a higher level than usual in case food gets more expensive or harder to get, and because I'm trying to shop less. I found for the first couple weeks everything was jumbled up and I couldn't find things, but now I have a better system and I'm trying to stick to a rotation so I eat the oldest stuff first. Most of it is the same food as usual, just more of it, but there's a few pandemic specific stuff like canned veggies in case I can't get fresh. I'm also focusing on eating the remainder of things that have been in the cupboard for a while but overlooked. There was a big jump in spending at first, but I think it's levelled off now, although I'm finding in general fresh food is more expensive and lower quality, and shopping is such a hassle that I'll just buy whatever's there even if it's more expensive.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on April 22, 2020, 07:25:22 PM
@SquashingDebt --I had the same thoughts. We live in a townhouse with a very small pantry space so even though we have it stocked, I decided to keep an extra supply on hand and put a large plastic bin in our spare room (which stays cool). There isn't a huge amount in there but definitely a week or two of extra bits and bobs.

We are pretty lucky no big food disturbances at our grocery store so far but want to be wise about it.

I'm trying to move things around in the freezer. Frozen fruit does take up a lot of room-- so making smoothies to use up the frozen pineapple and mango.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on April 22, 2020, 10:06:13 PM
We live in a loft/condo space and are finding ways to keep a robust stash of food without bursting at the seams.  Today we went on a massive restocking mission to Costco and one of our favorite ethnic stores.  Now I’m probably overstocked, but Covid hasn’t peaked yet where I live, and I still think these are early days.  I just want to be prepared to not go to a store for like a month, if I have to.

So, I have plenty of cooking challenges ahead of me.  I also don’t waste much food.  Bits of leftover meat get tossed in the freezer for stew.  Spinach that’s a bit on its way out gets chopped and sautéed with garlic, then frozen for soup.  Veg bits either get thrown into the stock pot or tossed into the freezer to be fed to our neighbor’s worms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on April 22, 2020, 10:16:03 PM
We’re struggling with this balance. It’s hard to stock up on some things with quantity limited. But also, do we eat down everything and avoid stores now? Or shop every 7-10 days to keep up a quantity so that we could go a month without shopping later? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 23, 2020, 08:35:50 AM
We are using this opportunity to eat up more odds and ends, while still keeping our fridge/freezer/pantry stocked with essentials. And, by stocked, maybe 1-2 additional weeks worth of staples. We certainly don't have a few months worth of extra food. We could go that long without a shopping trip if the food supply completely collapsed, but we'd be focused on eating enough calories - certainly not "meals" or eating things we enjoy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on April 23, 2020, 10:01:45 AM
I finally used up a carton of egg whites yesterday, making an egg sandwich for breakfast.  The carton had been open longer than the recommended 7 days, but seemed fine.  I bought it to make mixed drinks (and successfully used up a bottle of alcohol from 2016!), but had lots leftover - and I learned that I don't care for it.  Mostly just did egg scrambles with bits of veggies and cheese to work through the carton and not "waste" too many real eggs (though there doesn't appear to be a shortage of those now).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on May 02, 2020, 06:15:52 AM
It's been 2.5 weeks since my last grocery trip and I'm still doing quite well.  Today I'll be making scones to use up my heavy cream (though I haven't sniffed in awhile so hopefully it's still good, haha).  I have to decide which entree dish or two to make this weekend to feed me this week.  I have so many recipe ideas that each use up different things that it's hard to pick! 

I'm going to try to go another 1.5 weeks or so until my next grocery trip.  A one-month interval makes them align quite nicely with my grocery store's coupon cycle (monthly personalized coupons for frequently-bought items, as well as $10 off of $100 or so).  If I do a very significant shop every 4 weeks I think I can slowly build up my pantry stores.  Like some of the rest of you, I need to eat up the random odds and ends in my pantry so that I have room for the basics.  Shouldn't be hard to tackle that last bit of the bottle of tequila!  (But then do I replace that?)  If I stock up a lot, I will need to be careful with storage conditions and expiration dates.  As just one person, I already have a hard time just using a bag of brown basmati rice, for example, before it expires/goes rancid.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on May 08, 2020, 02:34:36 PM
Used up the frozen strawberries in my freezer from last year’s spring CSA to make jam.  I just finished the last of the various frozen jams/apple butter that I made last year, so it’s good have a new batch.

Next up are bags of peaches and peach jam (probably in a week or two).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 10, 2020, 05:12:36 AM
We will be moving to another house somewhere in June. Even though it is not far away, I would consider it a bit silly to move lots of freezer portions and normal stock items. So I now make meal plans on eating most of what is in the freezer.

It is a bit strange to be emptying our freezer and cupboards in the Corona times. During a pandamic, it pays off to have a stuffed storage room. It is also foraging season for lits of greens. I try to eat many fresh, but I do preserve some, which will have to be moved.

This week we have used:
- Frozen strawberries and raspberries (from our own garden).
- Lots of my foraged plants from last year, plus many of my fresh plants this year.
- Packs of coconut milk. I bought too many, so we make a weekly dish with it now.
- Tonight: frozen gambas.
- Frozen chicken breast and beef.
- Large bag of frozen veggies from the shop.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rachellynn99 on May 11, 2020, 03:18:52 AM
We have made a dent in our supply since this has started, but would like to eat down our pantry/freezers even more. My husband and I are both working from home. We have 2 teenagers and an 8 yo, all with healthy appetites. We get eggs daily from our chickens are are starting to get a few things from our garden- so far  some strawberries ( just enough for a snack or to munch on, not enough to put up yet)green onions and salad mix. Have lots of other stuff planted.

It's almost garden time here so I need to clear out some jars/freezer space for what I'll can this year. Why put it up if we don't eat it?

We also have an abundance of deer meat from last year, my dad and I go fishing together regularly so we have fresh fish often, and we still quite a bit of wild boar from last year that we harvested off our land. Lastly, we have probably 10 lbs of shrimp my husband brought home from the gulf last year when he went down there fishing. So we have a lot of stuff to eat, I just need to be better at putting meals together and staying out of stores. Also, I'm bad about buying stuff that we could technically go without- for example, milk, good cheese, stuff I can't make myself, and while those are delicious I could eat what we have.

So thanks for this challenge. I hope to get some space freed up in May.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rachellynn99 on May 11, 2020, 03:21:33 AM
Now I need to get the kids to eat the approximately 1 million cheese sticks they insisted we buy a few weeks back at Costco.

If you have a waffle iron, it seems you can stuff them in there and turn them into a crispy, melty treat!

Also- I sometimes dip them in an egg wash, then roll in panko and bake- they are like little fried cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on May 23, 2020, 08:14:58 AM
Found a box of 10 year old pancake mix. Used some of it yesterday to make 3 pancakes. Not bad, but not as fluffy as I'd like. But tasty enough. Will use it up and probably not replace.     
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 23, 2020, 08:49:42 AM
-Used up Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in a pasta/taco bake.
-Used some old pomegranate balsamic (no idea where this came from) on a salad

Really need to use up the fresh beans my husband purchased
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 23, 2020, 10:13:18 AM
This week we have used up from the freezer:
- several frozen meats
- lots of older and newer frozen herbs that I picked outside
- some frozen veggies like carrots, chilipeper
- made a dent in the mega size bag of frozen, precut veggies from the shop
- two leftover portions of soup
- croutons
- wraps
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on May 23, 2020, 12:06:44 PM
Found a box of 10 year old pancake mix. Used some of it yesterday to make 3 pancakes. Not bad, but not as fluffy as I'd like. But tasty enough. Will use it up and probably not replace.   

Having just had some experience with the ineffective nature of old baking powder, I wonder if it's that which is causing the failure to rise.  Wonder if adding a bit of fresh baking powder might liven it up a little and give you some more lift in the pancakes?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on May 25, 2020, 08:35:28 AM
Found a box of 10 year old pancake mix. Used some of it yesterday to make 3 pancakes. Not bad, but not as fluffy as I'd like. But tasty enough. Will use it up and probably not replace.   

Having just had some experience with the ineffective nature of old baking powder, I wonder if it's that which is causing the failure to rise.  Wonder if adding a bit of fresh baking powder might liven it up a little and give you some more lift in the pancakes?

Interesting. I had thought about that also. Of course my baking powder is probably ancient, ha ha.  Maybe a LOT of old baking powder would do the trick, though.

I did try thickening up the mixture (less water) and that helped make the pancakes thicker, but still not fluffy.

For the next batch, I'm going to try adding some baking powder and using the original water amount.  We'll see!   

It's good to have something to do these days, lol.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on May 29, 2020, 11:07:20 AM
Used up 5lbs of peaches from 2018 in the freezer to make jam.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on May 29, 2020, 12:28:06 PM
Used up a can of creamed corn. Blerg! I do not like creamed corn. I grabbed it by mistake in the store and didn't realize until I was looking in the pantry for kernel corn. I mixed it with a box of cornbread mix. I didn't add an egg like the directions called for, since I wanted to see how it turned out.
It's delicious! More moist than when following the package directions. (Probably could've gone with half a can, but it's gone now!) I made it in a pre-heated cast iron skillet coated in melted bacon grease. Slathered on some pumpkin butter and enjoyed it immensely. Much better than eating straight creamed corn.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 29, 2020, 09:03:17 PM
Used parsley (from the garden), pine nuts (lingering in the pantry) & a lemon (gifted from a neighbor) to make a parsley pesto. Used it on a naan bread (from our produce box) with a pepper (also produce box) & .... leftover hot dogs to make a naan bread pizza. It was actually shockingly good. The parsley pesto was fantastic & I highly recommend. It didn't call for any parmesan, so it was also reasonably frugal. Particularly because we're trying to use up pine nuts.

https://www.freshfoodbites.com/lemon-pepper-parsley-pesto/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on June 03, 2020, 06:49:13 PM
Today was a day full of successes. 

My spouse made us pancakes for breakfast using the last of some milk I let get really really sour. I used a leftover pancake at dinner to make us a "crepe" for desert with greek yogurt and strawberry jam and the one lone strawberry that was ripe in the garden today.

Someone gave us Chantilly cream recently, I've never had it before, not sure if what they gave us what traditional, but it was very very sweet with honey, in fact the honey and sweet was so strong that it overpowered the fruit it was supposed to be served with, so it was just languishing in the fridge.  Today I used the last of it to replace both the milk and sugar in an oatmeal cake recipe. I felt a bit bad doing so, but the cake turned out, and we're not going to end up throwing something out.

We're also working our way through the last 4 pounds of discounted quinoa I bought a year ago. We're not rushing that, but it is satisfying to be eating it all up, not wasting it, or throwing it out in five years.  I wish I could remember how much I bought, between 15 and 20 pounds, because I kept finding it clearanced.  Worked out well.

We've got a bounty of garden lettuce right now, and have been eating big salads for dinner the past three days and will try to keep going as long as the crop holds out. If I can get my act together tomorrow I'll cook up some chickpeas and make us hummus wraps heavy on the lettuce just for a change in format.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 04, 2020, 04:47:32 AM
We are still emptying the freezer for moving next week. We ate:
- a portion of chicken breasts from freezer
- beef from freezer
- ground beef from freezer
- emptied the large bag of precut veggies
- a leftover portion of homemade pizza
- a leftover portion of homemade soup
- homemade croutons from the freezer
- homemade pesto and jam from fridge, made of edible plants
- some not cold foods from cupboard
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on June 04, 2020, 05:55:55 AM
Anyone have some favorite ways to use up dried shiitake mushrooms?  I have quite a bit taking up space in my pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 04, 2020, 09:12:06 AM
Anyone have some favorite ways to use up dried shiitake mushrooms?  I have quite a bit taking up space in my pantry.

In a asian soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dee_the_third on June 04, 2020, 10:16:10 AM
Anyone have some favorite ways to use up dried shiitake mushrooms?  I have quite a bit taking up space in my pantry.

Soak, slice thin, and throw em in a stir fry, or in anything that already involves asian-ish flavors.

My favorites: added to a Korean-style jigae, and sticky rice (medium or short grain white rice, chicken broth and/or the soaking liquid from the mushrooms, diced chinese sausage, sliced mushrooms. Yummy)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 05, 2020, 05:39:21 PM
I didn't eat it, but I finally either fed to the chickens or tossed all of the random home canning stuff that either didn't turn out well, or had gotten too old for me to feel comfortable consuming. 

Tonight we're having a cold "grazing" type dinner with random pickles, cheeses and leftover meats.  Good for using up spare bits on the hottest day of the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 06, 2020, 05:00:45 AM
When packing low priority food in moving boxes, I found out that I have 2 packs of rice sheets, one of which is with shrimp taste. After moving, we should figure out a way of eating it.

I threw away 3 of my bags with selfpicked, dried mushrooms. There was a reason those were still not eaten after 3 years. It is a not so well tasting species. But I kept the other ones that were still there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 06, 2020, 08:13:32 AM
We are heading to our vacation house in a week, so my priority has been using up as much as possible. I am cutting up fruit to keep in a bowl for easy access. As a result, we ate a cantaloupe in a day, went through all of our produce box plums, strawberries, and a bunch of nectarines.

I also baked a package of taquitos, to round out a random dinner of leftovers. My husband ate two not quite big enough to be full portions of fish, the kids finished off the leftover taco meat, and I had edamame & a few taquitos. It was, random.

Tonight, I need to steam the artichokes I received in my produce box, and ensure we use up all of the celery. I love a challenge to use up the fresh ingredients before we travel
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 08, 2020, 01:39:00 PM
@horsepoor, because of the humidity, we had the same thing for supper Saturday night.  I call them snack plates, and this one had a deconstructed chef salad vibe:  a boiled egg, the rest of the dill pickle chips, an avocado, bacon, 2 types of cheese, olives....

Some leftover frozen beef roast, and "stew meat" from the 1/4 cow we bought late last year, are in the Crock Pot along with broccoli and a few other ingredients for beef and broccoli tonight.

Thursday I'm going to use one of the gifted jars of apricot jam we received on top of pork chops and slow cook them.  Having supper ready in the Crock Pot after work is so convenient!

I've also been concentrating on eating up snacks on hand rather than buying more.  The current focus is on a very large bag of pistachios.  :)  DH's focus is on the bag of pork cracklin's.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 08, 2020, 05:44:10 PM
I'm finally making artichokes from our produce box, with an aoli i pulled together this morning. i was worried they would go bad before I finally made time to make them.

I've also continued to cut up fresh fruit to keep in the fridge, to motivate the kids to eat it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 08, 2020, 06:31:14 PM
I've got the food in my house mostly down to 'ingredients to make food'. By that, I mean that there's little convenience food.  What there is will need to be processed in some way to be eaten. There's one frozen pizza (in case of one of those workdays where I come home starving but exhausted),  but lots of cheese, pepperoni, scads of homemade tomato sauce, and flour to make dough.
I've been making use of my slow cooker to go through freezer items. Tonight's dinner was a half serving of chili from the freezer dumped over slightly stale tortilla chips. No wasted food and I've got one of my glass storage containers back into circulation :)
Lots of slow cooker recipes for me this summer. It keeps the kitchen from getting so hot, and it's such a convenient way to batch cook. Those recipes seem to be pretty forgiving with substitutions, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 09, 2020, 08:00:10 AM
In addition to using up the produce box artichokes yesterday (they were pretty good, but could have used a few more minutes of steaming), we ate leftover kebabs & rice. I need to use the last of the celery & radishes (also from the produce box) before we leave on Friday.

We keep working on eating leftovers for lunches, and clearing out as much food as possible. We will bring a cooler with anything we can't finish, but want to minimize carryover.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 09, 2020, 08:15:58 AM
We moved one combi fridge/freezer to the next house and I could fit all the food from the freezer into the freezer drawers of the other combi fridge/freezer. So my goal of emptying freezers works. Tomorrow we can turn on the electricity in the moved fridge and take in use the freezer drawers there.

I threw away a frozen lime and lemon where I removed the peel from earlier. I had some recipies requiering lime or lemon peel a long time ago, but I didn't need the lemon og lime. I don't see the point of using those in the future, so they will be composted. The large compost bin also needs to be moved. Not looking forewards to that, as there are a LOT or worms inside. We got some large garbage bags that are tight, so we'll try to move the compost in that
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on June 09, 2020, 04:53:24 PM
I'm OUT of frozen leftovers! and tomorrow is grocery day.  So it was a clean-out-the-fridge dinner: a baked sweet potato topped with black beans, onion, cilantro, queso fresco, and a little sour cream.  Served with the last of the green beans in the fridge.

Guess it's time to start the shopping list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on June 10, 2020, 04:44:26 AM
I'm OUT of frozen leftovers! and tomorrow is grocery day.  So it was a clean-out-the-fridge dinner: a baked sweet potato topped with black beans, onion, cilantro, queso fresco, and a little sour cream.  Served with the last of the green beans in the fridge.

Guess it's time to start the shopping list.

This sounds awesome. Thanks for the idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 10, 2020, 10:28:43 AM
@NotJen - I secretly love when I'm out of everything. It lets me know that we've efficiently used up all of our food, and nothing will go to waste!

We used up all of the fresh beans, in a big sesame oil bean saute yesterday, which was great. Lots of flavor, with onions, garlic, etc.

I'm in the process of menu planning for the next few weeks, as we are heading to our vacation house, and have different options available. The store is also quite a drive, and while we haven't been doing infrequent purchases these days, it's really not an option in the upcoming weeks. Also, despite all my promises to myself of taking photos of the freezer & pantry before we left last time... I didn't. So, I'll need to be flexible, once I see what's there & needs to be used up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on June 10, 2020, 10:48:07 AM
@NotJen - I secretly love when I'm out of everything. It lets me know that we've efficiently used up all of our food, and nothing will go to waste!

We used up all of the fresh beans, in a big sesame oil bean saute yesterday, which was great. Lots of flavor, with onions, garlic, etc.

I'm in the process of menu planning for the next few weeks, as we are heading to our vacation house, and have different options available. The store is also quite a drive, and while we haven't been doing infrequent purchases these days, it's really not an option in the upcoming weeks. Also, despite all my promises to myself of taking photos of the freezer & pantry before we left last time... I didn't. So, I'll need to be flexible, once I see what's there & needs to be used up.

This is such a great idea. Thanks!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on June 10, 2020, 12:01:49 PM
Hi everyone.
Not planning to eat all the food in the house, but I will try to eat everything in the freezer. I stocked up on frozen veggies in the beginning of the lockdown. Really went overboard. And now my freezer started to make weird noises. I should go through the food in case it dies in the next couple of month (it’s currently 100 C here, no chance of transporting food to friends or family, no close neighbors either).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 11, 2020, 02:52:55 PM
Good luck with your freezer, @tungu2!


The fridge is starting to look bare, and I can see the bottom of the top freezer drawer.  Here's to grocery shopping next week!  I compiled the list for Monday pick-up.

~The pork chops and apricot jam I mentioned earlier this week are in the slow cooker.  I'll serve them on top of a bed of baby spinach with a side of mashed cauliflower.
~Used up the rest of a box of breaded shrimp and the last bag of okra last night
~The rest of the olives and bacon went on top of a cauliflower crust pizza
~I snacked on the rest of the dill pickle slices the other night
~Substituted almond extract for vanilla in cookies yesterday.  It is suggested to use half the amount, which I did.
~Finished off the sugar free gummy bears.  ;)
~Used the rest of the jarred artichokes in a dip

The only freezer actual leftovers we have is a container each of soup and chili.  It's been too warm to consider those, so perhaps they'll hold out for fall.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on June 12, 2020, 04:36:55 PM
“Stocked up on frozen veggies..... really went overboard..... and now my freezer is making weird noises....”  You gave it indigestion!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 13, 2020, 09:31:00 AM
We got to our vacation house last night, and ate a dinner I'd prepped & kept in the cooler (tacos). I also brought all of our leftover perishables. I now need to inventory what's in the freezer/pantry here. We have a weird mix of time here, where it will be us with the kids, then just the adults, then me with my sister, then another family gathering. So, need to plan accordingly for lots of different number of diners, and not buy too much & waste.

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 13, 2020, 01:33:59 PM
It was time to clean out the fridge this morning after stuffing it full with the less frequent shopping trips.  This time I'm going to get it pretty bare before I do any major shopping. 

As luck would have it, temps dropped 30 degrees overnight and it's raining, so naturally that means soup.  Using up broccoli, celery, part of a cabbage, half an onion, etc.  I'll use some turkey breast from the freezer that I portioned up at Thanksgiving for the protein, and I'm planning to experiment with using yogurt and masa to make cornbread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 15, 2020, 02:19:26 PM
Let's just say mashed cauliflower tastes better and has better texture with cream, not almond milk.  ;)  But, we toughed it out and ate it and had it for leftovers as well.  Over the weekend:

~Toasted the sourdough from a leftover takeout sandwich, put the sandwich back together and cut it in half for supper.  I served it with leftover takeout onion rings, and the last of the salad mix, leftover boiled eggs, and some cherry tomatoes that are on their way out.

~The remaining jar of gifted apricot jam is in the slow cooker with a pork roast for tonight.

~I discovered there's a bit of almond butter past it's expiration date in the fridge.  I just looked for a recipe and will make almond butter brownie cookies with it.  Yum.

~Finished off a small bag of chili flavored pistachios.  Now on to the larger bag of the plain version.

I really like having our extra freezer out in the garage.  I went out there Saturday to ensure there is room for tonight's large grocery pickup, and found several proteins I bought last month.  Into the kitchen freezer they went, including smoked salmon for last night's supper.  I served it with the aforementioned mashed cauliflower and green beans.

Food waste:  Tossed a few molded strawberries, and half bag of hardened mini marshmallows.  Keeping a close eye on things other than that.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 16, 2020, 02:08:31 PM
@MountainGal - the almond milk sub doesn't sound appealing! You are troopers for finishing it up.

For today:
-Ate a leftover waffle & sausage that were hanging around the freezer. Wrapped them together for breakfast
-For lunch, found a chicken patty (the kids are now with my parents for a few weeks, so this wouldn't get eaten) & diced it into a salad. Also had leftover mozzarella/peach/basil salad, from my husband's birthday dinner last night.
-For dinner, there will be crabcakes, aioli & steak, all leftover from last night. Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 16, 2020, 07:14:50 PM
There's a gifted round steak thawing in the fridge. It's been in the freezer since the winter. I found a Sesame Beef Stir Fry recipes on allrecipes.com that uses ingredients I have in the pantry. It should be fully thawed and ready to make tomorrow morning.
Ended up buying some tortillas to help use up the other freezer odds and ends. A case of 'spending money to make money' but this is buying new groceries to use up old groceries. It's so easy to slather meat and veggies with salsa, pop it in a tortilla melt some cheese, and voila--a meal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 17, 2020, 02:42:29 PM
I'm at our vacation house, and I love that the fridge contains no unknowns. It makes it so much easier to plan & work through everything. The freezer & pantry, on the other hand..

-I had 1/2 of the last bagel with an egg for breakfast. Tomorrow will be the other half. Then, I'll move on to the waffles in the freezer. Not my top choice, but it will be all good.
-For lunch, took a bit of the kids leftover pasta, leftover thai veggies, & leftover grilled chicken & made a pasta chicken bowl. It was much better than I'd expected.
-For dinner, we're having leftovers (shocking, really) of salmon & rice. Plus, salad to use up the fresh veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 18, 2020, 11:41:03 AM
-Ate the last half bagel & a leftover egg/sausage scramble for breakfast & 1/2 a peach that I found in the back of the fridge
-For lunch, having salad lingering in the fridge & tomato soup hiding in the freezer
-Dinner, we'll be having leftovers

The fridge is looking great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 18, 2020, 03:31:44 PM
Much to my chagrin yesterday, I tossed a mushy apple that didn't make the rotation, so it was shoved in the back when I bought new ones last week.

~Monday's leftover pork was used last night in nachos for me and a burrito for DH.  I made riced cauliflower this time, and flavored it up with a lot of spices.
~There's a beef roast in the slow cooker with ingredients to make my first Korean based dish tonight.  I'll serve it with last night's leftover cauliflower.  Should be good.
~My lunch salad today included the remaining cherry tomatoes.

Fresh produce is on tonight's grocery list.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on June 18, 2020, 03:39:16 PM
Making homemade granola allowed me to use up some dried figs that were so dried out I couldn't eat them regularly. I soaked them in water for about 15 minutes to rehydrate, then chopped them up, mixed them into the granola mixture, and baked until done.

For my next trick, I've realized I have a sample-sized jar of jam I've never gotten around to using. I plan to microwave it slightly and then substitute it for part of the honey in another batch of granola.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 24, 2020, 11:31:54 AM
Today I used up an old pack of rice paper sheets. Dipped them into water and filled them with either meat, fish or fruit and we ate them raw. DH liked it a lot.

The other pack of rice paper that I have contains shrimp(s). The pack says that the rolls need to be fried in oil, so I need to make a plan for that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 25, 2020, 12:45:40 PM
Much to my chagrin, we didn't get to the leftover beef I kept in the fridge in time, so I threw it out yesterday.  Thankfully I had frozen half of the leftovers last week.  I also tossed a mushy kiwi.  Upon reflection, I could have used the latter in a smoothie.  Oh, well.

~Leftover BBQ meat from last Saturday fed us for several meals.
~Used up some baby spinach by sauteing it and served it under our grilled shrimp stuffed portobello mushrooms last night.
~Asparagus and broccoli were used in two suppers this week.

There is still about 1/3 bottle of the honey cream left.  What to do, what to do, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 25, 2020, 04:51:35 PM
We've done a good job of eating plenty of items from the fridge & pantry:
-Finished off a few dips with veggies for happy hours
-Sent the items we wouldn't eat to a friend's house
-Finished off the carnitas & 2 large salads

The raspberries did go bad really quickly, so we didn't quite get through them all. They are always hit or miss, but delicious when they work out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on June 25, 2020, 05:44:57 PM
Once again, I had to "make up" a dinner as it's time to go to the store tomorrow, and I was out of most of my fresh vegetables.

I made a single-serve cup of mac and cheese I got from the clearance bin at the store, poured it on a handful of raw kale I had in the freezer (microwaved), mixed in 1 piece of crumbled bacon, threw in the last of a bag of frozen peas (still frozen), and topped with a poached egg.

More nutritious (and tasty) than I originally thought when I decided to eat the mac & cheese for dinner!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 26, 2020, 11:34:51 AM
-Finished the leftover soup (white chicken chili, which was delish)
-Used the remaining soup toppings (diced cheese, avocado & green onions) as scrambled egg toppings this morning
-Finished the fresh pineapple

We're having leftover carnitas atop salads for dinner, along with using up the extra cheese & veggies for "happy hour"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 30, 2020, 10:03:44 AM
We continue to clean out the fridge:
-Two salads made with leftover veggie tray items, and the remainder of a bagged salad
-I ate the other half of my Chipotle salad for lunch
-Almost done with the English muffins left in the fridge

For today:
-I'll use the last of the carnitas on a salad
-Finish off the blueberries
-More salmon & chicken sausages. I'll freeze the leftover sausages, so they don't go bad before we can eat them

I did have to toss a wedge of brie. I think it got damp in the cooler, while we were traveling. It didn't look/smell right. Sad, because brie is awesome.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 30, 2020, 10:42:50 AM
Sorry to hear about the brie, @MaybeBabyMustache.  :(

Preparing to vaycay for a few days so we're clearing out the fridge:
~Ate leftover burger patties and brats yesterday for lunch and dinner
~We supplemented the above with leftover pasta salad from the weekend
~DH has been eating the leftover burger buns from our Solstice party
~Made side salads with the leftover salad mix, cucumber, boiled eggs and cherry tomatoes
~Just ate the rest of the blueberries here at the office
~We'll eat leftovers from the freezer when we return so I don't have to worry about cooking
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 30, 2020, 11:35:37 AM
@MountainGal - it was a sad time! On your update, I love getting ready for a vacation, or getting to our house here & having a limited supply of food. It makes eating everything feel more like a reality show challenge vs my real life. More fun or something? I think because there's a dedicated timeline, and you can see the fridge/freezer emptying out without filling back up.

We have my parents coming on Thursday, to bring the kids back. The fridge will fill *all the way* back up, but then will hopefully be close to empty on Monday, when we'll head out. Will take anything left in the cooler, or send with family.

-Blueberries & pico de gallo are now gone. . . I have some sad looking apples & pears in the fridge. If I had the right ingredients, I'd make a crumble. They are not looking good for eating. Maybe a smoothie?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on June 30, 2020, 11:15:30 PM
I made a lamb stew a couple days ago using up homemade prunes, part of a jar of salsa, leftover leg of lamb, the last bit of my homemade smoked chili powder, and some other random bits. 

I have some unsweetened, coarse coconut flakes I need to do something with.  Also some chia seeds, which I need to just admit I don't like, and shouldn't buy again.

DH is going on a trip, so it might be a good time to rifle through the cabinets and eat up random items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 01, 2020, 10:33:11 AM
Let's see:
-Almost done with the English muffins
-Finished off the last of a bag of carrots, cherry tomatoes & cheese last night with dinner

For today:
-Will use the last of a package of goat cheese for breakfast
-Plan to have most of the remainder of an on the way to sad bagged salad & last piece of chicken for lunch
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on July 04, 2020, 12:02:11 PM
I made a lamb stew a couple days ago using up homemade prunes, part of a jar of salsa, leftover leg of lamb, the last bit of my homemade smoked chili powder, and some other random bits. 

I have some unsweetened, coarse coconut flakes I need to do something with.  Also some chia seeds, which I need to just admit I don't like, and shouldn't buy again.

DH is going on a trip, so it might be a good time to rifle through the cabinets and eat up random items.

Unsweetened coconut ideas:  smoothie, curry, cookies*, granola, oatmeal, rice.  Really anywhere you might use coconut milk you could toss a bit of unsweetened coconut flakes.

*A great cookie recipe for using up odds and ends of treats is Martha Stewart's Everything But the Kitchen Sink cookies.  There are several versions on-line.  Essentially you make a basic cookie dough and then add X cups of "stuff".  Stuff being coconut flakes, nuts, chocolate chips/chunks, pretzels, raisins, dried fruit, oatmeal, etc. in any combination to make up x cups.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rural on July 04, 2020, 07:52:21 PM

My focus these days is all about rotation, but definitely not using up. I expect the food shortage issues we had in April and May will pop back up as cases rise again. I also think that when there's some weakness in the food chain, the large urban areas are prioritized.


So, Rotating stock, building up a few reserves of things we get at the store, and focusing on harvesting and preserving the garden and foraged items.


Today's "use it up" was squash casserole using the first squash out of the garden. Had one that really probably should've come off the plant yesterday, but leaving it let another one get big enough that the two together made a a decent sized casserole.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on July 05, 2020, 08:24:16 AM
Same here Rural.  It’s a bit of a struggle to balance. We’re shopping every 2.5-3 weeks, and each time we always forget something or buy excess of something because doing so much shopping at once is overwhelming! So in the time between trips we’re working on not wasting what we have, and especially in week 3 we’re getting creative.

I’m trying to maximize what we have that’s fresh.  Obviously salads and a lot of fresh things don’t last past week one, but we’ve got a little broccoli coming in out of the garden, and I’m making sure we eat anything like that fresh when we can, to help keep up variety.

In the past week I finally made mustard with the seeds I bought a year ago. Then I used some mustard to make a honey mustard vinaigrette for a broccoli, carrot, walnut salad.

We did some shopping at an Indian grocery store pre-covid. This week I finally made cornbread using the meal.  It’s coarser than what we find in the grocery, I wasn’t sure if it was too coarse, but it was oh so good. 

I got a big bag of tapioca pearls there as well, it was so cheap compared to the little boxes in the grocery! I made a strawberry jello fruit salad thing with it.  It wasn’t great, but it was cold and refreshing and we ate it all.

We went to a bakery last weekend and got some treats, but on the way home we stopped and dropped treats off on friend’s porches.  It was grand fun.  But we accidentally gave away all the scones!  All week we were talking about missing out on those scones, so Friday evening I made us some.  They turned out amazing.

So that’s our game right now, trying to balance the fresh with the dried goods, and frozen things, and practicing some self control so that we still have treats things we enjoy left in week 3, while making sure that we don’t let things spoil, especially when the fridge and cupboards are overwhelmingly full in week 1. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 05, 2020, 12:16:57 PM
@Catbert thanks for the suggestions!

This morning I made seed crackers using some gomashio (sesame seeds with little bits of seaweed) my aunt brought me about three years ago (it's been residing in the freezer, as well as pepitas that were left after high-grading the tastier bits from a bag of trail mix.  The recipe also used some psyllium husk, one of those random things that is rarely used (but kind of essential for this type of cracker).

A few days ago, I used up the last of the cauliflower pizza crusts I made and froze Before Corona, when I was expecting to be busier with work travel.  Of course pizza is a good way to use up some other random toppings as well, like a jar of pesto and some preserved eggplant.

Made a couple smoothies this week including chia seeds and bee pollen that have been hanging around too long.

Lots of food is coming in from the garden now, so I'm a little less concerned with food supply issues than I was back in March, but will still keep some dry staples on hand (beans, flour, rice) that we don't eat much as an emergency stash,  I might build this up a little over time, and looking into dehydrating and freezing a little more produce than usual this year.  In the meantime, it's gratifying to see the older stuff getting used so there is less clutter of random ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on July 05, 2020, 12:49:25 PM
I've set us a challenge to use something from the freezer every day until it's empty (or we move out of the house, whichever comes first). This morning was frozen waffles. Dinner is the half piece of salmon and the sausage links, along with rice cooked with some of the frozen peas.

August 10 is the house close. I've kept a more full pantry than usual with COVID, so this I have a feeling we'll be moving with a stash of food in the car.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 06, 2020, 11:35:10 AM
@SailingOnASmallSailboat, I like the idea of using a daily frozen item!  I'm going to implement that idea starting tomorrow.

As mentioned in a previous post, again yesterday I was delighted to search the garage freezer and found salmon and boneless pork chops I purchased in May.  The chops are in the slow cooker today along with a leftover half jar of homemade jalapeno jelly gifted to us, and 1/3 apple jelly leftover from one of DH's meat smoking adventures.  I cannot wait to taste it this evening!  I'll serve it with leftover bits and bobs from the weekend.

Saturday I made my first dump cake in the slow cooker.  It used up a cake mix along with fresh blueberries I froze last month.  The cake was very dense, and I understand why the recipe suggested serving it warm over ice cream.

Yesterday I made omelets which used up some baby spinach.  I also sliced some avocado for the side, but alas, I learned there is only so long they can be refrigerated.  I ended up tossing it.

The fridge is a bit bare, as I cleared it out before leaving for days off last week.  We are in need of fresh produce and almond milk.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 06, 2020, 08:56:17 PM
We traveled back from our vacation house, and brought two coolers of food back with us. Here's what we used up today:
-Finished a box of cherries & small container of blueberries
-Ate leftover hot dogs, burgers & potato salad
-Used a bagged salad that is quickly approaching "seen better days", with a grilled sausage

Our garden is finally producing, so we used the tomatoes in a salad. My teenager thought the zucchini was a cucumber (?!) and sliced & tried to eat it with salt. He reported disappointment. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 07, 2020, 07:07:47 PM
Our grocery bill is *so* high these days. Really trying to work with what we have, and avoid spending. For today:

-Two 4th of July barbecue hamburger buns were toasted & served with dinner
-Two garden cucumbers sliced for lunch
-All of the garden tomatoes into salad
-More of the getting sad bagged salad was eaten for lunch, topped with a leftover grilled sausage
-A taco bake from the freezer fed two diners tonight, when I couldn't find the dinner I was planning to serve. That's how crazy our fridge is right now. I found it after I started making dinner, so at least it's not lost? It's a sad state of affairs in my fridge.
-For breakfast, I had a waffle with slices of cheese leftover from vacation happy hour, and a few slices of deli meat from vacation sandwiches
-The kids continue to work their way through the "bag of road trip snacks" I purchased.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: mm1970 on July 07, 2020, 08:40:59 PM
Our grocery bill is *so* high these days. Really trying to work with what we have, and avoid spending. For today:

-Two 4th of July barbecue hamburger buns were toasted & served with dinner
-Two garden cucumbers sliced for lunch
-All of the garden tomatoes into salad
-More of the getting sad bagged salad was eaten for lunch, topped with a leftover grilled sausage
-A taco bake from the freezer fed two diners tonight, when I couldn't find the dinner I was planning to serve. That's how crazy our fridge is right now. I found it after I started making dinner, so at least it's not lost? It's a sad state of affairs in my fridge.
-For breakfast, I had a waffle with slices of cheese leftover from vacation happy hour, and a few slices of deli meat from vacation sandwiches
-The kids continue to work their way through the "bag of road trip snacks" I purchased.
Our bill is so high too. I'm not trying to eat everything in the house though.  Our COVID cases are so high I basically need to have a packed pantry at all times.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 07, 2020, 09:41:20 PM
@mm1970 - we keep a reasonably well stocked pantry & freezer, so my main goal is ensuring we eat through the fresh/perishable stuff. The food shortages earlier in the year increased the amount we've kept on hand for sure.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 07, 2020, 10:59:41 PM
Pulled a bag of cooked and frozen chicken out of the freezer. I had batch cooked several pounds of it a few months ago, and it wasn't that great.  Tough and flavorless. It had gotten pushed back behind other, better items.
I decided to try it with some jarred tikka masala sauce, some sliced peppers that were on the verge of turning, and some frozen celery. I sauteed the veggies in oil, put the chicken on top to heat, and added the sauce. It was so good! The rest is in the fridge gathering flavor for tomorrow's dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 08, 2020, 11:54:47 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, congratulations on your garden starting to produce!

@okcisok, glad you were able to doctor up the chicken.  What a tasty sounding idea!

DH replenished our fresh produce yesterday at the store.  Our garden won't be ready to begin harvesting for at least a month.

From the freezer we cooked 1 pound each ground beef and sausage last night.  We paired it with tortillas for DH and pork rinds for me.  Yum.  The leftover meat will be eaten for lunches.

Tonight is salmon from the freezer and the turnips I bought during last month's large grocery stock up.  I peel and fry up the latter like fries.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 08, 2020, 04:37:12 PM
Thanks @MountainGal! We weren't sure we could salvage it, as we were gone for a few weeks. But, most things are still looking okay, thanks to some creative watering options.

The kids are enjoying snacking on the cherry tomatoes. I definitely will plant more of those next year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 08, 2020, 10:48:43 PM
OK, any ideas for a round of Panela cheese? I usually use it in place of paneer for Palak Paneer, but that's just not striking a chord with me now that the weather is warmer.  I'm wondering if I could cube it up and marinate it like mozzarella to use in a salad?

I'm happy to report that my Blendtec made quick work of some of the coconut flakes in my morning smoothie, and it wasn't gritty at all. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 09, 2020, 07:52:28 AM
@horsepoor - I've never used it before, so I looked it up out of curiosity. Sounds like it would be best in salads, quesadillas, or sandwiches, if you're not using it as a paneer. Another idea could be to look up haloumi recipes? Perhaps that would give you some inspiration for the warmer weather.

As for us:
-Finished the potato salad from the 4th
-All of the 4th hot dogs are now gone, two burgers remain & will hit the freezer
-4 more hot dog buns gone
-For breakfast yesterday, I had a heel of bread, a slice of cheese from the condiment tray for 4th burgers, and the last of the deli meat. I don't typically buy it, and it goes bad really quickly after opening. Had to toss the rest.
-Finished the bag of spinach my son bought for smoothies
-Used a garden tomato in our salad
-Finished most of a chicken curry dish we froze & brought with us in the cooler
-Chopped a pineapple that was starting to turn, so the kids can use it in their morning smoothies. If it's already cut, they'll use it. Otherwise, it stays on the counter & goes bad.
-I had the last of a package of grilled chicken sausages over a salad, with the remainder of assorted happy hour cheese sprinkled on top

Onward to more fridge clean out! I'll be happy when we start with a fresh batch of food. Meals are getting interesting! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PoutineLover on July 09, 2020, 08:27:42 AM
I'm due for another grocery run, but I've made great progress on the freezer and pantry foods. Finished my ginormous bag of flour due to lots of quarantine baking. Eating the oldest meat in the freezer, slowly replacing with new sale items to keep up stock. Almost done the pierogi, time to make a new batch. Finished the gnocchi, sauce and meatballs in the freezer. Frozen fruits are almost gone, maybe one smoothie left. The freezer was like jenga due to all the stacking, now I can finally access things again without causing an avalanche. I don't want to get too low on food in case the pandemic ramps up again, but I'm glad the oldest stuff is getting eaten.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 09, 2020, 05:28:35 PM
Used up the last of the frozen squash puree and the half-bag of sticky marshmallows in a modified chocolate cookie recipe. Had to cut the marshmallows into quarters with kitchen shears, as they were the full sized ones, not minis. The cookies were delicious, and were a big hit at our family picnic. (Perfect timing, as I pulled the first acorn squash out of the garden today.)
That's one bag out of the freezer, and one out of the pantry.

Sorted the random partial bags of frozen fruit into freezer safe cups with some oatmeal. Now I just have to add milk and blend for a quick breakfast, instead of rifling through the freezer avalanche.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on July 09, 2020, 07:03:52 PM
@horsepoor - I've never used it before, so I looked it up out of curiosity. Sounds like it would be best in salads, quesadillas, or sandwiches, if you're not using it as a paneer. Another idea could be to look up haloumi recipes? Perhaps that would give you some inspiration for the warmer weather.

So I diced it into about 1/2" cubes, and also found that I had some sundried tomato pesto and Meyer lemon-infused olive oil in the fridge, so I added some of the tomatoes to the oil, along with lots of fresh basil and some garlic and tossed the cheese in there to marinate.  Took some out tonight and diced it up a little more and incorporated it into an herbed turkey burger, and used some of the oil to cook it in.  Very tasty.  It might be hard to give the cheese enough time to really soak up some flavors before I eat it all!  The remaining oil should be brilliant as a salad dressing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 14, 2020, 02:14:16 PM
Getting close to the monthly food stock up thankfully!  The fridge is getting bare.

Lately:
~Leftover spicy ground meat was used on pork rind "nachos".  They also took care of the remaining sour cream and an avocado.
~DH BBQ'd another leftover package of burger patties from last month's party.  We ate them for supper that night, and as lunch leftovers.
~As a side for the above, I sauteed asparagus, cubed the last avocado, and warmed up leftover green beans.
~Last night we ate random leftover items.  The rest of the cottage cheese with some strawberries for DH, and leftover turnip fries for me.  Each was supplemented with with olives, dill pickles and nuts.
~Tonight will be leftover Korean beef from last month for Taco Tuesday.
~I bought a few organizer bins for the bottom freezer drawer.  When I moved things into them, I found a few more things in hiding to use up, including cubed steak for a slow cooker meal tomorrow.
~Thursday will be shrimp two ways and frozen okra
~Over the weekend I'll BBQ a pizza and smoke some Cornish game hen.
~Next week's Taco Tuesday will use up leftover frozen enchilada sauce.

And starting Monday, I'm going to initiate Meatless Mondays.

Now to focus on the garage freezer to clear space for this year's beef restock and hunting seasons. :)

And a living rural tip from a friend:  For lemon and lime juice that may not always be on hand, juice the fruit, then freeze it into silicone molds.  Once frozen, place into a freezer bag.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 14, 2020, 02:25:11 PM
Love to hear how others are staying on top of their food.

I'm giving myself a huge high five for prepping a crockpot meal for tomorrow (https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-thai-peanut-chicken/). We don't have a kitchen right now, so tracking the ingredients, finding a way to dice the chicken, cleaning up after myself, all was just a new layer of challenge! So, that's prepped & ready to go. I actually have the chicken marinating in the sauce, and will just add it to the crockpot tomorrow.

Continue to pick & use produce straight from the garden. I did find an enormous cucumber that had gone between two planters & will use that in our salad tonight.

I had to toss a few leftovers we brought back from our vacation, but overall staying on top of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 17, 2020, 12:21:15 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I LOVE thai peanut chicken!  Let us know how it turns out.

I picked up our monthly grocery order last night.  Boy, was our fridge empty!

~In order to use it up, last night I served the bok choy DH bought last week instead of the frozen okra I planned.
~Today is clean out the mini fridge at the office.  I had yogurt with the last of the strawberries and walnuts this morning, and ate the last two boiled eggs w/ a slice of cheese for lunch.  I'll have the rest of the celery w/ some PB for an afternoon snack.

Here's to pizza take out this evening.  :)

Have a relaxing weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 17, 2020, 03:15:35 PM
@MountainGal - recipe was super bland & I wouldn't recommend. I also love the flavors of Thai chicken, but this didn't turn out as hoped. Unfortunately. :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 18, 2020, 10:03:42 PM
Used a slightly-past-the expiration date bottle of lime juice to make limeade. It was absolutely delicious and I drank it all in less than a day.
Will probably make more chicken tikka masala tomorrow, as it's such a great way to use up limp veggies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trudie on July 19, 2020, 05:05:03 PM
I’m working my way through our rice and bean stash.  Made 2 pounds of black beans in the crockpot last week, and they are very tasty.  I also made the remainder of a ginormous bag of wild rice and brown rice blend in the crockpot.  I froze 3/4 of it to take out for quick meals.  The crockpot has always been my go-to for winter meals, but I’m liking it especially right now.  It’s keeping the steam and heat at bay at a time we’ve had 100+ heat indexes outside.

Pancakes and scrambled eggs for dinner.  Very satisfying, quick meal.

Our freezer and pantry are still moderately well stocked, but may be bursting after this week’s planned trip to Costco.  Covid is spiking here again and my garden is producing, so I have little desire to hang out in grocery stores.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 19, 2020, 09:10:28 PM
-Still no kitchen, so used a very uninspired chicken piccata/cauliflower rice dish I picked up at Costco. I tried to add some color with basil & tomatoes from the garden, but my husband reports that it didn't help much.
-Kids had the almost last of the taco meat. I'll have the remaining amount on a salad tomorrow
-We are eating leftover Chinese takeout from last night, as we had both the no kitchen & no water, which is when I said I was done attempting to prep a meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 20, 2020, 04:30:08 PM
Used the last of the peppers and some frozen celery to make chicken tikka masala with canned chicken. I bought canned chicken a few months ago during the height of grocery hoarding here, just in case.
I had already used part of the jar of sauce to make naan 'pizzas' with fresh garden tomatoes. In the past, I've let opened jars of sauces go bad, so this was a win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 20, 2020, 05:17:26 PM
-Finished the taco meat, and made a taco salad for lunch. Husband accidentally bought extra bagged salads, so I'll be eating a lot of salad for the next week
-Made another caprese salad, with tomatoes & basil from the garden. Attempting to use fresh mozzarella before it goes bad
-Dug out burgers from the freezer, which we will have for dinner tonight
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 21, 2020, 08:07:50 PM
Not having a kitchen is definitely forcing us to use up all kind of freezer leftovers. One day soon we'll be dining on "mystery leftovers". Has some sort of a red sauce. Totally unknown beyond that.

-We finished a container of frozen lubia polo (Persian rice, bean & beef dish)
-My husband ate more kebabs (also from the freezer)
-Used up garden tomatoes in the salad
-I continue to make progress on all of the bagged salads. My husband went crazy at the store & bought like 8 packages of pepperoni. I wish that was a typo. I had a salad with... pepperoni on it. It wasn't the worst thing I've eaten, by any stretch.
-I don't think I can hack mystery leftovers tomorrow. It will probably be chicken & caprese salad, to use up the last of the fresh mozzarella & more tomatoes/basil from the garden
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 21, 2020, 10:26:03 PM
Cooked a frozen pound of ground venison to make taco meat. Used up some frozen diced onion, and made a sort of nacho salad with some tortilla chip shards and the last of the shredded cheese. There is enough taco meat for two more meals.

I've got some crock pot pinto beans that were frozen thawing in the fridge to make some refried beans to go with the next round of taco meat.

Yesterday I did a full fridge and pantry inventory. My goal is to not do a grocery shop for two more weeks. I came up with breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks to last for a bit over that time, without having to buy anything. I'm making it a fun exercise to go one month without buying any groceries. I get fresh fruit snacks at work, so no worry about scurvy ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 22, 2020, 05:35:18 AM
Found a lemon yesterday that was close to getting bad, so made a Starbuck-like lemon loaf out of it with all other things I had. This was really appreciated by the family!
Yesterday we had the last of our potatoes, the last bag of frozen beans and some ground beef as dinner.
Today will be the remainder of the ground beef, tomatoes, grated cheese and pasta as pasta bolognese!
Tomorrow will be burrito's with all leftover veggies I can find before we go grocery shopping again.
Only 2 weeks before we go on holiday, so freezer needs to be empty by then. Still loads of icecream in there........ what a shame..... ;-).

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on July 22, 2020, 06:04:22 AM
Not having a kitchen is definitely forcing us to use up all kind of freezer leftovers. One day soon we'll be dining on "mystery leftovers". Has some sort of a red sauce. Totally unknown beyond that.

-We finished a container of frozen lubia polo (Persian rice, bean & beef dish)
-My husband ate more kebabs (also from the freezer)
-Used up garden tomatoes in the salad
-I continue to make progress on all of the bagged salads. My husband went crazy at the store & bought like 8 packages of pepperoni. I wish that was a typo. I had a salad with... pepperoni on it. It wasn't the worst thing I've eaten, by any stretch.
-I don't think I can hack mystery leftovers tomorrow. It will probably be chicken & caprese salad, to use up the last of the fresh mozzarella & more tomatoes/basil from the garden

Pepperoni freezes well and lasts FOREVER. It's become a favorite way for me to add extra flavor to spaghetti sauces (chop up a bit of pepperoni and saute it to crispy).

No kitchen is really hard. Do you have a grill? Do you have water back? Is there a buy nothing group local to you where you might be able to borrow a crock pot or instant pot or even a rice cooker or a stand-alone plug in burner? When we redid our kitchen years ago, we established a "secondary" one, where I had at least a small amount of horizontal surface where I could prep stuff. Had a dish pan to schlep dishes and stuff to the bathroom, which was a major pain, but it worked. Good luck.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 22, 2020, 11:47:48 AM
@SailingOnASmallSailboat - good reminder on freezing the pepperoni. I will definitely do that.

We've set up a "second" kitchen, and do have a grill, but are having backyard work done so that's not in scope right now. We're doing the dishes in the tub as well. It's a hoot :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 23, 2020, 01:13:59 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, sorry the peanut chicken didn't work out.  BTDT without a kitchen when we were in between selling and buying a house a few years ago.  I used the hotel microwave and our Crock Pot for meals.  That got old really quick and we began relying too much on take out.  Our waistlines suffered as a result.  ;)

@Trudie, I've also been using the slow cooker due to the heat.  Two weekends ago I "baked" banana bread in it, Monday I cooked the Cornish hen in it instead of grilling outside in 95+ degrees, and last night made shrimp and zucchini stuffed portobellos in it.  SO good.

@SailingOnASmallSailboat, thank you for the freezing pepperoni tip!

Last week I sauteed the aforementioned bok choy in olive oil and garlic and surprisingly, DH liked it.  Baby bok choy is now on today's produce pickup order.

A neighbor gave us a bit of last year's elk because hunting season is just around the corner.  We'll incorporate that plus the remaining beef selections from last year into future suppers to make room for this year's beef in our garage freezer.  This Sunday DH will use up last year's locally grown bacon and tenderloin by wrapping the latter with the former.  Yum.

Lately from the freezer:
~Leftover enchilada sauce went into Tuesday's Crock Pot enchiladas
~Been nibbling on the homemade caramel toffee made last Christmas  :)
~Sauteed the remaining half bag of baby spinach and served it underneath last night's mushrooms
~Saturday I'm going to make a slow cooker crustless spinach quiche to use up the box of frozen spinach from IDK how long ago

Side question:  Has anyone used refrigerated almond butter past it's best by date?  If so, how long past?  I looked it up and found varying results. TIA
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 25, 2020, 01:31:46 AM
Ate the last of the venison tacos, and they were so good!! I'm glad I have one more pound in the freezer.
Have some pheasant thawing in the fridge to prepare a made-up recipe to use up some cream of chicken and random veggies in the crockpot.
Finished the last piece of leftover birthday cake today. We've had three family birthdays in the last week. The surfeit of cake is finally gone. I definitely didn't want that to go bad! :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 26, 2020, 01:39:40 PM
Now we have a freezer drawer full of pollock (DH went boat fishing). Very good with free food. I think we should eat a portion every week at least.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 26, 2020, 07:31:16 PM
More wild game today. Some frozen pheasant that SO got last fall. Cooked with carrots, corn, celery, and cream of chicken soup. All frozen and pantry items!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 27, 2020, 05:30:59 AM
Created a delicious soup yesterday from frozen stock when friends came over. Used up some canned veggies as well and some bake-off bread that was almost at expiry date. We had such a good time (they also brought a delicious salad and "leftover" springrolls - no need for additional takeout, we had plenty to feed 5 adults and 4 kids and the leftovers from the soup was today's lunch)!
Today brought the last pieces of frozen bananabread to the office. Needless to say, it is gone now.
Only 2 more weeks to go before my freezer must be empty (holiday!!!!)!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 27, 2020, 05:27:03 PM
We have a glut of tomatoes (yay!) but no kitchen, so I need to figure out easy recipes to use them that require minimal clean up or prep.

-I've used almost all of the chicken sausages we grilled & then froze a month or so ago. I'll eat the last one on salad for lunch tomorrow.
-We've done a good job of eating up the fruit from our produce box delivery. I need to sort out our grapefruit, which have lingered a bit.
-Tonight we're having carnitas from the freezer, and fingers crossed that the toaster oven is up for the challenge of toasting them. I'll chop up tomatoes & jalapenos (garden) to spice them up. No cilantro, so no pico de gallo
-Freezer meals are rapidly dwindling, as the kitchen renovation continues. This is great, as it's been my goal to move things along. But, I'm now getting a bit nervous, as it would be great if they could run out just as the kitchen is completed. ;-) Fingers crossed.
-All kale has been used, before it went bad. Always a challenge.

Still need to figure out what to do with an enormous amount of: fresh mint, basil & parsley.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 28, 2020, 01:57:39 AM

Still need to figure out what to do with an enormous amount of: fresh mint, basil & parsley.

Make your own home-made pesto from basil and/or parsley. Put it on toast with some fresh tomatoes....... delicious!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dicey on July 28, 2020, 06:52:46 AM
I was looking for a place to post this and this thread seems appropriate.  Until yesterday, I had two refrigerators and an upright freezer in my garage. I've been working on eating enough down to stop using the larger, older fridge and yesterday, we literally pulled the plug. Today, I'll scrub the heck out of it, then I'll list it on Next Door. Hopefully by the weekend it will be gone. I'm hoping to see a drop in our utility bills, too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 28, 2020, 11:05:32 AM
We have a glut of tomatoes (yay!) but no kitchen, so I need to figure out easy recipes to use them that require minimal clean up or prep.

Caprese salad comes to mind.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 28, 2020, 11:12:36 AM
We are working on the last bit of beef and pork from last season in anticipation of more this year.  I asked DH to dig around the garage freezer to ensure we missed nothing.  He came up with just one freezer burned beyond recognition item, which he tossed.

~Sunday DH BBQ'd a bacon wrapped tenderloin, and cooked up a lot of the homemade bacon.  We served it with leftover asparagus and Crock Pot corn bread I made that afternoon.  Yum
~Last night we had the last two pork chops with 4 different veggies
~Tonight I'll cook up the last pound each of ground beef and sausage for a Taco Tuesday of sorts.  I'll serve leftover cauliflower rice and a can of beans on the side.

All that's left of the beef is one cubed round steak for next week.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 28, 2020, 01:35:40 PM
We've done pesto before, but don't want to use the food processor & dishes required (no dishwasher, and no good drain for washing dishes). We have done a few caprese salads, but are now out of fresh mozz.

The (almost) pico de gallo I made yesterday was fantastic. Tomatoes, jalapenos, shallot, garlic, lime juice, S&P. I'll make more tonight. We ended up having a rotisserie chicken salad, as that was uncovered in the back of the freezer.

Also:
-Finished the last of the grilled then frozen chicken sausages
-Have made excellent progress on 4 bagged salads my husband inadvertently bought
-Emailed local neighborhood group & had tons of takers for fresh herbs. They have been cut, sorted & labeled on our porch for others to enjoy.
-Figured out what the mystery frozen dish is (enchilada chicken rice), which is less scary now that I know what it is. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 28, 2020, 10:21:26 PM
Ate the Chinese food leftovers for breakfast. Had the last few tablespoons of rice with some hummus and carrot sticks and pumpkin muffins for a clean-up dinner.
Made the pumpkin muffins to use up the frozen puree I put up last fall from the Halloween pumpkin.
Will take the rest of the hummus and carrot sticks to SO's house tomorrow so they get finished off before they go bad.
Making real progress on the random freezer items! Made smoothies and syrup from the frozen strawberries.
Doing better about putting things in the freezer or using them up before they go bad! Thanks to this challenge
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 29, 2020, 12:44:23 PM

Making real progress on the random freezer items! Made smoothies and syrup from the frozen strawberries.

Thank you for this idea, @okcisok!  I shall try this with fresh blueberries this weekend. :D
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on August 01, 2020, 10:36:15 AM
We have a glut of tomatoes (yay!) but no kitchen, so I need to figure out easy recipes to use them that require minimal clean up or prep.

Caprese salad comes to mind.  :)
If you still have freezer space just core the tomatoes and freeze.  When you take them out and start to defrost the peel will just slip off.  Then you can can them or use in cooked items.  Not a long term solution but they will be fine for several months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on August 01, 2020, 12:53:12 PM
Well, we need to get back to doing this. I'm good at stocking up, apparently.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 03, 2020, 10:21:23 AM
I have a rotisserie chicken to use up, and found a chicken chili recipe that looks straightforward enough to convert to a crockpot. That will give me a chance to use up chicken broth (freezer) + jalapenos (garden).

My husband grilled burgers yesterday, as we were able to pull the barbecue out of the construction area. Having a new food item was such a treat!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 03, 2020, 12:10:29 PM
Made salads last night instead of grilling elk steaks.  Those two salads and salads for the next two lunches used up the rest of the baby spinach.  Also used up last night were the rest of the cherry tomatoes, an avocado, two boiled eggs, and a lime.  DH will grill the steaks and portobello mushrooms tonight.

Made brownies in the slow cooker for the first time using up the rest of the unsweetened cocoa powder and granulated sugar.

Yesterday's brunch included grain free blueberry pancakes and the rest of the link sausage.  And yes, I made blueberry syrup we talked about last week.  :)

I ended up tossing an entire container of strawberries due to mold.  I am disappointed I didn't get to them in time, and will watch the fresh produce even closer in the future.

DH made homemade margarita mix over the weekend, and I'll use the leftover freshly squeezed lime and orange juices as a fish marinade tomorrow.

The aforementioned remaining round steak will go in the slow cooker Wednesday.

Our neighbors gave us fresh beets out of their garden last Friday, and I sliced and grilled them the next day.  So good, fresh, and caramelized.  They also gave us fresh green beans which I'll toss with locally raised bacon and saute everything.  Life is good.

ETA:  Oh, yes, a half baggie of frozen blueberries, and an entire bag of frozen strawberries went into frozen sangria yesterday.  Delish!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 03, 2020, 05:13:37 PM
@MountainGal - you had me at sangria!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 04, 2020, 01:28:13 PM
@MountainGal - you had me at sangria!

LOL!  Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache!  They were so refreshing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 05, 2020, 04:25:49 AM
I'm off to making banana pancakes from the overdue/brown bananas for lunch. I do not think my son will complain.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 05, 2020, 07:49:41 AM
Food happenings:
-Had to toss a few apples & cucumbers that my husband had purchased at Costco, as they were bad. This is happening more & more regularly, as I assume they are having supply chain issues. Frustrating to waste food.
-Used a hot dog bun (toasted) as a side dish for soup, and topped it with a delivery produce box misfire (I ordered something else that I didn't receive, but ended up with an oatmilk "butter" flavored with parmesan & garlic). It was actually really good. Tasted like garlic toast.
-Ate the chicken chili we prepped on Tuesday. It used rotisserie chicken (leftovers) & jalapenos (garden)
-Almost done eating the egg frittatas we bought as an easy breakfast (no oven). They are fine. I would never, ever buy them if we had a kitchen, as they are both super pricey & not as good as something we'd make at home. However, they are cheaper than takeout.
-Finished off a giant watermelon.
-And, the chicken chili used up a giant tub of chicken broth, that's been on my "get it out of the freezer" list for a long time!

Today we need to finish:
-The last two grilled hot dogs
-Grilled burgers (freeze remainders)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 06, 2020, 02:41:23 PM
I topped yesterday's round steak with the last remaining can of both black beans and enchilada sauce.  I had a late lunch and didn't have any, but DH reported it was good.

Tonight we'll finally have the marinaded cod tacos I mentioned earlier this week, along with the fresh green beans and remaining slice of homemade bacon.

Friday will be our usual weekly takeout.

Saturday we'll grill up some of the extra cheddar brats I mistakenly double ordered in June's online grocery order, served with leftover green beans from tonight.

Sunday we'll BBQ elsewhere with family.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on August 06, 2020, 03:11:59 PM
Proud of us for cooking and eating real food last night including an eggplant that was only just salvageable.  Trimmed off the bad parts and the rest tasted so good!

I chopped and froze some peppers just before they needed tossed. We have been doing really well at eating things up.

I did have to toss a whole pack of tortillas that had been chewed on by a mouse!? I emptied out the cupboard but found no droppings and no crumbs, so I am hoping (as awful as it is) that the damage happened before I bought them and I just missed seeing it in the store.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 06, 2020, 04:59:03 PM
-Picked all of the ripe garden tomatoes & made a pico de gallo. Ordered cilantro from my produce box, so it was actually a real pico de gallo, vs the cilantro-less one we've made do with lately
-Finished off the remaining burgers & froze the rest
-Prepped ahead for tomorrow's dinner, and defrosted previously prepped taco meat. (Taco + pico de gallo)
-My husband keeps buying excessive amounts of bagged salads and I keep eating it. Had another giant salad for lunch
-Meeting a friend for a socially distanced visit tomorrow, and confirmed that she does like/cook with jalapenos. Will bring over a bag for her to enjoy, so ours don't go to waste
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 07, 2020, 02:08:34 AM
Finished up all fresh produce in the fridge. Perfectly timed, since we're leaving for a 3 week holiday tonight! Made a nice Greek pasta with the last bell pepper, zucchini and mushrooms and some leftover feta cheese. Kids indulged on this one and we have leftovers for our lunch today!
DD will make some meatballs out of the ground beef to take for our trip.
Have to clean out the fridge today. Hopefully no surprises behind any tupperware boxes....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 07, 2020, 12:00:34 PM
@Dutch Comfort, that pasta sounds delicious!


It's time for the weekly clean-out-the-office-mini-fridge lunch!  Today's menu includes the remaining blueberries, blue cheese stuffed green olives, a string cheese and some pecans from the cupboard.  :)

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 08, 2020, 09:46:46 AM
Anyone have an idea to use up some frozen black bean broth? It's too hot for the soup I originally envisioned when I froze it. There's about four cups and I'm at a loss.

Continuing the pantry/freezer cleanout that I started before vacation last week. My goal was to not have to buy groceries until I came back. I'll have to grab some eggs and fresh produce this weekend, but otherwise I still have so many meals! I've changed my mindset from 'things in freezer are food for later' to 'make a plan for those later meals'. I've worked really hard on defrosting and scheduling batch cooking. It helps that there's no cold cereal, sandwich fixings, or frozen pizzas left :)

Made a double batch of lemonade from bottled lemon juice. It's so refreshing and since I'm making it with stevia, much healthier than sugary soft drinks
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 09, 2020, 09:37:47 PM
Made some black bean quesadillas with frozen corn and onions and canned black beans. Absolutely delicious, and some went back in the freezer for future meals.

My frozen almond milk experiment worked! I put it in pint Mason jars and froze small portions. When it thaws, I just shake it up to use it. Tastes the same.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 11, 2020, 12:54:40 PM
@okcisok, that is good info to have about the almond milk!


We returned from a family trip to a cabin yesterday.  Here's what I did with leftovers:

~Brunch casseroles went into two containers for DH's breakfasts.
~Blueberries went into containers for our lunches.
~Cake was divided into 3 containers for the week.
~Leftover canned beverages went into the kitchen and garage refrigerators.
~The unopened OJ and cranberry juices went back into stock rotation.

I just polished off a salad topped with Saturday's leftover ribeye.  :)

Yesterday I put away last week's Sam's Club purchases and performed an impromptu pantry and freezer inventory to plan suppers for the next few weeks.  Tonight's Taco Tuesday will consist of a can of Rotel and chopped chilies.  Tomorrow night will use up 2 cans of chicken and a can of coconut milk in a curry chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 11, 2020, 01:24:43 PM
@okcisok - were you originally planning to use the black bean broth in soup? If it's too spicy, can you just cut back the amount & use veggie or beef/chicken broth in the place of the bean broth? You would still use it up, just more slowly. I'm coming up empty on other ways to use it up.

I tapped out on creative (non kitchen) cooking, so my husband picked up some quick & easy Costco options. The fresh tri tip burgers were fantastic.
-Had the last tri tip burger patty on a salad
-Prevented my husband from buying even more bagged salads, & dutifully continue to eat them.
-We are finally out of lettuce & spinach, so can use some of the bagged salads as dinner salad replacements
-Continue to ripen a few green tomatoes (fell off the vine when picking other tomatoes) in a brown bag
-Have used about half of the ground chicken burger patties that my husband picked up. Definitely not as good as the tri tip, but fine & easy. We'll have the rest tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 16, 2020, 07:48:56 AM
I can't remember adding tomatillos to my produce box, but apparently I did. I looked up a salsa verde recipe & made it yesterday. I had all of the ingredients on hand, and it used both all of the tomatillos, a couple of jalapenos, & the last of a bunch of cilantro that was going past its prime.

Other things:
-Finally finished off the bagged salads my husband bought.
-Ate all of the leftovers for the week, minus one piece of lasagna that I'll convince a teenager to finish
-Froze the extra bananas that were accidentally purchased, & ripened too quickly in the sun
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 16, 2020, 10:34:45 AM
For awhile there I was in accumulation, not "using up," mode but I am feeling more adjusted to the new shopping rhythm (grocery stores every 3-4 weeks, produce and dairy box every other week) so I feeling more comfortable starting to work through the backlog. Plus I am even more motivated not to waste anything now that shopping is such a chore. Yesterday morning I did a big refrigerator clean/rearrange so I could find everything, as the most urgent job is to catch up with the perishables. So far this weekend have turned quite a bit of raw produce into various forms that I am more likely to eat.

Mixed success--the mini-crisps I made with plums plus part of an apple on the way out and a little granola left over were tasty (I charred the tops both times but not beyond deliciousness). Unfortunately, the cucumber agua fresca I tried to use up some assorted produce had a bitter undertaste...it's partly my fault--the recipe writer specified that it would have that note, and I didn't scroll far enough down to see the footnote and adjust accordingly. Used up bacon fat and a couple of random squares of dark chocolate in cookies.

One upside of the current situation is that I have had success working through some of the random food that had accumulated over time---a package of pierogies, a few frozen side dishes from Trader Joe's I had bought back at the holidays, a jar of specialty pasta sauce, some fancy olives. My cupboards have much more space for actual staples now!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 16, 2020, 11:56:40 AM
@okcisok - were you originally planning to use the black bean broth in soup? If it's too spicy, can you just cut back the amount & use veggie or beef/chicken broth in the place of the bean broth? You would still use it up, just more slowly. I'm coming up empty on other ways to use it up.


I should have clarified--it's too hot outside to make soup :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 17, 2020, 11:27:16 AM
Saturday, per my request, DH made spaghetti sauce out of the unused Crazy Sauce from the prior week's stuffed breadstick purchase.

Last night DH grilled a box of leftover burger patties and the package of Better with Cheddar leftover from our Solstice party.

Saturday afternoon, our neighbor's gave us more beets, green beans and a small handful cherry tomatoes from their garden.  I tossed peeled and sliced beets in olive oil and seasoning salt, then smoked them last night on the Traeger, yum!  We had them with some of the aforementioned protein, with a side of cherry tomatoes and sliced avocado.

Tonight I'll serve some of the green beans sauteed with bacon with spinach artichoke spaghetti squash.  It's my pseudo attempt at Meatless Monday, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 17, 2020, 12:12:03 PM
-Finally used all of the grapefruits that have lingered for well over a month. Made mixed drinks last night, and sipped them by the pool, once it finally cooled off enough to be outside.
-Used garden tomatoes for salad & to top burgers
-Found the last of the prepped frozen egg purchases (no kitchen) & used 1 frittata for breakfast today, will have the second one tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 19, 2020, 10:55:36 AM
-Finished all of the frozen egg breakfast options we purchased in advance of our kitchen remodel. We're supposed to be done by end of week. Hurrah
-Dinner tonight will wrap up last of the corn tortillas & salsa from Costco street taco purchase, as well as the last of the prepped ground beef taco mix.
-Need to finish all of the burgers tomorrow for dinner, and freeze any leftovers
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 19, 2020, 12:36:13 PM
Congratulations, @MaybeBabyMustache!  So close!

My sister gave me leftover taco fixin's from a luncheon she hosted:
~Ate some of the sliced spicy chicken breast on top of baby spinach for lunch Monday, and tossed some in leftover spinach artichoke spaghetti squash for yesterday's lunch.  I froze the other half.
~I warmed up half of the leftover shredded pork on the stove last night, and we had them in tortillas with beans, the last of a mozzarella wedge, cheddar, the last avocado and sour cream.  I froze the other half.  Oh, and we enjoyed the first tomato from DH's garden.  Woot!

Tonight I'll marinade some tuna steaks in OJ leftover from our cabin trip, and juice from some limes which need to be used up.  I'll serve it with the green beans I mentioned Monday, asparagus and broccoli.  I didn't know this, but fresh green beans can be frozen.  So, Monday I froze half of what was in the large grocery bag the neighbors gave us.  It will be a tasty treat this winter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 22, 2020, 09:51:00 PM
Quite proud of myself for this one...I have an inordinate number of odd ends of condiments/seasonings/etc kicking around in my fridge...I bought them for one recipe and they are taking up too much space. So my mission is to try to clear out some of them. I had a jar of mole paste with about a quarter cup left in it. I thought about enchiladas, but then came across a recipe for a mole pasta with chicken. Used that as the basis for invention and it turned out really well, although I'm sure it would give anyone who actually cooks authentic Mexican or Italian food heart palpitations.

Also made a casserole involving rice and Italian sausage. Needed two cans of green chiles, and only had one, so substituted some jalapenos left over from a Mexican food order and for the cheese used a bag I had gotten out of the markdown bin. Felt frugal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 23, 2020, 08:13:24 AM
-Used up a bunch of garden tomatoes & jalapenos in one fell swoop with a big batch of pico de gallo.
-Used a few overripe bananas from the freezer to make banana muffins
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 23, 2020, 08:19:16 AM
I found a satchet of herbs to put with sour herring, bought it more than a decade ago, but never used it. I think I bought it by accident. It has been staring at me from the kitchen cupboard. Now I plan to use it next time I put mushrooms in oil or in water/vinegar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 25, 2020, 01:29:07 PM
I've concluded cooking, "baking" on the Traeger and in the slow cooker, and meal prepping has kept me sane over the past XX months.

Over the weekend, I organized the fridge:
~Tossed 3 expired condiments and apple cider much to my chagrin.  I hate wasting food!
~Hot sauces and BBQ sauces are now grouped together on the right side door, and mustards, mayo and ketchup on the left
~Gave our neighbor an unopened bottle of mayo we won't get to by next month's expiration date, and the leftover OJ from the cabin trip
~Washed, filled and put onto a shelf the plastic bin for cans, the plastic bin for plastic bottle beverages will be delivered today
~Three different kinds of pickles are grouped together, as are food in tubs such as yogurts, the sour cream, etc.
~Designated a specific space for leftover containers

Food:
~Also over the weekend, I made frybread and pancake mix, both from scratch.  Very pleased with how they both turned out.  This used up the flour, which was then added to next month's grocery list.  There's enough leftover pancake mix for 3 more brunches.
~Sunday's eggrolls used up a can each of black beans and corn, and half a package of wontons
~Last night's Meatless Monday meal used a zucchini (just 2 more to go!), some cherry tomatoes, both portobello mushrooms, and most of the asparagus.
~Tonight we'll have the leftover frybread, ground beef, and ranch beans.  Yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 25, 2020, 01:38:22 PM
Nice work @MountainGal !

We've been staying on top of the garden tomatoes. Tomatoes for everyone! On everything!

I need to break my dependency on bagged salads. I'm so tired of tossing the remainder of the "extras" pack (croutons, dressing, etc). Not only is it wasteful, not environmentally friendly, etc) it makes a mess in the fridge. Now that my kitchen is back, it's my goal to eliminate this purchase.

We have a new fridge as part of the kitchen remodel, & I also need to figure out the best way to use it. We tossed things in, and we are both not making the most of the space, and need to organize what's in there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 25, 2020, 02:12:18 PM
Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And, LOL re: tomatoes for everyone!  I hear you re: utilizing the fridge space.  What I ended up doing a few weeks ago is searching online for refrigerator organization pictures for inspiration.  I found some went a bit overboard when it came to bins.  And, did you know they make lazy Susan's for fridges/freezers?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 25, 2020, 03:59:21 PM
Crazy times on the lazy Susan's, and now I'm going to have to go look for fridge organization!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 26, 2020, 09:21:35 AM
I washed, dried, filled and put the bottle bin in the fridge last night.  It looks really good, and the water bottles are now corralled.  Note:  When home, I fill a large cup from the 5 gallon jug we keep on hand.  The bottles are for the trail, errands, parties, etc.  We've been in single digit humidity levels lately, and it's important to keep hydrated.

Used the rest of the cherry tomatoes and an avocado on last night's frybread.

A not so win:  I woke up very early this morning and had some extra time.  When I was feeling around the back of the drawer where I keep my prepped lunch items (assembled salads, prepped produce, etc), I came across a container of hulled strawberries.  As I opened it I wondered aloud:  I wonder how old these are?  Yep.  They had grown fur coats.  Gag!!!  I'll watch that in the future.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 26, 2020, 06:08:56 PM
I seriously need to investigate fridge organization systems. We have our stuff strewn between various fridges (we will be getting rid of one soon, but need help moving it), & I still haven't gotten the hang of the new fridge.

But, progress:
-Defrosted a bag of rotisserie chicken, & used it to make chicken salad for dinner
-My produce box came just as I was finishing the salad, so I was able to add celery
-The produce box also came with fresh pita bread, so I'll have my chicken salad in the pita bread, with tomatoes of course
-My husband will finish off the last of the salmon tonight
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 28, 2020, 08:41:06 AM
Cooked up the last free Hello Fresh entree today. It was still delicious nearly two weeks after the delivery. Had it for lunch and dinner and finished it up completely.

Created new trail mix out of the dregs of an old bag, a few lonely almonds in the bottom of another bag, about a tablespoon of dried cranberries in a jar, and some mini chocolate chips. Delicious! And two bags out of the pantry.

Made chocolate milk with the thawed frozen almond milk, baking cocoa that expired in December, and agave sweetener my SO got as a shopping service substitute. Whirled it up in the blender and it is delicious! Better than chocolate milk made from chocolate syrup. Now I know what to do with the last bits of baking cocoa in the tin and the rest of the agave syrup. I was frustrated with myself because I opened a new tin before I finished the old tin and I'm not doing much baking these days. Now I can make chocolate milk!

I wrote out a new list of items I can make from what I have on hand after last week's shopping trip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on August 28, 2020, 01:04:48 PM
We’ve had to throw some things out recently.  Some zucchini, half an eggplant. I’ve been really busy with work and my partner has been doing the cooking and it’s just hard to keep after that stuff with the fridge so much fuller due to buying 3 weeks at a time vs 2! 

So today I am prepping our next grocery pick up and I also planned 2.5 weeks of dinners and ordering a few less fresh veg and few more frozen. We’ll see how we like having a menu to work from. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 28, 2020, 01:17:15 PM
-Continue to eat tomatoes & peppers from the garden.
-Need to make pico de gallo with tomatoes & jalapenos this weekend, which will helpfully use up the dregs of some cilantro
-Will eat the remaining kebabs & rice, leftover dinner
-We've had Impossible Burgers in the fridge taking up space for a while. I have plans to get them on the grill this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 29, 2020, 08:50:06 PM
One step backward. I tried a thing to use up a mistakenly-purchased can of creamed corn, and I love the thing!! Now I have to buy more creamed corn.

Thing: A box of Jiffy cornbread mix and about 2/3 the can of corn. No milk, water, eggs, just the mix and corn. Bake it following package directions, preferably in a cast iron pan oiled up with plenty of bacon grease.

Best slathered with your mama's homemade blackberry jelly, but if you don't have homemade, store-bought is fine (shout out to Ina Garten).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 30, 2020, 01:17:31 PM
My kitchen is about half back, and I'm making all of the things.
-Double batches of pico de gallo
-Coleslaw
-Used up a few lonely raspberries & blueberries to make muffins
-Making chicken curry & rice tonight

Speaking of eating all of the food in your house, yesterday the cabinet guy was installing kitchen cabinets. It was dusty work, and not a good time to sort lunch for the kids. I picked up three foot long sandwiches. One for a 13 year old, one for a 14 year old, and one for me. I figured I'd have the second half for lunch today. Except, 14 year old son ate both his foot long & half of mine yesterday for lunch... I guess no leftovers is a good thing? I came back from an 8.5 mile hike, ready to destroy that sandwich, and was quite disappointed when it was MIA. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: moneypitfeeder on August 30, 2020, 04:05:51 PM
Still need to figure out what to do with an enormous amount of: fresh mint, basil & parsley.

A few options to use up a bunch of mint and parsley you can make a fresh tabbouleh salad [soaked bulgar wheat, onion, garlic, tomato, cucumber, parsley, and mint, and EVOO]. Mint sun tea [toss mint and tea bags in a jar with water and/or sugar, set in the sun for a few hours till desired strength is reached]. Or chop the herbs and freeze in ice cube trays for later use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 31, 2020, 01:09:58 PM
Busy weekend!

Yesterday turnips and leftover potatoes went into the Crock Pot, were mashed and served with smoked ribs, a lonely garden fresh tomato, and leftover deviled eggs.

Pinto beans were soaked, cooked, and are in the Crock Pot today along with last year's ham hocks.

Tomorrow night we'll have chicken quarters from the freezer since March, with whatever BBQ sauce we have on hand.

Wednesday I'll cook the last of the tuna steaks.

Fresh produce wise, we're down to an avocado, a few cups baby spinach, a tiny garden tomato and some fruit.  Time for a grocery pick up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 02, 2020, 01:12:09 PM
~Forgot to mention Saturday's slow cooker lasagna which used up the last two zucchini, cottage cheese remnants, a bunch of mozzarella, and a jar of spaghetti sauce.  I'm eating the last portion of it now.

~Last night's BBQ chicken used the rest of a bottle of BBQ sauce.  We had the rest of the tater tots from the freezer, and 2 tomatoes from the garden on the side.

~There is just one serving left of the mashed turnips and potatoes.

~Yesterday I counted:  There are 6 different types of cheeses in my fridge drawer.  Too many, LOL!

~The produce list has been compiled and is ready for pick up :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GermanStache on September 05, 2020, 03:44:39 PM
Hi everyone!
I am so excited.... we are buying a house 🏡! Moving will be January or Februars so I do have time to eat everything we have. We are only moving a few miles but I dont want to move Food. In Addition we need to save money because the house came up somewhat unexpected and we just bought a new to us car the week before 🙈. But we are so happy.... this house is everything we ever looked for in a house.


So lets the eating begin😊😎
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 06, 2020, 08:35:20 AM
Way to go on buying a house @GermanStache ! Thanks for the herb tips, @moneypitfeeder

We are grilling this weekend, and eating through all kinds of things. We also have a bunch of now prepped food in the fridge. We added bacon to burgers yesterday, to go through breakfast bacon. It was quite a sacrifice. I made up one of my favorite summer salads (nectarines or peaches, basil, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, S&P) to use up nectarines & basil.

Today I'll make muffins to use up some berries that are going bad. I also lost a large vine off of my cherry tomato plant. Picked all of the green tomatoes (20+?) & put them in a bag to ripen with a banana. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 07, 2020, 10:02:45 AM
-Used two zucchinis in the fridge + a shredded freezer zucchini to make zucchini muffins
-Used garden cherry tomatoes over my egg, and toasted 1/2 a stale pita for breakfast. Delicious

We stopped by a friend's yesterday to drop off a treat (homemade brownies from my 13 y.o. So good that I can't keep them in my house). They were just receiving a produce delivery & insisted we take 4 fresh coconuts with us.

Question for all of you lovely people... what should I do with fresh coconuts? I want to make the most of them, but it appears like I could spend all day on various coconut related activities. Recommendations?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 09, 2020, 11:49:04 AM
Congratulations buying the house, @GermanStache@MaybeBabyMustache, sorry, I have no coconut ideas.  I use it only in coconut flour form.

Lately in our home:
~DH grilled up another box of hamburger patties
~The remaining baby spinach from the prior grocery pick up was sauteed with minced garlic and served under last week's tuna steaks
~The rest of a container of sour cream went into soppin' biscuits
~The leftover shredded pork was used in yesterday's Taco Tuesday supper.  Also used up a cheddar cheese block.
~3 leftover boiled eggs were turned into deviled eggs
~A bag of cauliflower rice was cooked for last night's Taco Tuesday, and the rest will be served with chicken curry tomorrow night
~A can of coconut milk went into smoothies last weekend, and another can will be used in the chicken curry
~Doing well at incorporating the produce purchased last Wednesday into meals. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Igelfreundin on September 09, 2020, 04:27:03 PM
I still remember a fresh coconut salad that an Indian friend made for me, but I don't have the recipe. The internet pulled up lots of coconut cucumber Indian salad recipes that look about right.

Sent from my LM-V350 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: rachellynn99 on September 13, 2020, 01:49:37 AM
Family of 5 here with my husband and I both working from home during COVID.  I REALLY need to clean out the pantries, fridge, cupboards and freezer. My husband has been asking me to clean out our deep freezer for some time and I must try to. Deer season is upon us and we need meat. I have about 15-20 frozen quiches in the freezer right now from the spring and early summer when our chickens were laying so well- so I need to start cooking them more. My family loves them for breakfast but also for dinner. Normally two will serve us all dinner, with leftovers for breakfast the next morning.

I have an appointment in the town closest to us that has a Trader's Joe coming up soon and would love to stock up on some items there- but should use up some of the other items that we have first. Our grocery budget has been running between $400-$500 a month lately, and honestly I could probably do with only $100 a month until the new years if I tried....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 14, 2020, 11:59:41 AM
@rachellynn99 - jealous of all those quiches in the freezer! Yum.

Over the weekend, I used up a bunch of the coconut milk I made last weekend in a big chicken/veggie curry. I was also able to use up carrots, 2 small zucchini from my produce box, and other odds & ends. I froze two other can size containers of coconut milk for future curries.

We prepped a bunch of food for the week, because I have a crazy, crazy work schedule for the next two weeks. Today we will have grilled sausages with a nectarine salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 14, 2020, 04:20:39 PM
~The rest of the pepperoni and cherry tomatoes went in today's lunch salad
~The 2 yellow squash will be used in a stir fry tonight
~The last 2 pounds of ground beef will go into tomorrow's tacos.  I'll serve them with eggplant fries and avocado slices.

Only baby spinach, an avocado, and a few limes remain in the crisper drawer.  Time for grocery shopping!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on September 21, 2020, 04:14:22 PM
Accidentally burned a whole pan of bacon. I crumbled it into tiny pieces and am using it as smoky bacon salt to flavor dishes instead of throwing it away.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 21, 2020, 04:57:42 PM
-Made salsa verde from tomatillos & cilantro (produce delivery), as well as garden jalapenos
-Made mojitos, using fresh mint
-We received a free meal delivery service (one time, 3 meals, 2 servings each) & are using as a cooking practice for our 13 year old. He's loving the very tailored practice, and we're trying new things & not wasting food
-Sent a bunch of herbs & jalapenos home with my sister
-Made leftover tacos into two lunches of taco salad
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: centwise on September 22, 2020, 09:55:28 AM
Joining this thread!

We did a great job of eating our way through most of the pantry and almost all of the freezer between March and July 1. Then we focused on delicious fresh vegetables, salads and fruit over the summer.

A couple of weeks ago however, in anticipation of my work ramping up exponentially, I did a couple of major stocking-up shops, and I think I overdid it a little. I'm expecting to be overworked, so I bought more prepared foods than I normally would, and the freezer is FULL! Time to eat everything in the house!

-There's lots of jam in the pantry, so I baked bread and opened up a new jar of rhubarb jam. That will be breakfast this week.
-Had frozen potstickers and rice for dinner
-For today's lunch: I took some flatbread and frozen cooked chicken out of the freezer and am making wraps with Za'atar, chicken, marinated cucumbers and chili mayo
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 22, 2020, 11:42:13 AM
Welcome to the thread, @centwise!

@MaybeBabyMustache, so glad your child is enjoying cooking.

Sad to report because I was pressed for time last Tuesday before leaving town, I didn't get around to making the eggplant fries, and ended up tossing the eggplant last night.  Which leads me to:

Went away for a much needed holiday.  I stayed at a family member's condo saving me hundreds on lodging, and bought groceries for the condo to refrain from restaurants.  A half pound of shrimp, 1/4 pound of scallops, baby spinach, 1 Roma tomato, blueberries, yogurt, an avocado, a container of deli prepared shrimp in sweet chili sauce, some kale chips and paleo puffs, along with things in the condo such as butter, EVOO, and eggs turned into 3 different meals and several snacks.  I went out several times with family, my father picking up the tab.

Last night was football food:  From the freezer came leftover egg rolls, bacon, and hotdogs, and I made freshly prepared dip for pork rinds out of an avocado, mayo, spices and lime juice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 27, 2020, 08:29:38 PM
@MountainGal - sounds like a wonderful getaway!

I made quite a bit of progress this weekend:
-Set out enormous containers of mint, parsley, basil & jalapenos for neighbors to enjoy
-Made lasagna for a friend who lost her father. Used up two open boxes of lasagna noodles & had just enough for the pan. Also used a jar of pasta sauce. Used the leftover ricotta cheese in blueberry ricotta muffins.
-Made a jalapeno feta dip (which, was amazing) to use up six jalapenos from our ever producing plant
-Made a huge batch of pico de gallo to use up garden tomatoes & more jalapenos, plus cilantro & a red onion from the produce box
-Made guacamole with a similar assortment of ingredients, plus avocados
-Used up two containers of homemade chicken broth (from the freezer) in the crockpot carnitas I made for dinner tonight.

And, yesterday, made a "happy hour" at the request of hungry teen diners. Got rid of 1/2 a package of store bought taquitos, and an unopened wedge of orange goat cheese that had made its way to the back of the fridge. Toasted up the last of a baguette, and added the aforementioned jalapeno feta dip.

It was a great "use it up" kind of weekend. Oh, & I made myself smoothies out of fridge fruit for breakfast each day, and salad was whatever was in the fridge, topped with leftover chicken from Friday's dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 01, 2020, 12:02:44 PM
Well, the blissful, relaxing state of mind is gone from being on holiday, LOL.

~Last Friday I finally used the spaghetti squash under Chicken Alfredo.
~Sunday we had leftover BBQ food including hamburger patties, brats, pasta salad, and Cheetos mac and cheese.
~I assembled work lunches out of the rest of the baby spinach, a cucumber, and a few other odds and ends.  Our fresh produce drawer is now empty except for a few limes.
~Taco Tuesday used up 2 chicken breasts, a can of enchilada sauce, a bag of frozen cauliflower, a wedge of cheddar, and an avocado.  Just two of the latter to go!
~Last night we had orange and black food to welcome in October:  The final leftover hamburger patties and brats, the rest of the Cheetos mac and cheese, Birds Eye veggie made pasta, and black and kalamata olives.
~Saturday I'll use the remaining half package of wonton wrappers by making cream cheese wontons.
~Sunday's doctored up grilled cauliflower crust pizza will use up the rest of the pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 01, 2020, 02:30:40 PM
@MountainGal - that bliss goes away pretty quickly, doesn't it?!

We keep plowing through our food & looking out for waste. I didn't get an email to customize my produce box this week, so I'll need to be creative to ensure we keep on top of everything.

Also, so many tomatoes! I love garden tomatoes, but don't want to squander them. We are using them in & on everything.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 02, 2020, 01:21:08 PM
Time to clear the freezer, since I just got on the list for a 1/4 beef that should be ready in three weeks.  I froze a lot of riced cauliflower from the garden this summer, so I'll need to use up some of that, salmon, a whole chicken, and the last of the pork I bought from a coworker last year.  Time to take inventory and probably also transfer some items to the fridge freezer as well.  With any luck we'll be getting a lamb in a couple months too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nobody on October 02, 2020, 03:57:55 PM
Going to attempt to spend $15/week or $60 this month on groceries.  Everything else is going to come from what I already have in my pantry, fridge/freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 03, 2020, 09:18:59 AM
Now is the time of the year that I am filling up my kitchen with selfpicked mushrooms: frozen, dried, pickeled or confitured. But because of a meager mushroom season, only in small quantities at the time. But we are regularly eating the fish that DH caught this summer, which is in the freezer. Recently we also had a day where we only ate leftover portions from the freezer. I also eat jam from my self made jars.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 04, 2020, 12:27:55 PM
Wow, @nobody - that's an awesome challenge!

I forgot to customize my produce box last week, so I'm working through all of the unexpected items. So far today:
-Used carrots, celery, mushrooms & red onions as the base of a bolognese sauce. Added a 1/2 can of tomato paste I found lurking in the fridge, as well as a takeaway "dip" sized container of marinara sauce when the kids had pizza last night. This (plus beef, and other ingredients) will hopefully make a 3x batch of bolognese
-Used up the remainder of a lemon panna cotta with lots of berries in my smoothie this morning. Do not recommend.
-Planning to roast the remaining veggies that are left (carrots, beets) & need to pan saute the brussel sprouts tonight. Still need to deal with the asparagus.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nobody on October 04, 2020, 07:31:33 PM
Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache!  It probably highlights how badly I'm overstocked.  ;)  I am generally this way, but would like to change that.


The only thing I've bought so far this month is 4lbs of apples for about $4.
So far, using what I already have in the house, I've made...
- A big pot of hamburger vegetable soup that should last me for about 5-6 meals
- Mashed potato patties with cheddar cheese inside
- Mung bean sweet soup with brown slab sugar and seaweed
- An "express" version of phở
- Beef cheung fun
- Potato wedges
- Eggs and hash browns


Using only ingredients I already have...

This week, I plan on finishing that pot of hamburger vegetable soup, and then make...
-Pork and cabbage stir-fry
-Walnut dessert soup
-Roasted eggplant
-Roasted mackerel with a soy ginger sauce and rice
-Eggs and hash browns

Next week...
-Lamb and cabbage biryani
-Monk fruit tea
-Thai curry with rice (curry paste, coconut milk, pork, bamboo, cabbage)
-Pork congee with picked vegetables
-Jeera aloo with dosa
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 05, 2020, 01:35:09 PM
@horsepoor, that is great you have fresh cauliflower available!  I think the "cauliflower craze" has caught on, as it is so expensive in the store!

@nobody, wow!  Let us know how it goes, and thank you for posting your list thus far.

@Linea_Norway, what kind of jam?

@MaybeBabyMustache, that sauce sounds divine.

It was another productive weekend.  Saturday's wontons turned out great!  I made enough for four servings, and leftovers will be enjoyed tonight.  :D

Speaking of tonight, we're having leftover chicken and bean something or other frozen in March, along with leftover tempura eggplant fries from last night.

Yesterday for brunch we ate the rest of the open package of bacon, and another cup of the homemade pancake mix I jarred up last month.

I'm currently eating the last of the opened bag of baby spinach, along with the rest of the ranch dressing here at the office.  It also contains some of the walnuts purchased earlier this year in a large quantity.

We had the last two avocados in a crema Saturday, and sliced on the side last night.  Saturday DH bought fresh ones for this week.

Wednesday I'll make a chicken coconut curry to use up more of the curry paste.

Have a lovely week, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 05, 2020, 03:04:16 PM
I've set a goal to reduce my grocery budget by 10% this month. (We're up nearly 2x since COVID hit, & while some amount is acceptable - the adults previously had free breakfast, lunch & snacks at work - double is not okay. Our freezer are packed, so I need to address that. I think I'll pause our produce box for a bit, and see if I can find a safe time to go to the local produce stand. It's significantly cheaper.

The main win will be eating what we have already, vs buying more. Tonight my husband is making salmon, I'm grilling asparagus, I'll make a salad to continue to use a bunch of veggies. The kids will have burgers (freezer) & buns (freezer), as well as tortellini (freezer). Should be a good "clean out" meal
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 06, 2020, 01:36:21 AM
@MountainGal
I made jam from plums from the plum tree in our garden. DH also made wine from a lot of the plums. And I made two types of plum cake, which is the cause that DH is now trying to loose weight.
Earlier in the year, I bought rubarb and made jam from that as well.

There are lots of rosehip bushes in our area with ripe rosehips on them. I haven't bothered to pick those, as they apparently are a lot of hassle to use. I ate a lot of commercial rosehip jam as a child and I don't associate the taste with an adult jam.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 06, 2020, 03:38:25 AM
I am joining you guys! I see there are 58 pages to read thru and I am going to start doing that! Can't wait to read this from the beginning.

I just want to say, we are a household of two. We have more food here than a small army needs. Have stocked up on different canned meats. It started because I have a sick dog that I am trying to please food wise. That is a whole other chapter...

My dilemma is that our very large stand up freezer is pretty packed. I have filled it with a little of everything. The problem is that now, it is the season that I want to buy turkey on sale and rib roast, spiral ham on sale. Right now my local grocery store has frozen turkey breast on sale for $0.99 a lb. I would like to buy about 6 to throw in the freezer. UGH, that is pushing it a little. We contemplated buying another freezer but that seems ridiculous considering we have a refrigerator with a freezer above for additional freezer space and also not to mention my refrigerator with freezer space upstairs.

I typically buy stuff on sale but due to the pandemic, I have purchased some meat online that was a little pricey. But, I do have a nice variety of things. So now we are at a stage of being at full capacity but I want to buy more!

OMG, just lock me up!

We use up all our leftovers as lunches, breakfasts so we have little waste. The issue is that we have more incoming food than we have capacity for.  I had considered buying a small 8 CF chest freezer just for bulkier items like turkey, rib roast, hams. But, I know I will fill that up too and still need more room! OMG, am I a hoarder or a purchasing agent?

Well, glad to join this group and maybe learn to eat all the food in my house!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 07, 2020, 01:17:06 AM
I am joining you guys! I see there are 58 pages to read thru and I am going to start doing that! Can't wait to read this from the beginning.

I just want to say, we are a household of two. We have more food here than a small army needs. Have stocked up on different canned meats. It started because I have a sick dog that I am trying to please food wise. That is a whole other chapter...

My dilemma is that our very large stand up freezer is pretty packed. I have filled it with a little of everything. The problem is that now, it is the season that I want to buy turkey on sale and rib roast, spiral ham on sale. Right now my local grocery store has frozen turkey breast on sale for $0.99 a lb. I would like to buy about 6 to throw in the freezer. UGH, that is pushing it a little. We contemplated buying another freezer but that seems ridiculous considering we have a refrigerator with a freezer above for additional freezer space and also not to mention my refrigerator with freezer space upstairs.

I typically buy stuff on sale but due to the pandemic, I have purchased some meat online that was a little pricey. But, I do have a nice variety of things. So now we are at a stage of being at full capacity but I want to buy more!

OMG, just lock me up!

We use up all our leftovers as lunches, breakfasts so we have little waste. The issue is that we have more incoming food than we have capacity for.  I had considered buying a small 8 CF chest freezer just for bulkier items like turkey, rib roast, hams. But, I know I will fill that up too and still need more room! OMG, am I a hoarder or a purchasing agent?

Well, glad to join this group and maybe learn to eat all the food in my house!

Your problem sounds famaliar, your freezer being too full to take advantage of a good sale. But you should not buy endless amounts of food on sale just to only put it in a freezer. You should also consume it.

I personally find it difficult to get an overview of what is inside a stuffed freezer. Therefore I made a list that hangs on the combi fridge, that contains the contents of each freezer drawer. It is at least easy to find in which freezer something is. I also can easily check whether we have a lot of meat or not, as I try to organize food types per freezer.

I think you should look at at least some of your froozen stuff and make a plan for how to eat it. Like having a day of eating leftover portions. Or eating fish 2-3 times a week of your freezer is full of that, like ours is.

I took out two portions of long time cooked beef which have been in the freezer quite long and will eat that which long time cooked pears, which I bought yesterday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 07, 2020, 08:48:16 AM
I am joining you guys! I see there are 58 pages to read thru and I am going to start doing that! Can't wait to read this from the beginning.

I just want to say, we are a household of two. We have more food here than a small army needs. Have stocked up on different canned meats. It started because I have a sick dog that I am trying to please food wise. That is a whole other chapter...

My dilemma is that our very large stand up freezer is pretty packed. I have filled it with a little of everything. The problem is that now, it is the season that I want to buy turkey on sale and rib roast, spiral ham on sale. Right now my local grocery store has frozen turkey breast on sale for $0.99 a lb. I would like to buy about 6 to throw in the freezer. UGH, that is pushing it a little. We contemplated buying another freezer but that seems ridiculous considering we have a refrigerator with a freezer above for additional freezer space and also not to mention my refrigerator with freezer space upstairs.

I typically buy stuff on sale but due to the pandemic, I have purchased some meat online that was a little pricey. But, I do have a nice variety of things. So now we are at a stage of being at full capacity but I want to buy more!

OMG, just lock me up!

We use up all our leftovers as lunches, breakfasts so we have little waste. The issue is that we have more incoming food than we have capacity for.  I had considered buying a small 8 CF chest freezer just for bulkier items like turkey, rib roast, hams. But, I know I will fill that up too and still need more room! OMG, am I a hoarder or a purchasing agent?

Well, glad to join this group and maybe learn to eat all the food in my house!

This is my take, your mileage will obviously vary. I'd find that situation to be stressful (waste freaks me out & makes me anxious), & I would not buy anywhere else to store more food. Instead, I'd aim to spend 15-20% less on groceries over the next few months & mix in freezer/pantry/fridge options with new choices. I'd personally go closer to cold turkey & make more substantial cuts, but a more moderate approach sometimes creates more lasting habits in the long term.

I'd also take the time to inventory everything that you have, and commit to buying no more in areas where you have X months/years of supplies, regardless of the price. I'd also make it into a bit of a fun challenge, & track your progress for yourself. (E.g. use up all of the frozen pesto - my current challenge, get creative with menu options, try new meals, etc).

Welcome along on the journey!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 07, 2020, 09:38:01 AM
No, it is rare I have any waste. We rotate thru the inventory. I started stocking up due to the pandemic and not wanting to expose myself to the virus. It has worked out very well except for produce, dairy and deli meat.

Most of my meats are vacuum sealed for protection and longevity.

I am a bargain shopper and when I see a deal, I usually stock up. Right now, I am stocked up and have no room for more bargains. We are working on freezer reduction. We don't have anything that is very old at all, no freezer burned items.

The Hub keeps track of the inventory and pulls out things for the week to thaw.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 07, 2020, 10:11:48 AM
@Roadrunner53 - sorry, I didn't explain well. I freak out when I have a lot in my freezer/fridge/pantry, because I feel pressure to use everything & thus not create waste. It sounds like you have a great system for ensuring that doesn't happen. For me, having a lot (say, more than a week or so), stresses me out, because I feel like constantly digging through our supplies & ensuring nothing falls behind a container, etc.

My preferred way of shopping is to be out of leftovers by Friday, as well as have whittled down fruit//veggies. We shop on weekends, so seeing a mostly clear space helps me start again on the tracking & planning process.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 07, 2020, 11:16:36 AM
@Linea_Norway, reading about you picking fresh plums from your property to turn them into jam and wine made me smile.   How relaxing and delightful!

Welcome to the thread, @Roadrunner53!

Last night's Taco Tuesday dinner destroyed my kitchen, LOL.  I made fish tacos in cheddar shells with Sunday's remaining portobello mushrooms and red shrimp from the freezer on the side.  The last bag of frozen cauliflower was cooked and riced and half used in the tacos, and the other half will be under tomorrow's chicken curry.  I breaded cod in pork rinds and parmesan cheese which almost used up the bag of plain pork rinds, and the rest of the small milk purchased for mac and cheese for the neighbor kids a few weeks ago.

Tonight I'm making Sloppy Joes in order to use some of the several different opened bottles of BBQ sauce.  Leftover chicken bean soup from Monday will be on the side.  First I must wash last night's dishes.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on October 07, 2020, 02:21:58 PM
I just found out that the teenager downstairs from us has Covid so his family is quarantined.  And kids at both my children's schools have tested positive so their families and those classes have had to quarantine.  So I'm kind of reluctant to use up our freezer and cupboard stash.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 07, 2020, 02:52:33 PM
Hula Hoop, I am with you. I started stocking up around March of this year. Little by little. It isn't that we don't use the food, we use it but then replenish due to the virus.

In our State we have low Covid numbers but since school opened, we are seeing a significant increase. You just don't know where you will get it. Could be the stores, gas station, work, post office. I will not even think of eating in a restaurant.

The Hub is very conscientious of expiration dates. He thinks everything is rotten as soon as the expiration date has been met. I worked in the food industry and know full well, most foods last way longer than the date printed on the food. We did storage studies and proved that the products were still edible. The only thing that might be off is that it might lose some flavor and the nutritionals might be off a little. Vitamins might be lower than ingredient statement. Flavors diminish over time. Of course you have to use your head too. If you were feeding a baby formula, you would not want to feed the baby old formula that has diminished vitamins. If in doubt, throw it out! I can't convince my husband that food does last longer even though I worked with food for 18 years. He sometimes won't throw something expired out but he cringes to eat it. We usually only have a can here or there that has expired. Mostly eggs and then we cook them up for the dogs. I would eat the eggs though! LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 08, 2020, 01:05:21 AM
@Roadrunner53
Eggs stay fresh longest in the fridge. Often many weeks after expiration date. Before eating an egg, you can put it in a cup of water. If the egg lies flat on the bottom, it is very fresh. If it stands up on the bottom, it is not so very fresh, but still edible. If it floats, it is spoiled and should not be given to the dogs either in my opinion.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on October 09, 2020, 05:13:44 AM
@Roadrunner53 - we only have a few things in the freezer so I think I'll buy some frozen veggies, fish and maybe chicken to freeze this weekend.  Also, I might stock up on yeast and flour.  I remember during our lockdown that those were impossible to find.  Luckily grocery delivery seems to be working better it was previously here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 09, 2020, 03:41:02 PM
Lots of progress:

-Finished the roasted carrots, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, & whatever else I'm forgetting from the produce box
-Kids ate the last of the sandwich bread. (We don't keep sandwich bread on hand, but one kid had a hankering for grilled cheese.)
-I'm almost done with a "sweet cream" coffee creamer. It was a freebie at the grocery store, picked up because my sister was visiting, and enjoys that in her coffee. I prefer plain almond milk, but waste not, want not.
-Have made caprese salad three times this week, to use garden tomatoes & basil, as well as the last of some fresh mozzarella. The mozz is now officially gone as well, so I don't have to worry about it spoiling.
-Cleaned a bag of lettuce that was super questionable, saving what was still usable.
-Kids are out of their preferred frozen berries, but have been eating my bag of "scrap fruit" that I keep in the freezer for morning smoothies.
-I finished off the homemade protein bars I made, and need to make more this weekend
-I found a bag of edamame in the freezer, and used that as my protein on a salad this week
-Remembered we had two cheeseburgers in the freezer, and made them for the kids for lunch. They typically make their own lunch, so this was a nice surprise. Little did they know I was just trying to clean the freezer. ;-)

This weekend I need to use up more tomatoes. Probably pico de gallo to go with my taco slaw bowl dinner (think egg roll in a bowl, but taco style). I may have to put out a call again for neighbors to use up our parsley & mint. They are overtaking their containers again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 09, 2020, 11:11:24 PM
The Hub is very conscientious of expiration dates. He thinks everything is rotten as soon as the expiration date has been met. I worked in the food industry and know full well, most foods last way longer than the date printed on the food. We did storage studies and proved that the products were still edible. The only thing that might be off is that it might lose some flavor and the nutritionals might be off a little. Vitamins might be lower than ingredient statement. Flavors diminish over time. Of course you have to use your head too. If you were feeding a baby formula, you would not want to feed the baby old formula that has diminished vitamins. If in doubt, throw it out! I can't convince my husband that food does last longer even though I worked with food for 18 years. He sometimes won't throw something expired out but he cringes to eat it. We usually only have a can here or there that has expired. Mostly eggs and then we cook them up for the dogs. I would eat the eggs though! LOL!

Have you pointed out to him that most labels say "best by" which infers exactly what you said about lack of quality.  It does not say "do not eat after".  Then for dairy and meat it is a "sell by" date, and I always assume 5-7 days of grace for consumption after that date, as long as nothing smells or looks off.

OTOH, I use the "expired" ploy to through out random crap that my husband buys and uses once, like maraschino cherries.  I worked one summer at a cherry packing plant, and know from the noxious brine those cherries sit in, that they will never actually go bad.  But the expiration date gives me an excuse to toss them.  He can buy more 5 years from now when he wants the specific cocktail that requires them.

This weekend I'm making braised oxtails to help make way for the beef quarter.  I just harvested about 20 gallons of various peppers, so some of the less atomic ones should probably go in there. We can eat it with one of the packages of cauliflower rice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 12, 2020, 12:48:54 PM
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Saturday DH bought HUGE ribeye steaks to grill last night.  I divided mine into thirds and ate a portion last night, eating some now on top of my salad, and will do so again tomorrow.  Today's salad also consists of the remaining raspberries and blackberries, and crumbled blue cheese.

Saturday night I ate the rest of last week's chicken curry, and DH grazed on cottage cheese, a boiled egg, and a few other things.

For tonight, there are pork chops in the slow cooker along with a jar of apricot jam one of DH's co-workers gave us.  Yum.

Taco Tuesday will feature the leftover sliced, seasoned chicken breast my sister gave us in August along with the last avocado.

Wednesday we'll eat the rest of the chicken pot pie I made a month or two ago.

Other than 2 bags of okra, and a bag of fresh green beans given to us by our neighbor over the summer, there are no other veggies in the freezer.   Let's just say it's going to be a very large grocery pickup this week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 13, 2020, 09:09:42 PM
Made a pot of chili last night that is the best I've ever made! And it was mostly just to use up random stuff and partly because it was finally cool enough for chili. No recipe, just dumped things in I had lying around and threw in more spices than I thought advisable :)

The last pound of frozen ground venison, since deer season is rolling around again
Basil from a hand-me-down plant & onion volunteers from the compost pile that I moved into a pot
Aldi spices and some dried red pepper from a long-ago pizza delivery
Canned tomatoes, tomato soup, and kidney beans from the quarantine overbuy
Bacon grease and the last tablespoon of overcooked bacon
Frozen celery from the 5 lb box I got free from work (only one more quart bag to go!)
A cup of dry pasta lingering in the pantry, tying up a Majon jar I could use for other storage

Made a box of cornbread mix and ate chili and cornbread until I couldn't anymore. I had leftovers and was looking forward to it so much for lunch today!

Tonight's cooking adventure was quinoa salad to use up some cherry tomatoes and cucumber before they went bad, and jam bars to use up some way-too-sweet jam I was gifted. Spread on a crust and baked, it's just a decadent treat instead of a sugary, syrupy mess. Only half of the jar to go...

I've got the last of the frozen pheasant thawing in the fridge to make a bowdlerized chicken marsala with jarred sauce, some more of the frozen celery, and some frozen bell peppers tomorrow or the next day, whenever it's properly thawed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 14, 2020, 04:39:34 AM
Chili sounds so good! I have been craving it for a little while!

I might just have to make up a big bucket of it very soon!

MountainGal For tonight, there are pork chops in the slow cooker along with a jar of apricot jam one of DH's co-workers gave us.  Yum.

Can you tell me how many chops in the crock pot and did you do it on high or low and for how long. I am afraid of them drying out but the apricot jam does sound delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 14, 2020, 07:25:45 AM
Gave away the Costco sized package of Hot Pockets no one in my family will eat. While I know that's the opposite of the thread title, I'll just call out that it was either that or the garbage. So, we've saved someone else money & saved food from waste. I'll take it.

-Ate all of the keto friendly chicken parmesan I made over the weekend
-Our tomato production has slowed down quite a bit due to the shorter days, so we're totally on top of the garden tomatoes & have only a small bowl in the fridge
-Tonight I'll take one kid to a masked up activity & will need to wait in the car. Two people are eating before they leave, I'm bringing food to eat in the car (classy like) & I have leftovers prepped for my husband. Hopefully he'll finish off the last of the taco slaw, pico de gallo & guacamole

I need to plan something for tomorrow's dinner. If I pick up hot dog buns at the store, perhaps hot dogs for the kids, & Italian sausages/coleslaw for the adults. That will get some of the previously grilled & frozen dogs & sausages out for the freezer, and use up the rest of the (homemade) coleslaw mix
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 18, 2020, 04:21:13 PM
Gave away the Costco sized package of Hot Pockets no one in my family will eat. While I know that's the opposite of the thread title, I'll just call out that it was either that or the garbage. So, we've saved someone else money & saved food from waste. I'll take it.

I feel like this decision is in the spirit of the thread, if not the title :) *Someone* will eat that food from your house!

Reconstituted the last of the chili with another can of tomato soup and some more spices. Eating it for dinner with the crumbs from the bottom of the tortilla chip bag. There's one more serving for lunch tomorrow. Put the last serving of quinoa salad in the freezer since I didn't finish it today. We'll see how it freezes.

Have mozzarella and homemade pasta sauce from gifted tomatoes thawing in the fridge for my first attempt at fathead pizza tomorrow. I have plenty of cheese, pepperoni, and Italian seasoning, so it can't turn out too awful.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 18, 2020, 04:25:06 PM
@okcisok - that's how I felt about it. ;-)

Cleaned the fridge, made a batch of coleslaw mix. Used almost the last of the (homemade) coleslaw dressing. I tend to buy 2 heads of cabbage & carrots, and make coleslaw multiple times throughout a few weeks. Mix up a batch of dressing (although we prefer less than the recipe calls for) & then just combine when we're ready for more. We have a Keto friendly recipe that my husband really likes.

I have a slow cooker chicken & dumplings going for dinner for several eaters, and my husband will grill salmon patties to eat during the week. This was a purchase he made & no one else will eat them. So, let's hope he enjoys having them throughout the week.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 19, 2020, 02:53:41 PM
-Used the last of the sliced cheese that my son purchased for grilled cheese sandwiches
-Used up the two lingering carrots
-Started on the huge tub of mixed greens. This is an ongoing challenge that i sometimes lose before they go bad. My goal this week, no mixed greens waste, even if I have to use them in smoothies

I've moved away from using bagged salads (these were my go to lunch when COVID was just starting, as we'd previously had free lunch at work & time for lunch was often quite tight). I'm now largely off of bagged salad, and am instead just using balsamic vinegar. Way healthier, cheaper & more environmentally friendly vs bagged salads. Win/win.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 19, 2020, 03:40:31 PM
@Roadrunner53, thank you for asking!  Into the Crock Pot went a slow cooker liner, 4 boneless pork chops, the entire Mason jar of jam, and I added ginger and onion powders.   I cook them on low setting until we get home from work, so usually 8+ hours.  Yes, they end up a bit dry, but that's partly due to our Crock Pot.  It's very aggressive, LOL.

Last Thursday's large grocery pickup was successful.  Other than fresh produce, we should be all set for the next month.

DH and I went camping over the weekend, and my food frugality segues while away from home as well:
~Leftover strawberries were eaten on top of Saturday morning yogurt
~Friday we had brats, and the leftovers last night when we arrived home
~We had sauteed asparagus and French cut green beans Friday, and the leftovers Saturday
~A container of fresh blackberries were eaten for 2 different meals, and the rest will be consumed for this week's lunches
~Last week's leftover boiled eggs were turned into egg salad and we ate them in low carb tortillas for breakfast
~Canned items purchased during the food shortage earlier this year such as Beanie Weenies, corned beef hash and the can of green beans mentioned above were consumed
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 19, 2020, 06:18:16 PM
Made the fathead dough into pizza tonight. Turned out very well for a first attempt! The directions skipped a few steps, but I've figured it out and next time will be even better.

Used up the last of a package of mozzarella cheese that was a bit dried out and the last 2 Tbs of cream cheese in a package. Topped it with sauce I made from free tomatoes and bell peppers I'd frozen before they went bad.

I read that the key to adding veggies to pizza is to roast them first so the moisture doesn't cook out and soak into the crust and make it soggy. It worked! I've got enough pizza for two big meals and one smaller one. And enough tomato sauce to make several more pizzas or bowls of pasta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 20, 2020, 09:26:36 PM
I slow cooked a chicken tonight smothered in some chutney and a bit of leftover BBQ sauce that were languishing in the fridge.  Also chunked up the last of the garden eggplants and cooked them with the chicken.  Alongside we had cauliflower cooked with the last of the frozen peas that I grabbed when everyone was grabbing all the frozen veg at the beginning of This Situation.  Then I tossed in the remains of a little bag of slivered almonds to give it a pleasant crunch.

DH has been buying too many bananas recently, so I used his extras to make a paleo-ish chocolate banana bread thing which also used up a partial bag of chocolate chips.  Not bad eating something extra chocolatey in the morning and thinking it's fairly healthy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on October 21, 2020, 07:25:43 AM
A recent success: I used the last of a can of baking powder I bought when I moved back to the US in fall 2018. I use up other baking ingredients and spices, but baking powder is a slow one I always ended up throwing out when it got old.  It was very lumpy toward the end and tempting to toss it, but it was also satisfying to break the lumps up and use it to the end.

We're also coming to the end of 20 pounds of quinoa we stocked up on super sale in summer 2019. I was worried when I bought it that we'd waste it, I am pleased to say that is not so!

We're keeping a lot more food in stock these days and we have had some losses mostly of fresh veggies that we overbought and couldn't eat quickly enough. We've gotten a bit more conservative with our orders and are keeping more frozen veggies and fruit on hand.  We're doing pretty good at rotating through things, especially dry goods. 

I did just buy us some canned chicken, tuna and fruits that I hid away in the back of the cupboard. That's our little stockpile for if we really can't get out to the stores this winter, but they are also things that we used during camping this past summer, and we expect to do the same next summer so my plan is that if we don't need it for emergency we'll still use it up before it approaches expiration.

I made some ham and green beans earlier in the summer that turned out kind of boring.  I don't know how!? Yesterday I got a container of it out of freezer, added some potatoes and a nice scoop of smoked paprika and it helped give it a little more zing. I am proud of that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 21, 2020, 09:29:53 AM
@PMG - I'm always happy when I can repurpose something that didn't turn out great, and not give up on it.

I have a huge batch of chicken & dumplings in the fridge, and it turns out that really only I will eat it. I need to both give it more of a kick, freeze some, and ....eat a lot of chicken & dumplings.

I'm going to deal with all of the jalapenos this weekend - freeze for future use.

I've been on top of the food waste, and have been eating through leftovers at lunch, which is helping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 21, 2020, 11:50:50 AM
@okcisok, congratulations on the fathead success!  It has been one of my favorites for years, and it's so versatile!  It can be made into bagels, calzones, pretzels, etc.  Check out recipes online.

@MaybeBabyMustache, I would help you eat the chicken and dumplings if I could.  ;)

I poked around the pantry yesterday to confirm we have corn syrup and brown sugar for the caramel popcorn I am going to make for our Halloween party.  Oof, the both the light and dark brown sugars are dried out.  Luckily, I know just how to revive them.

From the spice cupboard I pulled out several types of Halloween sprinkles for the above referenced popcorn, and wooden frill toothpicks (I'm going to make mini mummy dogs).  These, plus several unopened packages of black skull plates and napkins from prior years, helped save money on this year's festivities.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 21, 2020, 06:50:51 PM
Reeaallly wanted Taco Bell and pie tonight for dinner. Instead I made some slapdash nachos and made some instant pudding. Just as poor nutrition but without spending any extra money.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nobody on October 22, 2020, 12:55:30 AM
Going to attempt to spend $15/week or $60 this month on groceries.  Everything else is going to come from what I already have in my pantry, fridge/freezer.

So far, I have spent $54.79 this month.  That includes game night food that runs about $2-5/week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 22, 2020, 05:44:40 AM
Had some way over ripe bananas and made one banana bread in my bread machine. It was good but I meant to put in some cinnamon and forgot. The bread called for one cup of mashed bananas and I followed the directions on that. The banana flavor was way too mild for me so I am buying some banana extract. I have enough bananas for two more loaves. Mashed the bananas and put them in two separate bags into the freezer. I also had frozen walnuts I used. That was kind of a treat and we enjoyed it. Tonight pulling out some salmon from the freezer. Will pan sear it then remove it from skillet. Then add some butter, baby spinach, minced garlic. Once that is sautéed a little, I will add Alfredo sauce, warm it then add the fish back to it. Not sure on a side dish like rice or pasta. I wonder how chickpeas would be added to the sauce?

Last week we had walnut crusted sea bass. OMG, love that! All I do is take walnuts and break them up using a can to lightly crush the nuts in a plastic bag. Then add some mayo and grey poupon and a little cayenne. I put some lemon, dill sauce in the bottom of a baking dish, drizzled the sauce over the top of the fish and then put the walnut crust on the fish. Cooked in oven till fish temp reached.

So now I have run into and issue. The Hub has developed gout! Very painful foot pain and swelling. The doc told him to stay away from shellfish. We have a few lobster tails in the freezer, king crab, shrimp, scallops. This stinks because we enjoy seafood so much. So, now I will be the only one eating this stuff! I will probably get gout too!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 22, 2020, 11:25:11 AM
-Made coleslaw with almost all of the remainder & dressing
-Used leftover taco meat & cheese (+ garden tomatoes) for my salad for lunch
-Going to repurpose meat from chicken & dumplings for two diners (I'll eat as is, because.... it's great) & two people will have ravioli & the chicken together
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 22, 2020, 05:39:38 PM
Forgot to mention that I made last night's instant pudding with a mixture of chocolate breakfast drink and almond milk. I bought over 20 bottles of the breakfast drink on a screaming deal, then found out that even though the label says 'lactose intolerance safe' or something like that, it's not. I've been diluting it with almond milk and that works ok. The pudding wouldn't set up and now I have a sort of breakfast shake. Tastes good, though!

Dinner was the last of the saltine crackers broiled with the dregs of two bags of shredded cheese and sprinkled with taco seasoning. Actually really good! I'm trying to clear out the cabinets and see what I really eat and enjoy preparing versus buy and let languish in the pantry for a year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 25, 2020, 02:04:05 PM
You've got some brave kitchen combos, going @okcisok ! Love it.
What we've been up to:
-We finished off the rest of the chicken (repurposed from dumplings) & then froze the remainder.
-I've also been working through the mozzarella left over from a recipe, and have been adding it to my breakfast sandwiches in the morning.
-Our tomato production is slowing way down, so we should be good there.
-I froze a ton of jalapenos for future use.
-We had steak last night for dinner, and I discovered 4 close to compostable potatoes in the pantry. Was able to use them to make roasted potatoes, which were fabulous
-Used parsley (garden) to make a chimichurri sauce to go with the steak. Also yum
-My husband attempted to buy me cupcakes for our anniversary (all gift giving occasion  for me require only two "gifts" - cupcakes & champagne). The cupcake shop was out of cupcakes, but had bars & pound cake. He brought home five bars (individual pieces), that I will graciously eat. ;-) I'll also share them with the teens. Gotta do what you gotta do to eat all of the food in your house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 25, 2020, 03:10:22 PM
We ate half of the frozen portion of plum cake, about two portions per person. The other half will need to wait for another time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 25, 2020, 07:59:35 PM
You've got some brave kitchen combos, going @okcisok ! Love it.

I'm inspired by the thread! Also, I had wanted to make it to a certain day before i sent in my grocery order. Then they didn't have any pickup times until the next day, so I made it work :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on October 26, 2020, 09:03:30 PM
Yesterday I made green soup with some broccoli that wasn't looking the best, a handful of parsley from the garden, a brick of frozen spinach from the beginning of the pandemic, and a jar of frozen carrot top pesto.

I also made an apple crumble using up some chopped pecans and some of the remaining apples from my tree.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 27, 2020, 08:01:56 AM
My lunches are usually a salad topped with whatever protein leftovers are in the fridge. No great protein options yesterday, but I took a bit of the mixed greens (still trying to use up the giant tub before it spoils) & added a few raviolis & roasted potato leftovers (cleared out both) & topped with a greek yogurt/cucumber/dill sauce my husband made. It was an interesting combo, but used up plenty of potential waste.

Tonight is carnitas from the freezer, so that will also free up some freezer space.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 27, 2020, 08:57:53 AM
My lunches are usually a salad topped with whatever protein leftovers are in the fridge. No great protein options yesterday, but I took a bit of the mixed greens (still trying to use up the giant tub before it spoils) & added a few raviolis & roasted potato leftovers (cleared out both) & topped with a greek yogurt/cucumber/dill sauce my husband made. It was an interesting combo, but used up plenty of potential waste.

Tonight is carnitas from the freezer, so that will also free up some freezer space.

Canned refried beans might be an option if you have run out of leftovers, or tuna.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 28, 2020, 03:02:35 PM
@horsepoor, not sure which sounds tastier, the soup or the crumble!

@MaybeBabyMustache, I'm the same with my lunches.  Today's was baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, stuffed olives, with leftover Halloween party London Broil.  Yummy!

Speaking of:  We had SO much food leftover party food!  Here' what I've done thus far:

~Beanless chili:  DH has been taking some for his lunches, and I made a pan of enchiladas with some last night.
~London Broil:  I brought it back to life by warming it up in the slow cooker with balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire all day Monday.  We made nachos with some of it that night, and I then split the rest in half for DH and my lunches.
~Tray of deli sandwiches:  DH and I each bagged some up for lunches, and we gave the rest to our neighbor who is home virtual schooling this week with her children.
~Stuffed eggs:  Been munching on them for a quick protein meal/snack.
~Salsa/tortilla chips left behind by a guest:  Been munching on them, and some were used in Monday's nachos
~Leftover goodie bags:  I removed the adult items from them, and will fill them up with candy for the neighborhood trick or treaters Saturday.
~Random chips and candy:  I bagged some up for DH's lunches.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 28, 2020, 04:30:00 PM
I want to be at your house, @MountainGal !

Thanks, @Roadrunner53 - I should think of tuna more often. It would be a good quick & easy option.

-Finished off the last of the beef kebabs & rice from this weekend
-Sooo close on the giant tub of mixed salad greens. One more salad or so to go to finish them off.
-Made a pico de gallo with a lonely jalapeno from the garden. Unclear why, but this one was probably 2-3x as spicy as any previous jalapenos. I had to add 3 more tomatoes, and it still makes my mouth go numb. I can handle most spicy foods, but this was a sleeper jalapeno. Unclear how the pico will get used up. Hopefully my husband can handle it.
-For tonight, my son has practice, so we'll do an early dinner. We will be having leftover steak, chicken & I'll make a baguette. I need to think of another low touch side, because both of the meat leftovers are quite small options. Perhaps there's a TJ's appetizer or something lingering in the freezer. We also have salad (every night).

Need to figure out how to use up 20 or so persimmons (the hard crunchy kind). They were a gift, and we don't typically eat them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on October 28, 2020, 04:34:43 PM
We put off grocery shopping another week which means we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel more than we like to these days. It also means we’re finishing some things off, like a meal of frozen pumpkin soup made exciting again by serving it with bread toasted with some Parmesan cheese and garlic. Yum.

My partner made some chicken noodle soup using up the last of the celery out of the freezer.

And today I took a thermos of hot water along to the office and got to have hot tea without using the shared kitchen. That didn’t use anything up in particular but it did help me feel happier with my slapped together pbj lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on October 29, 2020, 08:35:54 AM
Anyone have any ideas about how to use up fresh apple cider that's not just drinking it?  I don't want to take the calorie hit of drinking a bunch of glasses of cider, but my CSA keeps giving more to me!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 29, 2020, 12:48:27 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, LOL!  Anytime!

@SquashingDebt, all I can think of is making a hot toddy, though I know that defeats the calorie concern.  :)

Munching on another leftover London Broil baby spinach salad as I type this.  It also features thinly sliced mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and blue cheese dressing.

Last night I made canned chicken (bought during the food shortage earlier this year) Alfredo with minced garlic, parmesan and freshly ground black pepper, on top of spaghetti squash with a side of tempura eggplant and sweet chili sauce.  This menu used the last of the bit of the old bottle of the chili sauce, the spaghetti squash that had been lounging on the counter for a few weeks, and the eggplant bought last week.  My menu plan for the next week and a half focuses on the fresh produce on hand in order to avoid waste.

I've also been making DH overnight oats to use up the milk purchased for last weekend's party.  This is good, because I bought a HUGE container of oatmeal last month.

I trimmed and washed the carrots our neighbor pulled fresh out of their garden while DH was visiting last Saturday.  Instead of me cooking them, I'm going to wait for my friend to come visit so she can make her infamous glazed carrots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: parkerk on October 29, 2020, 02:04:56 PM
Anyone have any ideas about how to use up fresh apple cider that's not just drinking it?  I don't want to take the calorie hit of drinking a bunch of glasses of cider, but my CSA keeps giving more to me!

You can use it in stew, reduce it to make a glaze for things, use it to braise/marinate meats, make a salad dressing... depends what kind of foods you like!  Here's a good list to start with:  https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-to-make-with-apple-cider/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on October 29, 2020, 07:12:15 PM
Cider will freeze and thaw nicely later if that’s an option for you.

Tonight was another success. We had a couple bites of chicken with some barley and some green beans we froze out of the neighbors garden. Sprinkled a little feta on top. My partner got seconds which is unusual for green beans.

We’re planning a big grocery pick up over the weekend. We’ve skipped a few weeks are things are really empty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on October 30, 2020, 04:41:06 AM
How about ice cubes. You could add the cubes to seltzer.

Maybe you could add it to gelatin to make jigglers.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nobody on October 31, 2020, 11:03:43 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache - As the persimmons ripen, they soften up, and are delicious as is, at least to me.  Some possible uses for them, in a salad, in oatmeal, in a salsa.


Going to attempt to spend $15/week or $60 this month on groceries.  Everything else is going to come from what I already have in my pantry, fridge/freezer.

Spent $62.29 this month.  I couldn't help it, and bought 4 pounds of apples yesterday, and that put me over.

I'm going to try to do this again for November, $60 for the month, which should be even more challenging, since it's my turn to bring dinner for a game night, and I may be making a turkey for Thanksgiving.

Some things I'm planning on making to keep costs low for November, of which, with the exception of the chicken and dumplings, I already have the ingredients for.

-Any left over chicken and dumplings from game night
-Dirty rice with ground beef and lentils (I should have carrots, celery, and onions to add to this from what I don't use in the chicken and dumplings)
-Black bean or lentil chili with ground beef
-Chickpea flour flatbread with lentil soup (probably going to end up going Indian on the spices here)
-Polenta with some sort of pork dish
-Congee with salted pork and salted duck eggs
-Seaweed salad
-Sweet mung bean soup with seaweed(Except I don't have any mung beans left, so I'm going to attempt using puy lentils instead)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on October 31, 2020, 11:27:15 AM
I just made us biscuits with sausage, egg and pepper jack cheese for lunch. So delicious. My spouse commented “You make meals out of nothing. I thought the fridge was empty.”  I just said thank you. It is a peculiar talent cultivated by this thread.

Dinner tonight will be vegetarian chili using some beans from the freezer and the last can of tomatoes and some of the last peppers and onions hanging on in the garden. I might add some frozen spinach just to get it out of the freezer, too.

We are doing a big grocery pick up tomorrow and I’m trying to get things cleaned out and ready for the influx.

I’m also hungry for apple butter and we’ve still got apples from the orchard bushel. But is it worth the work? 

Ooh! Another success.  I bought a (new in the box!) frother at the thrift shop for a $3.99!  I was anxious to try it out but we’re long out of fresh milk and dry milk just isn’t appealing for drinking, but I really wanted to try the frother, so I gave the dry milk a try and it made mountains of beautiful foam and a delicious latte. I added just a bit of cocoa. A little sugar. And little sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the foam. Very sip-able.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on October 31, 2020, 03:28:30 PM
MaybeBaby - I find that chili peppers get hotter toward the end of the season.  You may find more than one in the near future.

I like the fuji persimmons just cored and sliced with a squeeze of lime.  If you have limes available it really helps the taste pop.  Or you can slice and dehydrate.  I've never done it but my farmer's market sells their dried fruit.

For Friday night drinks I finished up bottles of Compari, soda and tonic water.  Still gin left, but I really looked like a lush with all the empty alcohol and mixer bottles.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 01, 2020, 01:05:57 AM
Anyone have any ideas about how to use up fresh apple cider that's not just drinking it?  I don't want to take the calorie hit of drinking a bunch of glasses of cider, but my CSA keeps giving more to me!

Smitten Kitchen has a good recipe for apple cider caramels - really delicious. You need a candy thermometer, but otherwise it's a simple recipe and it would be a nice way to turn it into a gift if you want to offload the calories to someone else. :-) (If you want to make gifts for the holidays, reduce the cider to a syrup now and freeze it to make the caramels later.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: nobody on November 01, 2020, 07:47:12 PM
Anyone have any ideas about how to use up fresh apple cider that's not just drinking it?  I don't want to take the calorie hit of drinking a bunch of glasses of cider, but my CSA keeps giving more to me!

I'm not sure how this will turn out, but maybe use it as the liquid for making oatmeal, in lieu of typically water or milk?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on November 02, 2020, 05:50:28 AM
Thanks for all the apple cider ideas!  I ended up freezing my extra for now, but I suspect I may get more cider this week, so I'll pick a recipe to try :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 02, 2020, 01:09:03 PM
What a weekend!

~Saturday morning I made breakfast burritos which used most of a remaining package of bacon, the last 2 sausage patties, and most of the tortillas.
~A few neighbors stopped by with their kiddos, and I laid out a snack buffet consisting of Halloween party leftovers:  Spicy okra, 2 types of olives, spicy pickle chips, tortilla chips, Doritos, dip and salsa.  The children enjoyed the leftover caramel popcorn.
~For Saturday supper, I wrapped little smokies, also leftover from the Halloween party, in a few remaining slices of bacon, and sliced the rest of them for the top of a cauliflower crust pizza, along with extra mozzarella.  On the side was shrimp two ways and leftover tempura eggplant from last week.
~Along with last night's prime rib, we had the aforementioned glaze carrots (yum!) which used up some of the very dried out dark brown sugar and a dark beeer.  And I mashed the cauliflower bought 2 weeks ago which was on it's last leg.
~Today's lunch was leftover pizza and riced cauliflower from last week.
~I'm taking my out of state friend and DH out to dinner tonight, and we'll get take out tomorrow night.  I need a break from doing dishes.
~Wednesday's supper will be fish, shrimp, asparagus and a warm bacon spinach salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on November 10, 2020, 12:41:41 PM
In an effort to prevent future food waste during this time of pandemic stock-up, I went through my pantry this weekend, updated my inventory spreadsheet, and noted anything that will be expiring in the next 6 months or so.  I also noted things that won't technically expire but will be better if used sooner (mostly dry beans).  This way I can make sure to eat things before they go bad.

On the topic of pandemic stocking up - I think I've reached a good spot where I have a higher food inventory than usual, but not a ridiculous one.  My plan moving forward is to simply replace the pantry food that I eat, to keep steady levels of everything.

As for eating all the food in my house - I'm working on eating all the odds and ends, mostly in my fridge and freezer, that are cluttering both the physical space and my inventory spreadsheet.  Recent wins include the last 2 bagels in my freezer, spread with the last of my homemade caesar salad dressing, the last of some homemade caramel drizzled on apple slices, and some overcooked white beans from the freezer made into a yummy tomato-bean-garlic soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 10, 2020, 12:48:08 PM
The fridge is getting sparse, as tonight is monthly grocery pickup night.  We are running low on proteins and produce.

Lately:
~Sunday DH smoked ribs.  I made baked turnip and carrot fries to serve with them.  The carrots were fresh from our neighbor's garden.
~Last night's Meatless Monday:  I made spinach and zucchini lasagna which used up the zucchini and yellow squash, and 1/3 bag baby spinach.
~Tonight's Taco Tuesday will use up a bag of cod fillets and the last 2 or 3 tortillas.
~Thursday's ground turkey Sloppy Joe's will use the pound of ground turkey bought a few months ago
~Used up a bag of blueberries frozen during summer in cocktails and pancakes
~We've still been nibbling on Halloween party leftovers including Doritos, cheese crackers, black M&M's, and orange Jelly Belly jelly beans
~Next week's Crock Pot BBQ chicken will use up some of the opened bottles of BBQ sauces
~Also next week, leftover chili from the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on November 11, 2020, 06:17:14 AM
Finished off an ancient jar of apple butter from the fridge, rinsed it out and put it in recycle bin.

Used up the last packet of (also ancient) powdered instant potato soup. Had a spoonful of the soup, tasted awful,  poured it down drain, recycled the cardboard box.   

Found an old box of english pudding mix with 5 packets. Made up one of these guys. These are downright good! Will gradually use it all up. May become a pudding fan, though, and buy more, ha ha.     
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on November 11, 2020, 08:07:39 AM
I have had these Christmas Lima beans hanging around for over a year. I found this recipe and made it and it is really good. I didn't use the dressing in the recipe and decided to use balsamic vinegar, olive oil and gray poupon mustard, salt and pepper. It came out pretty good and I used up a lot of the beans but have a lot more to go.

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/christmas-lima-bean-salad.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 11, 2020, 08:13:46 AM
@slackmax - it goes against the thread a bit, but I'm with you, sometimes the best thing you can do is toss something that is gross & you won't eat.
@MountainGal - so much progress! Great work.
@Roadrunner53 - I've never heard of those beans before. They sound delicious.

-We've been making progress on the meals we made this weekend (I cook on weekends & then we eat leftovers during the week). I always keep a close eye on how we're tracking to using everything up.
-Kids used up the last of a getting beyond the point of usage pineapple
-It's been pretty cold here (upper 30s at night), so I picked all of the tomatoes that were close to ripe, and they are now ripening inside.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on November 11, 2020, 09:22:49 AM
MaybeBabyMustache, somehow I found out about the Christmas Lima Beans about a year ago and ordered them on line. I think the first time I tried them whatever I did with them was ho hum. This time with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, it was pretty tasty. To me they taste a bit like Kidney beans. I really like the bean salad for something different.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 11, 2020, 09:35:17 AM
I bought a 2# bag of rolled oats this spring during pandemic craziness. We don't eat many carbs, so gave it to my dad, who eats oatmeal every morning. I also used up most of the rice I had stashed while he was here. Might replace that as I do want to keep some non-perishables on hand going into winter in an increasing covid hotspot.

Little bits can be used up in unexpected places. I had a couple tablespoons of apple butter leftover from canning, and added it to a pot of chili a couple days ago.

We are getting a small lamb in a week or two, so need to make space in the freezer again, after just filling it with a beef quarter.

Just pulled a pack of pork spare ribs out of the freezer to cook on Saturday. I think the pork has been in there for about a year, so I need to use it up. It's from kune kune pigs that are super fatty, so it tends to be a whole ordeal to cook, and I tend to avoid it. I'm thinking I'll cook it down into a kind of ragout and serve it over cauliflower rice that is also taking up space in the freezer.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on November 12, 2020, 02:06:31 PM
Our friend just gave us a huge quantity of cooking apples (too sour to eat) and potatoes.  Anyone have any advice about what to do with all those apples?  Potato recipes would also be great.

I was thinking maybe of making apple sauce and freezing it.  We've already had apple crumble and I might make a pie this weekend.  Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on November 12, 2020, 02:17:07 PM
Our friend just gave us a huge quantity of cooking apples (too sour to eat) and potatoes.  Anyone have any advice about what to do with all those apples?  Potato recipes would also be great.

I was thinking maybe of making apple sauce and freezing it.  We've already had apple crumble and I might make a pie this weekend.  Any other ideas?

Make mashed potatoes and freeze in meal size portions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 12, 2020, 02:21:50 PM
You might try an apple cake like this: https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/french-apple-cake.html I used to have a similar recipe and it was so good, now I kind of want to make it again.

For the potatoes, it kind of depends on what type, but I would look at Spanish tortilla, scalloped potatoes and colcannon or for smaller types, simply roasted in their jackets with salt and pepper until crispy outside and soft inside.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on November 12, 2020, 05:33:07 PM
We peel slice and freeze apples as they are to use in baking later. If you’re prompt they don’t brown and it’s less work than applesauce, though nothing beats homemade applesauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on November 12, 2020, 08:06:26 PM
Our friend just gave us a huge quantity of cooking apples (too sour to eat) and potatoes.  Anyone have any advice about what to do with all those apples?  Potato recipes would also be great.

I was thinking maybe of making apple sauce and freezing it.  We've already had apple crumble and I might make a pie this weekend.  Any other ideas?

Take the applesauce a step further and make apple butter - it freezes well.  https://www.browneyedbaker.com/apple-butter-recipe/  I use a crock pot, and usually end up reducing for another 5 hours after blending.

You can also use them in baked oatmeal, and freeze in breakfast-sized portions.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on November 13, 2020, 12:27:50 PM
OMG, yes...apple butter is awesome!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: birdie55 on November 15, 2020, 08:25:53 AM
Winter squash soup (butternut or kuri squash are great) with sautéed apples and onions tastes like fall.  Sautee the onions and apples with some cinnamon.  Add broth and the cooked squash and puree.  Pinch of cayenne if you like a little spice too.  Salt and pepper to taste.  My favorite winter soup. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on November 15, 2020, 01:35:44 PM
We ended up peeling and slicing the apples.  I froze some for making pie later, made an apple pie and also made two containers of apple sauce.  Thanks for the ideas.  I like the idea of apple butter but no one else in my household would eat it apart from me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 18, 2020, 01:46:13 AM
We have been eating selfcaught fish from the freezer every week. Still, there is more, but we are approaching the final amounts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 18, 2020, 10:53:47 AM
-Repurposed roasted chicken into a pasta sauce & another dinner
-I've been using cranberry sauce on a bagel with cream cheese & an egg for breakfast, and it's surprisingly good

We had a bunch of fruit go to waste. Sad to see that, and definitely need to a better job of rotating it through with the kids. If they self serve, it's lazy bananas every day, vs taking the time to cut a piece of fruit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 19, 2020, 12:39:53 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I hear you regarding the fruit.  We have the same issue with vegetables.  I've been planning suppers specifically around them because of that.  Recently:

~Made skinny baked cauliflower tots with a head of cauliflower
~Made a casserole using eggs, baby spinach and artichokes
~A package of frozen cauliflower went toward two different meals
~Portobello mushrooms were stuffed with shrimp and then grilled
~A bunch of asparagus was good for two meals
~Yellow squash and zucchini will go into a stir fry tonight
~An eggplant will be used for my first eggplant parmesan next Monday
~Baby spinach continues to be a base for my office lunches
~Cherry tomatoes.  Ah, the cherry tomatoes.  I usually wash a handful and serve them on the side of our entree, or toss them on a lunch salad.

The former me wouldn't know the current me based on the variety of veggies I eat these days.  I consider that a good thing.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on November 24, 2020, 08:05:17 PM
Used up some bits and bobs to make cookies to take to work tomorrow. Used up two packets of trail mix and a half jar of pumpkin seeds. Turned out delicious and got four packages out of the cabinet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 25, 2020, 10:43:10 AM
@okcisok, those cookies sound delicious!

Much to my chagrin, last night I tossed some leftover sloppy Joe ground turkey and a few BBQ chicken breasts we didn't get to last week.  I need to keep an eye on that, whether via better meal planning or freezing portions.  On a positive note, all produce but the baby spinach has been consumed.

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: carozy on November 28, 2020, 02:15:29 PM
I'm getting back into budgeting and keep rejiggering my budget to make it work and my food money keeps going down so I'm following for ideas.

Luckily my kitchen and "pantry" (little closet with some Costco items and under my bed) are well stocked - maybe even beyond December for the most part.  It's really just a matter of me preparing the food.  On that note, this weekend I plan to make a kale salad and also a large batch of mashed potatoes, and possibly some other meals so I can have them ready to eat when my week gets busy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on November 28, 2020, 08:13:30 PM
Thickened a soup (asparagus, leek and Basque chorizo) with leftover gravy and mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 29, 2020, 12:25:14 PM
So much food in the house, due to Thanksgiving.
-Used up two chicken patties that were lingering, and turned them into a couple of breakfasts. Added cranberry sauce, to use some of that as well
-Eating up all of the Thanksgiving side dishes (stuffing, beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sprouts, etc). We don't do turkey, but we do have a piece of steak left
-Used a goat cheese spread (Thanksgiving appetizer leftover) to add some extra flavor to the stuffed squash I made last night for dinner
-Using kale that was part of our Thanksgiving salad in other meals (salads, & added to the stuffed squash mix I made yesterday)
-In totally random leftover usage, we had flat sparkling cider (kids drink for Thanksgiving), and I was making a stuffed squash dish that called for farro cooked with apple cider. No farro or apple cider, but made rice with the flat cider & it added a nice flavor
-Used tortillas for breakfast this morning in an egg wrap
-Have leftover guac, sour cream, tortillas & chips leftover from a meal last week. I used sour cream in a batch of muffins I was making (called for yogurt) & we keep working through the rest. Have several other meals planned that will pair well with the sour cream, guac & tortilla chips
-Made a taco quesadilla for the kids, using up leftover shredded cheese & the very end of the taco meat
-Continuing to ripen tomatoes from the garden inside, and using them up in various dishes
-Made a menu plan through mid-December to ensure we're rotating through freezer food & making the most of leftovers

It's been a busy week to keep on top of food waste!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on November 29, 2020, 01:18:10 PM
Made a savory bread-pudding-type breakfast casserole this morning from the rejected parts of the Thanksgiving stuffing (the "drier" parts that didn't get soaked through as well with the chicken broth):  added a couple of beaten eggs, a little cream, some cubed chicken sausage, and some shredded cheese, and baked for about 15 minutes.  Super-tasty, especially with a little added hot sauce.  :)  It was so good that I am looking for a way to make it happen without leftover stuffing--thanks to all in this thread for the inspiration to get creative with leftovers!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on November 29, 2020, 02:17:01 PM
A couple of months ago I made stuffed peppers and had the stuffing concoction left over (ground meat, rice, tomato sauce, onions) and froze it thinking I would make stuffed peppers in a few weeks time. That never happened so today I used that stuffing to make a stuffed pepper soup. I added a couple cans of tomatoes, chicken broth, a cut up green pepper and the stuffing to the pot and heated it up. It was really delicious! Glad I got it out of my freezer and it wasn't wasted.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on November 29, 2020, 04:59:52 PM
Today I froze all my Thanksgiving leftovers except for what I'll eat in the next few days.  So preparing now to eat this food in the future :)

My freezers are now pretty much at absolute maximum capacity (over-fridge freezer plus 2 small chest freezers).  Now that the growing season is over, it's time to shift into full eat down the freezers mode.  Should be fun!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: centwise on November 30, 2020, 11:50:12 AM
Covid is really spiking in my province. We are eating pretty well from the pantry and freezer, and limiting grocery shopping trips.

This week:
--Curry made from frozen spinach, frozen paneer cubes, and a yam; served over basmati rice. Accompanied by frozen samosas (heated up in a little oil).
--For the curry leftovers, I also thawed a small amount of leftover home-made lamb curry. There was not enough lamb curry for a meal but it was perfect for a side dish. The two curries plus samosas made it as good as a restaurant outing!
--Pasta sauce from canned tomatoes + tomato paste, frozen ground beef, and butternut squash -- turned out very yummy! Served over tortellini (from the freezer), with grated fresh parmesan and a kale salad.
--Made slow-cooker tapioca pudding for dessert. Might not be your cup of tea, but it's a family favourite.
--Corn tortilla quesadillas with small red beans (I have lots of cooked beans in ziploc bags in the freezer), salsa and sour cream. I buy corn tortillas in bags of 90 and they last a very long time in the fridge.
--Thawed a loaf of bread and made deli sandwiches for daughter's work lunches

Unfortunately now I'm OUT OF CHEESE which is pretty much a grocery emergency. Will be heading out to shop in a couple of days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: centwise on November 30, 2020, 11:53:31 AM
Made a savory bread-pudding-type breakfast casserole this morning from the rejected parts of the Thanksgiving stuffing (the "drier" parts that didn't get soaked through as well with the chicken broth):  added a couple of beaten eggs, a little cream, some cubed chicken sausage, and some shredded cheese, and baked for about 15 minutes.  Super-tasty, especially with a little added hot sauce.  :)  It was so good that I am looking for a way to make it happen without leftover stuffing--thanks to all in this thread for the inspiration to get creative with leftovers!

Sounds delicious Zoot!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on November 30, 2020, 03:54:37 PM
I had about a cup of leftover cranberry sauce. I used it to make granola!

I mix the cranberry sauce (the kind that contains some whole berries is best) with 3-4 cups of oatmeal, about 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup crushed nuts, some cinnamon and ginger, a dash of salt, and bake at 300F for about 35 minutes on a buttered pan, stirring once in the middle of the cooking time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: NotJen on November 30, 2020, 04:18:45 PM
I had about a cup of leftover cranberry sauce. I used it to make granola!

I mix the cranberry sauce (the kind that contains some whole berries is best) with 3-4 cups of oatmeal, about 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup crushed nuts, some cinnamon and ginger, a dash of salt, and bake at 300F for about 35 minutes on a buttered pan, stirring once in the middle of the cooking time.

Oh yum, I might have to try that!

I love making cranberry sauce to mix in to oatmeal and yogurt (just like other fruit jams) - keeping extra in the freezer.  Normally I buy extra bags of cranberries at the holidays, but they never went on a good sale this year.  Maybe they will before Christmas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: gatortator on December 02, 2020, 11:01:52 AM
I had about a cup of leftover cranberry sauce. I used it to make granola!

I mix the cranberry sauce (the kind that contains some whole berries is best) with 3-4 cups of oatmeal, about 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup crushed nuts, some cinnamon and ginger, a dash of salt, and bake at 300F for about 35 minutes on a buttered pan, stirring once in the middle of the cooking time.

This sounds great!  quoting this so I can find d it later.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on December 02, 2020, 11:11:58 AM
Used up all the turkey leftovers and made a creamy turkey soup. I even added the last few cups of stuffing to it! The one non turkey dinner thing I added was cream of chicken soup and that really flavored it up and made it creamy. I made a roux of flour and butter then added the turkey broth. It came out so nice and lump free. Added celery, onion and mixed veggies. Very delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 02, 2020, 01:35:28 PM
~Sunday DH smoked two tenderloins which yielded 6 servings
~Thanksgiving leftovers made for several additional meals for DH and me
~Last night I added leftover green beans to a yellow squash and zucchini stir fry
~Two cups of spinach went into my first ever spinach egg shirataki noodle soup.  I used the rest of the spinach to build 4 lunch salads.
~Leftover cherry tomatoes were washed and tossed into the above referenced salads
~Today's lunch included a leftover cheeseburger patty on top of the baby spinach
~I have a pie crust leftover from Thanksgiving baking, which I'll turn into blueberry hand pies this weekend
~Tonight for supper is leftover beanless chili from the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 02, 2020, 09:51:51 PM
Made kind of a skillet/casserole dinner last night with chorizo and spaghetti squash.  Mixed in a box of frozen spinach that was languishing from the grocery madness this spring, as well as half a can of olives and the last of a jar of homemade BBQ sauce.

Last week I mixed up a bunch of random ingredients like chia seeds, shredded coconut and protein powder, and I'm using it as a handy base to make a low carb porridge type thing when I want a quick hot breakfast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 03, 2020, 08:42:06 AM
-Froze remainder of the keto chili, as it made A LOT
-Ate leftover meatballs for lunch, & froze another bag of meatballs for future use
-Used the rest of the cranberry sauce on a breakfast sandwich
-Finished off the stuffed acorns (although, have a bit of filling & roasted squash leftover that I need to deal with)
-Tonight, we'll eat the leftover butter chicken & asparagus

I have so many leftovers in the freezer that I'm out of storage containers. Time to start working through the stash & cleaning out the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 07, 2020, 08:26:28 AM
Just finished my third extended power outage of 2020 (after almost 5 years living in the same apartment with no extended power outages).  This one was only 26 hours or so, so all my freezer food is safe (yay!), but I cleared most things out of the fridge this morning.  The only upside is that now my list of random things to use up is reset to baseline, haha.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 07, 2020, 12:14:16 PM
@horsepoor, thank you for the idea!  We bought a spaghetti squash from a roadside vegetable stand which I'll use in a casserole loosely based on your post above.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 08, 2020, 08:19:24 AM
@MountainGal  If you cut the squash in half the long way and bake, you can then loosen up the insides and put your fillings in there and bake right in the shell. Makes for easy cleanup!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 08, 2020, 08:55:42 AM
I've not been feeling well, so it's been a lot of lazy options. A few wins:
-Ate one container of chicken & dumplings (freezer) for lunches. Bonus, avoided buying soup for lunch one day
-Used up one package of ravioli & the remainder of an open jar of pasta sauce for dinner last night. Open pasta sauce has a way of sneaking past us, but not this time.
-Had a "cup of noodle" instant ramen thing for lunch one day when I felt really under the weather. That stuff is generally enjoyed by a teen boy, but has been languishing in our garage pantry since the pandemic stock up. It was nice to use up at least one.
-My lovely husband bought a 2 pack of sliced pepperoni (giant sized) at Costco when it was on sale. We had no need for it, so it went into the freezer. I recently defrosted one pack & reminded him of his purchase & that he needed to "use it up". He's done a good job making his way through most of the first package.
-I'm not sure how much of a win this is, but I made two loaves of cardamom bread for the holidays. Only one was up to snuff for sharing with family. I had to do some additional cooking time for the second, & it came out a little uneven. However, this was the perfect food while I wasn't feeling well. I'd have a slice for breakfast & often for a snack. Not diet recommended, but since I was eating under 1000 calories a day (yuck, flu), it was no problem. My teen son polished off the rest of the loaf. So, ugly but delicious cardamom bread is now a thing of the past. Win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on December 08, 2020, 09:25:08 AM
In-between Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking, I'm trying to eat down the freezer.  These last few days, even more so since I haven't re-stocked my fridge after my power outage.

Yesterday was homemade pizza for lunch and lentil soup for dinner.
Today is pizza rolls and broccoli for lunch and black pepper eggplant & tofu for dinner (I'm looking forward to that one!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 13, 2020, 02:23:37 PM
We managed a very small (for us) grocery shop yesterday, as we are heading out of town on Saturday. We will want to eat down as much of our fridge/freezer inventory as possible before we go.

Here's what we've gotten to so far:

-Finished a mixed margarita container in the fridge
-And, similarly a pomegranate martini mixed from Thanksgiving. We're team players, cleaning out those mixed drinks ;-)
-I ate the leftover green beans for lunch, along with the remaining spicy chicken over a salad. Still have about 1/2 of the salad left to go
-Tonight we're having carnitas (from the freezer) for dinner
-I made my picky eater a cheese quesadilla last night, and froze the one remaining tortilla
-Put out a meat & cheese tray before dinner last night, using meat & cheese purchased for Thanksgiving
-I pickled four batches of jalapenos, getting almost all of the ripe jalapenos off the plants. Three jars will be Christmas gifts
-I made eggs for my husband this morning, & added plenty of chopped pepperoni (he eats Keto, so this isn't as random as it sounds). We're in the home stretch on finishing up one of the two giant Costco sized bags of pepperoni

We still have plenty to work through before we leave:
-Leftover chicken alfredo
-Chicken meatballs
-Mac & cheese
-Bagged salad
Plus whatever leftovers we generate during the week
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 13, 2020, 06:17:19 PM
Getting rid of cocktails is still cleaning out the stuff in your house :)

Used the last of the pasta in a casserole. SO came into the kitchen and asked 'is that all the pasta you're putting in there?' Yes, along with a pound of ground meat, a jar of pasta sauce, and a half pound of cheese! I threw in some Italian seasoning and it came out delicious. Even with only a couple of cups of pasta, it was still enough for three meals.

I let some yogurt sauce go bad, about a cup. Which is really sad because it was really really good, but it the couscous I made to go with it wasn't that great. I could've used it as a veggie dip! 

After following this tread for a while, I am doing much better about shopping for only things that I'll eat and making a plan for what I've bought.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on December 14, 2020, 11:48:56 AM
Finally used up the last drops of a plastic bottle of imitation vanilla flavoring. Rinsed and recycled it. Two more bottles of vanilla flavoring still in the cupboard. Guess I ought to combine them, if possible, and recycle the empty. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 14, 2020, 12:26:46 PM
Today was the last evening in a vacantion rental. We ate up most of the leftovers today. For lunch a tortilla, topped with tomato pasta and 2 cheeses, plus some pizza herbs from the cupboard. For dinner a salad with penne pasta, boiled eggs, chopped up cheese, a pommes granate, some chopped up walnuts, half a red bell pepper, a chili pepper. As a dressing a leftover mixture of cottage cheese and creme fraiche, with lemonjuice and lots of herbs that I brought from home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 15, 2020, 11:28:27 AM
@horsepoor, I made the spaghetti squash "casserole" last night!  I used half a pound of leftover ground pork that didn't go into Sunday's BBQ burgers, and made my own spaghetti sauce (only because we are out of the jarred stuff).  So good!  And it yielded 6 servings, so DH and I will have lunches for a few days.

Aw, @MaybeBabyMustache, you finished the margarita container?  And no invite?  LOL.  Safe trip to you....

Lately:
~Used up a can of diced tomatoes and tomato paste in the above referenced spaghetti sauce
~Used the spaghetti squash above DH and I bought at the vegetable stand last month
~Ate slices of a gifted chocolate cake for brunch over the weekend along with leftover whipping cream from Thanksgiving  O:)
~Finally made the blueberry hand pies I mentioned 2 weeks ago.  Yum!  They used the leftover pie crust and a bag of blueberries frozen over the summer.
~Part of last Friday's take out was made into two more meals by putting smoked turkey onto English muffins
~Ate the rest of the chicken veggie soup from the freezer
~Juiced two lemons, froze it in silicone molds, and put them in a freezer bag for the winter
~Instead of buying more snacks, I've been eating down the pork rind supply
~The brick of mozzarella has gone into the spaghetti squash casserole, a quiche, and used in a Fathead pizza crust

Except for some molded blueberries, we did very well at eating all the fresh produce we had on hand.  There are two remaining avocados, but they are currently ripening in a brown bag on the kitchen counter.  I'm picking up our monthly grocery shop this evening. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 15, 2020, 11:33:50 AM
@MountainGal - post COVID, patio margarita party! :-) You are making great progress.

As for us:
-1 bag of Costco sized pepperoni, completely gone
-1/2 the chicken alfredo, eaten in last night's dinner
-salmon patty & cauliflower rice/cabbage mix used up for last night's dinner
-Last of a tiny amount of taco meat + cheese + tortilla into a quesadilla for my son's dinner
-Last of the cucumbers, eaten
-I finished off the tikka masala for lunch
-And, had the last few "low sodium" Ritz crackers in an open sleeve (accidental purchase, & they are not good), with a piece of cheese as a snack

We're making progress ahead of our trip, and hope to pack as little as possible in the cooler
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 15, 2020, 06:51:18 PM
I took the couscous dish and rejiggered it with some veggie broth and fresh cilantro. It was way better the second (and third) time around. Now I'm sad it's gone instead of dreading finishing it.

I'm going to try really hard to use up the rest of the bunch of cilantro before it goes bad. Why can't you buy the amount of cilantro you need instead of bunch??

Quesadillas coming up next, and personal pizzas with some cheese and pepperoni.
We got lunch for free at work today, so I'm planning to get through the week without buying any groceries. And not letting anything go bad in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on December 15, 2020, 08:42:15 PM
I think I have reached peak hoarding--between some of the holiday goodies that are only available at this time of year, and stocking up for the last "non-shopping" push before we get vaccinated--and am now ready to start eating down the hoard. I am still struggling a bit with produce but have managed to clear out ground beef (in a beanless chili I am serving on baked potatoes), shrimp (the dish I made with it did not work out, so I ate the shrimp out of it as a snack), a whole boatload of produce, cooked chicken, and an orphan half-package of soba noodles in a salad, some cheese with crackers (Trader Joe's has been a little too tempting lately), and some popcorn chicken and a random jar of sweet and sour sauce for a faux orange chicken. Looking forward to a lot of creativity in the new year...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 16, 2020, 07:48:53 AM
Made an almost entirely "from the freezer" dinner last night:
-Salad (not from freezer :-))
-Edamame
-Paratha
-Spicy chicken/non spicy chicken for picky diner

We have a little bit of edamame & chicken left, but those will be eaten in lunches. For tonight, we'll have keto chili, & hopefully finish the last of the alfredo. Picky teen will have the last of the non spicy chicken & mac & cheese. Our fridge will be so close to empty when we leave! And, we're making good progress with the freezer, which always feels great.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 16, 2020, 08:45:35 AM
I think I have reached peak hoarding

LOL. With the beef quarter we got around Halloween, and then a small lamb from a friend, a few chickens and other things, the freezer is totally packed. So when our regular purveyor of lamb emailed a couple days ago and asked if I would like to purchase a lamb next month, of course I said yes. He can be kind of unreliable and hard to get ahold of, but he raises the best lamb ever, so I will be finding space in the freezer.

We could eat for a long time without going to the store if needed, which is nice to know since covid is running rampant here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 20, 2020, 08:48:38 PM

I'm going to try really hard to use up the rest of the bunch of cilantro before it goes bad. Why can't you buy the amount of cilantro you need instead of bunch??


To prevent more cilantro waste, I bought a live pot from the farmer's market. Now I can cut how much I need. Also less plastic waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 22, 2020, 11:44:05 AM
We are now at our vacation house, and eating everything in the house begins again. Here's what we've done along those lines (and, I must confess we bought too much on our "stock up" trip, so we need to be thoughtful):
-Have been eating a 1/2 bagel (freezer) for breakfast. Tossed a bag of freezer burned bagels someone left behind. I valiantly tried to eat one on the first day, but ended up tossing them
-Finished up eggs someone left behind (recently) & the eggs we brought from home
-Found a few sausage patties in the freezer, so have been making those with eggs for my husband for breakfast
-Finished off the bag of mini peppers we brought with us before they could go bad, which was a feat

My husband "surprised" me by buying me a Christmas cookie tray. I do adore Christmas cookies, and I've been attempting to limit myself, so I don't go full on crazy. A few of them are quite delicious! As needed, however, I will toss the extra so I don't gain ten pounds.

Tonight we'll have salmon & brussel sprouts for dinner, and I'll have an Italian chicken sausage we brought with us in the cooler, as I'm not a huge salmon fan
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 22, 2020, 11:58:01 AM
'Tis the season!  Sunday DH smoked the ham I bought a few months ago.  I sent leftovers home with several family members.  DH will eat some for lunches, and I made egg muffin sandwiches for supper last night.  Yum.

Also:

~Mom left extra dip and raw veggies, so we'll eat those throughout the week
~Leftover deviled eggs my sister made was my snack yesterday, and my breakfast and lunch today
~I made a yule log cake, and sent some home with family, and kept two servings each for DH and me
~I'm making The Pioneer Woman's one pan enchiladas tomorrow night which will use up a can each of chilies and olives, and an avocado
~I bought a salami and a cheese tray from Sam's Club, which served as appetizers for last Sunday, and will do the same this upcoming Saturday
~We have a full drawer of produce I purchased last week, which I'll be mindful about using during my 5 days off
~I'm going to make DH's grandma's holiday braid bread during my days off, which will use some of the yeast bought after the food shortage
~I bought half gallon of milk in order to make overnight French bread for Christmas brunch.  Leftover milk will be used in overnight oats for DH, along with some of the frozen berries purchased fresh during season.

Happy Holidays, everyone.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 22, 2020, 02:01:57 PM
Because of the holidays, shops will be closed for several days in a row at the end of the week. To avoid the big cues in the days before the closing, I shopped for the whole week yesterday. Lots of fresh veggies, so many perishables. I had to make a meal plan to know what I had to buy. I am using recipees for the time being (from a Turkish cookbook from the library), so it is easy to make a list of ingredients. I am now cooking in the sequence of expected experation date.

- Saturday when we came home late, we both ate a leftover portion.
- Sunday we ate leftover bouillabaise (French fish soup) with a selfcaught fish, both from the freezer. We added some naan bread from the freezer.
- On Monday I made a squash cake with some of my dried selfpicked mushrooms (shaggy ink cap), with a goat cheese cream and ruccola salad. It was way too much, so half is frozen again. We also ate a portion of leftover croquettes from the freezer. We also ate leftover from yesterday for lunch today.
- Today I made an Iranian lentil stew with egg plant. I also made croutons from leftover sourdough bread, to use tomorrow. There is a little leftover stew that I will have for lunch tomorrow.
- Plan for tomorrow is to make Turkish pizza and serve with a salad of spinach, croutons and some more ingredients. Maybe I'll add the leftover goat cheese from the Monday dish. I also have half a pack of ruccola salad left. Maybe it can go on the pizza.
- On Christmas eve I will let DH cook. I hope he will use one of the 4 packs if Norwegian sour cabbage (not sauerkraut, completely different) that we have in the cupboards. DH plans to use some of the dried cramberry-like berries that have been in the cupboard for ages.
- On one of the days after Christmas, I planned a lentil soup with carrot. I will chop up rest of the carrot and freeze it for later use. Or maybe, ferment it.
- And I also bought ingredients for a desert that includes mascarpone and wipped cream. Maybe for Christmas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 22, 2020, 02:58:45 PM
@MountainGal -love your holiday plans. Sounds delish!

@Linea_Norway - our vacation house is not close to anywhere else, so we often buy for 10-14 days at a time. I can tell how many days left we have on the vacation by how easy it is to find items in the fridge. :-) Also, the Persian stew with eggplant is my husband's favorite (he's Persian). I'm not a huge eggplant fan, but maybe I should make that in January.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 23, 2020, 01:48:09 AM
2 Brown bananas made banana-pancake breakfast for kiddo #1 and some outdried slices of bread made french-toast breakfast for kiddo #2.
Tonight will be left-over potatoes, canned carrots, peas and corn and some chicken from the freezer.
X-mas food shopping errands will start today, so I want to clean out any leftovers from past week today before it gets burried under the fresh stuff. I have a list, so hopefully I will be able to stick to the list......



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on December 23, 2020, 05:00:31 AM
Had some bananas that were over ripe so made banana bread in my bread maker. Added walnuts from the freezer. Came out really good. Stored the rest of the bananas in the freezer for another day. Only so much banana bread two adults can eat!

Now, I am going to attempt to make grinder rolls. Will use the bread maker to knead the dough. I have made home made pizza dough and home made bread but never grinder rolls!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 23, 2020, 06:32:53 AM
@Linea_Norway - our vacation house is not close to anywhere else, so we often buy for 10-14 days at a time. I can tell how many days left we have on the vacation by how easy it is to find items in the fridge. :-) Also, the Persian stew with eggplant is my husband's favorite (he's Persian). I'm not a huge eggplant fan, but maybe I should make that in January.

@MaybeBabyMustache
The Turkish and surrounding areas cookbook said that eggplant has a pretty bitter skin. You can either cut it off or cut it to zebra stripes to make it less bitter. He had another stew as well with lamb meat, lots of tomatoes and eggplants, and some herbs. I cooked the meat and potatoes for 2,5 hours or so and added the ovenbaked eggplant for the last half hour. That dish was really delitious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 24, 2020, 03:20:30 PM
Finished 3 bags with small amounts of dried pasta. Different cooking times, but it worked out and we had a great pasta dinner for 4 (and leftover for 1 lunch).
Used a gifted bag of almond-flavored cake-mix to bake a Christmas cake with DD. It came out delicious and we will have enough to bring to the Christmas dinner tomorrow with my parents.
Decided to postpone shopping till boxing day, the kitchen is still stuffed, so no need to shop for more food. Will get some fresh produce then......and it will be a lot less crowded than today! 
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 26, 2020, 10:39:41 AM
As evidenced by the fact that this is probably my favorite thread on this forum, food waste gives me the chills. I freak out when the fridge is overly full, because I know I need to use up all of those items before they go bad. We packed up from Christmas yesterday, and my mom/sister sent us home with a laundry basket filled with leftovers. We didn't notice until we got back to our house. I'm absolutely twitching at the idea of needing to use all of this up.

I'm thinking tonight - salmon & sprouts
Tomorrow - parents/kids with us - we'll likely do prime rib & shrimp
Monday - maybe a pizza made with tons of charcuteire leftovers.

After that, totally unclear what we're doing with all of this food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on December 27, 2020, 10:02:13 AM
I just couldn't pass up a sale on fresh organic turkeys right before Christmas, so I have a project today cutting that puppy down, smoking the quarters, packing up the breast halves to freeze for later, and then making a big pot of stock. At least it is *only* 14# instead of the 22# behemoth DH ordered last year.

Last week I way over-cooked and now we have lots of leftovers needing to be eaten. I would just freeze the turkey, but I cleverly agreed to also buy a lamb at the end of January, and the freezer is already full. And then the in-laws sent us a great big box of Portuguese chorico for Christmas as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 30, 2020, 12:39:03 PM
Laundry basket full of holiday leftovers is almost conquered! I did send things home with my sister/parents this morning, and saved enough for lunch/dinner tonight.
-We ate all of the prime rib. Made a second dinner with it (sliders) & used up the slider buns, horseradish & mashed potatoes
-Also turned the remaining prime rib into lunch sandwiches, and finally... used it in scrambled eggs for breakfast
-Made several stuffed pizzas last night with various charcuterie leftovers.
-Finished all of the Christmas cookies. I think we may all regret this when we get on the scale next week. ;-)

Woohoo! I love seeing an almost empty fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on December 30, 2020, 02:46:46 PM
Well, the hub and I had a spiral ham and we are using it up! First it was a ham dinner. Then in omelettes, then in pea soup. Then a second ham dinner. Tonight will be in fettucine with alfredo sauce with peas. There isn't much left after that but what a delicious ham it is! It was on sale and I bought two at the time so down the road we will have more of the same. It was $1.99 a lb and they were with bone and 10-11 lbs. each. Oh, and I used the Reynold's turkey size cooking bag to warm it up in. It took two hours at approx 325 degrees. Came out so wonderful! That will be my go to method to warm them up from now on (they are precooked).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 30, 2020, 02:57:33 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, congrats on completing the laundry leftovers!  And, count me in on trying the Persian stew with eggplant.  @Linea_Norway, I am one to completely peel the skin off of eggplant.  Way too bitter for my taste.

Lately, in no particular order:
~I drizzled raspberry liqueur on the last remaining slice of Yule log and topped it with whipped cream.  It was delightful!
~We ate the rest of the enchiladas Sunday night, along with another avocado.
~The above referenced enchiladas only used half the ground beef I cooked, so we had the leftover meat on leftover rolls from Christmas as a type of slider.  On the side was the last avocado and leftover black olives.
~The failed fudge I made a few weeks ago (it never set up) was divided into 3 jars and will serve as a nice hot fudge for ice cream.
~Some of the leftover ham went into ham hock and beans.  I froze half, gave the neighbor's a 1/4, and DH has been eating the remaining 1/4.  This used up all of the dried pinto beans, so onto next month's grocery list they went.
~Other leftover ham went into egg muffins, an egg biscuit, and DH ate some for his lunch.  The remaining leftover ham went into the freezer.
~For lunch today I had half the leftover chicken curry from September.  I'll eat the other half tomorrow.
~In the crock pot for tonight is a pork tenderloin, along with the extra can of peach pie filling (SO sweet) DH bought earlier this month, and most of the bottle of horseradish he bought last month.  I'll serve it with spinach salads with warm bacon dressing to use up some of both of those items.
~Sunday we'll grill blue cheese burgers to use up the blue cheese purchased last month.
~Been focusing on eating the array of crackers, cheese and salami leftover from entertaining the past week.  My body just does not like wheat.
~I juiced and froze 4 limes.
~I need to focus on slicing the cucumber to use with some of the HUGE vat of artichoke dip I made last Saturday.
~Next up:  What to do with the 3 bags of fresh watermelon frozen over the summer.... Hmmmm....

I haven't yet made overnight oats or DH's grandma's bread.  The produce drawer is empty except for the above referenced cucumber, bag of spinach, and a head of broccoli.  I'll serve the latter tonight as well.

Happy New Year, everyone!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 30, 2020, 03:25:40 PM
@MountainGal - that's some serious over achieving on the leftovers. Nice work! I had part of a bagged salad & chicken skewers for lunch today, and the kids shared a pizza out of the freezer. We're making progress on the milk, which I refuse to put in the color, because it takes up so much space. Dinner tonight will be a mini cheese/veggie tray, the last of the salmon/coconut shrimp/wings, and if we need more food, I'll make the bacon wrapped chicken (freezer) for myself a teenager#1
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on December 31, 2020, 02:54:01 PM
I screwed up a Christmas cookie recipe... added egg directly to flour and mixed it up, then realized that I had gotten the order wrong and this would mess with the texture of the cookies.  So I started the recipe over again. This left me with a bowl of a flour/egg/salt/baking soda mixture. It sat on my counter until yesterday, when I added two more eggs and some water to make a pasta dough.

There were horrifying little hard pieces of egg/flour and I thought that the pasta would be gritty, so I added some extra water and kneaded it 3x with an hour wait between each kneading, instead of 2x with 30 minutes in between.  However, after I ran it through my pasta maker and boiled it, the fresh pasta was perfectly fine!

We used it some of it like lo mein in a stir fry with a mishmash of Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, scrambled egg, shallots (didn't have scallions), and garlic. If I had thought of chicken and sprouts, those would have been good. We tossed it with some Maggi sauce and soy sauce, and the kids pronounced it tasty, though I thought it was plain.

Today my husband had some with spaghetti sauce and said it was fine that way, too.

Oh yeah, and last week I made a Swedish bread that nobody liked (too many caraway seeds). We're completely out of bread, so I took the stale bread, ran it under water and reheated, then sliced it to eat with some borscht and sour cream. It was great.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 01, 2021, 08:49:38 AM
@Poundwise - those are some serious saves! Well done on the creativity.

-Hauled an unopened variety cheese pack & meat pack on our drive (in the cooler), so we would have something fun for NYE. Had that with a cauliflower crust pizza and delivery pizza (I know, but we'd just completed a 12.5 hour drive & needed it).
-I used a leftover 1/2 apple that was still good on a cheese tray. Now we officially have no fresh fruit in the house, save for some lemons.

We're going to need to be creative today, as all of the stores are closed. I have plenty of salad ingredients, so at least there's that option. I'm sure we'll think of something for dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 01, 2021, 10:54:47 AM
Finished the leftover Christmas dinner.  5 lbs of prime rib goes a long way with only 2 people eating.

-Sliders with homemade biscuits and horseradish [American biscuits, not British :-)]
-Cottage/Shepard's pie which helped use up the horseradish mashed potatoes and random veggies (rib bones used to create a broth which became the gravy)
-Asian salad which used up an Asian spiced sauce found in the back of the frig
-Hash based on an Ina Garten recipe which includes brussel sprouts along with meat and potatoes
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on January 01, 2021, 01:48:32 PM
We finished our leftovers from Christmas as well today . . . that turkey turned into the best white chili I've ever made!

I think it's time for me to destock down from the pandemic. I'm moving at the end of the summer, so it gives me some time to use things productively.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 05, 2021, 06:19:24 PM
-Used the last of a bag of chicken skewers on a salad at lunch
-Finished off all of the veggies purchased for the Christmas veggie tray.
-Used up a bagged salad

I made freezer breakfast burritos for my 15 year old son. He needs a quick breakfast option, & if he doesn't have something, will graze all day through snacks or other junk. The recipe calls for making a breakfast casserole, sprinkling with cheese, & adding to tortillas. Roll & freeze. I now have two bags ready to go in the freezer, and bonus - used up yogurt in place of the sour cream it called for, and breakfast sausage that had been hanging out in the freezer forever. There is a bit of leftover breakfast casserole (we ran out of tortillas, and/or I didn't add enough filling), so we've been eating that on its own for breakfast. Still delicious.

-Picked the last of the green tomatoes, & jalapenos.
-Picked a few oranges, and used them in a cranberry orange muffin mix yesterday. Bonus, used up more old yogurt.
-Made a box of brownies that somehow were in the pantry. Two teens were very excited. Added in extra chocolate chips to increase their excitement. I'm trying to avoid, to get rid of those 3 lingering holiday pounds. Boxed brownies are certainly easier to avoid than homemade.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 06, 2021, 12:04:41 PM
@Poundwise, well done on saving the dough!
@Zamboni, white chili is the best.  Yum!

Everyone did a great job on using up holiday leftovers!

The past week:
~Used up a partial bag of frozen blueberries on top of the grain free Dutch baby pancake for New Year's Day brunch
~Ate the rest of the shrimp with the crab legs for New Year's Day supper
~Made a smoothie from a bag of frozen strawberries, a can of coconut milk, the rest of the frozen blueberries, and some of the never ending bag of baby spinach
~Saturday night we grazed on salami, cheese, crackers, frozen appetizers, etc.
~Ate the rest of the pork, peaches and cauliflower rice
~Tomorrow I'll put a ground beef and pork meatloaf into the slow cooker.  This will yield many servings for leftovers.

Happy New Year, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on January 06, 2021, 03:46:32 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache and @MountainGal, thanks for the encouragement!  You did some nice work on those breakfast burritos and the smoothies, too!

We're on vacation and took a large portion of food from our fridge with us... we won't waste time going to the grocery store, and there will be less to pack on our way home. Feeling pleased about that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 06, 2021, 04:48:56 PM
I was quickly skimming @MountainGal 's update & saw the smoothie & shrimp together & thought, whoa... a shrimp smoothie is way outside my comfort level, no matter what! Glad to see those are separate updates. ;-)

We've been doing a great job eating through leftovers all week. I finished the chicken skewers, by adding them to a salad for lunch. My son ate the leftover pizza (of course) & we're keeping on top of the fresh produce as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 07, 2021, 10:10:58 AM
I need to join this thread again. Our kitchen shelves are stuffed and need to be used before everything goes out of date. And with out of date I mean that very old dried food can losse it's taste. I gladly eat stuff that has expired the date of the pack as long as it is dried food.

In the cupboards:
- 3 types of pasta, 3 2 types of rice, 2 packs of quinoia, rice nudels in 3 sizes, 2 packs of bulgur, nudels, tortillas, 1 and a half pack of couscous, 2 and a half packs of lasagna sheets. In our previous house, that pasta/rice drawer was twice as big and also usually full.
- 1 pack of macaroni and 1 pack of rice that are extremely short cooked. This is meant to be used in homemade dry trip meals where I just want to add hot water. I put those in a separate cupboard now, so the pasta/rice drawer is less stuffed.
- A pack of cranberry-like dried berries, a staple. In the same cupboard another couple of packs of Norwegian style saurkraut, which is not saur.
- Lots of selfpicked dried mushrooms of various types. The most common varieties tend to get used. For the rest, I need to make a plan.
- A few types of self picked mushrooms confitted in oil.
- Some nori leaves. In the same cupboard dried shrimp sheets that turn crunchy when deep fried. I used half the pack last summer.
- Lots and lots of spices. I might want to make more tiki/garam massala dishes.
- 2 pots of artichoke hearts.

In the fridge:
- A refridgerator shelf full of selfpicked mushrooms preserved in various ways. As well as some preserved selfpicked plants and some vegetables. I recently started eating some pickeled carrots. A pot of self-salted lemons.
- Another shelf full of preserved red peppers and vegetable purees. All from the store.
- Lots of opened spices and pickels.
- Half a pack of grated mixed cheese, which won't last forever.
- Lots of home made jams, 1 left from the plums in our plumb tree, 3 2 with selfpicked blueberries and 1 left with storebought rubarb. 1 pot of selfmade lemoncurd. I just finished the other pot of lemoncurd.
- A pack of tofu, bought intentionally to try out some tofu recipees. Used one of two packs.

In the freezer:
- Lots of frozen selfpicked plants in the freezer. A box of selfpicked raspberries.
- Half a squash/mushroom cake in the freezer (now in the fridge) which is made from a recipee, but strangely enough tastes quite sweet, despite the other ingredients. I should just have it for lunch one day. Today I ate a portion of oatmeal (from budget bytes) for lunch. I have one other such portion left.
- Some frozen vegetables (red pepper, carrots, green onion and now also butternut squash cubes) to make such they didn't expire when we went on vacation. Also cauliflour leaves and broccoli stilk in slices. The latter is good in a soup.
- Frozen self picked mushrooms of varying types.
- Frozen leftover portions, one with chickpeas, one for rouille (a spicy spread for french bread containing fish stock). And also a portion of leftover saus that can go with deer, last eaten with reindeer. A portion of kale/potato stew. Leftover meat sauce from longtime cooked meat.
- A bag of frozen peas, a bag of frozen brussle sprouts, 2 bags of spinach (a staple) and a bag of asian style precut wok mix (not more expensive than fresh veggies, and without the cutoffs). 2 bags of different types of green beens, one bag of precut red curry wok mix.
- 2 31 whole lemon.
- Selfpicked rose leaves.
- Pommes granate seeds, intentionally frozen to use later occasionally. Edit: used half, added new. And added another one.
- Still more selfcaught (by DH) fish in the freezer. 2 whole trouts and 2 trout fillets. 5 3 portions of white fish, which we have been eating a lot since last summer as we started with 15 or so portions.
- Some deer meet in the freezer and other meat that might have laid in the deepest part of the freezer drawer. Also a portions of ground lam that I plan to make a borek-like thing with quite soon. I bought new ground beef, ground pork and ground lam.  And some sausages.
- Boneless chicken thighs. Good for a massala stew. 3 2 bags of chicken breast fillets.
- Some selfmade foccasia that was baked a bit too long and is therefore harder than I would like. Some frozen tortilla wraps as well. Today I added 8 pieces of homebaked naan bread, but that was intentional, as that fits nicely with stews.
- 2 1 pack with sheets of fillo pastry. Bought intentionally not too long ago.
- A ball of leftover pasta dough

I probably forgot about half the stuff. Edit: Adding everytime that I strike through.

I think that from now on, we should stop buying other things than dairy and first make a plan based on what is in the freezer and on the shelves.

The only big BUT is that it is a pandemic and always good to have a lot of food in store. But we shouldn't risk that it expires. The trout may be a first good candidate to eat, as it is already passed three months in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 08, 2021, 01:56:03 PM
Ha ha, @MaybeBabyMustache!  I could see shrimp with maybe a blueberry gastrique, but blended into a smoothie?  Ew, for sure!

@Linea_Norway, that is quite a list!  But, you got this!  :)

~I forgot to post about my breadcrumb win.  Last week DH was going to throw away the "heels" from his loaf a bread.  I told him I could do something with them.  I crumbled them in the food processor, and put them into yesterday's meatloaf.  I don't usually eat grains, but figured it's a small amount per serving.

~Sauteed some of the never ending baby spinach with zoodles and served them with the meatloaf last night.

~Thanks to TV commercials, I've been craving pizza.  So Sunday I'm going to make fathead pizza dough topped with the Hillshire Farm beef sausage log given to us for Christmas, along with black olives, etc.

~Inspired by @Zamboni, I'm going to make a white chicken chili in the slow cooker next week.  This will use up a pound of chicken breast, along with a few cans of beans and diced chiles.  I'll also make mug corn muffins to use up some of the corn meal.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 08, 2021, 02:53:12 PM
@Linea_Norway - I love hearing what you have stored. It's quite interesting!

@MountainGal - have you eaten cauliflower crust pizza? Do you have a preference between that & fathead pizza? My husband eats Keto due to a food allergy, so always looking for options.

I ate the rest of the curry for lunch today (it made 5 dinner portions, 3 lunch portions & 3 more lunch portions for the freezer). It's so delicious. For dinner tonight, we'll use the rest of the mini meatloaves, some of the salmon, the last piece of cauliflower pizza, and my picky teen will likely have pasta & chicken. Still TBD. Our fridge looks remarkably well organized these days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 08, 2021, 09:02:03 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache  I sometimes make cauliflower crust pizza. The fat head dough seems kind of hard to work with, and I try not to depend quite so much on almond flour and cheese (I eat low carb but not quite keto). I make it generally like this recipe (https://ifoodreal.com/cauliflower-pizza-crust/#wprm-recipe-container-37301) though I usually microwave the cauliflower rice and then wring all the moisture out. I also find that a little more cheese is helpful. Since it's kind of a process, I like to make several crusts at once and par bake them, then pack them in the freezer between parchment paper. Makes for an easy meal to pop one out, throw on toppings and bake.

@MountainGal  I did the exact same thing with bread heels last week!

This week I'm focusing on using up the veg I bought prior to Christmas in an effort to minimize trips to stores. Tomorrow I'm planning to use make a braised cabbage with some of the Portuguese chorico my SIL sent us for Christmas and a jar of tomatoes I canned in 2019. Sunday is probably roasted cauliflower and golden beets or carrots with a small leg of lamb. This week I should also use the big chunk of salmon my brother caught off his boat this spring.

Funny side note - I went to the store on Monday morning to grab a couple items, and thought "oh no, we're going into another grocery hoarding phase..." then I realized that there was just a bunch of fruit and veggies sold out because of New Year's diets. Feeling pretty good at this point that I can use up anything moderately perishable and start fresh again in another week or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 09, 2021, 03:43:43 AM
I am first using up the fresh stuff that we bought, like half the butternut squash, and frooze the rest of it in cubes. From the freezer I have eaten the remaining 2 portions of oatmeal cake, which tasted good with yoghurt. Now (11:30 am) we finished the piece of bread for today. For later today (second lunch/in between meal) I plan to eat the squash/mushroom cake from the freezer, or only half of it.

Tonight I plan to make pasta carbonara with added froozen peas from the freezer. I found out that I have frozen sprouts as well, probably bought for pandemic hoarding.

Maybe I'll update the list above with the paper list that hangs on the fridge (done). We have 3 fridges, or rather 3, one followed with the rental house and is built in. Doesn't have a freezer. We use it mostly for pots of spices that need refridgerating. Als I have stored lots of selfpicked food there, also because we have little space in the cupboards. We moved in our own 2 combi fridges, one in use for normal food and the other one for homemade beer in a metal tank that you can tap from. It fits 2 beer tanks. Both fridges have 3 freezer drawers. I totally miss overview in them, so therefore I made a list full of ingredients of each drawer amd have done that for a few years. It hangs on one of the fridges. The idea is to update the list each time you add or take out something. And twice a year or so, I need to review and rewrite the lists from scratch, as they become messy and unprecise.
One of the freezer drawers is dedicated to meat and another one to bread. But I just found out that there was quite a lot of meat in another drawer, so I reorganized a bit. It probably happened because the normal drawer was stuffed. I also put all the remaining fish in the same drawer. There was more fish left than I thought.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 09, 2021, 07:40:37 PM
Thanks for the fat head dough details, @horsepoor ! I'll have to try that out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 10, 2021, 01:54:29 AM
Because of a wrong interpretation of a pasta making recipee I made way too much pasta dough yesterday, as I had to add more flower to compensate for too much liquid. My new pasta drying rack is a bit small, so I only turned half into pasta. The rest in a ball in the fridge. I frooze it today and need to remember to use it.

The cooked pasta (without sauce) was also too much. I had planned to have it for breakfast, but it wasn't tempting. Instead I ate some slices of my now defrosted squash/mushroom cake. It tasted okey, apart from that the underside was soggy. DH does not seem to want to eat leftover pasta or cake for breakfast. So I might need to ditch the rest of the half cake later today.

I have tried to find out how long you can refridgerate a defrosted cake and still eat it safely. Internet did not give a specific answer, but a general that defrosted food needs to be eaten within 24 hours. Cooked rice and pasta can definitely not be stored long in the fridge. So I or we need to eat the leftover cooked pasta and cake for lunch, or otherwise throw it away.

Next time I make pasta, I should use up the leftover dried (commercial) pasta from the drawer. Or use the ball of dough from the freezer.

For tonight I defrosted a trout fillet. I will eat it with a (fresh) tomato and pomegranate salad. Maybe accompanied by a naan bread from the freezer, as I think just a bit of leftover pasta with it is a bit weird. Edit: I ate the leftover pasta cold for lunch, with leftover grated cheese and zuchini puree from a pot in the fridge. I was quite hungry after a CC skiing trip and it tasted good, a bit like bread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 10, 2021, 07:49:47 PM
A tiny victory, but we used all of the green olives from a Christmas appetizer spread. I had no idea they even came home with us, but ...they are gone! Finished them off tonight.

My 13 year old is really into making homemade French bread (two loaves in two days), but they teens are doing a remarkable job of polishing it off without much effort. I don't think i'll need to worry about it.

I made a baked oatmeal dish for breakfast this week, so I'll be having that. I also have granola (a gift from a coworker) that I need to eat in the next week or so, with almond milk or yogurt.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 11, 2021, 03:15:37 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, yes, in the past I have made cauliflower crust pizza.  As @horsepoor, says, it is quite involved.  I've since discovered the Fathead pizza dough recipe, as well as Caulipower brand pizza at the store.  Way back when I first started low carb, I even made a pizza crust out of chicken (there are recipes out there).  It is my least favorite of all options.  Side note:  Because Fathead dough contains so much cheese, I tend to top it with very little extra grated cheese.  Added:  Has your son tried making bread in the slow cooker?  DH and I have done that in the past when we didn't want to heat up the house with the oven.  It works well.  :)

~I'm currently eating the remaining portion of last week's meatloaf.

~Last Friday I used the last of the zucchini, and the 2 yellow squash in a chicken stir fry.  I'll eat those leftovers tomorrow for lunch.

~Last week's uneaten boiled eggs went into deviled eggs.  This used up the rest of the yellow mustard in order to start a new one purchased last month.

~I ate peeled and sliced cucumber with a bit of sliced cheese and almonds for Saturday and Sunday evening snacks.

~The popcorn kernels I purchased for the Halloween party snack purposes are almost gone.  Not low carb, I know, but I have a bowl every other weekend or so.  This used up the remaining bit of olive oil from the previous bottle.

~Tomorrow I'll make https://www.wholesomeyum.com/portobello-pizza-keto-stuffed-mushrooms-recipe/ (https://www.wholesomeyum.com/portobello-pizza-keto-stuffed-mushrooms-recipe/) in order to use the portobello mushrooms.

~Wednesday's supper will be https://www.thechunkychef.com/slow-cooker-creamy-white-chicken-chili/ (https://www.thechunkychef.com/slow-cooker-creamy-white-chicken-chili/)

~I didn't get to the Fathead pizza yesterday, so it's on this Sunday's menu.

~I will pick up our monthly grocery order this evening, to start the process all over again.  :)  Because I see the total as I shop, ordering online keeps me within the $300 budget I set for myself last month.  This includes paper products and HBAs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 12, 2021, 06:08:17 AM
For tonight I plan to make a oven baked "cake" of ground beef and bacon, with a sauce of roasted pepper from a glass jar and some zucchini puree from a jar. I have a recipee and don't remember exactly how it went, but will look it up. As a side dish I want to make red bulgur, which is bulgur with red pepper and tomato. DH suggested to make tsaziki to go with it. I purchased yoghurt and fresh cucumber, but am glad to make a dent in the 2 packs of bulgur, in the jar of zucchini puree and in the jar of roasted red pepper.

Tomorrow I would like to make a pasta (from the frozen ball of pasta dough in the freezer) with fresh basil, pistache nuts and parmezan cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 12, 2021, 07:40:11 AM
I have loads of cans of sardines and I want to include them in my diet because they are good for you in so many ways. I have been eating them on salad, tortilla's with lettuce, onions. Been using balsamic vinegar. I have been enjoying it but like anything, I am getting a little tired of it in just a short time. I wonder if any of you eat sardines and how do you prepare them to eat. I have noticed when I eat them, I stay full for hours and hours which is a good thing! So, I would like to keep eating them but...need some ideas!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 12, 2021, 09:13:02 AM
I opened a jar of limoncello marmalade that has been in the fridge forever, and will have it on toast or crackers until it is gone. It had an intact vacuum seal that popped loudly as I opened it. 

Also am having tea instead of coffee lately, in order to use up some old jars of loose leaf tea that are on the kitchen counter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 12, 2021, 09:18:50 AM
@Roadrunner53 , I LOVE this sardine recipe:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013094-pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 12, 2021, 02:12:52 PM
@MountainGal  - thanks for the input on the pizza. So far, I've been buying the cauliflower crust pizza from Costco, and doctoring it with protein (it's a veggie pizza). My son has stuck to one recipe, but we've had three successful loaves this week. He made a loaf this morning before school, & the kids happily had grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Win!

I used the rest of the baked chicken in my lunch salad. We're having leftover ham soup (and bread) for dinner. I'm also making coleslaw to go with my husband's salmon. I use the food processor to batch shred purple/green cabbage & carrots. I then use it for: egg roll in a bowl (Sunday's dinner), coleslaw (will last a few days) & taco slaw (super similar to egg roll in a bowl, but with taco meat). The cabbage is really cheap & helps reduce the cost. I like to just fuss with the food processor once, so plan these meals together.

Last night I made a bacon wrapped chicken that was stuffed with broccoli (Costco frozen food section, Keto friendly, so "made" means I heated it in the oven). It was a nice "in a pinch" meal. We ate 3 of the four, and my husband at the fourth today. No waste.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 12, 2021, 02:19:26 PM
@Roadrunner53 , I LOVE this sardine recipe:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013094-pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers

Thanks SquashingDebt but the NY Times link is not letting me in!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 12, 2021, 03:10:04 PM
@Roadrunner53 , I LOVE this sardine recipe:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013094-pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers

Thanks SquashingDebt but the NY Times link is not letting me in!

Here's the same recipe on a different site!  https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers-50094711
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 12, 2021, 03:30:28 PM
@Roadrunner53 , I LOVE this sardine recipe:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013094-pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers

Thanks SquashingDebt but the NY Times link is not letting me in!

Here's the same recipe on a different site!  https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers-50094711

Thanks! Got it and printed it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 14, 2021, 11:50:57 AM
Welp.  DH acquired a 33 pound, locally raised turkey last weekend.  He plans on vacuum-sealing and freezing a bunch of it, and I found a few recipes for tonight and tomorrow night.  We'll freeze the leftovers we aren't able to get to.

Tonight:  Turkey breast with spaghetti squash, mug muffins (corn bread for him, flax seed for me) for the side
Friday:  Turkey tortilla bake

In the evenings, I've been nibbling on chili flavored pistachios from my stocking last month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2021, 12:41:48 PM
@MountainGal - that's a seriously sized turkey! Good luck with that.

-Eating a leftover chicken patty in my salad today for lunch
-Divided a baked oatmeal dish (made this weekend) into lunches for all week, and have been eating that. Way cheaper than eggs, although I'd prefer more of a mix of breakfasts. I'll survive fine.
-We've eaten almost all of the ham & bean soup & bread (3rd loaf this week, hungry teens). I'll freeze what's left today.

Yesterday I bought 15 lbs of ground beef for $1.50/lb. I need to get that into the freezer today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 15, 2021, 01:47:27 AM
DH cooked the day before yesterday, using up the leftover meat cake, and used the bag of frozen brussle sprouts.
Last night I made pasta from the leftover ball of pasta dough that I had frozen. Used some anchovies from the fridge. There is one portion of pasta left that I will have for lunch.
Tonight, I intend to make fish with nice nudels with an asian style salad (from a cookbook, need to find out if it works).

Today I am also baking bread again, which I do frequently. This time I put in linseeds, as I also have 2 packs of those, which is at least one too many for a product I seldom use.

Updated the list at the top of the page.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 15, 2021, 11:59:58 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, that's a great price on ground beef!

@Linea_Norway, there's nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread.

Monday's grocery order included canned asparagus.  I had ordered fresh asparagus as well, but it was out of stock apparently.  Let's just say I discovered I don't care for the texture of the canned version.  I've been eating it in roll-ups with salmon cream cheese and deli turkey slices for lunches.  The remaining portion is today-yay!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 15, 2021, 01:10:06 PM
I can definitely say I wouldn't like canned asparagus. I"m a moderate "liker" of it, even with the best preparation, so the texture of canned would be a for sure turn off!

-Kids wrapped up the last of the taco meat last night
-I finished off the bean soup & bread (one serving of soup to the freezer)
-For lunch today, having an Italian chicken sausage (freezer) on a salad
-Kids each had a pear & apple as "dessert" last night

For dinner tonight, I'm really undecided. We have 2 servings left of egg roll in a bowl, 2 servings of enchilada rice, and one piece of salmon. Plenty for everyone to eat, but quite an assortment.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 15, 2021, 03:16:24 PM
Have to agree, asparagus in a can...gross! Kudos on finding ways to eat it up though! You came up with creative ways to use it up. I would have either donated it or thrown it away!

I had a sick dog and was trying everything on earth to hide his pills in things. I even bought cans of spam of which worked a few times and then he wouldn't eat it either. So now I have many cans of spam that I will never eat unless I completely run out of food. I am sure if it is fried a bit crispy it is edible but not really my thing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 16, 2021, 12:25:52 PM
I just put together a meal plan for the next week, which should put a nice dent in the freezer so there will be plenty of space for the lamb we should be getting in a couple weeks. I was able to get dinners figured out with all the veg we have on hand, and will only need to buy one bunch of greens for Thursday night:

Tonight: Broccoli beef (needing to be used broccoli and beef from the freezer) spaghetti squash (garden produce) with Garlic (garden produce) cashew-sauce (NYT Cooking recipe will be a new one for me).
Sunday: Stuffed bell peppers with ground lamb from the freezer, side of squash.
Monday: Roast chicken, potatoes that have been in the fridge for a while, tomato soup canned last fall.
Tuesday: Brats with carrots and cabbage that have both been in the fridge for a while.
Wednesday: Creamy chicken-leek soup to use Monday's leftover chicken
Thursday: Salmon caught by my brother this summer, beets that have been in the fridge for a while. This is where the greens come in too.
Friday: Pork shanks to be turned into carnitas - last of pork raised by a friend, to be accompanied by cauliflower rice (garden produce)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 16, 2021, 01:09:25 PM
horsepoor, how organized you are on your dinners for the week!

I have tons of food and every day my Hub says 'what's for dinner?' and I am like I don't know!

However, tonight we are having a recipe I found with ground meat. It is called Korean Beef and Rice with a vegetable. I will use white rice.
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/korean-beef-and-rice/

Tomorrow is Cumin and Orange Pork Butt, sweet potatoes and a vegetable.
https://justcook.butcherbox.com/cumin-crusted-pork-butt/

I also have an eggplant that needs cooking and saw a recipe on The Kitchen Eggplant Parmesean Boats: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/eggplant-parmesan-boats-9608094
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 16, 2021, 02:29:41 PM
-I continued to use some sort of Keto friendly sausage (found in the freezer from a grilling session this summer) on top of my salads for lunch.
-Finished off the last of the baked oatmeal for breakfast this morning. I made a big pan last weekend, and it was my breakfast all week (plus a couple of servings for my son)
-Last night we did an admirable job clearing the fridge of leftovers, and only had a tiny bit of food waste. Always a win at the end of the week.

My husband is making grilled chicken, that he marinates all day. It's delicious. We'll have that with rice & salad. Tomorrow my 13 y.o. is making warm taco slaw (I need to shred the last of the cabbage). I think we're having sesame chicken with leftover rice on Monday. I'll cook, as I have the day off.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 16, 2021, 03:08:58 PM
horsepoor, how organized you are on your dinners for the week!

I have tons of food and every day my Hub says 'what's for dinner?' and I am like I don't know!

I've been in the habit of meal planning for a couple years now. I don't always stick to the plan for the week, but it frees up a surprising amount of mental space where I don't have to figure it out at the end of the work day. I try to put 1-2 meals based on less perishable stuff so that if we have leftovers or I don't have time to cook, there isn't food waste from missing a planned meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 17, 2021, 02:04:18 AM
I am now making my next 2 breads with linseeds. Still a lot of that left, but one more batch and I have finished the opened box. After that only one closed bag of linseeds left.

Yesterday I made raspberrie muffins and used frozen selfpicked raspberries. Tip for next time: freeze raspberries individually, laying flat on a tray. Not in a icecream box in one block.

I also made a soup from frozen carrots, broccoli stilks and cauliflower stilks. Tip for next tip: peel the broccoli stilks before freezing them. We ate it with leftover stumps of bread.

Tonight we will have fresh meat, fresh sweet potato and frozen brussle sprouts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2021, 01:25:27 PM
I picked jalapenos (the sunny weather has confused the plants) & turned them into two jars of pickled jalapeno. I am very happy with the flavor & crispness this time around. End of season jalapenos are much spicier than in season, so I soaked them for an hour in cold water ahead of the pickling, & it made a huge difference.

A neighbor gave us 40+ lemons. I've made 5 jars of lemon curd (1 for the fridge, 2 for the freezer). I also gave away two jars to neighbors

I made more protein balls for the hungry teen

My husband bought two industrial sized vinegar jugs a while back. (We use it for cleaning as well) & I was thrilled to have one jug to put into the recycling today. One down, one to go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 18, 2021, 01:55:17 PM
I just made the budget bytes carrot cake oatmeal and used the frozen bag of carrots from the freezer. I hope the result will still taste fine. I had to buy cream cheese for the recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Weisass on January 18, 2021, 02:06:19 PM
I just made the budget bytes carrot cake oatmeal and used the frozen bag of carrots from the freezer. I hope the result will still taste fine. I had to buy cream cheese for the recipe.
I love budget bytes! Let me know how it goes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2021, 02:48:41 PM
So many lemons. I've now started a batch of limoncello. (lemon peels soaking in vodka for four days). I'll check in on them on Friday, and add the simple syrup
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Weisass on January 18, 2021, 08:24:51 PM
So many lemons. I've now started a batch of limoncello. (lemon peels soaking in vodka for four days). I'll check in on them on Friday, and add the simple syrup
my mom loves to make her own limoncello, but if yours is anything like hers, it won't last long!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2021, 09:34:30 PM
So many lemons. I've now started a batch of limoncello. (lemon peels soaking in vodka for four days). I'll check in on them on Friday, and add the simple syrup
my mom loves to make her own limoncello, but if yours is anything like hers, it won't last long!

I still have a giant bowl of lemons, and a friend sent me a different recipe to try, with a very different technique. It looks like we will be trying both & comparing. What a hardship ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 19, 2021, 06:03:19 AM
I just made the budget bytes carrot cake oatmeal and used the frozen bag of carrots from the freezer. I hope the result will still taste fine. I had to buy cream cheese for the recipe.
I love budget bytes! Let me know how it goes.

@Weisass I tastes good. I had to take it a bit earlier out of the oven, as the top cream layer became brown.
I used frozen carrots and cooked them in the microwave. I could however not mash them with a potato masher, even though they felt cooked enough. So I just chopped the slices smaller with a knife.
Immediately after baking, it tasted a bit loose. But the next day, it was more solid and tasted good. DH commented that it tasted better than it looked, but that the cream cheese layer on top tastes a bit strange on it. I didn't think the cream cheese tasted strange. But he is generally sceptic to budgetbytes.
It reminded him of carrot cake. I explaned that the idea of oatmeal is to have an alternative way of eating oats.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 20, 2021, 01:41:18 PM
@horsepoor, that's a nice looking list!

@Roadrunner53, I'll have to check out that eggplant recipe.

@MaybeBabyMustache, tell us more about baked oatmeal.  I know I could look it up, but I'd love a personal perspective.  I like to make DH overnight oatmeal, but would love a more batch-type recipe.  And, yes, that IS a lot of lemons, LOL.

I am also a Budget Bytes fan!

Lately:
~We ate an array of leftovers for Monday night supper, including last week's turkey tomato spaghetti squash thing, and steak leftover from my Sunday restaurant meal.
~Tossed stale rolls and crackers out to the birds
~Organized and conducted a canned food inventory, and placed a few items on next month's grocery list
~Prepped a ton of produce for lunches
~Served an avocado with last night's soft tacos, and will use the other one with Friday's enchiladas
~Last night I made shrimp scampi using zucchini "zoodles".  Yum!
~Tonight I'll make a stir fry using yellow squash and beef sausage
~From Christmas baking and other holidays, I have half a leftover cake mix, along with 3 tubs of frosting.  If I have time this weekend, I'll make a "ding dong" cake out of the mix and one of the tubs.
~Researched recipes in order to use up the cherry chipotle chutney received in a gift basket last month
~For Meatless Monday next week, I'm going to make grilled cauliflower steaks for the first time.  We'll see.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 20, 2021, 02:30:27 PM
I love baked oatmeal for busy weeks. I make it in a pyrex dish, and then divide into individual servings after baking. In the morning, grab an individual serving, heat & go.

This was the recipe I tried for last week's breakfasts - https://www.budgetbytes.com/peanut-butter-brownie-baked-oatmeal/

I've made another kind before as well (I think it was this one - https://www.budgetbytes.com/funky-monkey-baked-oatmeal/) & didn't add the coconut, as I didn't have it on hand.

I don't have time/energy to make oatmeal in the mornings, so quick & easy always wins! It's also a good way to use overly ripe bananas

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 20, 2021, 10:21:38 PM
I went into the office today for the first time since May, and picked up my little CrockPot soup warmer while I was there. I'm going to experiment with some various no-oatmeal breakfast porridge type things to use up shredded coconut, protein powder and some non-dairy milks and other random ingredients. If there are any epic fails I suppose they can always go to the chickens.

This week, used DH's overripe bananas and the last of some pecans for banana bread muffins for breakfasts this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on January 21, 2021, 06:24:57 AM
I love baked oatmeal for busy weeks. I make it in a pyrex dish, and then divide into individual servings after baking. In the morning, grab an individual serving, heat & go.

This was the recipe I tried for last week's breakfasts - https://www.budgetbytes.com/peanut-butter-brownie-baked-oatmeal/

I've made another kind before as well (I think it was this one - https://www.budgetbytes.com/funky-monkey-baked-oatmeal/) & didn't add the coconut, as I didn't have it on hand.

I don't have time/energy to make oatmeal in the mornings, so quick & easy always wins! It's also a good way to use overly ripe bananas

Thanks so much for posting these baked oatmeal suggestions!  Steel-cut oats done in the Instant Pot have been a breakfast staple for a long time in our household, but I've been looking for a way to mix that up a bit.  This type of recipe will be just the thing--and a great way to use up bits and bobs of use-or-lose fruit!

Have I mentioned how much I love this thread? :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 22, 2021, 01:30:55 PM
I went through & organized my two freezers today, and made an inventory of what we have on hand. Our frozen dinners (leftovers I freeze for another night) are getting out of hand, so having the list will help me make our monthly menu.

Other things:
-Used the last two sausages in my salad for lunch
-Done with the bagged salad (a habit I'm trying to quit)
-Ate taco slaw for dinner last night, and then froze the rest for a future meal
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 22, 2021, 02:14:32 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, thank you very much for the recipes!  I'm going to make it tomorrow and will report back.

~I've been focusing on eating the bag of BBQ pork rinds as an evening snack.  With sour cream, of course.  :)
~I organized the kitchen pantry, fridge, freezer, and the overstock shelves in the back pantry
~Added a few canned items to next month's grocery list
~Currently eating cucumber slices and ranch for lunch
~Last night's fathead pizza used up the rest of the mozzarella
~I'll make ground beef and pork enchiladas tonight, and save half the meat for Taco Tuesday next week
~Same with riced cauliflower:  We'll eat half tonight, and the rest next Tuesday

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 23, 2021, 02:07:56 AM
Yesterday I made Turkish Meze, which exists of several small dishes, served with bread. I made 6 dishes and baked a sourdough bread with lots of white flour (normally I use 50% wholegrain flour).

- feta cheese/yoghurt dip
- run-off yoghurt with fresh herbs
- red pepper salad. I used roasted red peppers from a jar. This became DH's favorite dish.
- bulgur salad, making another dent in one of the two packs of bulgur.
- eggplant salad
- humus with tomato topping.

Humus from scratch from dried chickpeas. Unfortunately DH got pain in his stomach. He might have had a fodmap reaction to the humus, as this has happened before after other humus meals. I have googling a bit today and it seems to kick in over a certain small tresholt. I still have a small pack of hermitized chickpeas and a 400 gram sack of dried ckickpeas left.

The other day I made chicked massala and added the contents of the opened jar of zucchini puree. I also finished one large pack of rice. Now we can start with the pack laying underneath.

We still have a lot of meze dishes left, so we'll be having it for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 23, 2021, 09:11:26 AM
I have decided that for the month of Feb I am going to do a pantry clean out. And I am starting to prep now. I am not going to be able to do a no buy as I am out of things like flour, onions, and most other veggies. But I need to use up the things that have been sitting in there for a long time. I have a ton of dry beans, and things like wild rice, barley and I am sure other things that will make great meals. I am starting on my fridge first. Just opening it I have the things to make some black bean and chicken chili and some potato soup. I started a batch of chicken stock in my crockpot using some freezer burnt chicken quarters. Those two pots of soup should feed us for most of this next week. I will still have to go to the store because my 10 year old will want milk.

But here is the start of trying to use what I have.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 23, 2021, 10:12:26 AM
@seemsright - I try to have a short list of food I'd like to use up (from the freezer or pantry) each week. Even if I have to buy things to supplement our menu, the goal of using up things that otherwise wouldn't be, allows me to check that off.

-Used leftover roasted potatoes to make breakfast for a hungry teen. I also topped the eggs with avocado & cheese leftover from last night's dinner.
-Three diners ate chicken burrito bowls last night, and I froze the rest. Half of our freezer is filled with leftovers, so I need to be better about incorporating those into the menu
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on January 23, 2021, 10:19:06 AM
We have two kitchens consolidating into one in 7 months, and so we are starting the pantry and freezer/fridge clean outs now.

Just took out two Cornish game hens to make on Monday or Tuesday, depending upon when they are thawed. Yum!

After that I've got to figure out how to cook the Swai fish. Fun times!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 23, 2021, 03:01:03 PM
Reorganizing my freezer has already paid off! (I moved all of the prepped meals into one side, & stacked/labeled them all for easy retrieval). I knew I wanted soup for lunch, and didn't have to dig through all of our freezer items, and give up (as I might have in the past). Instead, I grabbed a container of chicken & dumplings, & had lunch ready in a jiffy. (Two servings are gone - one for me, one for the teen - & one is in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.) I'm also hoping this will help me cut down on bagged salads for lunch. It's laziness that gets me there, so being able to easily defrost a lunch option should really help.

I also bottled up the homemade limoncello I made last weekend. Still haven't figured out what I'm doing with all of the rest of the lemons. So. Many.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 24, 2021, 02:18:07 AM
Reorganizing my freezer has already paid off! (I moved all of the prepped meals into one side, & stacked/labeled them all for easy retrieval). I knew I wanted soup for lunch, and didn't have to dig through all of our freezer items, and give up (as I might have in the past). Instead, I grabbed a container of chicken & dumplings, & had lunch ready in a jiffy. (Two servings are gone - one for me, one for the teen - & one is in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.) I'm also hoping this will help me cut down on bagged salads for lunch. It's laziness that gets me there, so being able to easily defrost a lunch option should really help.

I also bottled up the homemade limoncello I made last weekend. Still haven't figured out what I'm doing with all of the rest of the lemons. So. Many.

You can make lemoncurd. I used a recipee from budgetbytes, which was very good.
Lemon cakes can be delicious.
Or preserve them by putting them in a glass jar with lots of salt rubbed in. Add some herbs as well. Those can be used in dishes.
You know that you can just freeze lemons as they are? I recently used a frozen one for taking off zest and using the juice. That went very well.

By the way, I have such a jar of salted lemons in one of the fridges. I started with two big jars and used up one and a half. The remainder has turned darkish now after several years. The jar I kept it in is not entirely airtight. I have been keeping it in the fridge, but it was now looking so unattractive that I wouldn't use it anymore anyway.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 24, 2021, 10:38:52 AM
Thanks, @Linea_Norway . I made lemon curd last weekend, so am good there. I will probably juice some, and then freeze the rest.

In other "eat all the food" news, I made a double batch of pumpkin granola today, using up pureed pumpkin (freezer, from Halloween), the last of a bag of slivered almonds (Thanksgiving), & dried mango that no one will eat. I'm using the lemon curd to flavor plain yogurt (not my favorite), with the granola. The lemon curd was actually the inspiration for the granola. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 25, 2021, 09:01:54 AM
Today I made Borek with frozen spinach and feta cheese. I used up the remaining half pack of filodough.
I got half the filling left, so tomorrow I need to make a new one of figure out something else with spinach, feta and egg. Maybe just an omelet for lunch?

Tonight I will make a soup with lentils, some rice and some bulgur. To be eaten with the too hard baked foccacia, which I think needs soup to be soaked in.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 25, 2021, 09:39:13 AM
Last week I made a cashew sauce meant to be served with noodles. We used part of it, and didn't love it with spaghetti squash. I cut up raw vegetables to eat with the rest of it as a dip for lunches this week.

Last night I finally made chile verde with the last of the pork from the freezer, green chile and sauce from the freezer and the canned food stash. It feels good to have the pork all cleared out. Next week we are getting the lamb which sounds like it's going to be a big one.

Also made flourless avocado brownies with avocados that were getting soft; this also used a bit of the tahini that has been sitting in the back of the fridge and some cacao nibs from a never-ending CostCo sized bag.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 25, 2021, 01:29:59 PM
-Juiced remaining lemons (gave away 8 when people were picking up other Buy Nothing items)
-Ate ham & bean soup for lunch (from the freezer)
-Re-organized our garage shelving, where we keep extraneous supplies. It's much easier to see what we have now!
-Made one bowl banana bread out of 3 overly ripened bananas. Kept 2/3 for the kids, gave away 1/3 to the neighbor, so I won't eat it
-Used more roasted potatoes in my breakfast
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on January 25, 2021, 02:52:43 PM
We gave up coffee around 2 months ago and it is making a huge difference in drinking down other beverages that we've had around for too long..

almost all of our black tea has been consumed, so now I'm onto the barley drinks, mushroom drinks and other herbal blends :)

*plus I'm inspired by this thread and will go make a roasted red pepper dip with a jar that needs using up (alongside the breadcrumbs,  parsley and almonds that will go in it) :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 25, 2021, 03:52:32 PM
~Made baked granola for the first time!  Because we didn't have any bananas on hand, instead of using one of the recipes @MaybeBabyMustache recommended, I made a blueberry version.  I'll make some with banana after we do a produce stock up.

~Made the ding dong cake from the leftover cake mix and frosting.  Yum!
~Finally tried some of the "hot fudge" from my failed Christmas fudge.  Not too bad.
~I made eggplant fries using almond flour, pork rinds and parmesan for the first time.  SO good.  The "breading" reminded me of panko crumbs.
~The enchiladas used up a package of tortillas and remaining cube of cheese from a gift sampler.  Tomorrow night's burritos will take care of the rest of the tortillas.  I'll serve them with the remaining avocado.
~Ate more of the frozen appetizers leftover from holiday entertaining.
~Finally going to make my first cauliflower steaks tonight.
~Ate leftover beef sausage and yellow squash stir fry for lunch today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 25, 2021, 04:06:12 PM
@MountainGal - blueberry oatmeal sounds great! Did you like it? If so, please share the recipe. I made pumpkin granola this weekend, so I have so much granola to work through. I froze 3 containers & will eat one over the next week or so.

We still have a boatload of appetizers to work through as well. It's my husband's kryptonite. When he sees appetizers at Costco, he buys them. As you can imagine, Costco sized appetizers take a while to go through!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 26, 2021, 02:21:20 AM
We gave up coffee around 2 months ago and it is making a huge difference in drinking down other beverages that we've had around for too long..

almost all of our black tea has been consumed, so now I'm onto the barley drinks, mushroom drinks and other herbal blends :)

*plus I'm inspired by this thread and will go make a roasted red pepper dip with a jar that needs using up (alongside the breadcrumbs,  parsley and almonds that will go in it) :)

@Serendip
Could you please explain how you make a mushroom drink? Is that just stock?
And what is barley drink is you don't mean beer? Just adding warm water to pull out the sugars?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 26, 2021, 02:24:58 AM
In the cupboards:
- 3 2 types of pasta, 3 2 types of rice, 2 packs of quinoia, rice nudels in 3 sizes, 2 packs of bulgur, nudels, tortillas, 1 and a half pack of couscous, 2 and a half packs of lasagna sheets. In our previous house, that pasta/rice drawer was twice as big and also usually full.
- 1 pack of macaroni and 1 pack of rice that are extremely short cooked. This is meant to be used in homemade dry trip meals where I just want to add hot water. I put those in a separate cupboard now, so the pasta/rice drawer is less stuffed.
- A pack of cranberry-like dried berries, a staple. In the same cupboard another couple of packs of Norwegian style saurkraut, which is not saur.
- Lots of selfpicked dried mushrooms of various types. The most common varieties tend to get used. For the rest, I need to make a plan.
- A few types of self picked mushrooms confitted in oil. Two large pots down.
- Some nori leaves. In the same cupboard dried shrimp sheets that turn crunchy when deep fried. I used half the pack last summer.
- Lots and lots of spices. I might want to make more tiki/garam massala dishes.
- 2 pots of artichoke hearts. 1 pot down.
- 1 pack of linseed left, 1 pack used up recently.

In the fridge:
- A refridgerator shelf full of selfpicked mushrooms preserved in various ways. As well as some preserved selfpicked plants and some vegetables. I recently started eating some pickeled carrots. A pot of self-salted lemons.
- Another shelf full of preserved red peppers and vegetable purees. All from the store. 5 pots down, 2 left.
- Lots of opened spices and pickels. Threw away one pot of pickeled peppers that had been opened ages ago, but left out of view. Something black was floating in it.
- Half a pack of grated mixed cheese, which won't last forever.
- Lots of home made jams, 1 left from the plums in our plumb tree, 3 1 with selfpicked blueberries and 1 left with storebought rubarb. 1 pot of selfmade lemoncurd. I just finished the other pot of lemoncurd.
- 2 packs of tofu, bought intentionally to try out some tofu recipees.

In the freezer:
- Lots of frozen selfpicked plants in the freezer. A box of selfpicked raspberries.
- Half a squash/mushroom cake in the freezer (now in the fridge) which is made from a recipee, but strangely enough tastes quite sweet, despite the other ingredients. I should just have it for lunch one day. Today I ate a portion of oatmeal (from budget bytes) for lunch. I have one other such portion left.
- Some frozen vegetables (red pepper, carrots, green onion and now also butternut squash cubes) to make such they didn't expire when we went on vacation. Also cauliflour leaves and broccoli stilk in slices. The latter is good in a soup.
- Frozen self picked mushrooms of varying types.
- Frozen leftover portions, one with chickpeas, one for rouille (a spicy spread for french bread containing fish stock). And also a portion of leftover saus that can go with deer, last eaten with reindeer. A portion of kale/potato stew. Leftover meat sauce from longtime cooked meat.
- A bag of frozen peas, a bag of frozen brussle sprouts, 2 bags of spinach (a staple) and a bag of asian style precut wok mix (not more expensive than fresh veggies, and without the cutoffs). 2 bags of different types of green beens, one bag of precut red curry wok mix.
- 2 31 whole lemon.
- Selfpicked rose leaves.
- Pommes granate seeds, intentionally frozen to use later occasionally. Edit: used half, added new. And added another one. And added even more of these seeds, because I thought I didn't have more and now is the season.
- Still more selfcaught (by DH) fish in the freezer. 2 1 whole trouts and 2 trout fillets. 5 2 portions of white fish, which we have been eating a lot since last summer as we started with 15 or so portions.
- Some deer meet in the freezer and other meat that might have laid in the deepest part of the freezer drawer. Also a portions of ground lam that I plan to make a borek-like thing with quite soon. I bought new ground beef, ground pork and ground lam.  And some sausages.
- Boneless chicken thighs. Good for a massala stew. 3 2 bags of chicken breast fillets.
- Some selfmade foccasia that was baked a bit too long and is therefore harder than I would like. Some frozen tortilla wraps as well. 8 2 Pieces of homebaked naan bread, but that was intentional, as that fits nicely with stews.
- 2 0,25 pack with sheets of fillo pastry. Bought intentionally not too long ago.
- A ball of leftover pasta dough
- Half a pack of small tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 26, 2021, 02:29:17 AM
This weekend we had the deer meat. I added some of the selfpicked mushrooms that were confit-treated. I thought they tasted well. I have 3 jars of this species, all preserved in a different way. The confit method is just treated with oil and herbs and can do tight into the frying pan. One of the others is salted and needs to be desalted first.

Tonight I will make watps with half the pork tenderloin that is left in the fridge, some more of those mushrooms and the frozen tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 26, 2021, 05:32:14 AM
Leftover sausage rolls for lunch today!

Checked the fridge and found green beans that need to be eaten soon or they go bad, so tonight it's green beans, baked potatoes and some bacon flavored sausage for dinner.

Have to find a good recipe for some milk that will otherwise go bad (our daughter loves to drink fresh milk  however, this was half a liter of pasteurised milk that I only use in pancakes.....). Maybe I'll just make some pancakes and freeze them for future use......

Kids are indulging on last pieces of holiday treats. That will make room in my cupboard!
I'm indulging on my stock of loose tea leaves. Have an awful lot of those (mostly gifts, since everybody knows I love tea.....) and will finalise these first before buying new tea...... Right now it's Green Tea Sencha!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 27, 2021, 01:07:43 AM
Leftover sausage rolls for lunch today!

Checked the fridge and found green beans that need to be eaten soon or they go bad, so tonight it's green beans, baked potatoes and some bacon flavored sausage for dinner.

Have to find a good recipe for some milk that will otherwise go bad (our daughter loves to drink fresh milk  however, this was half a liter of pasteurised milk that I only use in pancakes.....). Maybe I'll just make some pancakes and freeze them for future use......

Kids are indulging on last pieces of holiday treats. That will make room in my cupboard!
I'm indulging on my stock of loose tea leaves. Have an awful lot of those (mostly gifts, since everybody knows I love tea.....) and will finalise these first before buying new tea...... Right now it's Green Tea Sencha!

Are you saying that your daughter prefers to drink unpasteurized milk? Pasteurizing kills patogens of all sorts that might live in unpasteurized milk. It is really not very safe drinking unpasteurized milk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 27, 2021, 03:38:26 AM
Leftover sausage rolls for lunch today!

Checked the fridge and found green beans that need to be eaten soon or they go bad, so tonight it's green beans, baked potatoes and some bacon flavored sausage for dinner.

Have to find a good recipe for some milk that will otherwise go bad (our daughter loves to drink fresh milk  however, this was half a liter of pasteurised milk that I only use in pancakes.....). Maybe I'll just make some pancakes and freeze them for future use......

Kids are indulging on last pieces of holiday treats. That will make room in my cupboard!
I'm indulging on my stock of loose tea leaves. Have an awful lot of those (mostly gifts, since everybody knows I love tea.....) and will finalise these first before buying new tea...... Right now it's Green Tea Sencha!

Are you saying that your daughter prefers to drink unpasteurized milk? Pasteurizing kills patogens of all sorts that might live in unpasteurized milk. It is really not very safe drinking unpasteurized milk.
Probably this is due to my lack of English knowledge. She drinks regular fresh milk, but not the one which you can store for longer term.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 27, 2021, 10:52:04 AM
Leftover sausage rolls for lunch today!

Checked the fridge and found green beans that need to be eaten soon or they go bad, so tonight it's green beans, baked potatoes and some bacon flavored sausage for dinner.

Have to find a good recipe for some milk that will otherwise go bad (our daughter loves to drink fresh milk  however, this was half a liter of pasteurised milk that I only use in pancakes.....). Maybe I'll just make some pancakes and freeze them for future use......

Kids are indulging on last pieces of holiday treats. That will make room in my cupboard!
I'm indulging on my stock of loose tea leaves. Have an awful lot of those (mostly gifts, since everybody knows I love tea.....) and will finalise these first before buying new tea...... Right now it's Green Tea Sencha!

Are you saying that your daughter prefers to drink unpasteurized milk? Pasteurizing kills patogens of all sorts that might live in unpasteurized milk. It is really not very safe drinking unpasteurized milk.
Probably this is due to my lack of English knowledge. She drinks regular fresh milk, but not the one which you can store for longer term.

Ok, that happens to me all the time as well.

https://www.campina.be/faq/wat-is-het-verschil-tussen-rauwe-gepasteuriseerde-en-gesteriliseerde-melk
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 27, 2021, 11:30:41 AM
Hi everyone!

@MaybeBabyMustache, the granola is tasty!  I had a bite to taste test it (I am a low carber) and DH likes it as well.  I made it with coconut milk and walnuts instead of pecans, since that is what we had on hand.  https://cookieandkate.com/baked-oatmeal-recipe/ (https://cookieandkate.com/baked-oatmeal-recipe/).  And, our appetizers are similar, as they are from Sam's Club, LOL.  I love their spanakopita.

My cauliflower steaks were yummy, if only because of the bacon and cheddar topping.  I probably won't make them again any time soon.

@Linea_Norway, you're doing a wonderful job!

@Dutch Comfort, we also have a bit of holiday treats taking up cupboard room.  :)

I've been refocusing on getting in my fresh vegetable and fruit.  Yesterday I consumed nine different varieties.  Today will be at least five.

~Been focusing on the bag of baby spinach.  Had two servings yesterday, and planning on two more today.
~Friday I will make a slow cooker spicy turkey and two bean chili in order to use up some of the locally grown turkey given to us by our neighbors.
~Monday I'll make avocado tuna melt bites in order to use up some of the canned tuna we have on hand, and to incorporate more into our diets.
~Next Taco Tuesday will finally use up the rest of the flounder.
~Next Wednesday I'll make a country ham ramen to use up some of last month's ham.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 29, 2021, 01:52:04 AM
Today will be a split dinner:
- DD and me will have a vegetarian spinach casserole
- DS and SO will have baked potatoes with some porc chops and corn/bell pepper salad

Lunch will be leftover veggies and beans from last nights dinner.

Tomorrow a hotdog/burger dinner, so this will empty the fridge before I go shopping on Sunday (I prefer Sunday over Saturday, since it's way more quiet in the supermarket!).

Kids still munching on holiday treats. Marshmallows were used for a school project (build a tower from spaghetti and marshmallows......).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on January 29, 2021, 01:37:40 PM
Only a few more mornings of tea drinking and I'll be done with a jar of loose leaf camomile tea, and then can put away the empty glass jar in my big box of clean empty jars.  I'll then have one less thing cluttering my countertop. Not gonna buy any more tea, probably, since I prefer coffee. 

Also almost done using up a plastic bag of lentils. Just a few more bowls of lentil soup.

 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on January 29, 2021, 01:51:52 PM
*Sigh* I had an opportunity to hit the grocery store this morning to avoid going during higher traffic times. It turns out that they mark down quite a bit of meat on Friday mornings, which is good info to have, but some extra things leapt into my cart, so on that end, the stash is not getting any smaller.

But I did get a head start on meal planning for next week and will use some things up.

Tonight will be a tofu stirfry to use up just-expired tofu and baby bok choy purchased last weekend. Will make a peanut sauce to use some of the gargantuan Costco jar of peanut butter DH bought for some reason, as well as a package of kelp noodles.

Monday will use up beets in a red flannel hash type dinner skillet.

Tuesday will be chili using the last of my homegrown butternut squash. This should also be a good place to use the chicken stock that I cooked down so far that it turned into a near-solid.

Thursday the plan is braised lamb shanks to get closer to finishing up the last lamb and make room for the new one. On the side will be a root vegetable puree using the last of my homegrown parsnips.

Friday, if we aren't awash in leftovers, I'll use a pack of chorizo from the freezer for a stand by casserole type meal with homegrown spaghetti squash.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 29, 2021, 02:31:20 PM
Today I made a pizza from sourdough. I used up an opened jar of tomato puree and an opened pack of grated cheese.  The last part of my opened jar with confit mushrooms. And some fresh Spanish ham on sale, which was really good. This time I put the ham on after baking the pizza, which was a good idea, as it kept very smooth.

Yesterday we had chicken thighs and had half left over. I will eat those in tortilla wraps with cherrie tomatoes. DH will in the weekend make a meal with a frozen trout and probably frozen veggies.

Today I made fermented carrots, with a bag of water as a water lock on the jar. I hope they will work out fine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 02, 2021, 01:14:10 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I made DH the Budget Bytes Peanut Butter Brownie Baked Oatmeal.  He likes it better than the blueberry oatmeal I made him the week prior.

Since my last post:
~Used a small container of leftover tomato paste I'd frozen in last Friday's turkey chili
~Sprinkled some leftover chopped peanuts from holiday baking onto today's baby spinach salad
~In the evenings, I've been nibbling on dark chocolate and chocolate covered almonds given to me at Christmas
~Used some grape jelly from traveling last fall and strawberry preserves from a Christmas gift on a low carb tortilla and English muffin respectively
~Cooked up a box of Zatarain's rice and beans with some chopped up elk jerky the neighbors gave to us.  I brought the dish to their house along with some homemade almond flour cheddar biscuits.
~The rest of the spicy dill pickle chips went into DH's lunch cooler
~And I misspoke last week:  After tonight there will be two flounder fillets remaining.  That two pound bag went a LONG way.

As of Sunday, we were down to only a few pieces of citrus and DH went to the store to restock the produce.  He will also pick up a rather large Sam's Club order this evening which includes canned goods, shrimp, bacon, granola, almond flour, and several other items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 02, 2021, 02:18:11 PM
I like that recipe. My 14 year old did ask for me to add chocolate chips next time, but then I fear we've veered into full dessert territory. ;-)

My husband & I are intermittent fasting a couple of days/week, & I'm the primary "random food user upper", so I feel my progress has slowed. But, we've had some wins:

-Used a bag of roasted chicken in a great chicken yakisoba dish
-Doctored up a last serving of sesame beef & finished that off. It wasn't my favorite, but the good news is that I ate it after a 24 hour fast, so it was totally serviceable.
-Used the rest of the plain yogurt with lemon curd & homemade granola. I prefer flavored yogurt (I'm a weakling), but the lemon curd was an awesome addition. My granola recipe made SO MUCH.
-Oh, and I juiced the 25+ oranges that fell off of a tree in our yard, so I can actually open the fruit drawer

We need to finish eating (from the fridge):
-Chicken yakisoba
-Pad thai (hopefully tonight)
-Rando kid leftovers: spaghetti & meatballs (x1), chicken patty (x1), chicken strips (x4), pizza (1/4 of a pizza)
-Salmon

That should get us through the rest of the week
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 03, 2021, 12:45:17 AM
I wasn't able to get a grocery delivery this week (two days of canceled deliveries due to snow + pent-up demand from two days of no deliveries filling every slot for the following days, etc.) so when I faced a fridge with no fresh meat or vegetables I had to go hardcore on a pantry-freezer cleanout meal. Ended up making a minestrone soup entirely out of pantry and freezer ingredients: stock, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and peas from the freezer; pasta, a can of chickpeas, a can of tomatoes, and some spices/flavorings from the pantry. It came out pretty good! And it made enough for a few meals so I should make it until the delivery slot I snagged on Friday. And hopefully at some point between now and then I'll be able to add some things to my order, since they were out of half of the stuff I wanted to order anyway. I decided while I was rooting around the freezer to pull out the 4-pound pork butt my mom gave me (for... some reason?) a while back. I have no idea what one single woman will do with four pounds of pork, which is why it's been languishing in the freezer. But it seemed like a good time to do it after a week where I had no meat in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Weisass on February 03, 2021, 04:32:02 AM
. I have no idea what one single woman will do with four pounds of pork, which is why it's been languishing in the freezer. But it seemed like a good time to do it after a week where I had no meat in the fridge.

I suggest cooking it low and slow. That way you can get it nice and tender for dinner, then shred the leftovers for carnitas/pulled pork/ whatever your jam, and freeze it ready to go for next time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 03, 2021, 12:48:50 PM
Sometimes I don't understand why a couple or a single person is intimidated by large cuts of meat or packages of meat. There are so many recipes you can make with one piece of meat or large package of hamburger. For hamburger, I usually cook up a gigantic package of hamburger with onion. I break the packages down into 1 lb packages or less. I then freeze them flat and once frozen, I stack them up like files. Hamburger can be used for so many recipes! Taco's, spaghetti sauce, chili and much more. Large family packages of chicken can be cooked up in one or several methods and frozen for other dinners. We are just two people in my household and I am always cooking large quantities and eating some and freezing the rest in managable packages for later on. We cook up 6 to eight burgers at a time and freeze them with cheese on them. If we want burgers, all we do is defrost and warm up. Makes life so easy! I am planning on buying a spiral ham that is on sale and cutting it up into managable packages. The ham is approx. 8 lbs with bone. We will have the ham for breakfast, sandwiches, dinner. The bone will be used for a big pot of pea soup. Some of the soup will be frozen for later on. We are cooking a 16 lb turkey this weekend. Once again we will eat a turkey dinner, and immediately put the bones in the slow cooker with celery, carrots, spices and cook all night long. Then drain out the bones and refrigerate to cool and scrape off the grease then make a big pot of turkey soup. Once again, we will freeze leftovers. The turkey will be frozen in packages and once we eat them for dinners warm them up in turkey gravy. So for me, bring on the big turkeys, hams, burger meat and so on! Cook once eat a bunch of meals!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 03, 2021, 01:04:24 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, lol, like minds!  After confirming with me the unsweetened cocoa powder ingredient, DH asked if I could add more chocolate flavor to it.  ;)

@Dollar Slice, WTG on the soup idea!

@Roadrunner53, we recently did that with our Christmas ham.  The rest is currently thawing in the fridge for a ramen dish and lunch meat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 03, 2021, 01:36:52 PM
Sometimes I don't understand why a couple or a single person is intimidated by large cuts of meat or packages of meat.

Personally - I don't eat that much meat to begin with (for environmental reasons). I'm not a person that sits down to a steak, burger, chicken, salmon, etc. for dinner. I will have a little meat as part of a dish, but not as the main centerpiece of a meal. I usually will only buy one pound of meat for the week. If I buy more than that it's a special treat.

So partly it just seems like a ton of meat - a month's worth all at once. And partly it's that I never cook large cuts of meat and I don't really have any experience with it (thawing such a large piece - how long does it take? cooking such a large piece - same, etc.). And the price tag says $23 so I really don't want to fuck it up!

I also don't have a microwave or much freezer space in my tiny kitchen, so the idea of freezing in bulk and reheating/defrosting stuff all the time is not that practical.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 04, 2021, 05:56:39 AM
Leftover lunches again: pasta for DS, noodles for DD, pumpkin soup for me
Homemade pizza with leftover veggies and some ham/sausage tonight to ensure an empty fridge when the grocery delivery service will deliver the groceries in the evening!

I agree on buying bulk meats / tomatoes..... so happy with our big freezer unit!

Next week is our DD birthday. Just a small cake, since lockdown does not allow any visitors, and no leftovers expected. Although she is allowed to pick what we have for diner. I expect some chinese food/dumplings on her wishlist..... If it will be chinese food, I will be making fried rice in bulk to freeze leftovers for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 04, 2021, 06:08:06 AM
Sometimes I don't understand why a couple or a single person is intimidated by large cuts of meat or packages of meat.

Personally - I don't eat that much meat to begin with (for environmental reasons). I'm not a person that sits down to a steak, burger, chicken, salmon, etc. for dinner. I will have a little meat as part of a dish, but not as the main centerpiece of a meal. I usually will only buy one pound of meat for the week. If I buy more than that it's a special treat.

So partly it just seems like a ton of meat - a month's worth all at once. And partly it's that I never cook large cuts of meat and I don't really have any experience with it (thawing such a large piece - how long does it take? cooking such a large piece - same, etc.). And the price tag says $23 so I really don't want to fuck it up!

I also don't have a microwave or much freezer space in my tiny kitchen, so the idea of freezing in bulk and reheating/defrosting stuff all the time is not that practical.

Here is a recipe I used recently. I had an approx. 4 lb pork butt and it came out really good.
https://justcook.butcherbox.com/cumin-crusted-pork-butt/

Here is how to thaw a pork butt: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-thaw-cooked-frozen-pork/

Your lifestyle is completely different than mine but to each his own on consumption, preparation and storage of food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 04, 2021, 11:46:13 AM
Here is a recipe I used recently. I had an approx. 4 lb pork butt and it came out really good.
https://justcook.butcherbox.com/cumin-crusted-pork-butt/

Here is how to thaw a pork butt: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-thaw-cooked-frozen-pork/

Thanks for the links. I have the exact same red Lodge dutch oven as that recipe pic so that's a start ;-) 

I have googled before on thawing meat, but I find that the advice just doesn't work. Like that article says to thaw a large pork butt in the refrigerator for 24 hours per five pounds... I've had my 4 lb butt thawing for 36+ hours in the fridge and it's still hard as a rock like it hasn't thawed at all. I have no idea how long it will take to actually thaw. Every article I've found says 24 hours or 5-7 hours per lb (which is about 24 hours). I can't even get a chicken breast or pound of ground turkey to fully thaw in 24 hours in my fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 04, 2021, 11:51:25 AM
-Made more progress on granola & lemon curd (we had another tub of plain yogurt in the fridge) at breakfast this morning
-We had chicken yakisoba leftovers for dinner, but there's still plenty there. I'll have it again for dinner, and maybe lunch
-My son ate 1/2 of a protein bar that was lingering in the fridge

We also had some food waste this week, which always irritates me. But, I've cleaned out the fridge & re-organized it a bit, so we can see everything. I actually think it had more to do with adjustment to intermittent fasting (just consuming less), but being better organized always helps.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 04, 2021, 03:22:17 PM
Here is a recipe I used recently. I had an approx. 4 lb pork butt and it came out really good.
https://justcook.butcherbox.com/cumin-crusted-pork-butt/

Here is how to thaw a pork butt: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-thaw-cooked-frozen-pork/

Thanks for the links. I have the exact same red Lodge dutch oven as that recipe pic so that's a start ;-) 

I have googled before on thawing meat, but I find that the advice just doesn't work. Like that article says to thaw a large pork butt in the refrigerator for 24 hours per five pounds... I've had my 4 lb butt thawing for 36+ hours in the fridge and it's still hard as a rock like it hasn't thawed at all. I have no idea how long it will take to actually thaw. Every article I've found says 24 hours or 5-7 hours per lb (which is about 24 hours). I can't even get a chicken breast or pound of ground turkey to fully thaw in 24 hours in my fridge.

Personally, I would probably take a hunk of meat out of the freezer and let it defrost for 3-5 days. It will be perfectly fine. You don't have to cook it immediately when it thaws. Another point is make sure you put a pan under it or put it in a ziplock bag to avoid the dreaded leakage. I have a 15 or 16 lb turkey thawing out in my fridge right now and we are letting it thaw a week. Better to let it thaw completely than to have ice in the center. That will throw off the cooking time and final texture. You will need to cook it longer if you don't thaw it completely.  Don't stress, it will thaw!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 04, 2021, 03:56:22 PM
@Roadrunner53 - I read that you had 15-16 turkeys thawing & was both impressed & intrigued! I see that it's just one turkey. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 04, 2021, 10:41:35 PM
Yes one turkey thawing out!! Hahahaha!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 08, 2021, 06:35:58 AM
Made stir-fry noodles yesterday. That used up a pack of noodles and some side material (fried unions, shredded coconut and fried shrimp-crisps). My cupboard is overflowing and part of the groceries are taking up space on my kitchen counter, which I really hate! I stocked up a little due to the expected snow (I do not like to drive in snowy conditions) so now I have to make the family EAT IT ALL (at least till it will all fit in my kitchen cupboard again......)!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 08, 2021, 10:16:10 AM
Made Super Bowl food out of all in house ingredients, minus a pizza I picked up for the teens & a baguette.

-Coconut shrimp (freezer)
-Wings (freezer)
-Onion dip (made from ingredients around fridge/pantry)
-Crackers (pantry)
-Veggies (standard veggies from the fridge)
-Goat cheese crostini (used up goat cheese I've had lingering in the fridge)
-Cupcakes (leftover from previous day's birthday celebration)

Skipped dinner (so much food in the "appetizer" portion), so need to make sure we don't waste any of the planned meals for the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 08, 2021, 11:59:47 AM
Recently I have been fermenting cabbages and carrots, so the fridge is now filled with 3 jars of kim chi, 2 jars of carrots and 2 jars of red cabbage. The idea is to eat it regularly for health reasons. I have been eating some carrots.

We finished some of the selfpicked mushrooms.

This weekend I tried to make falaffel from scratch, but the chickpea-dough won't stick together. I might add some egg to it and try again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 08, 2021, 03:45:22 PM
Similar to @MaybeBabyMustache, we used a lot of food on hand for the Super Bowl:

Little Smokies wrapped in Crescent dough
Bacon wrapped shrimp skewers
From frozen:  Taquitos, chicken pesto fillo dough cups, Spanakopita
Veggies
7 layer dip which used a can of beanless Hormel, a cup of cheddar, a tomato, and a cream cheese block

Other items:
~I made chocolate oatmeal peanut butter bites which used up 3 cups oatmeal, 1.5 cups peanut butter, 2/3 cup flaxseed, a cup of honey, a bag of chocolate chips, and the block of semi-sweet chocolate  https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/peanut-butter-cup-bites-7150549 (https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/peanut-butter-cup-bites-7150549)
~Saturday night's stir fry dinner used the remaining ground pork, the zucchini, yellow squash and riced cauliflower
~Currently there are pinto beans soaking for tomorrow's ham and beans
~Tonight I'm going to make a freeze ahead meal for my niece who is expecting her first baby.  Spaghetti and meatballs, which will use up a pound of ground beef, a package of pasta, a jar of pasta sauce, and whatever else to fancy up the sauce.  Last month I brought two other pasta dishes and frozen bread sticks and Texas toast for her freezer.  I'll give her a bag of the chocolate bites as well.
~The final pound of ground beef will be used in Wednesday's deconstructed tacos
~We'll eat the last bag of frozen cauliflower for Wednesday and Thursday suppers
~I'm planning a co-birthday party with a neighbor, and I'll make the beer cheese and French bread I didn't get to yesterday

Here's to next week's grocery pickup order.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 08, 2021, 05:02:50 PM
Personally, I would probably take a hunk of meat out of the freezer and let it defrost for 3-5 days. It will be perfectly fine. You don't have to cook it immediately when it thaws.

6 days later and it's still half frozen! Maybe I accidentally got one of those Pfizer vaccine freezers that keeps things at 80 degrees below zero :-) 

I decided to just put it in the Instant Pot tonight since there are a bunch of recipes online that say you can cook a pork butt from frozen that way if you add a few minutes to the time. Fingers crossed. I'll temp it in the middle when it comes out to make sure it got to the right temp for braised pork.

In the spirit of this thread I used up the last of a spice blend/rub that I'd bought a while back. I don't remember what I bought it for but it smelled like it would be great for pulled pork (cumin, chili, etc.) so I went for it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 09, 2021, 07:10:56 AM
Tomorrow I plan to cook a thai soup with leftover vegetables in the fridge, as well as some salted mushrooms which I haven't dared to eat yet. But we ate the same mushroom species as confit-treated in oil and that tasted well.

Last week, DH had to pick up something at his office and was offered to take a giftbox of chocolates home, as there were no employees to eat from it. We have emptied the box by 75% now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 09, 2021, 07:27:07 AM
We made some progress yesterday:
-Ate almost all of the remaining Super Bowl appetizers
-Finished off a single serving leftover of a taco bowl
-Hungry teen ate a leftover chicken patty & a piece of pizza

I need to wrap & freeze the rest of a baguette, and freeze some leftover soup. The adults are fasting today, which really slows down leftover meal consumption.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 09, 2021, 04:55:44 PM
I have a ton of flax seeds. I have no idea why. So to use some of them up I dumped some ground flax into a bowl, added some canned pumpkin, a bit of flour, the rest of my coco powder, a cup of sugar, the rest of the carton of egg whites a bit of almond milk (I cannot eat dairy), some baking powder and a bunch of pumpkin pie spice. And mixed it up and baked it. The remind me of bran muffins. I will throw them in the freezer for quick breakfast this week.


I am learning to use up some of the random in my pantry a good way to do that is muffins. My family will gobble them up fast. I am trying hard to eat everything we have before we go buy much more besides milk. I am having to get real creative and operate on random. So far it is working.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 09, 2021, 07:17:50 PM
Progress:
-All leftover Super Bowl appetizers are gone + the pizza
-One chicken patty left. I've reminded my teen that it's not a good idea to bake six at a time. Let's see if that lesson sticks.

Unfortunately/fortunately, dinner tonight was quite filling, so leftovers went into the fridge. We still have leftovers from takeout Greek on Saturday, so I'll try & get those eaten tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 10, 2021, 02:14:08 PM
OK, what ideas do you culinary  have for walnuts? DH's friend gave us a ton of really nice shelled walnuts from his tree. I've been sprinkling them on my yogurt/waffles/porridge, but that's about it and we have about 5 quarts, plus the store-bought walnuts I already had.
.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on February 10, 2021, 03:16:21 PM
OK, what ideas do you culinary  have for walnuts? DH's friend gave us a ton of really nice shelled walnuts from his tree. I've been sprinkling them on my yogurt/waffles/porridge, but that's about it and we have about 5 quarts, plus the store-bought walnuts I already had.

Walnuts are great in salads. Or in streusel for desserts, like in the topping of an apple crisp. They're good in banana bread, apple cake, or chocolate chip cookies. You can serve them with fruit and cheese as an appetizer/light meal. I haven't tried it but I've seen recipes for pesto that use walnuts instead of pine nuts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on February 10, 2021, 05:10:03 PM
OK, what ideas do you culinary  have for walnuts? DH's friend gave us a ton of really nice shelled walnuts from his tree. I've been sprinkling them on my yogurt/waffles/porridge, but that's about it and we have about 5 quarts, plus the store-bought walnuts I already had.

Walnuts are great in salads. Or in streusel for desserts, like in the topping of an apple crisp. They're good in banana bread, apple cake, or chocolate chip cookies. You can serve them with fruit and cheese as an appetizer/light meal. I haven't tried it but I've seen recipes for pesto that use walnuts instead of pine nuts.

Good idea with the pesto - I hadn't remembered when I read the original question, but I exclusively use walnuts in pesto because I'm too cheap to buy pine nuts and I think they work great.  And freeze well, if you want to wait until it's pesto season :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on February 10, 2021, 09:46:26 PM
Good ideas, thanks! I have them in the freezer, so at least they aren't going rancid. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 11, 2021, 04:32:22 AM
Another thing I have done with walnuts is to make a walnut crust for baked fish. I use a rolling pin to crush the nuts in manageable pieces. Mix them with some mayo and a little hot sauce. Coat the fish and bake. I am sure there are many ways to do this. Rather than mayo, maybe digon mustard. You could add spices. You could probaby use any creamy salad dressing mixed with walnuts to coat the fish. Add some dill, Old Bay spice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 11, 2021, 04:58:15 AM
Used up some bread that dried out and made French toast for lunch. DD did not complain!
Was thinking about doing a grocery run, but found enough in my cupboard for dinner to extend another day (or maybe even 2 days......). I want to save time on Saturday morning, because we might have the possibility to go ice-skating (and in a lockdown country, this is a big treat of nature...... it has been 8 years since we had this amount of cold/icy weather) if weather/water conditions permit......

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 11, 2021, 01:51:33 PM
-Ate leftovers for dinner last night, still have one serving of beef bulgogi bowl for tonight
-Kids ate the last chicken patty - hurrah
-Finished off leftover entree from Saturday's takeout. One entree to go
-Defrosted a chicken dish for my husband/son last night, and they ate that. So, one meal out of the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 11, 2021, 02:52:36 PM
@horsepoor, there are baked oatmeal recipes that use walnuts.  I made this a few weeks ago:  https://www.budgetbytes.com/banana-bread-oatmeal/ (https://www.budgetbytes.com/banana-bread-oatmeal/)  And I love the pesto idea!

When cooking for niece1 Monday evening, I learned an entire package of spaghetti goes a long way!  So, I brought her some, and though I don't usually eat pasta, I've had a few servings of it this week.  Unfortunately, the meatballs burned, and I couldn't bring myself to give them to her.  Will try again in the future.

Instead of my original low carb meal I had planned tonight in order to use up the flounder and cauliflower, I am going to pick up Chinese take out for the Lunar New Year celebration.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 13, 2021, 06:59:45 PM
I have made my dinner idea list for the week. I am going to try to use a few things up. I have some gnocchi I made months ago in the freezer that I think I can finish up by making a pot of chicken and dumpling soup. And our state has allowed groups of 6 to go back to their activities and my preteen can go back to her dance class after a 12 week lock down (it has been the second lockdown) So I will make simple beef and black been burritos one night and peanut noodles the other dance night.

I have been playing with sourdough and hubby has asked for sourdough pizza so I think we will do that on Sat.

Having a game plan on how I am going to use stuff up is really helping. I will still have to go to the store because the preteen will want milk.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 14, 2021, 08:58:53 AM
-Used up a broken tortilla to make a breakfast "burrito". Added goat cheese spread leftover from Super Bowl Sunday
-Husband ate all of the onion dip
-Hungry teen ate the remaining takeout leftovers for a late lunch
-Managed to divide a two person recipe into three, by adding extra cabbage
-Made pork & sausage sliders on Friday (delicious) & saved the bun for my 13 year old, who ate it with the last chicken patty.

Fridge is in excellent shape right now, minus the 30+ citrus fruits that are threatening to take over. Citrus fruit grows really well here, and it seems to accumulate. We have an orange tree that drops over our fence, lemons galore, & a bag of limes. I need to make a plan for everything today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 17, 2021, 02:04:50 AM
Found a package of red pesto in the kitchen cabinet yesterday which I did not know why it was there...... and turned it into a delicious pasta casserole (with bell peppers, onions and some cream and grated cheese I had left in the cabinet/fridge), which has leftovers for lunch today.
Also cracked some walnuts and hazelnuts, which were lingering in the shed, to spice up my breakfast (win-win, since I love nuts).
Today will be baked potatoes (leftover from Monday's dinner), Brussels' sprouts and bacon sausage for dinner to further clear out the fridge.

Have to start eating more fruit before it goes bad, so that will be snack-time for DD and me for the next few days.

I'm starting to see a little more light in the kitchen cabinet, but there is still more stuff in there which needs finishing and for which I need to start looking for ways to use.....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 17, 2021, 04:17:25 AM
@seemsright You might want to start your pizza dough the evening before and put it in the fridge/cool place overnight. Sourdough takes ages to puff and it might be stressful to get your pizza ready for dinner time.

I have been making more dishes from cookbooks, which have lead to often buying fresh vegetables or meat. Meat isn't a problem because I had very little left. But I haven't used many of the things from the cupboards.

The concept of eating everything in your house vs having enough food to survive 2 weeks without shopping is a fine balance. I like to have stuff in store, like now when the shops have been out of lentils for 2 weeks. I wish I had bought many mire packs last time they had it, as it is such a convenient ingredient to use.

Now we still have a pack of cooked chick peas left as well as half a pack of dried chickpies, but found out that DH doesn't tolerate them that well, and definitely not turned into humus. Recently I made falaffel which he can eat in small quantities, like 3-4 per day. My turkish cookbook contains lots of recipees with chickpeas, but I have been replacing them with lentils or beans.

Last time, when I made thai soup with salted mushroom, the desalting process was not good enough. I had read about the method:
- cook for 5 minutes in boiling water
- rinse in cold water
- leave in cold water for 5 minutes
- taste if it tastes good, or repeat from scratch.
I tasted a thin part with tasted exceptable. But it turned out that the thick parts of the stem were way too salty, and we had to pick the mushrooms out of the soup.
I still have quite a bit of them left, so next time I should perhaps cook them 3 times in clean water and taste a thick part.
In the soup I used up hald a cauliflour and it's leaves that we have leftover.

Yesterday we had a little bit of leftover salad leaves and some cherrietomatoes as a snack in the middle of the day.

I have 2 plans for using lasagna leaves this week (lasagna and canneloni). I think that will make a dent in my 2 packs in the drawer.

I threw away a jar of pickeled selfpicked spruce tips that was several years old and looked unattractive and smelled harsh.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on February 17, 2021, 09:15:30 AM
Had a big head of cabbage and had to get it out of the fridge to make some room. So, I got my small slow cooker out and chopped it up. I was only able to get about 2/3 or it into the slow cooker with 2 cut up onions. It was filled to the top and the last thing I put on top was a can of cream of mushroom soup and about 1/4 cup of water. I let it cook on low all night long. It cooked down to 1/2. I put on 3 slices of cheddar cheese and let it melt. It only took a little while to melt. It tastes really good and will make a good side dish. With the other hunk of cabbage, I will make a small cole slaw with shredded carrots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 18, 2021, 12:37:50 PM
In the cupboards:
- 3 types of pasta, 3 1 type of rice, 2 packs of quinoia, rice nudels in 3 sizes, 2 packs of bulgur, nudels, tortillas, 1 and a half pack of couscous, 2 1 and a half pack of lasagna sheets. In our previous house, that pasta/rice drawer was twice as big and also usually full.
- 1 pack of macaroni and 1 pack of rice that are extremely short cooked. This is meant to be used in homemade dry trip meals where I just want to add hot water. I put those in a separate cupboard now, so the pasta/rice drawer is less stuffed.
- A pack of cranberry-like dried berries, a staple. In the same cupboard another couple of packs of Norwegian style saurkraut, which is not saur.
- Lots of selfpicked dried mushrooms of various types. The most common varieties tend to get used. For the rest, I need to make a plan.
- A few types of self picked mushrooms confitted in oil. Two large pots down.
- Some nori leaves. In the same cupboard dried shrimp sheets that turn crunchy when deep fried. I used half the pack last summer.
- Lots and lots of spices. I might want to make more tiki/garam massala dishes.
- 2 pots of artichoke hearts. 1 pot down.
- 1 pack of linseed left, 1 pack used up recently.
- 3 tins of water chestnut

In the fridge:
- A refridgerator shelf full of selfpicked mushrooms preserved in various ways. As well as some preserved selfpicked plants and some vegetables. I recently started eating some pickeled carrots. A pot of self-salted lemons.
- Another shelf full of preserved red peppers and vegetable purees. All from the store. 5 pots down, 2 left.
- Lots of opened spices and pickels. Threw away one pot of pickeled peppers that had been opened ages ago, but left out of view. Something black was floating in it.
- Half a pack of grated mixed cheese, which won't last forever.
- Lots of home made jams, 1 left from the plums in our plumb tree, 3 with selfpicked blueberries and 1 left with storebought rubarb. 1 pot of selfmade lemoncurd. I just finished the other pot of lemoncurd.
- 2 packs of tofu, bought intentionally to try out some tofu recipees.

In the freezer:
- Lots of frozen selfpicked plants in the freezer. A box of selfpicked raspberries.
- Half a squash/mushroom cake in the freezer (now in the fridge) which is made from a recipee, but strangely enough tastes quite sweet, despite the other ingredients. I should just have it for lunch one day. Today I ate a portion of oatmeal (from budget bytes) for lunch. I have one other such portion left.
- Some frozen vegetables (red pepper, carrots, green onion and now also butternut squash cubes) to make such they didn't expire when we went on vacation. Also cauliflour leaves and broccoli stilk in slices. The latter is good in a soup.
- Frozen self picked mushrooms of varying types.
- Frozen leftover portions, one with chickpeas, one for rouille (a spicy spread for french bread containing fish stock). And also a portion of leftover saus that can go with deer, last eaten with reindeer. A portion of kale/potato stew. Leftover meat sauce from longtime cooked meat.
- A bag of frozen peas, a bag of frozen brussle sprouts, 2 bags of spinach (a staple) and a bag of asian style precut wok mix (not more expensive than fresh veggies, and without the cutoffs). 2 bags of different types of green beens, one bag of precut red curry wok mix.
- 2 31 whole lemon.
- Selfpicked rose leaves.
- Pommes granate seeds, intentionally frozen to use later occasionally. Edit: used half, added new. And added another one. And added even more of these seeds, because I thought I didn't have more and now is the season.
- Still more selfcaught (by DH) fish in the freezer. 2 whole trouts and 2 trout fillets. 5 portions of white fish, which we have been eating a lot since last summer as we started with 15 or so portions.
- Some deer meet in the freezer and other meat that might have laid in the deepest part of the freezer drawer. Also a portions of ground lam that I plan to make a borek-like thing with quite soon. I bought new ground beef, ground pork and ground lam.  And some sausages.
- Boneless chicken thighs. Good for a massala stew. 3 2 bags of chicken breast fillets.
- Some selfmade foccasia that was baked a bit too long and is therefore harder than I would like. Some frozen tortilla wraps as well. 8 2 Pieces of homebaked naan bread, but that was intentional, as that fits nicely with stews.
- 2 0,25 pack with sheets of fillo pastry. Bought intentionally not too long ago.
- A ball of leftover pasta dough
- Half a pack of small tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 18, 2021, 12:47:06 PM
As we found out that DH doesn't tolerate chick peas well, I have decided to throw away the remaining half pack of dried chick peas, as I don't think I will use them up. I keep the small pack with cooked chick peas and will use them divided over 2 dishes, which I think he will tolerate.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 18, 2021, 12:52:51 PM
-Making progress on leftover Chinese takeout (son's birthday dinner)
-Ate a piece of flatbread pizza for breakfast, to avoid waste
-Most of the salmon is gone (1 serving left)

I've continued to add orange juice (from oranges in our yard) to my son's juice for smoothies. He is picky (generally true about food), so doesn't prefer just orange juice. I slowly add it to his apple or other juice, to dilute the orange juice, while getting him the good fresh stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on February 18, 2021, 06:37:43 PM
Finished off the bag of lentils. Threw out the plastic bag. Not recyclable.

Now on to the box of tapioca that is almost empty. I have it on the kitchen counter so I won't forget about it.  Box is cardboard so I can recycle it when empty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 19, 2021, 01:20:25 AM
Made a banana-bread yesterday evening out of the 3 brown bananas which will serve a few breakfasts / snack / lunches. Will freeze what's left after today.
Other fresh fruits are almost gone. Will need to restock after the weekend.
Husband snacked on the last piece of french cheese yesterday evening, so that is out of the fridge as well.
It's half-term holiday here, so with a teenager and a pre-teen in the house for a week, I expect the food in the house to diminish in no-time!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 19, 2021, 11:27:22 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, regarding the oranges and limes, may I suggest skinny margaritas?  DH started making his own margarita mix out of fresh citrus and it is so much more tastier, with less citric acid content than the pre-made bottled stuff.  aka, less heartburn.  :)

Continuing my baked oatmeal focus, I made https://southernbite.com/raspberry-baked-oatmeal/ (https://southernbite.com/raspberry-baked-oatmeal/) for DH last weekend using fresh raspberries which I froze last summer.  DH really likes it and said the one batch is going a long way.

Also last weekend I made smoothies using coconut milk, 3 types of berries from the freezer, a bunch of the baby spinach, and a squirt each lime juice and honey.

Wednesday night I didn't feel like cooking, so we had what I call snack plates for supper:  Leftover keto eggplant fries, a bit of cheese, a few olives, and some nuts.

I celebrated my birthday for about a week and a half which meant lots of meals out with friends and family.  I ended up tossing a container of homemade stir fry leftovers, a few boiled eggs, and I didn't get to my shrimp chow mein leftovers.  I need to watch that in the future.

This weekend I'd like to focus on odd items in the pantry and freezer in order to use them in meals next week.  The jar of cherry chipotle curry, jars of homemade peach jam, and mulling spices immediately come to mind.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 20, 2021, 08:31:34 AM
@seemsright You might want to start your pizza dough the evening before and put it in the fridge/cool place overnight. Sourdough takes ages to puff and it might be stressful to get your pizza ready for dinner time.


Thanks for the tip. I am learning that sourdough does take forever to puff. I am also learning that if I make the dough in the mid morning in the day before I want to use it it has a much more sour flavor which I am really enjoying. I started my pizza dough for this evening yesterday at 11am. I added a bunch of garlic and herb, thyme and rosemary. Bread is a great way to use up random from the spice cabinet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 20, 2021, 08:59:40 AM
@MountainGal - happy belated birthday! Love the idea for skinny margaritas and we definitely make our own mix as well. We can't get through all of the citrus fruit with that, though, or margaritas would need to be our primary beverage. ;-)

-I used up most of the remaining fried rice (takeout, son's birthday) for breakfast, adding eggs & bacon. One serving left.
-Last night, I ate the remaining two pieces of flatbread, while the boys had teriyaki chicken & rice. Fridge - almost cleared out! These are exciting times.
-Continued mixing the OJ with son's juice
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 24, 2021, 08:18:30 AM
-We've eaten another freezer meal (taco slaw) & prepped taco meat. We have a bit leftover in the fridge of each, but they've been moved out of the freezer.
-I've been eating a seasoned bulgur side dish on top of my taco salads. It's okay, not my favorite
-I've continued to add OJ to the other juices, and have now gotten rid of a large jug of fresh squeezed juice.

I have a head of bok choy leftover from a recipe. I've never cooked with bok choy. Any ideas? Favorite ways to use it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 24, 2021, 12:45:11 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, what a problem that would be:  Margaritas as a main beverage.  ;)  Regarding bok choy, I've steamed it as well as used it in stir fries.  It's good stuff!

Last weekend:
~I made Muddy Buddies out of the remaining chocolate Chex cereal and mini marshmallows leftover from Christmas baking.
~DH added one of the jars of apricot (not peach, I was mistaken last week) to two pork tenderloins before grilling them.  I gave a jar to a neighbor, and will give a third to yet another neighbor.
~Found a tea recipe for the mulling spices, now it's a matter of drinking it.
~I also found a recipe to use the cherry chipotle which I'll make in a few weeks.
~We'll have one of two containers leftover white chicken chili from the freezer for dinner Friday night.
~And because I bought both cherry and snacking tomatoes last week, I've been adding them to suppers as a side and to my lunch salads whenever possible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 01, 2021, 03:23:10 PM
The white chicken chili reheated really well Friday night!  I topped it with mozzarella and served it with breadsticks and veggies.  Over the weekend, I also:

~Made tuna casserole which used up a small container of sour cream, cream cheese, a bag of broccoli and cauliflower, a partial can of coconut milk, a remaining package of mozzarella, and 3 cans tuna
~Made blackberry baked oatmeal which used up a bag of blackberries, the rest of a container of oatmeal, and the rest of the coconut milk
~Made artichoke dip which used up artichokes, some mayo, and parmesan cheese
~Doctored up a grilled pizza which used up most of the pepperoni.  I served it with sauteed portobello mushrooms

~Tonight will be locally raised turkey and bacon quesadillas which will use up the sliced turkey from the freezer.  I'll serve them with the reamaining two flounder fillets.  Yay!  Also included will be the last avocado and open can of black olives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 02, 2021, 11:00:45 AM
DH used up a the last portion of a pack of rice and used up a jar with teryjaki (not sure about spelling) sauce. He also used some of my home made Kim chi.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 02, 2021, 03:56:12 PM
Thanks, @MountainGal - bok choy has now been used!

We've been pretty on top of the food waste. We had to toss an entire Costco container of cauliflower, but that was day after purchase, because it smelled so bad the entire fridge was stinky.

I ate through the current batch of protein balls, made the 14 y.o. a chicken caesar salad for lunch, and need to start stocking up on more easy lunch options for the kids. They are both back to playing full sports, with our county moving into a lower COVID tier. With that, comes more laundry & more food consumption.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 03, 2021, 11:48:51 AM
~DH made spaghetti sauce from scratch last night, which used up a package of ground beef, ground pork, and various cans of tomatoes.  I served my sauce on top of baby spinach in lieu of pasta.
~Tonight's shrimp supper will use up more baby spinach, and the asparagus.
~Tomorrow night I'm making a stir fry which will use a zucchini, yellow squash, and a can of chicken.  This will empty the fresh produce drawer leaving just 3 turnips and some baby spinach.
~I just had the rest of Sunday night's cauliflower crust pizza for lunch.
~I moved various almost empty jars of jam and preserves from the back of the fridge to the front so DH might remember to use them on his morning toast.  I'll then wash the empty jars for reuse elsewhere.
~While doing the above, I found a 2/3 full jar of jalapeno jelly.  I love that stuff!  I'll combine it with cream cheese and serve it with pork rinds sometime this weekend.
~Also this weekend, I am going to make keto chocolates using store brand macadamia nuts which aren't very tasty by themselves.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 04, 2021, 07:30:24 AM
Made cheese rolls for lunch out of leftover spring roll sheets, leftover mozzarella and leftover cheese (added some pepper and basil). Tasted great and DD could not be happier!

So now the fridge is close to empty and grocery delivery is tonight. Dinner will be from the freezer (defrosted some ham, some potato patties and will add some canned veggies and leftover celery sticks / cherry tomatoes / bell pepers).

The only thing that needs meal planning is the kitchen cabinet, which is still overflowing. No food left on the counter top anymore, so I count that as progress.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on March 04, 2021, 08:26:58 AM
Used one packet of Lipton Recipe Ranch powdered dressing in a meatloaf. Not crazy about the taste, so have to come up with another option for the remaining packet.

Thinking about making some more oatmeal raisin cookies, in order to use up some more of the ancient but still usable Karo corn syrup in the cabinet.   

Update: Didn't make the cookies. Decided to make some more meatloaf, with the large amount of hamburger I have. Tore open the ranch powder, thinking I would only use half a packet this time, didn't like the smell of it, mercilessly and callously threw it out.   Made the meatloaf a different way. Turned out fine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 04, 2021, 08:46:06 PM
-Defrosted homemade meat sauce from the freezer for dinner tonight. Added the half empty jar of Ragu from the fridge, along with a few meatballs.
-Used four different tiny containers of leftovers (pulled chicken, fajita chicken/veggies, bok choy/rice, tomato salsa) & dumped them all onto a plate for dinner. The flavors were surprisingly fine together, and I'm thrilled to clean out the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 05, 2021, 12:31:14 PM
@Dutch Comfort, those cheese rolls sound delicious!

DH finished the small jar of strawberry preserves, and the rather cute jar cleaned up nicely.

I took yesterday off from work, and nibbled on a lone piece of banana bread and a bit of ice cream, both from the freezer.

Sunday I'll use up the rest of the baby spinach with our beer can chicken.

For Monday's college basketball game night, from the freezer I'll serve appetizers leftover from the holidays and Super Bowl Sunday:  Taquitos, mini quiche, and Little Smokies wrapped in crescent roll dough.

And yesterday I noticed we have two open tortilla packages.  So, next Tuesday will be burritos, and Wednesday will be turkey and bacon wraps.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 08, 2021, 02:17:21 AM
We have eaten the last selfcaught fish. That was a lot of free food, but it won't stay good in the freezer forever. So I am glad we finished it.

Tonight I plan to make a dish with some of the freen beans and peas that we have in the freezer.

Currently we have an acceptable amount of meat and no fish at all in the freezer. But I haven't made much of a dent in the selfpicked greens. Maybe I should make some green burgers.

And I still have a lot of mushrooms to handle. I will try to desalinate the last part of my salted mushrooms. The first time I tried, that didn't work good enough and they tasted way too salty. I will do many more rounds of cooking now and see it I can save them. Salting looked like one of the easy preservation methods, and it is. But it is one of the most hassle to use afterwards. While confiting in oil is more hassle upfront, but easy to use afterwards.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 08, 2021, 06:30:39 AM
My partner (who currently lives a 2-day drive away) has come for an extended visit.  Hooray!  One of the benefits is that I'll be able to go through my freezer and pantry foods more quickly.  My goal is to pick some of the oldest freezer foods each week and design a meal around them.  This weekend, we made homemade focaccia and used it to make roasted eggplant and goat cheese sandwiches (eggplant and goat cheese from the freezer).  We also made pumpkin-millet-chocolate chip muffins that used up some cooked butternut squash from the freezer and chocolate chips that are past their best-buy date.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 08, 2021, 11:21:39 AM
@Linea_Norway, please tell us about your green burger recipe!

@SquashingDebt, so glad you get to see your partner.  How do you prep the eggplant for freezing?

Over the weekend:
~I made blueberry pancakes from the homemade mix I prepared and jarred a few months ago.  Just add milk, and one egg, and blueberries in this instance and we were good to go.  It used up the rest of the thawed blueberries.
~Last night we had 3 different leftover veggies with our beer can chicken.
~Next Monday we'll have leftover peach pork from the freezer from December.
~I didn't get to making the macadamia chocolates yet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on March 08, 2021, 01:40:05 PM
@MountainGal I roast it with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Usually cubed, but these were slices.  It's great tossed in pasta dishes or grain bowls, or as a pizza topping.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 09, 2021, 03:11:20 AM
@MountainGal

Green burgers are lots of selfpicked plants, or green veggies. Chopped fine in a kitchen machine. Mixed with mashed beans, some eggs, some flour and herbs and spices. You could also add additional protein products, like milk powder.
Baked in a skillet.

I am not so presise when cooking. I am sure there are recipees only for burgers made of weeds.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 09, 2021, 02:57:29 PM
Thank you very much, @SquashingDebt and @Linea_Norway!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on March 16, 2021, 01:25:58 PM
I really like the crushed nuts plus creamy sauce or mustard to bread fish. Great idea.

IKEA just published a free cookbook about using up scraps. Lots of ideas similar to what we usually see in this thread, and a few new ideas like banana peel bacon that looks pretty good. Of course, the cookbook also has lots of pictures of their kitchen products, but the idea still seemed worth sharing. Here is the Scrapsbook https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/a1/bb/a1bb8178/scrapsbook.pdf?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210316_NEWS_IF_CA_en_ScrapcookingEbook_AWAR_Email_1_1_V3&sfmc_id=52999047&utm_term=B_SplitText_BTN_1 (https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/a1/bb/a1bb8178/scrapsbook.pdf?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210316_NEWS_IF_CA_en_ScrapcookingEbook_AWAR_Email_1_1_V3&sfmc_id=52999047&utm_term=B_SplitText_BTN_1)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 16, 2021, 08:06:38 PM
We are attempting to adjust our eating again, after things have opened back up here, and the kids are once again all in with sports. I need to remember that I can't make dinners during the week & need to get back to our system of prepping food on weekends and reheating during the week.

As for today, I valiantly attempted to eat an overcooked chicken dinner my son prepped for us in advance. I had popcorn instead. In my defense, the popcorn has been in the pantry for awhile.

For lunch, I had leftover grilled chicken on a salad. For dinner tonight, my husband will have a piece of cauliflower crust pizza, coleslaw, & salmon. (All leftovers.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 17, 2021, 05:05:47 AM
We are attempting to adjust our eating again, after things have opened back up here, and the kids are once again all in with sports. I need to remember that I can't make dinners during the week & need to get back to our system of prepping food on weekends and reheating during the week.

As for today, I valiantly attempted to eat an overcooked chicken dinner my son prepped for us in advance. I had popcorn instead. In my defense, the popcorn has been in the pantry for awhile.

For lunch, I had leftover grilled chicken on a salad. For dinner tonight, my husband will have a piece of cauliflower crust pizza, coleslaw, & salmon. (All leftovers.)

Still, it is good for him that your son learns to cook. And in the beginning everything is difficult and he will fail a lot. Overcooked chicken can be good if it is slow cooked in sauce. Or in the oven in a baking bag with fluid in it. Maybe you should teach him that?
The budget bytes slow cooked chicken tiki massala (with a lot more spices than in the recipee) is really nice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 17, 2021, 08:15:02 AM
We are attempting to adjust our eating again, after things have opened back up here, and the kids are once again all in with sports. I need to remember that I can't make dinners during the week & need to get back to our system of prepping food on weekends and reheating during the week.

As for today, I valiantly attempted to eat an overcooked chicken dinner my son prepped for us in advance. I had popcorn instead. In my defense, the popcorn has been in the pantry for awhile.

For lunch, I had leftover grilled chicken on a salad. For dinner tonight, my husband will have a piece of cauliflower crust pizza, coleslaw, & salmon. (All leftovers.)

Still, it is good for him that your son learns to cook. And in the beginning everything is difficult and he will fail a lot. Overcooked chicken can be good if it is slow cooked in sauce. Or in the oven in a baking bag with fluid in it. Maybe you should teach him that?
The budget bytes slow cooked chicken tiki massala (with a lot more spices than in the recipee) is really nice.

We've tried meal kits & he does very well with the recipe & instructions. This was one of the rare fails. Our problem right now is time. Kids activities & sports are re-opening now due to reduced COVID restrictions, and our kids are just very busy & need rides when I'd normally prep food (or, have one of the teenagers cook).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on March 21, 2021, 08:59:30 AM
Yesterday I cooked a jambalaya mix that's been taking up space in my pantry for 3 years. Added some beef sausages in it that everyone's been refusing to eat. DH ate it last night and liked it. Its a triple win because I'm also headed on vacation in a week and its helping me not grocery shop.
Also slowly working my way through an 8 oz container of red curry sauce. That stuff lasts forever at 2 Tbsp per recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on March 21, 2021, 09:10:14 AM


The concept of eating everything in your house vs having enough food to survive 2 weeks without shopping is a fine balance. I like to have stuff in store, like now when the shops have been out of lentils for 2 weeks. I wish I had bought many mire packs last time they had it, as it is such a convenient ingredient to use.


It sure is! I seem to be at the point where the stuff that's left over was purchased on a whim and isn't very appealing, or isn't the type of thing we make on a regular basis. So I see my eating through journey as a way to be able later to purchase things that are regularly used and are a good idea to keep 2 weeks of. I definitely cannot buy as many jars or bottles of sauces as I have in the past.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 21, 2021, 06:14:29 PM
had some leftovers to use up today. And came up with a soup that was so damn good I am sad I will never be able to reproduce it.
 
I had some cincinnati chili leftover, some cooked cabbage from St. Pattys Day, some bacon, some beef leftover from last night, I took all of that added some onion, mushrooms, carrot, canned tomato and stock from my freezer along with some white beans. I cooked it all down added some taco seasoning, and some onion powder that needs to be used up.

It turned out like the best stuffed cabbage (minus the rice) soup I have ever had. The seasoning from the chili made it unbelievable.

Take this as a tip sometimes thinks workout to be the best thing to eat ever.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 21, 2021, 08:08:03 PM
@seemsright - that sounds delicious.

Over the last few days:
-2 containers of curry out of the freezer
-1 container of Keto chili (note to self, don't make again, it's not popular) out of the freezer
-My husband made mashed potatoes out of the last of a bag that was very close to going bad
-Used an orange from our tree in a cranberry muffin recipe. Bonus: used yogurt from the fridge & frozen cranberries
-Used rosemary (from our planters) on steak
-Used leftovers from a Blue Apron meal (brussel sprouts & potatoes) to go with steak tonight
-Cut up the last container of strawberries that were about to go bad, and put them in the freezer for smoothies

And, in a heroic move, discovered a partially opened bottle of champagne (from last night) in the freezer, and we had it by the pool today while the kids were both out for a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 23, 2021, 12:42:24 PM
The champagne sounds fun, @MaybeBabyMustache!

It's been quite the few weeks!  Lately:

~Finished up the last three drink mix packets given to us by a neighbor's mom
~Finished up the last of a bottle of mayo
~Per my request, DH used the remaining bit of a jar of BBQ sauce
~Ate down all but one bag of frozen vegetables before last week's grocery pickup
~Gave the 6 remaining bags of chamomile tea to a neighbor whose daughter was under the weather.  Bought another box last week.
~We (finally) secured a time-frame for the half cow we've been waiting for.  We'll go halves with a widowed friend of ours.
~Still working on the frozen appetizers from holiday season and the Super Bowl.  We'll have more taquitos tonight, and perhaps mini quiche sometime later this week?

I need to make another batch of homemade pancake mix and taco seasoning blend soon.  Oh, and I still haven't gotten to making the macadamia nut chocolates, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on March 23, 2021, 06:09:15 PM
had some leftovers to use up today. And came up with a soup that was so damn good I am sad I will never be able to reproduce it.
 
I had some cincinnati chili leftover, some cooked cabbage from St. Pattys Day, some bacon, some beef leftover from last night, I took all of that added some onion, mushrooms, carrot, canned tomato and stock from my freezer along with some white beans. I cooked it all down added some taco seasoning, and some onion powder that needs to be used up.

That soup sounds awesome. I still remember a soup from leftovers I had as a teen that a neighbour made, it had mashed potatoes, and various other things that can never be replicated but it was so tasty.

I used up the last of some roasted red peppers plus their oil in a fried rice dish. I also used fresh and frozen veg and a half piece of breaded chicken left over from supper, and fried an egg in it. So good. The red pepper jar was a gift that I didn't know what to do with at first. Then I discovered adding it to rice and eggs and I will definitely be buying more if I see it in the store.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 23, 2021, 08:19:37 PM
-Baked up the last of a bag of tater tots from the bottom of the freezer
-Managed to reheat leftover steak without making it inedible
-Used the last of the brussel sprouts
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on March 27, 2021, 10:57:31 AM
had some leftovers to use up today. And came up with a soup that was so damn good I am sad I will never be able to reproduce it.
 
I had some cincinnati chili leftover, some cooked cabbage from St. Pattys Day, some bacon, some beef leftover from last night, I took all of that added some onion, mushrooms, carrot, canned tomato and stock from my freezer along with some white beans. I cooked it all down added some taco seasoning, and some onion powder that needs to be used up.

It turned out like the best stuffed cabbage (minus the rice) soup I have ever had. The seasoning from the chili made it unbelievable.

Take this as a tip sometimes thinks workout to be the best thing to eat ever.

Many years ago my sister worked at a restaurant that was mostly a lunch during the workweek place.   On Fridays they had "Hobo Soup/Stew" which was apparently all the  leftovers from the week that were still good but wouldn't be by Monday.  Some people didn't understand why it wasn't the same the second time they ordered it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 27, 2021, 08:04:12 PM
had some leftovers to use up today. And came up with a soup that was so damn good I am sad I will never be able to reproduce it.
 
I had some cincinnati chili leftover, some cooked cabbage from St. Pattys Day, some bacon, some beef leftover from last night, I took all of that added some onion, mushrooms, carrot, canned tomato and stock from my freezer along with some white beans. I cooked it all down added some taco seasoning, and some onion powder that needs to be used up.

It turned out like the best stuffed cabbage (minus the rice) soup I have ever had. The seasoning from the chili made it unbelievable.

Take this as a tip sometimes thinks workout to be the best thing to eat ever.

Many years ago my sister worked at a restaurant that was mostly a lunch during the workweek place.   On Fridays they had "Hobo Soup/Stew" which was apparently all the  leftovers from the week that were still good but wouldn't be by Monday.  Some people didn't understand why it wasn't the same the second time they ordered it.

That place sounds like a fun place to work at. I can never repeat the same dish. While I was learning how to cook I decided to learn how flavors went together than recipes. I have friends who cannot understand how I can open the fridge and make dinner. For example tonight I had some Greek seasoned chicken breast that was grilled leftover, about a cup of tomato sauce leftover, some sad looking fresh spinach, a half of a shallot. and a jar of sun dried tomatoes in olive oil in the back of my fridge, I took all of that and added some cooked pasta, topped with some chopped hazelnuts from the pantry that was leftover from pancakes from a few weekends ago. OMG...it was so good. and it helped clean out the containers from the fridge and in the morning I will fry a egg and eat the leftovers cold for brunch.

I have enough random in my fridge that I am concentrating using all of it up this week. I have some miso paste, tofu, eggs, some carrots, and a cabbage. Some kimchi. So I am thinking miso soup and kimchi fried rice for our main meals, I may also make some sourdough english muffins and make some breakfast sandwiches. I am sure I have some random in my freezer and we will make awesome meals for not much effort and the best part is my 10 year old does dishes...:)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on March 28, 2021, 12:41:40 PM
Drizzly Sunday morning, so perfect for making pancakes. I finally used up the last few ounces of the expensive blueberry syrup on them. Quite good.

I rinsed and shook out the bottle completely with cold water and put it in the glass recycling (for the win, lol).

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: horsepoor on March 28, 2021, 10:53:29 PM
I have accidentally ended up with 5 large ripe avocadoes, so it looks like it's time to make guac and freeze some of it unless some of them are nasty when I cut them open.

This morning made a breakfast hash with some leftover veggies and chorico. More leftovers for dinner tonight.

Yesterday I finally cut into the pineapple that has been ripening on the counter for a few weeks. It's cut up in the fridge and I've been snacking on it so it should be gone in a few days.

The food supply in our house seems to have swelled again, so this week will be about using things up and not shopping at least until we run out of eggs and veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on April 01, 2021, 01:03:25 PM
Gave in to my frugal streak, and used some very old frozen margarine to bake some flounder and halibut. It was OK, but had an off taste of some sort. Maybe that's just what margarine tastes, like, I don't know.

Anyway, I had almost a whole pound of the frozen margarine left over, and even though it was edible, it tasted enough 'off', and nowhere near as good as butter,  that I convinced myself it was OK to throw it out. 

Yay! One less clutter item in the fridge. I have another pound of old frozen margarine to check out next. Probably will be tossing it out too. Depends how it tastes. Woohoo !     
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 02, 2021, 10:18:41 AM
Happy Friday, everyone!

Over the past week and a half:
~Used up two packages of tortillas, an open can of black olives, a can of green chilies, and cheddar cheese to make 1.5 pans beef enchiladas.  Served on the side was one of two ripe avocados.
~A tuna casserole used two cans of tuna, and the rest of a jar of mayo.
~A stir fry used up the HUGE bok choy and three portobello mushrooms
~Snack plates took care of the strawberries, some cherry tomatoes, a bit of cheese, and remaining pepperoni slices
~Last night's veggie frittata used up the cherry tomatoes and the 2/3 bag of baby spinach
~Tonight's homemade cupcakes will use up some baking goods, along with a tub of frosting bought 1.5 years ago
~Sunday's salmon and next Wednesday's pork chops will use the jar of cherry chipotle sauce given to us at Christmas

I finally made the taco seasoning blend.  Haven't gotten to mixing up another batch of pancake mix or chocolate mac nut clusters.  :)

Happy weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 02, 2021, 12:50:18 PM
I used two overly ripe bananas from the freezer, plus four ripe bananas from the counter to make sugar free/almond flour muffins for my husband. He didn't want chocolate chips, so I added in a bit of chopped ground peanuts I had leftover from a recipe. I only had a crumb that was stuck to the muffin tin, but they are definitely not sweet. A hint of sweetness from the bananas, but i suppose in positive news, he won't have to worry about the teens making their way to the kitchen & eating all of his muffins. ;-)

In case anyone wants to check out the recipe:
https://ifoodreal.com/almond-flour-banana-muffins/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 12, 2021, 10:48:02 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, that recipe sounds delicious, and will fit our household's needs nicely.  I bookmarked it for future use.

Lately:
~Been focusing on some ripe avocados by serving them as supper sides
~Put the rest of the peanut butter filled pretzels and mixed nuts into containers for lunches
~Made deviled eggs with the leftover Easter eggs
~Poured the remaining jalapeno jelly over cream cheese and ate it with chips
~Easter ham and potatoes went a long way for lunch leftovers
~Made a supper of leftovers:  seared salmon covered in a Christmas gift basket cherry chutney sauce, a bit of ranch beans from earlier in the week, leftover restaurant beef brisket and 1/4 baked potato, a quartered strawberry, and deviled eggs from the week prior.
~Friday night was finger food night which included some mini quiche from holiday season.  Just half a tray left!
~Sliced a cucumber and two bell peppers for lunches
~Per my direction, DH put the rest of the artichoke hearts and spicy pickles into containers for his lunches
~The rest of the fridge fresh produce is the focus for the next few days

Here's to an upcoming grocery pickup!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on April 12, 2021, 02:09:55 PM
Baked a nice apple pie from a few wrinkled apples, some yoghurt instead of butter, a few eggs and some leftover flour. Taste was very good and it was gone in 2 days.
Just 1 orange left in the fruit basket. Refill is tomorrow, so good planning!
Holiday is in 2 weeks, so I try to empty the fridge before we leave.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 12, 2021, 06:12:05 PM
-We're having lasagna tonight, and before a store trip, I remembered that we had a leftover jar of tomato sauce. Used that up.
-Made protein bars to keep in the freezer (using up peanut butter, honey, oats, etc) for an easy homemade snack
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dee_the_third on April 13, 2021, 06:27:43 PM
Items to use up from last year's garden:
-frozen roasted green peppers
-canned jalapenos
-a bunch of canned serviceberry jam
-a quart of dried tomatoes
-cheese & sausage (not from the garden)


Meal plan:
-green chicken chili (peppers, jalapenos)
-jam bars (serviceberry jam)
-pizza (tomatoes immersion blended with oil to make a concentrated sauce, cheese, sausage) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on April 14, 2021, 04:42:39 AM
I need to use up some frozen chicken thighs, frozen apple slices from the fall, artichokes and two large eggplants. This is the meal plan for tonight:

chicken thighs in the instant pot (need to decide on a recipe)
mashed potatoes
artichokes - steamed with olive oil dip

dessert - apple crumble and the rest of the ice cream in the freezer

I'm also planning to make preserved eggplants under oil to consume with my future lunches:https://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/2007/07/16/eggplant-melanzane-sottolio/ (https://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/2007/07/16/eggplant-melanzane-sottolio/)


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on April 14, 2021, 06:14:46 AM
Made DD French Toast for lunch, she did not complain and it used up the last few slices of bread.
Made myself a chicken sandwich from leftover smoked chicken, some greens and mustard.
Tonight will be baked potatoes, some meat from the freezer (need to decide on which one....) and some canned veggies / celery sticks / carrots. This will give more room in my fridge. Planning on cleaning it before we leave for holiday next week, so it should be pretty empty by then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on April 14, 2021, 10:20:26 PM
I need to clean my fridge. The most annoying chore ever. So this week I just forgot to go to the store. I had major side effects due to the first covid vaccine and I just did not feel good. So I did not go. I am using this week to start teaching my preteen that cooking and making things biased on what what is on hand and no recipes is a major skill.

So tonight (and tmrw eve) we will have some grilled chicken thighs, and salads. I made some potato salad, using up cooked potatoes, some pickled carrots, random fridge door condiments, some boiled eggs, and a chopped onion. I made some cole slaw with some cabbage that needed to be used and a green bean salad with frozen green beans that have been in the freezer for a very long time. I was able to use up the homemade vinaigrette that was in the back of the fridge. A great dinner that hit the spot.

We used tonights dinner to explain to DD that I am not going to the store, there are some frozen berries in the freezer, some bags of frozen veggies, and cheese sticks in the bottom of the fridge. So she has what I make for meals, and we have a fruit source, a veggie source and a dairy source so as long as our food groups are accomplished we are not going to the store. We also have a stocked pantry and some proteins in the freezer. So I figure we should be good for a while.

It is nice to have a DD who is becoming old enough to not freak out that we are out of milk...or bananas.

And I will be able to get my fridge sparkling clean here in a week or two. So all is good. It is fun and a great teaching episode.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on April 21, 2021, 09:24:02 AM
Pre-holiday fridge cleaning in full progress. I can see the fridge emptying itself (well..... all family members help). So far no complaints from anybody, they just know I'm not going to the supermarket for only 1-2 things, so this is what they will eat for the remainder of the week!
Dinners:
Yesterday: made baked potatoes, green beans and some meat from the freezer
Today: I think it will be pasta with a salad on the side
Tomorrow: more green beans, some meat and a bag of pre-cut potatoes still waiting to be eaten
Friday: will make a pizza and put on whatever veggies/ham/sausage I can still find in the fridge.

Lunches:
Yesterday: sandwich with leftover boiled eggs
Today: salad from celery, cucumber, beans and some leftover grilled chicken
Tomorrow: sandwiches stuffed with leftover boiled ham/cheese and leftover salad (if any)
Friday: leftover pasta

We should be pretty cleaned out by then.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 21, 2021, 01:55:34 PM
It's been a busy week, so I've loved having a few prepped meals in the freezer:
-We finished off the chicken enchiladas my dad made last week
-I made a bag of edamame for dinner last night. It had been in the freezer for a long while
-Tonight we're having leftover lasagna, and turning the leftover French bread into garlic bread
-I'm working through the giant tub of bok choy my husband brought home on a whim
-We're using the garden radishes in salads, and I think I'll sautee the greens with some of the bok choy
-I finally finished off a giant container of spicy pickle almonds. The flavor was actually great, despite the unusual combo
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 23, 2021, 04:10:39 PM
It's been a busy few weeks here, too.  I am currently munching on the remaining bit of Gouda purchased a few months ago paired with deli turkey slices.  Lately:

~I brought the last of the cherry tomatoes and feta stuffed olives with me on a business trip
~Baked 6 more mini quiche to serve with dinner
~Brought cucumber slices to eat on the trail while camping
~Sauteed zucchini and asparagus were enough for two suppers and a lunch
~Ate the rest of the strawberries with yogurt earlier today
~I need to dive in to the unopened bag of baby spinach.  We'll have some in veggie wraps on Monday, and in taco salads Tuesday
~Wednesday we'll have the shirataki noodles I bought last month, with shrimp and the veggie stir fry mix purchased earlier this year
~Next Friday grilled blue cheese burgers will take care of the rest of the blue cheese bought a few months ago

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 23, 2021, 04:30:43 PM
@MountainGal - let me know what time I should be over next Friday! :-)

-The sauteed radish greens were really great (so said my husband) with olive oil, garlic salt & a little red pepper.
-Added orange juice (juiced from yard oranges) into my son's apple juice for smoothies. He thinks he doesn't like "yard orange juice". He's been drinking it for months ;-)
-My teen turned leftover French bread into garlic bread

Up next:
-I've defrosted four bananas to make into muffins for the freezer tomorrow
-I need to juice all of the lemons tomorrow. I fell while running & have road rash on my palms, so may need to bribe one of the kids to help. Can't imagine the lemon juice will be a lot of fun with the road rash
-Tonight we're having some sort of spicy (pre-made) chicken that my husband bought on impulse at Costco. I'll make it with cheese tortellini that's been sitting in the fridge, and salad
-Oh, and I'll do my best to have the last glass of wine. #hardships :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 26, 2021, 07:29:18 PM
Here's what we've been up to:

-Turned overripe bananas into muffins
-Cut spinach from the garden, added the past their prime baby bok choy, and sauteed for dinner. Added a small container of ponzu sauce, from a meal prep kit from months ago
-Served leftover salmon to my husband
-Made a quesadilla to use the last of cheese my parents bought for lasagna
-Used garden cilantro for curry & pico de gallo. Bonus, used garden jalapenos for the pico de gallo
-Juiced up all of our lemons, and now have a giant jug in the fridge. Fortunately/unfortunately, a neighbor dropped off 15 lbs of more lemons in a door ditch style drop off, because she has so many her tree is literally falling over. So, more lemons for me :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 28, 2021, 01:23:13 PM
Anytime, @MaybeBabyMustache!  :)

~I baked up the rest of the mini quiche Saturday night.  Yay!
~Served the rest of the rather sad cherry tomatoes with last night's catfish
~Blueberries were used as part of a snack plate in between chores on Saturday, and the rest in blueberry pancakes the next day
~Two very ripe avocados were served with Monday's meatless salad wraps and in a crema on top of last night's catfish
~I chopped up the other celery bunch to be eaten for lunches
~I ate the rest of the Halo Top ice cream and used up a jar of the homemade "hot fudge" I made with the failed Christmas fudge
~I'll saute the yellow squash and zucchini to serve with the burgers this Friday.  Because the grill will be on, DH will make his infamous cheddar, cream cheese, and bacon wrapped jalapenos

It will soon be time for a fresh produce restock.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: marion10 on April 28, 2021, 07:23:48 PM
Made shakshuka ( eggs poached in tomato sauce) with some leftover spaghetti sauce, a can of crushed tomatoes and a little can of tomato sauce. Served over some French bread I had in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 04, 2021, 07:49:27 PM
We're clearing our vacation house out of stuff, so I'll be adding in those wins as well.

-Brought tea in my suit case, and have already started making my way through the stash
-Cut spinach from the garden, and used in dinner
-Used up two leftover hamburger buns for dinner tonight
-Finished off the remaining burgers my husband made this weekend (leftovers tonight)
-Found a package of takeout ranch lingering in the fridge (I've got nothing, other than...I have teens). Served that with the burgers & the teen diners were quite happy.
-A neighbor gave us a bag of groceries as she was on her way out of town. Kiddo 1 polished off one of the apples, and I've added celery to our salad. We knew we wouldn't eat the gorgeous loaf of bakery bread, so I redistributed that to another neighbor.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 06, 2021, 05:49:10 PM
We've been making good progress this week, largely because I was out of town over the weekend, so didn't have time to prep new food:

-Defrosted chicken curry. Had that for one dinner, a lunch, and have enough leftover for one more dinner. Used up leftover rice with the curry.
-Keep cutting back the spinach daily, & using that for dinner. I've been sauteeing it, but used it for a salad tonight instead. Also, used radishes from the garden.
-Keeping with the theme, cut back a bunch of basil that's now been taken over by a giant tomato plant in our raised beds. Used the basil on top of tonight's salad, and with the kebabs.
-Dinner tonight - kebabs & grilled tomatoes (both from the freezer). The kids will have them with toasted & buttered leftover hamburger buns.
-Also, convinced one of the kids to juice all of our lemons while I was out of town. I've been loving lemon water & drink a lot of it, but it's been giving me heart burn, so I'm back to regular water to see if that helps. Instead, I use the lemon juice with olive oil/salt/pepper as our salad dressing.
-Almost finished off the giant bag of Costco celery my husband bought. We had an issue with our shopping list app not syncing properly, and we didn't have a use for it, and those bags are big! Of course, a neighbor gave us a new bag of celery, so that comes next. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 07, 2021, 01:18:43 PM
Phew what a week!

It's time to clear out our garage freezer to make room for the locally raised 1/4 cow we bought.  Lately:

~Had a leftover container of chicken chili I made earlier this year.
~Warmed up the leftover enchilada meat from last month and toasted it on the griddle with cheddar inside low carb tortillas.
~DH took a container of the enchiladas to work for lunch.
~Had two finally ripened avocado as a side with two different suppers.
~Rotated several packages of frozen veggies from the garage freezer to the kitchen freezer.
~Used up some baby spinach in a cauliflower cream spinach bake and in an antipasto salad.
~Last night we had the salmon filet and half bag of breaded shrimp with the rest of the antipasto salad.
~Sunday we'll use up a pound of store bought ground beef to make burgers and serve them in portobello buns.
~Been eating pork rinds and almonds as snacks to eat down the supply.
~Currently in the slow cooker is the 4 remaining chicken drumsticks from a few months ago.
~Next week we'll have another pound of store bought ground beef in a slow cooker meatloaf.

Warm weather is here, so it's time to start using the slow cooker again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 07, 2021, 01:27:29 PM
Nice work, @MountainGal . We need to clean out our freezer. We have so much in there, it's driving me bananas.

I did finish the last of the curry today, so one more item out of the freezer & fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 12, 2021, 01:46:00 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!

The garage freezer is now nearly empty.  All that is left are game hens (they don't fit well in the kitchen freezer) and tonight's frozen pizza.  I brought several pounds of store bought ground beef, bags of frozen veggies and blueberries, a few bags of leftover ham from Easter, and a ham hock to the kitchen freezer.    Lately:

~We warmed up the container of white chicken chili and ate it with a side salad
~I made a breakfast frittata with leftover ground beef and added eggs and cheddar
~DH brought the container of leftover ham hocks and beans for lunches this week
~The container of leftover chicken stir fry is here at the office for my lunch
~I'll bake the frozen Caulipower pizza and half the box of mac and cheese bites this evening
~Blueberries frozen last fall are finally gone, though I did find a small bag of frozen raspberries hiding in the freezer basket
~The yellow squash and zucchini were sauteed and stretched to three meals
~Sauteed the rest of the baby spinach and served it underneath our lightly breaded catfish fillets last night

It's grocery night tonight.  Looking forward to refilling our produce drawer.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 12, 2021, 03:34:33 PM
We've made a tiny dent in our freezer supplies:
-I've eaten some Keto breakfast sandwiches for lunch
-I've made chicken sandwiches (chicken from the freezer) for the kids a few times
-We used a container of taco meat, & a package of kebabs

We've done a good job working through the fresh produce. We can't keep blueberries on hand, because the kids eat through them so quickly. We're talking 4-5 Costco sized packages of blueberries. Never have to worry about waste there. :-)

My husband accidentally bought two packages of bread at Costco (and, they are double loaves), but the teens managed to polish off 2.5 loaves, and I stuck the other package in the freezer, with the newly created space.

We keep trimming the spinach, herbs & harvesting radishes for our salads. I'm almost done with the second package of celery that a neighbor gave us. Hurrah.

I did have to toss some heavy cream that got pushed to the back of the fridge. I hate it when that happens.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on May 15, 2021, 10:53:36 AM
Discovered I am going to need to travel several times this summer for family reasons, and we are coming up on hurricane season--I usually try to eat down the fridge and freezer in summer so that if we have a power outage I don't lose a lot of expensive food. I'm also ready to cut back on the size of the pantry I feel the need to keep on hand now that I'm fully vaccinated and can go to the grocery store more often.

Made a batch of tahini blondies and used up the end of a jar of sesame seeds.

Invented a pasta dish which used up a jar of sauce, bag of pasta, mushrooms that needed to go, sausage and shrimp.

Made a gnocchi recipe which used up gnocchi, asparagus and arugula.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 15, 2021, 10:56:30 AM
-Ate the last of a breakfast burrito, I found buried in the depths of the freezer
-Continued to eat the garden radishes & spinach in our salads, and sauteeing the radish greens
-I try to avoid too many carbs, but my picky eater didn't like the Kodiak waffles I purchased, so I've finished off bag 1 of 2
-Finished about 1/2 of the tea I brought back from our vacation house we're selling
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 20, 2021, 03:37:33 PM
Hi everyone!

~Package one of two locally raised turkey breast from January will go into a casserole this evening.  The casserole will use up the rest of the asparagus as well.
~DH and I had a snack plate for dinner last weekend which included the rest of the cucumber.
~My WFH salad Tuesday consisted of the rest of the turkey bacon which I won't buy anytime soon, LOL.
~I made tostadas out of shredded cheddar using up the rest of the wedge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on May 20, 2021, 03:49:18 PM
Now that I'm vaccinated, I'm ready to start eating up my COVID stockpile.  It's also spring, which means I need to eat the veggies in my freezer to make room for a new round this summer.  So, time to really focus!  The added bonus is this should result in healthier meals and of course lower grocery bills.

Today is black bean tacos, with canned black beans and extra sauce from a brisket that I had frozen.  Also using up some of the open tortillas in the fridge and an avocado half from yesterday.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on May 22, 2021, 05:02:05 PM
Ok, my food eating up need has suddenly just escalated!  Found out I need to move in the next few weeks.  We're only going an hour away, so I can move food, but of course less will be easier.  Here we go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 25, 2021, 05:10:15 AM
Made a casserolle from a loaf of bread, some eggs, bacon and cheese. Tasted great and I have some lunches for this week.
I was having a lot of bread from a Toogoodtogo deal (where you get the leftovers from a bakery against really low price. Price is 1/3 or less of what you would normally pay) and the kids indulged on it. Have frozen 2 loafs of bread, now I have to eat them in the near future. All other fresh items were gone in no-time (did I mention I have a pre-teen and a teen in the house???).
There is also leftover Chinese food in the fridge. Tomorrow, my teen is home from school, so I think this will be gone by then.....

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 25, 2021, 07:41:26 AM
-We finished off the burgers my husband made over the weekend. Likewise for the spaghetti & meatballs
-The kids talked my husband into two baguettes, while he was shopping over the weekend. They managed to polish those off as well.
-I've finished off a few packs of tea I brought back from our vacation house
-We continue to eat things out of the garden, which is increasing our available food. Fresh stuff is good. It's the freezer/pantry/fridge items that I need to stay on top of.
-Tonight we'll be having grilled chicken salads. The kids will likely have the chicken on the buns I just discovered in our fridge. (I was gone over the weekend, and wasn't involved in the shopping.)

I did have to toss a few of those drink packets (Crystal Light & some sort of other kind.) My son bought them, & didn't like them. I'm not a fan. I offered them on my Buy Nothing, but no takers, so into the trash they went. I don't consider these "food", but I hate the waste all the same.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 25, 2021, 01:18:04 PM
Luck to you with your move, @SquashingDebt!

~A bunch of asparagus was used as a side in two different meals
~Last Tuesday's leftover spicy ground meat went on top of Saturday night's nachos
~The mega pack of pepperoni slices bought for last month's volunteer picnic pasta salad was finally used up as pizza toppings and on top of salads
~I recently discovered bagged broccoli slaw, and boy it goes a long way! So far it's been riced to use in lieu of white rice, stir fried with last night's shrimp and shirataki noodles, and the remaining will go into tonight's chipotle cod soft tacos.

DH found new to us cauliflower potato "chips" at Sam's club last week. They're not too shabby and taste good as a corn tortilla chip replacement in nachos.  Last night, much to my chagrin, I found a moldy 1/3 small bag of mozzarella balls in the back of a drawer.  I need to keep an eye out on that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on May 25, 2021, 02:52:29 PM
^Oh no! Moldy cheese is so sad, especially when it is soft expensive cheese like that. Hard cheese I just cut it off like granny taught me and eat the rest.

Whelp, I am moving at the end of next month. It's official: eat all the food gauntlet time for me again.

I'm going to start by marinating some chicken to make fajitas. And I'm going to pester my son to make the nice steak he asked me to buy that has been sitting in the fridge all week (thankfully it still looks fresh . . . because letting a ribeye go bad would put me over the edge.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 25, 2021, 03:52:08 PM
My husband will be out of town this weekend, and he eats largely Keto, so I'll use this as an opportunity to get some stuff cleaned out of the freezer. Plans include: enchilada chicken rice (will use enchilada sauce & chicken from the freezer), chicken yakisoba (chicken from the freezer, noodles I've been trying to get out of the pantry). I'll also plan to make crockpot carnitas to use up a pork butt that's been lingering in the freezer for a while. Progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 26, 2021, 11:13:46 AM
@Zamboni, luck to you with your move as well!  Your fajitas sounds delicious.

@MaybeBabyMustache, excellent plan!

Nothing new here to report except for the fact last night's cod tacos were amazing.  I breaded the fillets along with eggplant fries with pork rinds and parmesan cheese which were crumbled in the food processor.  The remaining half of the fries will be served with tonight's meatloaf.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on May 27, 2021, 04:53:22 AM
So far on the pre-moving eat down my food:

disassembled my power outage food kit and brought the snacks foods to work to keep in my desk
ate 2 stuffed peppers from the freezer (13 left!)
made rhubarb-almond bars to use up the rhubarb I had purchased

*didn't bring any of the free veggies at work home with me*
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 27, 2021, 07:35:57 AM
I planned to defrost chicken curry from the freezer last night, but it was another dish that I need this weekend. So, defrosted a container of prepped taco meat, and we had that instead. In good news, it used up the last of the shredded cheese, 1/2 a tomato that was lingering, and we made a dent in the tortillas I bought. As recently as last year, the same size container of taco meat would easily serve us for one dinner, and at least 2 lunches, sometimes two full dinners. Last night, the container was empty at the end of dinner. I'm glad I didn't have other plans for the leftovers.

Tonight will be hot dogs (my husband grills a bunch at a time, and then freezes them). I'm unsure on sides, as we will be driving in separate directions for soccer.

And, the first zucchinis are ready to be harvested. We are going to have *SO MANY*. My husband went nuts with the planting. They've completely overtaken my raised beds.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 28, 2021, 03:50:13 PM
I need to be on top of our food, as our garden is starting to produce, & I want to make sure we have freezer space & are appropriately planning menus.

-I re-organized our snack pantry, and combined all like items, so it was easier to see what was on hand. Found a couple of my favorite dried fruit bars (the kids usually beat me to them), so had that for lunch one day
-We bought bread-less egg sandwiches for my son for easy breakfasts, but he got tired of them pretty quickly. I've been having them for lunch. I'd prefer a salad, but these work fine to.
-When I organized the snack pantry, I discovered a few protein bars that were about to expire. I've been keeping them in the car, for when I need a quick meal/snack between events. We've had a lot of soccer driving lately, so these have come in handy.
-My son used up the last of our electrolyte tablets that were about to expire. I really prefer these over sports drinks, as there's so much less waste & sugar.

Up this weekend:
-Defrosting enchilada sauce & chicken, for a chicken enchilada rice recipe that's really good.
-Using the rest of the chicken in a chicken yakisoba dish that will use up noodles that have been in the pantry for too long
-Making the kids pizza tonight, and will use up more of the pepperoni that appears to multiply in my freezer
-Make muffins out of the first (of many) zucchinis
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 30, 2021, 11:00:33 AM
I used most of the garden zucchini for zucchini muffins (which, are delicious), but had about 2/3 of a cup of shredded zucchini. I used about 1/2 of that this morning, sauteed it for a minute in a pan, and then added eggs, salt & pepper & feta cheese. Served on toast. It was great, and I didn't mind the zucchini at all.

I bought really fantastic nectarines at Costco, so we are crushing the fruit in the fridge: blueberries, strawberries, nectarines & watermelon. I love this time of the year.

My son made chicken yakisoba last night, which used up a lot of ingredients I wanted to get rid of. However, he did not do the conversion for dried ginger (in place of fresh) correctly, and ....omg was that ever spicy & overly ginger-y. I will attempt to salvage the remainder by washing it, and then adding additional cabbage & broccoli. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 31, 2021, 01:32:18 AM
Would like your recipe for zucchini muffins @MaybeBabyMustache! Sometimes I end up with half a zucchini and cannot think of a good use.
Took the last few kiwi's to the office and some leftover salad. Should be enough for the day (I need to loose around 10 pounds, so healthy food only for me).

Last night's taco-dinner used up some tomatoes, ground beef and some other bits and pieces. I love taco-dinners!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 31, 2021, 08:07:14 AM
Would like your recipe for zucchini muffins @MaybeBabyMustache! Sometimes I end up with half a zucchini and cannot think of a good use.
Took the last few kiwi's to the office and some leftover salad. Should be enough for the day (I need to loose around 10 pounds, so healthy food only for me).

Last night's taco-dinner used up some tomatoes, ground beef and some other bits and pieces. I love taco-dinners!

You can put zucchini in every wok dish, and on pizzas. Taco dinner in our home always contains zucchini.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 31, 2021, 08:47:35 AM
@Dutch Comfort - here you go! https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/zucchini_muffins/

I made a couple of changes:
-I reduced the sugar to about 3/4 of a cup (my son said it wasn't sweet enough, but the adults really liked it, so you may want to experiment.)
-I substituted one cup of almond flour for regular flour
-I used a cup of mixed nuts (recipe calls for optional 1 cup of walnuts), & gave them a rough chop in the food processor
-I did not use any dried fruit (also optional)

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 31, 2021, 06:15:57 PM
All the kitchen wins:
-Used up enchilada sauce & two containers of grilled chicken (both from the freezer) to make chicken enchilada rice. Also, used up jalapenos (freezer) from last summer, as well as yogurt before it could go bad.
-Used up more frozen jalapenos, & a pork loin languishing in the freezer for a crockpot carnitas recipe. (Will eat later this week.)
-Made oven roasted parmesan zucchini, using up quite a few herbs & zucchini from the garden
-Husband made steak with a few random steaks we found (one from a meal kit we never made, the other from a deeply discounted grocery store offer)
-Finally, the salad tonight has so many fresh ingredients from the garden: carrots, kale, mint, basil, radishes, spinach, tomatoes, etc. It's a thing of beauty
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 04, 2021, 08:32:50 AM
After prepping all of the food in the last post, we've been steadily eating it down. Unfortunately, we ran out of fresh fruit mid week (never happens, but the fruit is delicious this time of year.) I did a mini stock up last night on the way home from soccer. The store nearest to us is crazy expensive, but it will get us through until our larger grocery run.

-Continued to eat lots of yummy things out of the garden
-Salvaged most of the wildly over gingered chicken yakisoba. Rinsed it multiple times, and then added other flavors to offset the taste. Still not amazing, but passable.

Left in the fridge:
-1 serving of carnitas
-1.5 servings of chicken enchilada rice
-2-3 servings of yakisoba

I also need to make more zucchini muffins & likely sauteed zucchini again this weekend, because...all of the zucchini.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 07, 2021, 08:28:42 AM
It's t-6 days until a vacation, and we need to eat a lot of food. We food prepped over the weekend, and have SO much to eat.

Things we need to eat up ahead of Sunday:
-Ribs. Eat majority, share with neighbor's dog (backup plan)
-Potato salad. Eat majority, share with neighbor
-Burgers. Eat/freeze leftovers
-Barbecued chicken. Eat/freeze leftovers
-Pizza. Serve with dinner tonight
-So.much.fruit. Make a fruit salad to go with each dinner
-Bagged salads. Use up with dinner tonight.
-Give away all of the zucchini we pick this week
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 07, 2021, 02:31:34 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, have a wonderful time!

Lately, in no particular order (yesterday I organized the freezer and both pantries):

~Tossed some sugar free Jello envelopes that expired three years ago
~Started incorporating berries frozen last year into DH's overnight oatmeal
~From the freezer there is currently a ham hock and ham leftover from Easter, some leftover chicken broth, along with 2 cans each diced tomatoes and chilis in the slow cooker for tonight's supper.  I'll add the beans later.
~Brought sliced almonds to serve on top of yogurt here at the office
~Will (finally!) use up the macadamia nuts with dark melted chocolate for treat purposes
~Used up the rest of the cherry chutney by pouring it on top of cream cheese for dip purposes
~Researched recipes in order to incorporate ramen noodle packages and canned chicken
~Another bag of frozen cauliflower was seasoned and riced in the food processor for two different meals
~A can of chipotles in adobo has gone a long way in soft tacos and spaghetti squash, and the rest will go into next week's black bean and chicken chili
~The rest of a bag of flour went into last weekend's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Hula Hoop on June 07, 2021, 02:55:49 PM
We have a bunch of fish in the freezer that needs to be eaten including frozen salmon filets, frozen cod (I think) and frozen peeled shrimp.  I might just bake the salmon and serve with potatoes and salad and same with the white fish.  But I've never cooked frozen shrimp before.  Maybe some kind of Asian noodle dish would be good?  (we also have rice noodles and udon in the cupboard) or maybe Spanish shrimp in garlic tapas?  Any other frozen shrimp suggestions?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 07, 2021, 04:49:47 PM
No help with the fish recipes, but a few of our favorite noodle recipes that you might be able to sub or serve on the side:
Chicken yakisoba - https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-yakisoba/
Dragon noodles - https://www.budgetbytes.com/spicy-noodles/

@Hula Hoop
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 08, 2021, 01:09:23 AM
We have a bunch of fish in the freezer that needs to be eaten including frozen salmon filets, frozen cod (I think) and frozen peeled shrimp.  I might just bake the salmon and serve with potatoes and salad and same with the white fish.  But I've never cooked frozen shrimp before.  Maybe some kind of Asian noodle dish would be good?  (we also have rice noodles and udon in the cupboard) or maybe Spanish shrimp in garlic tapas?  Any other frozen shrimp suggestions?

Just stir-fry the shrimps with minced garlic and some minced peppers (to taste).
Then prepare noodles, stir-fry them with bok-soy / leek / carrots / any other veggies. Add the shrimps, maybe a little soy-sauce and enjoy a nice summer meal! Easy does it.
Or just eat the stir-fried shrimps as an appetizer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 08, 2021, 08:11:10 AM
Updates:
-Gave away 8 zucchini
-Ate majority of ribs. Gave neighbor remainder. She'll either eat them or feed the overly dry portion to her dog.
-Cut, cleaned, washed a bunch of fruit for fruit salad. One giant bowl is gone, so I prepped another. Lazy teens can now easily snack on fruit vs other things.
-Finished one bagged salad, will eat the other one for lunch today.
-1/2 of the pizza is gone

Tonight for dinner, we will have fruit salad, green salad & burgers. Whatever is left of the burgers will go into the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 08, 2021, 04:22:19 PM
We have a bunch of fish in the freezer that needs to be eaten including frozen salmon filets, frozen cod (I think) and frozen peeled shrimp.  I might just bake the salmon and serve with potatoes and salad and same with the white fish.  But I've never cooked frozen shrimp before.  Maybe some kind of Asian noodle dish would be good?  (we also have rice noodles and udon in the cupboard) or maybe Spanish shrimp in garlic tapas?  Any other frozen shrimp suggestions?

Hi @Hula Hoop.  I try to make fish and/or shrimp for supper at least once a week.  Some of my go to's:

~Shrimp Shirataki Noodle Stir-Fry Recipe.  You can do an online search for different recipes.
~Blend a breading of pork rinds and parmesan cheese (I'm a low carber) in the food processor for cod, flounder, or catfish.
~Thaw frozen already-cooked shrimp in water, pat dry, then serve it with cocktail sauce.
~Wrap bacon around large shrimp and cook on the stove or BBQ.
~Stir fry fresh or frozen veggies, then add thawed shrimp for the last 3 minutes or until done.
~And my favorite way to cook salmon is to add a maple glaze or lemon garlic sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 09, 2021, 05:29:38 AM
Took 1/2 leftover zucchini, grated, added two eggs and some herbs and tomato and had a great lunch.
Now eating some carrots as a snack. The fridge is emptying well! The fridge needs a good clean, but first it needs to be (close to) empty so I can store the remaining items in the small spare fridge (that I only use for keeping beer/soda's cool) in the shed during cleaning.
Will make a small salad tonight from all leftover veggies and hope the kids will finish off the milk and other diary stuff before the weekend, so I can clean tomorrow evening or Saturday before the next grocery trip.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 09, 2021, 07:05:56 AM
T-4 days until vacation. We've continued to make good progress:
-A tiny amount of potato salad remains. Confident 15 y.o. can finish off in one sitting
-Burgers were eaten last night, remainder frozen
-Fruit salad x2, all gone. We still have most of a 2 lb container of blueberries, that the kids will eat for the next few days. We also have a bunch of bananas (use of freeze between now & Saturday) & apples, nectarines & peaches. The apples will be fine in the fridge. I think the peaches will need to be eaten, so I'll probably make another fruit salad for the kids to eat.
-Somehow, there are two slices of pizza still left. Use or toss tonight.
-We have a work dinner for my husband tonight, and the kids are planning to make themselves chicken nuggets. (Ah, the beauty of being a teen). Tomorrow will be the rest of the barbecued chicken & salad

I haven't figured out what we're having for dinner on Friday/Saturday, but I'm thinking tacos (meat from freezer) & an easy pasta dish. No leftovers, no waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 10, 2021, 01:34:34 PM
Our locally raised beef has arrived!  So glad we cleared out the garage freezer to make room for the quarter we ordered.  We are now waiting for pork.  Speaking of clearing out, I've been going "hard core" in the kitchen freezer.  I can actually see the bottom of each basket.

From the freezer:
~A baggie of homemade pumpkin cookies was sent with DH in his lunch bucket
~A baggie of raspberries will go into overnight oats
~Another bag of frozen cauliflower was cooked, then seasoned and riced in the food processor, and eaten with Tuesday and last night's suppers

From the fridge:
~The rest of the asparagus and half bag of baby spinach was sautéed and eaten with last night's cod and shrimp
~Cubed and divided up mozzarella for office snacks

Misc:
~I am pleased that I found a recipe online for making cold brew coffee at home.  It is much cheaper than take out or buying it retail, plus it will help use up the Folgers I have on hand.
~Been munching on a bag of low carb cheddar crisps in the evening, and finished it last night
~I've added the remaining cherry tomatoes on top of lunches

And, referencing Monday's post, I am loving the sliced almonds on top of my yogurt and berries.  It's a nice texture combo.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 10, 2021, 03:18:50 PM
Nice freezer progress, @MountainGal

Here's where we are, as our pre-vacation fridge clean out begins:
-We have a few nectarines left, as well as 1/2 a container of blueberries. I'll get the kids to eat fruit tonight
-The pizza is gone. Sent in the 15 y.o's lunch at soccer camp
-We will have the last of the barbecued chicken tonight, and I'll have mine over the last of the bagged salad
-Continued to use up lots of garden produce

Remaining:
-Shred & freeze all remaining zucchini that I can't give away
-Give any remaining milk to neighbors (she makes her own yogurt)
-Use up additional salad ingredients (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce), as they will go bad before we get back
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 11, 2021, 01:48:41 PM
Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache.  Have a fabulous trip!

~Tonight I'll sauté the yellow squash and serve half of it on the side of a doctored up frozen pizza cooked on the grill.  The other half will go with Sunday's supper.  Because we're out of pepperoni, I decided to top the pizza with sliced Vienna sausages.  I looked it up, it's a thing, LOL.
~The remaining baby spinach will go into smoothies on Sunday, along with strawberries and blueberries from the freezer, and a can of coconut milk.  This will leave just two avocados in the produce drawer, a few oranges on the counter, and whatever DH has in his drawer.  Here's to grocery shopping next week!
~We are down to 4 bags of frozen veggies.  I'll steam up a bag for Sunday supper.
~And, oh, yes, I must tend to the remaining pint of low carb ice cream sometime this weekend.  It's supposed to be in the upper 90's (Fahrenheit).  :S

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 11, 2021, 03:05:10 PM
@MountainGal - at that weather, there's no choice but to eat the ice cream ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 14, 2021, 01:55:25 PM
LOL!  'Tis true, @MaybeBabyMustache!  Though I forgot about it.  Oh, well.  it's only getting hotter this week.  :)  I did remember to tend to the other things I posted about Friday, and in addition:

~We ate tuna salad kits while on the trail Saturday.  They were okay and served their purpose.
~Ate the rest of the potato cauliflower "chips" Saturday night with leftover avocado crema.
~Emptied and washed a Mason jar for DH to bring back to his coworker.
~Because we didn't use it all in our smoothies yesterday, the rest of the baby spinach was made into a salad for my lunch today.
~Another small bag of raspberries frozen last season went into two jars of overnight oats for DH.  This used the rest of the vanilla extract, which is now on the grocery list.
~Into a slow cooker banana bread recipe went 3 overripe bananas and the rest of the sweet bread flour I've had for ages.  I am amazed it baked up as much as it did.
~Brought the remaining frozen blueberries to the office to use on top of my yogurt.
~The remaining can of black beans and a can of chicken will go into tonight's soft tacos.  I'll serve them with one of two remaining bags of frozen cauliflower.
~Still have some chili in adobo to use.  Hmmmm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 20, 2021, 04:48:56 AM
I am back to this thread with the intention of eating at least one item from the fridge, freezer or cupboards every day. New ingredients may be purchased if necessary to make a dish with some existing ingredient.

On Friday I served Turkish meze (lots of separate dishes) to friends, from freshly bought and picked ingredients. It turned out I made about twice as much as we needed, plus many extra pita bread for the freezer. We ate leftovers twice already and still have a little left that will be eaten tonight. I also have lots and lots of plants left that I picked to make salad of. Not everything is used, so I still have many 8-10? yoghurt cans half full with fresh weeds.

Tonight we will eat leftover ground meat on yoghurt with pita bread, leftover storebought potato salad, chicken breast from the freezer and baked fresh tomatoes with hazelnuts. The tomatoes were bought to use in the Turkish dishes, but I didn't need them anyway. Therefore a lot left over.

Yesterday I also made green pine cones cooked in sugar sirup. Another jar to use up some time. Not sure how to use that yet. My books about edible plants don't mention them, altough I know they are eaten in Poland.

Earlier in this thread I made a very long list of contents of fridges, freezers and cupboards. It was in no way complete and I got distracted on the way and started buying fresh food again. From now I only intend to write what we used up and not what it left. Although I intend to make a new overview at home of what we have in the freezer drawers, to put om the fridge door. The current list has a lot of strike throughs and is outdated.

We are looking for another house to live in, but have many requirements that aren't eay to fulfill. If we would move soon, we would have to reduce from 3! fridges to 2. Even that would be a challenge. So lets just eat of lot of what is into them.

Edit: DH used some of my honey fermented garlic for the first time. That garlic and honey was made some months ago and recently moved into one of the 3 fridges.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 21, 2021, 10:50:55 AM
Today we used up 1,5 jar of fermented carrots (self fermented). Nice to have those 2 large jars gone from one of the fridges. I added some self picked pine flower seeds. Still one portion of those left in the fridge. They can be used in salad or in stir fry.
DH made a fish sauce with fresh sorrel, of which I had 1,5 jar left in another fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 21, 2021, 10:58:45 AM
We are back from vacation, although only home for about ten days before we head to our vacation house to get it packed & ready for sale. We need to be on top of eating everything here, and I need to create a menu/plan for the food we have at our vacation house. That's also on the agenda

As for the next few days:
-Pick/eat all of the spinach
-Pickle the jalapenos
-Use or freeze bags upon bags of shredded zucchini
-Sautee other zucchini (potentially for dinner tonight)
-Have the teens work through the large bowl of cut fruit
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 22, 2021, 03:18:11 AM
Finished leftover salad from our friends dinner last weekend with my dinner yesterday.
We picked a lot of fresh strawberries, so I'm indulging on a homemade strawberry-yoghurt smoothy right now! Kids probably want milkshakes out of the strawberries when they come home from school, so the strawberries will be gone soon.
Tonight I will prepare a tray-bake of zucchini, sweet potatoe, bell pepers, red unions and mushrooms with a few chipolata sausages. Will put some additional baked potatoes on the side.
Tomorrow, we need to finish the last burgers and some leftover burritos.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 22, 2021, 08:19:38 AM
We're making progress:

-Used a bag of chicken (barbecued, in the freezer) for dinner, and ate some of the homemade buns my teen made for Father's Day dinner.
-Sauteed 1/2 a zucchini for my husband to eat with the chicken (he avoids carbs)
-Froze all of the shredded zucchini, for use in future muffins or bread
-Teens ate the rest of the giant bowl of fruit. I need to cut more for the rest of the week

Today:
-We will eat the rest of the grilled sausages, and freeze what's leftover. Most diners will have the sausages on the rest of the leftover buns, but I will probably sautee zucchini for my husband again
-I still need to pick the rest of the out of control spinach in the garden
-And, pickle the jalapenos
-We've used most of the tomatoes that ripened while we were gone
-Also need to defrost something for tomorrow's dinner

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 22, 2021, 12:23:52 PM
Welcome back, @Linea_Norway!  I love reading your edible plant posts.

Good luck with the sale, @MaybeBabyMustache!

That tray-bake sounds delicious, @Dutch Comfort!

Our annual Solstice party went very well!  The remaining 6 cupcakes were sent home with guests with a sweet tooth.  Yesterday, I sent the leftover meat and most of the bag of chips with DH to share with his coworkers.  And last night I used some of the leftover cheese and vegetables in salads and topped them with smoked salmon and homemade balsamic dressing.  Leftover cheese and berries came to work with me today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 23, 2021, 02:43:55 AM
@MountainGal thank you.

Yesterday we ate chicken thighs from the freezer, which had already been cooked. I browned and warmed them and added homemade rose harissa. That jar of harissa is almost empty now. I picked new rose leaves to make new ones. My two chili peppers are carrying quite a few chilis, so I hope I can use those for the harissa.
I also made a salad from leftover fresh spinach, radishes and some more sorrel and pine flower buds. I froze the rest of the sorell and some other plants. Some others, plus leftover spring union are now cut and in the food dryer.

Now we are going to our cabin for 5-6 days. I will bring the zuccini along to eat there. Maybe with some frozen meat to keep it cool in the car.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 23, 2021, 11:17:08 AM
I'd forgotten about a Costco size box of red pepper & tomato soups, that were on the pantry shelf in the garage. We purchased them during COVID, when shopping was a challenge. I actually really like them, but don't eat soup often. We got home late from soccer practice, & I made soup for myself & one teen, and grilled cheese sandwiches for three diners. Bonus points, used up homemade rolls made earlier in the week, scraps of cheese leftover from taco night, and a slice of cheese leftover from burgers.

As for tonight, I'll likely have a hot dog & soup, I'll sautee the rest of the zucchini for my husband, who will have a burger from the freezer. The teens will have hot dogs on buns, with fruit salad. We're both trying to use up a lot of odds & ends, as well as we are dealing with a variety of food preferences. Sometimes it gets exhausting.

We're making great progress on the fresh fruit, thanks to me cutting it up & having it ready to grab & go in a bowl.

I also pickled the four giant jalapenos that ripened, and made a quick batch for the fridge. That was yesterday, and the jar is almost empty. My husband & one teen are quite a fan. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 25, 2021, 04:09:18 PM
It's funny what makes me happy these days, but I remembered we had a few leftover pita pockets from last summer in the freezer. I made the kids chicken for lunch, and turned the pita pockets into sandwiches for the chicken. A small amount of freezer space, reclaimed! Bonus points, as I used up the last piece of sliced cheese my husband bought a few weeks back.

Other food related things:
-We finished off the bagged salad that was close to being expired on the day we bought it (despite the date on the package). I'm most of the way through with the second bagged salad.
-Jalapenos are gone. I picked a ton of spinach & tomatoes. I'll make salad to use up the spinach, and I'm making caprese salad tonight with the tomatoes. Yum. I defrosted wings that we made before our last trip, but didn't finish. I'm hoping to successfully reheat them.
-A few friends & neighbors would like more zucchini. I'm also looking for interested people for my BFF, the zucchini.
-I still need to polish off the last of the soup.
-We ate all of the barbecued chicken & the burger patty I defrosted for various dinners. No waste or anything added back to the freezer.

I think I'll make a big batch of chicken curry this weekend. We'll get two meals out of it, then I'll freeze the rest for future meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 28, 2021, 03:23:59 PM
We leave really early tomorrow for a road trip to our vacation house, which we are selling & closing on. There's a lot of "use it up" eating ahead, and also entertaining our family while we're there. It makes for some interesting logistics!

Currently:
-Finished off the last of the bagged salad
-Made a huge curry, and will take enough in the cooler that we can have it when we arrive tomorrow night
-Picked all of the garden produce that was ready, and we will pack it in the cooler
-Whatever doesn't fit into the cooler (cherries, strawberries) will be eaten tonight as dessert
-Leftover egg roll in a bowl + cilantro for dinner tonight

We have a grocery bag full of tomatoes from the garden. I'm sharing them with friends before we leave!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 30, 2021, 01:59:32 AM
Yesterday we ate spagetti with spinach from the freezer and sauce from cream and French blue cheese. But all these ingredients are staples that I like to keep in storage. Tonight I will make potatoes with green peas, as recipee from a cookbook. This will make a dent in the 2 bags of green peas that are in the fridge and that I didn't have a plan for. I will serve it a portion of smoked meat from the freezer.

After tomorrow DH will go away for a few days to visit his parent in another country. Then I will try to eat leftover portions from the freezer and make a dent in the weird ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 30, 2021, 01:49:08 PM
I cannot believe another week has flown by!  We went camping over the weekend and leftovers were used in this manner:

~Celery, tomatoes, and broccoli were part of a snack plate
~The rest of the blueberries went into Sunday's pancakes
~DH ate the steak for lunches
~Shredded cheese topped Sunday's pizza
~We ate the leftover ranch beans, green beans, and sliced zucchini with last night's tacos
~I gave the smores ingredients to friends who are going camping this weekend
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 02, 2021, 08:00:08 AM
I feel like I'm on Iron Chef, using up the random freezer ingredients at our vacation house, and combining them with the fresh things we bought, or brought with us. Starting today, we will be entertaining (we will have 10 people at the house) for a last hurrah family trip at the Coast. Then, one night with just myself & my husband to pack up, and turn around & drive back to our house. I can already guess that my mom & sister are going to bring a TON of food with them.

I've started going through the alcohol at the house & sorting out who can take what. I've put together mystery wine packs for everyone. ;-)

Rest of the progress:
-I brought chicken curry, rice, & cauliflower rice with us in the cooler, and we ate that when we arrived after a 13 hour road trip
-I brought all of our garden items, and we've been enjoying the tomatoes. I made two quick pasta sauces with the tomatoes, one using up three chicken sausages, one to go over "healthy" noodles that my husband likes.
-I had the leftover, leftover curry for lunch one day
-We've also eaten from the freezer: 5 mini burgers, a container of white chicken chili, bagels, some butter, a bacon wrapped chicken keto entree, & breakfast sausage patties. We will have almost nothing to bring home from the freezer, at least.
-We've eaten all of the fruit we brought in the cooler, and most of the veggies
-We stopped at Costco & bought the items we need for entertaining (my mom & sister will bring the rest). Somehow, the teens have already eaten all of the fruit we purchased on Tuesday. Including the box of nectarines, two boxes of blueberries, and a container of strawberries. My trick of cutting the prepping the fruit in a large bowl in the fridge is working too well, perhaps. Ah, well, at least the fruit makes a great healthy snack!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 02, 2021, 01:36:09 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I love the mystery wine pack idea!

Not much to report here.  I've been planning suppers around the locally raised pork and beef we received.  I've also been focusing on utilizing fresh produce in order to avoid food waste.  This includes baby spinach, broccoli slaw, avocados, eggplant, and zucchini.

Happy 4th of July to those in the US!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 03, 2021, 06:12:11 AM
DH is visiting his family abroad. I am home alone. I was looking for a recipe with edamame beans. Budget bytes had a salad with the beans and red cabbage. I hade 2 pots for formented red cabbage. So I use one pot with the edamame beans, a fresh red pepper and fresh carrots. That was dinner yesterday and lunch today.

For dinner yesterday I also poached eggs. I read in an article that the secret of a well poached egg is to put the egg(s) individually in a small bowl with vinegar for some time. Then cook the eggs in water, with the vinegar as well. This worked very well. My best poached eggs ever. Only the cooking pot has gotten a weird coating on the bottom. I tried to soak it overnight in water, without succes. Now soaking again in water with dishwasher detergent.

Tonight I will probably eat some leftover portion, maybe with some preserved self-picked mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 03, 2021, 01:35:32 PM
Tonight I finished a bottle of selfmade dandelion sirup that has been taking up space in one of the fridges.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: StarBright on July 06, 2021, 07:28:56 AM
Tonight I finished a bottle of selfmade dandelion sirup that has been taking up space in one of the fridges.

What do you use dandelion syrup for?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 06, 2021, 08:00:19 AM
Tonight I finished a bottle of selfmade dandelion sirup that has been taking up space in one of the fridges.

What do you use dandelion syrup for?

I just made it for the first time to find out what it was like. I used it for lemonade. Although it is with sugar then, not something I usually drink. I am not so fond if the recipee I used though. For earlier sirups, I used another one which was more concentrated with the taste ingredient. I sometimes use sirup for making icecream as well, or just on top of served icecream.

This morning I made 1 and a half pot of rose harissa. I used all the rose petals from this years and last year. All the red chili peppers from the freezer, but had to buy more chilipeppers and tomatoes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 06, 2021, 09:39:46 AM
We emptied out our vacation house & freezer (last few items passed on to our family, as we were making a 12 hour road trip). We did bring back plenty of alcohol, because it appears to have multiplied there! My parents & sisters cars were filled completely, as was ours.

We are now home, with no fresh food in the fridge. Our kiddos are staying with my parents for a few weeks, so we will plan for a more adult menu, and for date nights out, to take advantage of our temporary kid free status.

We had a neighbor kid watering our plant. I'm about to go see what survived. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 07, 2021, 02:12:00 PM
@Linea_Norway, the syrup sounds delicious!

@MaybeBabyMustache, hope your plants survived.

Lately, in no particular order:

~The broccoli slaw has been finished
~Two more avocados have been consumed
~I (finally) made the dark chocolate macadamia clusters, but, alas, still have macadamias remaining
~Leftover berries and cheese from the 4th of July cookout are being consumed as this week's snacks
~The spaghetti squash was cooked yesterday evening and was eaten for supper, and made three leftover servings
~Tonight's fish and shrimp meal will take care of the bag of cauliflower and portobello mushrooms
~The above will leave just 1/3 bag of baby spinach, an avocado, and a lemon in the produce drawer
~We used up the rest of a bottle each of mayo and vinaigrette dressing, both of which are now on the grocery list
~Poured a bit of the homemade hot fudge (aka the Christmas fudge mistake) over ice cream.  Just 1.5 more small jars to go!
~I discreetly sent approximately 8 canned food items home with a friend in need
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 07, 2021, 03:11:54 PM
@MountainGal - all is well with the plants. He had an aggressive hand with the sprayer (some dirt sprayed out a bit), but saved everything, so I'm thrilled.

-Made coleslaw out of the shredded cabbage/carrots that were in the back of the fridge. This conveniently used up most of the last bit of heavy cream. I think I can get one more dressing batch out of the cream. I also used fresh chives in the dressing. Typically I sub for dried, so this was nice to have on hand, from the garden
-Used up lots of garden items (green peppers, tomatoes, radishes, Greek basil, cucumbers, kale)
-Gave away five zucchini. The neighbors didn't pick any zucchini, so one is an absolutely insane size. My Buy Nothing peeps apparently don't mind, and there were plenty of uses for shredded zucchini shared. We have gallons of shredded zucchini in the freezer, so I'm happy to see it go elsewhere
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 08, 2021, 07:44:09 AM
Tomorrow we will go on vacation for 10 days. We will finish contents of the fridge. For dinner roasted carrots, half a home made foccasia bread from the freezer and burgers or susages that I had to purchase: 3 for 2, the rest into the freezer. We will use a box of cream that is already opened. The still closed box of youghurt will survive fine until we come back. And we will need to eat the last egg, which I think is only one. The is a little juice left which we will use for breakfast tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 13, 2021, 09:18:01 AM
We avoided a major grocery shop this week (this is a huge milestone for my husband, who gets anxious when the fridge starts to look cleared out). Instead, we just bought produce to fill in.

-Made zucchini fritters out of garden produce. They were delicious.
-Made caprese out of garden tomatoes & basil, and an inexpensive fresh mozzarella purchase from Costco. We had this numerous times, and have enough cheese for a couple more dinners.
-Finished off the last of the shredded veggies in coleslaw. Still have extra dressing that we can use for future coleslaw, but it will need to be in the next week or so before the cream goes off.
-Continue to eat a bunch of other garden goodies in salads: radishes, peppers, tomatoes
-Froze the handful of strawberries we picked
-Pickled two batches of jalapenos
-Finished off the steak & salmon my husband grilled the other night
-Ate the restaurant leftovers for lunch one day

We're heading out of town for the weekend, so a few other things we'll want to eat up before we go:
-Grilled chicken (eat with caesar salad)
-Last of a bagged salad
-One piece of baked chicken + one chicken sausage
-A bunch of fresh strawberries. Use or freeze

Otherwise, we have everything pretty well in hand
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on July 13, 2021, 09:30:41 AM
I've been eating down my freezer for a couple of months now, and there's actually some empty space again!  And nothing falls out and smashes my toes (it's an upright).  I plan to continue this until it's mostly empty so I can defrost it and fill it back up for winter, but not to the insane levels it was for the pandemic.  I figure that if I survived that with lots of food left over, it would take a total societal collapse for me to actually run out of food.  That possibility doesn't worry me enough to overwhelm myself again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 14, 2021, 11:12:00 AM
I'm with you @SunnyDays . It would take a lot for me to run out of food, and I don't like having our freezer this packed. Congrats on being able to open it without things falling on you!

I've defrosted a bunch of bananas, and plan to make banana muffins today. They will largely go back in the freezer, but I'd rather have easy to consume/already prepped items in the freezer vs random ingredients.

We had chicken caesar salads last night, and I have a bit of grilled chicken leftover. Tonight will be chicken curry with cauliflower rice. The frozen cauliflower rice comes in enormous bags, so I'll be happy to get one bag out of the freezer. I'll have the remaining grilled chicken over salad for lunch today.

We ate strawberries for dessert last night, but we will need to eat or freeze the rest.

I also gave away a bunch of our Greek basil, along with a bunch of Buy Nothing items. Our plant is the size of a bush, and has absolutely taken over a planter bed, so it was good to trim it back, and get it to others who will use it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on July 15, 2021, 05:31:07 AM
Anyone have ideas for using cinnamon basil or lemon basil?  I impulse-bought some plants last month and they're giant!  I use the Thai basil for topping stir-fries and the regular genovese basil is easy to use, but I'm not sure what to do with lemon and cinnamon.

I've been having good luck with eating down the freezer lately, post-move.  We transferred a bunch of frozen stuff but haven't had a chance to organize - so I just find the first frozen leftovers on top and eat those for lunch!  Also super useful because we've been too busy to cook much so there are no fresh leftovers to have for lunch, usually.

I'm also scaling back my COVID pantry.  Our new place has far less storage, so I'm embracing the idea of stocking up to nicely fit the available space.  If I want an obscure ingredient for a recipe, I'll just have to go to the store!  (Or more realistically, my SO will volunteer to go.)  I'm highly motivated to eat down our current overstock because then I'll have cupboard space for other things and be able to get them off the floor/counter!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 15, 2021, 07:20:47 AM
@SquashingDebt - wow, I've never heard of cinnamon basil. I looked it up & there are some really fun looking recipes. If you're feeling overwhelmed with it right now, perhaps dry some of it, and save it for future baking uses?

We are making good progress on the food in the house, although the garden is really producing, and we need to stay on top of it. I bought an entire box of tomatoes, not realizing that our plants would have a huge week. I think I'll need to freeze those tomatoes for future sauce or something.
-We ate a chicken curry from the fridge, along with a bag of cauliflower rice, which takes up so much space in the freezer. There's one small serving of curry/rice leftover
-We gave away four zucchini
-We are almost done with the mini cucumbers, radishes, & snap peas, and will use the remainder in a salad tonight
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 16, 2021, 02:10:22 PM
Back home after being on a mountain hiking and camping trip for a week. I ate a leftover portion of chickpea stew from the freezer. It tasted surpricingly well. As I watched the recently new written list of freezer ingredients, it looks like there is only one freezer meal portion left. The rest of the stuff are ingredients, not a whole meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 16, 2021, 03:44:15 PM
@SquashingDebt, that basil sounds good!  @Linea_Norway, I bet your trip was lovely.  @MaybeBabyMustache and @SunnyDays, nice progress!

I also have returned from a vacation trip.  I was treated to most meals, but I did buy a few groceries for my hotel room.  I ate most, left some for my father and his wife, and brought non-perishables home with me such as Everything Bagel cashews and cheese crisps.

Our produce drawer is empty except for a few things that really need to be tossed, and I'll pick up our monthly grocery order this evening.  Have a relaxing weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 17, 2021, 01:00:15 AM
@SquashingDebt, that basil sounds good!  @Linea_Norway, I bet your trip was lovely.  @MaybeBabyMustache and @SunnyDays, nice progress!

I also have returned from a vacation trip.  I was treated to most meals, but I did buy a few groceries for my hotel room.  I ate most, left some for my father and his wife, and brought non-perishables home with me such as Everything Bagel cashews and cheese crisps.

Our produce drawer is empty except for a few things that really need to be tossed, and I'll pick up our monthly grocery order this evening.  Have a relaxing weekend, everyone.

@MountainGal

Ahum... lovely is not the word I would use for this trip. Maybe "challenging" would be a better description. The homemade hiking food part worked well. If you want to know more details, you could read my journal posts 313 and 317 to get an impression.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on July 18, 2021, 09:09:29 PM
Still working my way through a bit of pandemic-purchased cans of soup. I feel dumb for not doing this much before, but have realized that if I read the soup's ingredients and add more of whatever (non-salt) spices are already in the can, it can significantly perk things up. Adding extra cumin to a can of Amy's brand yellow lentil soup, for example, made a huge difference.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 18, 2021, 11:50:24 PM
Still working my way through a bit of pandemic-purchased cans of soup. I feel dumb for not doing this much before, but have realized that if I read the soup's ingredients and add more of whatever (non-salt) spices are already in the can, it can significantly perk things up. Adding extra cumin to a can of Amy's brand yellow lentil soup, for example, made a huge difference.

This is typically the kind of stuff I eat when car camping. Just a pack of commercial soup, but with some extra vegetables and often fish in it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 19, 2021, 02:50:56 PM
@SquashingDebt, that basil sounds good!  @Linea_Norway, I bet your trip was lovely.  @MaybeBabyMustache and @SunnyDays, nice progress!

I also have returned from a vacation trip.  I was treated to most meals, but I did buy a few groceries for my hotel room.  I ate most, left some for my father and his wife, and brought non-perishables home with me such as Everything Bagel cashews and cheese crisps.

Our produce drawer is empty except for a few things that really need to be tossed, and I'll pick up our monthly grocery order this evening.  Have a relaxing weekend, everyone.

@MountainGal

Ahum... lovely is not the word I would use for this trip. Maybe "challenging" would be a better description. The homemade hiking food part worked well. If you want to know more details, you could read my journal posts 313 and 317 to get an impression.

Oh, gosh, I just skimmed those entries.  You did indeed have quite the experience!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 19, 2021, 05:21:15 PM
Wow, @Linea_Norway - that sounds crazy intense! So glad you made it back safely.

We were out of town for the weekend, where I most certainly did not stick to any type of diet. Crumbl cookies, anyone? (It's a bakery, I'm a huge sucker for frosted sugar cookies. They were amazing. It's possible that I had one with champagne for brunch.)

-Lunch & breakfast out of things from the pantry & freezer, as I hadn't yet been to the grocery store. A freebie protein bar for breakfast, and a breakfast sandwich for lunch + a wrinkled nectarine that I spotted in the back of the fridge.
-Ate the last of a bag of parmesan nut crisp mix snacks that someone left at our house over the 4th of July
-I'm having an Italian chicken sausage (freezer) for dinner tonight, over a salad.
-Said salad will have tons of garden goodies: tomatoes, basil, mint, green pepper, radishes, cucumbers

We have a bunch more zucchini, and so many types of peppers. I need to figure out when to pick each type. I also need to deal with the absolute glut of tomatoes we have on hand from the garden.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 21, 2021, 03:55:21 PM
We've made good progress this week. It's been tempting to go out, as the kids are with my parents. But, we have plenty of food, and we ate out last weekend (out of town).
-Finished off the radishes & snap peas
-Used the last of a going bad quickly bagged salad
-Ate all of the chicken sausages (over salads, for lunch)
-Continue to use up a ton of garden tomatoes in salads & with fresh mozzarella as a dinner side

Still need to deal with zucchini & peppers!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 22, 2021, 08:44:25 AM
After I returned from my mountain trip, I ate several frozen leftover portions. After that, I bought fresh food again. DH is back and we are leaving on another vacation the day after tomorrow. So now we need to finish the lettuce that I bought, and the small potatoes. And we will need to finish the cold yoghurt soup that I made 2 days ago. In that soup I used some of my frozen wild garlic and fresh lovage from the garden. I should have used fresh mint, but had only dried.
DH is currently making dinner and using a red pepper from our own pepper plant. Tomorrow I will cut all the remaining (green) peppers and freeze them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 22, 2021, 03:23:53 PM
Hope everyone is well.  @MaybeBabyMustache, I looked up those cookies and they look amazing.  Edible perfection!  :)  @Linea_Norway, I hope this trip goes better for you.

For suppers, I've been pairing locally grown and store bought proteins with produce from the grocery store.  DH's garden has produced only a few tomatoes thus far, but it is still early for our planting zone.

~Sunday's bacon wrapped scallops used the remaining bag of each
~Monday I made the boneless ribs bought last month, which freed up some much needed freezer space.  Leftover ribs went with DH for his lunch the next day, and I put them on top of romaine leaves for my lunch yesterday.
~Tuesday's stir fry used a package of chicken breasts and bag of shirataki noodles, both also bought last month
~Mini caprese salads used the remaining mini mozzarella balls and the two Roma tomatoes
~Long story short, we have 4 different types of maple syrup in the fridge.  So, I'll be focusing on things such as a keto Dutch baby and low carb pancakes over the next several weekends, LOL.

Much to my chagrin, I had to toss portobello mushrooms and an avocado when I returned from vacation last week.  I need to watch that.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 22, 2021, 05:04:57 PM
@MountainGal - bacon wrapped scallops sound delicious! And yes, the cookies are amazing. I'll be visiting my sister next week, & they have a shop near her. I may need another cookie. ;-)

I made a smoothie today to use up a bruised peach (from a neighbor's tree), a frozen banana, strawberries (garden), peanut butter & protein powder. I don't make protein balls anymore, so need to find another way to use the protein powder. It was delicious & refreshing on a warm day. It was also incredibly filling. This needs to be a go to lunch.

Tonight we'll have salad (tons of garden items), mini samosas (freezer), salmon (my husband will eat this) & bulgogi chicken (me). That will clean out the fridge, so we can move out to barbecued chicken over the next few days. And, maybe grill steaks this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 23, 2021, 12:42:29 AM
@MountainGal

I also made a "dutch baby" a few days ago. I used a camping aluminium jar with rounded edges for the purpose, as I don't have what you call dutch oven. It worked out very well and didn't stick at all. It popped up many places on the inside.

Language thingy: I am originally Dutch and I think it is really weird that you Americans call a dutch oven for dutch. We Dutch people don't call this pot an oven. We just call it the dutch word for cast iron pot. Therefore dutch baby, is also a weird expression for me, but I think it is called that because it is traditionally made in a cast iron pot/dutch oven.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: habanero on July 23, 2021, 02:09:23 AM
Dude I know got covid (despite being fully vaxxed). He can't smell or taste anything so he is currently raiding all their cupboards for stuff noone in the family really likes but has been left there. Not the most pleasent way to do it, but it works at least.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on July 23, 2021, 05:47:23 AM
We let 3 gallons of milk go sour by mistake.  I baked all day, accidentally turned a gallon into curds and whey,  and made the following post... still have a gallon left.
What to do with sour milk (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/sour-milk-recipes/msg2876990/#new)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 23, 2021, 06:24:37 AM
We will go on holiday in 3 weeks time. 3 weeks left to empty the freezer (fridge is under control at the moment) and some things from the pantry (overflowing..... hopefully better tomorrow when we will go out with friends and we will all bring food and drinks).
Let's start today:
- pasta (from pantry), bag of tomato sauce (pantry), ground beef (freezer)

Tomorrow (to bring to day out):
- meatballs (more ground beef, but from fridge)
- bacon (from fridge)
- loads of drinks (from fridge/pantry)
- fresh melon (from my kitchen-top, so try to empty that as well)
- crisps (from pantry)
- fresh tomato salad (from fridge)
- candy for the kids (from pantry)

Sunday: not a clue, since I will be out and DH has to take care of the kids....... knowing him, he will make a simple pasta dish or put some burgers on the grill (burgers would be good, since they are in the freezer!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 23, 2021, 07:35:33 AM
We will go on vacation tomorrow. Only camping ourselves tomorrownight, thereafter a week fully served.
There were enough small potatoes for 2 meals. I cooked them now and will make them into a potato salad that we can eat now and tomorrow. I found saucages in the freezer for tonight. And we will have the remaining salad. Tomorrow night improvising on a camping stove. Maybe I will bring the bag of frozen leftover vegetable (pepper, squash and mushroom) along. Should be thawed on arrival. I have a wok in the crate with camping kitchen stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 23, 2021, 12:19:18 PM
@Linea_Norway, I'm not sure why, either, LOL.  I looked it up and there are many explanations.  Here is one:  https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/176549/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dutch-oven-and-cast-iron/ (https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/176549/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dutch-oven-and-cast-iron/)

As for my Dutch baby, I make ours in a cast iron skillet.  Our Dutch oven, however, makes great dump cakes while camping.  :)

@Dutch Comfort, that's an impressive list!  Have a wonderful holiday.

@MaybeBabyMustache, I love smoothies, especially in this warm weather.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on July 24, 2021, 11:03:17 AM
@MountainGal

I also made a "dutch baby" a few days ago. I used a camping aluminium jar with rounded edges for the purpose, as I don't have what you call dutch oven. It worked out very well and didn't stick at all. It popped up many places on the inside.

Language thingy: I am originally Dutch and I think it is really weird that you Americans call a dutch oven for dutch. We Dutch people don't call this pot an oven. We just call it the dutch word for cast iron pot. Therefore dutch baby, is also a weird expression for me, but I think it is called that because it is traditionally made in a cast iron pot/dutch oven.

The naming of food products for other countries is interesting since the named country rarely also use that name.  The French don't call them french fries.  I doubt the British call them English Muffins.  Do the Swedish call them Swedish meatballs?  Sadly American cheese was named and even worse eaten by Americans.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 25, 2021, 01:54:55 PM
Some weekend progress:
-Continued with the smoothies at lunch to use up fresh & frozen fruit. Love making progress with the freezer bananas. There are so many!
-Made a triple batch of pico de gallo with a bunch of tomatoes & jalapenos (garden)
-Made a triple batch of pickled peppers, using up all of the garden variety. As expected the Serranos are too hot, even after pickling. I'll need to figure out something else to do with them, because we have at least 100.
-Ate leftover Greek food for lunch yesterday
-Had a pita (Greek leftover) to go with my smoothie today
-Using up tons of garden items in our salads & any which way we can
-Made coleslaw to use up the last of a head of green cabbage. Also used up some carrots that have been lingering in the fridge for quite a while.

Tonight we will have steak & zucchini (so. much. zucchini.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 26, 2021, 02:07:56 AM
More progress:
We're still munching on leftovers from our outing of Saturday. Grocery shopping will not happen till Wednesday for some fresh veggies, but otherwise, I still think we're OK to live on the items still in the house.
Yesterday, my DH made the kids a few pizza's from the freezer, while he took the leftover meatballs and some bread/salad
Today I brought my lunch from home (leftover bread, sausage, tomatoes) and dinner will be baked potatoes, some meat from the freezer and some canned veggies from the pantry.
Tomorrow, my son will make a pasta dish and a salad on the side.
So I think I can still manage without any groceries till Wednesday.
Breakfast and lunch items are still OK. We always have some noodles on hand and some bread/cheese/sausage, so this should work.

Only 18 days to go till we go camping and the freezer should be pretty empty by then (I need to work on the icecream inventory.......)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on July 26, 2021, 10:30:26 AM
My partner very briefly decided he should try going gluten free to see if it reduced some of his gut issues. Then he decided that he should just cut back on refined wheats and up his fiber.... meanwhile I had tried to be a super supportive partner and bought several kinds of gluten free flours and such... I tend to do a lot of baking and I was suffering from not having short cake with the strawberries this spring and such because I was trying to be supportive of him... so I bought up all the ingredients and was prepping myself to learn a new style of baking... but now he says he's good to go....  haha! I've created my own challenge.

It really isn't a big issue, except I keep shuffling the ingredients around the cupboard. I haven't opened them yet so may just leave them sealed until fall when I naturally do more baking.  I just thought this thread would find it amusing.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 26, 2021, 01:39:53 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, do you do anything to the bananas prior to freezing them?

@Dutch Comfort, great job!

@PMG, since they are sealed, can you give them away to a local food bank or on an online buy nothing group?  That is, if you don't want to fuss with them come fall.  :)

Last week DH brought home a bag of locally grown peaches, so this weekend:
~Made a slow cooker crumble
~The neighbor kiddo had one
~Sliced some into overnight oats for DH
~Sautéed some and served them over locally raised pork chops
~The rest went into the freezer

We're doing a good job at incorporating the locally raised pork and beef into meals.  And, DH scored a deep freezer, so we'll have more onsite storage for future bulk purchases.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 26, 2021, 02:57:28 PM
@MountainGal - I peel them & store them in a freezer bag. For smoothies, I put them in the microwave for 30 seconds, just to make it easier on the blender. For banana bread & the like, I leave in the fridge to defrost overnight. Your peaches sound wonderful! Yum. A neighbor brought us over a few from her tree, and they were fabulous.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 27, 2021, 02:08:15 AM
Today's breakfast was leftovers again (I still had some bread left from Saturday, which needed to go.... French toast anyone????). Lunch will be banana-pancakes, since I discovered two brown bananas between my other fruits.
Our 11yo will make us dinner tonight (pasta dish with a salad) and I just ordered groceries to be delivered on Wednesday after discussing the rest of the week's dinner menu with the kids:

Today: pasta with salad
Wednesday: baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and some meat from the freezer
Thursday: spinach from the freezer with mashed potatoes and eggs as a casserole
Friday: 13yo will make us a stir-fry noodle dish with veggies and chicken (chicken from freezer and noodles from pantry)
Saturday: I think it will be leftovers (I still have some soup in the freezer) and/or burgers from the freezer

Breakfast and lunches will be leftovers and/or bread from freezer/noodles from pantry.
And snacks....... we will need to finish the icecream, the protein bars and some frozen banana bread to empty the freezer...... I do see a nice challenge here!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 30, 2021, 10:20:27 AM
Thank you for the banana info, @MaybeBabyMustache.

Ah, when your DH says to use up the store bought cherry tomatoes because many are ready to harvest from his garden.  Such a problem to have!  :D  So, we had cherry tomatoes on our Wednesday night salads, I have more for my lunch salad today, and there are just a few remaining.  Also:

~Ate the rest of the kalamata and green olives as snacks and in salads.
~Ate the rest of the baby spinach in salads and sautéed for suppers.  Bought more yesterday morning.
~Odds and ends from the office mini fridge have been finished including blueberries, mozzarella balls, boiled eggs, and the aforementioned green olives.
~I'm using up the rest of the bottled dressings before buying more.  The last to go is a spicy ranch, which I'll dilute with mayo if necessary.
~For ideas, I researched maple syrup recipes to use the abundance of syrup I mentioned in a prior post.  In the next few days I'll make:  Candied bacon, maple bacon biscuits, maple balsamic vinaigrette, and salmon with a maple glaze.  Yum!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on July 31, 2021, 12:21:05 PM
MaybeBaby - With regard to the too hot peppers could you:  dehydrate and then grind to create your own crushed red pepper substitute? Slit open and add one (or two) to a pot of beans and remove before serving?  Use a blender with a bit of oil or vinegar to create a paste to keep in a jar in the refrigerator for future use?   

Can you tell I like growing really hot peppers bc they are pretty but, well, really hot.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on July 31, 2021, 03:20:14 PM
I am really bad at finishing everything in the house but I have bright ideas and do not follow up and make them - I am vegan and I look at recipes - get fired up at the shop - come home - Yup in the cupboard -  trust me my pantry is not empty! I may allow myself to buy balsamic vinager, bell peppers, onions and olive oil - but that is it - other than that I am forcing myself to figure it out. I always start making excuses and only make quick meals - eg macaroni with jar sauce during the week - so I am making something I can freeze to get me through the busy week days. I am on my own so the challenge is 0 waste / 0 food purchase until next Sunday.

So today - lentil lasagne with Zucchini - should cover 4 days
Tomorrow - Spanish chickpea rice stew should be 4 days and freezes.

This will complete:

Dried Chickpeas
Lasagne sheets

For snack I have made fruit scones.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 04, 2021, 07:32:21 AM
@MountainGal - I can be right over to help with that candied bacon & maple bacon biscuits!

@Catbert - thanks for the suggestions. I find that pickling is typically a great solution, but I definitely need to separate the serranos from the other peppers/chiles. They are in a league of their own. ;-)

Things we've done lately:
-Continued to eat a ton out of our garden (tomatoes, green peppers, orange peppers, kale, mint, chives, basil - Greek & sweet, cucumbers, zucchini).
-Got our first handful of blueberries, that the birds left for us
-Drinking smoothies for lunch, using up frozen bananas, berries & protein powder. I stopped making protein balls for awhile (the raw oatmeal hurts my stomach), so it's nice to have another use for the protein powder. But, the big winner by far is making my way through a ton of bananas in the freezer. They go to the freezer when overly ripe, and I always have great intentions, but they really tend to linger.
-Used up 4 grilled hot dogs from the freezer for dinner last night. Made one into a hot dog "sandwich", using leftover hamburger bun. One teen was a big fan. The other was unimpressed. Also used a spicy mayo that my husband had made for burger night on Sunday.
-Made a peach, basil, mozzarella salad to go with dinner last night. We are inundated with basil, and my husband bought three Costco sized containers of fresh mozzarella when they were on sale a few weeks ago. They were crazy cheap, but one expires soon, so needs to be used up. I think tonight we'll have the other half of the container with garden tomatoes.
-Made coleslaw for dinner last night, using the last of the Keto coleslaw dressing I'd made. I do still have some shredded cabbage & carrots, so I'll plan to add that to the salad tonight.

As for the rest of the week (and, I'm going with largely no meal planning, due to being out of town this weekend):
-Burgers & caprese tonight
-Tomorrow will be baked chicken for the kids (mine on salad), husband with salmon
-Friday - wings + zucchini fritters. Blissfully, no soccer practice, so I'll have time to make zucchini fritters
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 05, 2021, 05:36:35 AM
One week to go before holiday. The fridge is in good shape, not that much of fresh items that need to be finished before we go. But the freezer is still a mess......
The cupboard is getting some clean spaces, so that is definitely a win.

Today:
- pasta (cupboard), jar of pasta sauce (cupboard), ground beef (freezer), cucumber / any leftover salad (fridge)

Tomorrow:
- dinner: veggies (fridge), fries (freezer), some meat (freezer)
- lunch: blinis (fridge)
- breakfast: crackers (cupboard), cheese (fridge), cereal (cupboard)

Saturday:
- frozen pizza (freezer)
- bread rolls (cupboard), cheese (fridge)

Sunday:
- hopefully a BBQ with relatives, which will help me get some meat from the freezer. But the weather is not too good.....

Next week we will all be at home, so I will do no meal planning, but see what needs to be finished before our holiday and grocery shop only the additional items needed.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 05, 2021, 12:11:58 PM
Haha, @MaybeBabyMustache!  I made the bacon, but still do need help with the biscuits.  :)  The maple dressing is delicious!  I made it with strawberry vinaigrette purchased on holiday last month.

Everyone is doing an excellent job at using things up and with meal planning!

Last weekend when I was poking around the bottom freezer drawer looking for something in particular, I noticed there were some funky, random items which need to be addressed:

1. small baggie of breadcrumbs
2. small baggie each of lime and lemon juiced, then frozen and released from silicone molds a few months ago
3. a baggie consisting of 5 homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies made when?
4. a baggie consisting of leftover homemade chocolate crinkle cookies from Christmas
5. etc.

I pulled out the pumpkin cookies for DH's lunches this week.  I'll make an effort to figure out what to do with the juice and breadcrumbs, and I nibble on the crinkle cookies every now and then.  :)  Yesterday I ate the remaining 1/3 pint of coconut milk based "ice cream" drizzled with a bit of syrup.  For suppers lately we've cooked up a pound each locally raised ground beef and pork, some locally raised turkey breast, shrimp, pork chops, 3 lbs chicken breasts, and the pork roast mentioned below.

Our produce drawer has been active.  Sunday I served riced cauliflower, zucchini, and yellow squash with pork roast.  Last night I cut up a head of cauliflower and put half in DH's drawer for his lunches, and the other I steamed and mashed for supper.  Yum!  Tonight I'll make riced broccoli slaw for tonight and tomorrow night's salmon and Baja fish taco suppers respectfully.  Tonight I'll sauté the rest of the baby spinach to serve under the salmon and serve it with the remaining 1/2 avocado.

The above leaves just a few sad limes remaining in the drawer.  Off to the store I go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on August 07, 2021, 04:30:50 PM
I was on my own so the challenge was 0 waste / 0 food purchase until next Sunday 8/8. Done really well and stuck to the plan. I am missing bread as I discovered I had no bread flour. I am Vegan so you will notice an absence of meat.

Lentil lasagne with Zucchini - this was really good - filled me up and made 3 meals
Tomorrow - Spanish chickpea rice stew - this was amazing and the flavor seemed to develop every day. This is definately a new favorite

Competed out of the cupboards this week

Dried Chickpeas
Cashews and cashew butter
2 barito wraps hiding - I made vegan quesadilla's
A bag of gnocchi - it was out of date but I survived!
Potatoes
Down to 1 jar of lentils
1 1/2 bag peas (I had more than 1 /2 bag?)
frozen cauliflower rice
Onions
Open can of coconut milk in the cupboard.

Lasagne sheets - alas not - have more

For snack I have made fruit scones. - Made them again today - lovely with morning cofee

So today - cauliflower rice risotto with peas - https://thenutfreevegan.net/cauliflower-rice-risotto-with-peas/ - that will finish my onion and cauliflower rice and maybe peas - done - not a bad quick dinner.

I am going to make some Tapioca pudding - i have had tapioca pearls forever in my cupboard - not sure if this will empty it but worth a whirl - in progress

Tomorrow - still thinking - Traveling Monday - Wednesday so no bulk cooking this weekend.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 07, 2021, 04:39:49 PM
Gave away 30 serrano peppers today, so someone will at least enjoy them. Technically, they are from our garden, but I'm still counting it!

We are overrun with delicious garden goodies. The only thing we're staying on top of well are the blueberries. Because, I send the kids out to pick them, and they come back with an empty bowl, having eaten them all while they are picking. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 08, 2021, 01:07:18 PM
Gave away 30 serrano peppers today, so someone will at least enjoy them. Technically, they are from our garden, but I'm still counting it!

We are overrun with delicious garden goodies. The only thing we're staying on top of well are the blueberries. Because, I send the kids out to pick them, and they come back with an empty bowl, having eaten them all while they are picking. ;-)

I picked a bowl full of blueberries, and spent an hour or 2 cleaning them. I intend to make jam from them.
I also picked cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus).

Do your children pick blueberries with their fingers? I use a device that can pick 8-10 at the time, which is more than you can eat at the same time.
https://www.europris.no/p-baerplukker-rod-150860
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 08, 2021, 01:23:59 PM
Gave away 30 serrano peppers today, so someone will at least enjoy them. Technically, they are from our garden, but I'm still counting it!

We are overrun with delicious garden goodies. The only thing we're staying on top of well are the blueberries. Because, I send the kids out to pick them, and they come back with an empty bowl, having eaten them all while they are picking. ;-)

I picked a bowl full of blueberries, and spent an hour or 2 cleaning them. I intend to make jam from them.
I also picked cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus).


Do your children pick blueberries with their fingers? I use a device that can pick 8-10 at the time, which is more than you can eat at the same time.
https://www.europris.no/p-baerplukker-rod-150860

Our blueberry bushes are pretty new (3 years, I think), so we're only getting 15-20 per day. Enough for the kids to stand, pick & eat all at once.

I also pickled 10 jars of mixed peppers (jalapenos, fresno & banana peppers). Gave away a zucchini & a bunch more serrano peppers (50 or so).

We used up the shishito peppers we were given yesterday. Rubbed them with olive oil & salt, popped them on the barbecue with the rest of dinner. They were so delish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 09, 2021, 01:11:21 PM
Mushroom season has started at our cabin. I foraged quite a few and have now a bag full of oven-dried brittle stems (russula). And 6 small boxes of various other species. I should either dry them or eat them this week. And I still hadn't finished last year's batch. Instead of drying, I can also put them in oil (confit). I might do that with the 2 most tasteful species.

This evening we ate up some vacation leftovers (sour cream and tortilla chips) in a salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 09, 2021, 01:23:14 PM
@Linea_Norway, that is a handy looking device!  And when I'm in a carbohydrate mood, sour cream and tortilla chips are one of my favorite snacks.

@MaybeBabyMustache, reading about your kiddos picking and eating blueberries made me smile.

@SAfAmBrit, nice going!

This weekend:
~Made one of two of a new to us brand of cauliflower crust pizza which I discovered I do not like.  I'll bake the remaining one to avoid food waste, but won't buy that brand again.
~Baked up another salmon filet and used one of the frozen lemon cubes on it.
~Used a pound each of locally raised beef and pork to make 8 burger patties.  We ate them last night for supper, and they will make tasty lunches for a few days.
~Traded a neighbor local peaches for some of her zucchini.  I sautéed one of the latter for supper last night.
~A different friend gifted us 3 beautiful tomatoes and a few dozen eggs.  I served one of the tomatoes in caprese salads last night.
~Finished the rest of the mashed cauliflower
~Nibbles:  Finished the bag of smoked almonds, had a few pieces each taffy and dark chocolate, and a dark chocolate nut bar.
~Conducted a canned item inventory and completed and submitted a large box store list.  I like to stock up before cold weather hits.
~The freezer bag of leftover Easter ham is thawed, and I'll make either ham and cheese omelets or a quesadilla with it tonight.
~Fish tacos will take care of another fish fillet, some tortillas, and shrimp tomorrow night.  I'll try and remember to use another lemon juice cube.
~Wednesday's enchiladas will use another pound each of locally raised beef and pork, more tortillas, and the can of enchilada sauce bought several months ago.  I've got an open container of tomato paste I should add as well.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 09, 2021, 01:29:22 PM
Your meal options sound great, @MountainGal ! If you were close by, I would hook you up with all of the zucchini you would accept. :-)

I remembered to open a container of soup (shelf stable, tomato, bought during the height of food shortages) for lunch today. The 15 y.o & I had that, and grilled cheese sandwiches. As a special treat, I added bacon to the grilled cheese. So hard to go wrong there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 09, 2021, 01:36:08 PM
LOL.  Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!  One of the zucchinis is larger than my forearm.  I'd love to post a picture, but will describe instead:  The mutual neighbor dropped it off yesterday along with two "regular" sized ones.  Being a smart aleck, on the large one the grower of said zucchini taped a note saying:  "You're Welcome" with a smiley face.  :) :)

Your soup and sandwich lunch sounds delicious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 10, 2021, 03:09:28 AM
Was in a baking mood yesterday. So now I have a batch of oatmeal-banana-walnut muffins and a nice lemon pie in the fridge. This took care of 4 leftover lemons and 2 brown bananas and some cupboard stuff that I had anyway.
Dinners are set for the week:
-salad, baked potatoes and pork chops today
- taco dinner tomorrow
- grilled fish, leftover potatoes and all leftover veggies on thursday
Friday we will leave, so this clears out the fridge.
Freezer is not empty , but hopefully the kids will take some attempts to empty is a little more at lunch/breakfast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 10, 2021, 04:08:23 AM
I made several jars of jam from blueberries and cloudberries. These will be eaten over the next half year. I might make more if I find more berries. This is the season to make new batches. At least this is a food that I know I eat a lot.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 10, 2021, 10:59:10 AM
Today, I prepared a pasta meal with 3 types of selfpicked fresh mushrooms and 3 types or selfpicked green plants from the freezer. Finally a dent in the selfpicked food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 10, 2021, 04:24:30 PM
Great work, everyone! I love seeing how people use their fresh produce.

I picked 10 cucumbers over the past couple of days, so we've been working our way through those. The English ones are hands down the best. Some of the others are a little bitter, even when removing the peel & seeds. The kids have been snacking on large bowls of sliced English cucumbers, with a sprinkle of salt.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 12, 2021, 01:26:59 PM
~I used the last avocado in a crema to top Tuesday's tacos
~I served broccoli slaw with Tuesday's fish tacos and last night's enchiladas.  One more supper should take care of the rest.
~Used the last sad looking lime last night.
~I'll serve sautéed portobello mushrooms and asparagus with tonight's pork ribs.  The produce drawer contents are once again shrinking.
~Used up the rest of the mozzarella and most of the marbled cheese in last night's enchiladas.  Here's to the grocery pick up tomorrow!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 12, 2021, 03:15:13 PM
I need to start coming up with a weekly/monthly "things to use up" list. My fridge is overrun by zucchini, to the point where other items are pushed to the back & forgotten.

We're in the sports/back to school/crazy new schedules phase of life, so I picked up Greek takeout last night on the way home from picking up a sweaty soccer player. It was fabulous, & generated leftovers.

I'm hoping we can get by with a light(er) grocery shop this week, and focus on what we have to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on August 12, 2021, 03:35:49 PM
This is, I think, in the spirit of this thread.  I took some stuff out of my freezer - a whole 15# turkey, a 4# pork shoulder, 20+ chicken thighs, frozen cooked hominy, and cubed pork.  Did a big smoking session and then processed and parceled out all the smoked meat.  Then I put a bunch of stuff back IN the freezer - sliced smoked turkey breast, smoked chicken thighs in 2-packs, 2 cup containers of smoked turkey bean soup, pozole, and 12 individually wrapped burritos stuffed with smoked chicken, refried beans, and Spanish rice.  It was a good trade-off, because I converted some big unwieldy chunks of meat into lots of things ready to eat (or make a super quick meal from).  And what didn't get frozen has fed us all week this week.

Now I need to update my freezer inventory.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 12, 2021, 03:44:20 PM
@dividend - very much in the spirit of the thread! You've taken ingredients & made them into meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 13, 2021, 01:11:51 PM
Okay, I feel like I'm making a bit of progress:
-Finished off the rice & almost all of the kebabs for dinner last night
-My husband ate a few leftover wings this afternoon, cleaning out that container
-I made a teen a grilled cheese sandwich, using the last of the shredded cheese & a couple of slices of sandwich bread that we can't seem to use up
-I finished off the leftover Greek takeout (ended up being 2 full meals, and 1/2 of another for me - that was one entree!)

Still to be removed from the fridge:
-Zucchini, so many. Tried to give them to a neighbor who requests them, but she's camping. Those will head out on Sunday. I'll also make breaded zucchini to go with dinner tonight
-Leftover deep dish pizza. Dinner tonight
-Salmon (my husband's leftover dinner tonight - he doesn't eat gluten)
-Tomato soup. Maybe tomorrow's lunch?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on August 14, 2021, 05:39:16 PM
Continuing on the plan - I can almost see what is in the cupboard!


Competed out of the cupboards since I started on 8/1

Dried Chickpeas
Cashews and cashew butter
2 barrito wraps hiding - I made vegan quesadilla's
A bag of gnocchi - it was out of date but I survived!
Potatoes
Down to 1 jar of lentils
1 1/2 bag peas (I had more than 1 /2 bag?)
frozen cauliflower rice
Onions
Open can of coconut milk in the fridge
Small amt of Fusilli
Emptied 1st box rice - 3 more open to go



Lasagne sheets - alas not - have more


 Made the tapioca - it was amazing - discovered I have enough tapioca pearls to make it about 10 more times - will have it again

Made the Spanish rice again for dinner - about to eat it!

I bought 8 things to support my menus for the next 7 days otherwise I will only be using what is in the house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Freedomin5 on August 14, 2021, 08:09:50 PM
Made mung bean dessert soup today. Also bought some fresh veggies so I can make a chickpea curry. Made hummus this week to again use up the chickpeas. Lastly, I made mung bean cakes. As you can probably tell, I went a bit overboard with the mung beans and chickpeas last year during my COVID stock up frenzy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 15, 2021, 02:28:30 AM
Yesterday I made a lasagna and used up my selfmade fermented wild garlic that was one and a half years old and taking up space in the fridge. I also had to throw away one and a half jar of homemade rose harissa that I made before the summer. The half jar was full of mold. And the full jar had a little spot on top that I didn't trust, so I threw that away as well. That really annoid me. I have made lots of jams that didn't mold. For the harissa I used a recipee and it probably didn't get enough cooked before putting it in the jar. Or the jar was somehow not clean enough.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 15, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
@Linea_Norway - I hate it when that happens with food waste, but better safe than sorry.

-My 14 y.o. made a delicious mango habanero sauce last night, which we had with chicken wings. That used up jalapenos (subbed for habaneros) that we had in the garden, & the last of a bag of chicken wings
-I made a peach/mozzarella/basil salad that used up a lot of garden basil, some peaches that were beginning to get wrinkly, and the fresh mozzarella that's almost past the expiration date
-We also had a salad filled with lots of garden goodies
-The teens both had soccer games, and it was hot yesterday, so they had smoothies multiple times. I love smoothies, because it gives me a chance to use up bananas from the freezer, frozen mangoes, and protein powder. Plus, they are delicious.
-I also had 1/2 a cheese sandwich yesterday, using up the sliced bread we bought a while back
-My 14 y.o. is reasonably picky, but I encouraged him to eat waffles (freezer) vs going out & buying more bagels. He begrudgingly did, and now appears to like the waffles. Win/win, as it creates some freezer space.

I'm planning to make some sort of zucchini dish to go with grilled chicken tonight. And, gave away five zucchini yesterday!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 16, 2021, 12:37:26 PM
@dividend, well done with your smoker project!  We have a smoker and love it.  I've been using it to bake suppers as it is too hot to run the kitchen oven.

@MaybeBabyMustache, your breaded zucchini post reminded me about the zucchini fritters I like to make.  Those will go with tonight's cauliflower crust pizza.  Which leads me to:

Remember the large zucchini I mentioned last week?  Well, I finally got around to shredding it yesterday and it yielded approximately 11 cups.  Two cups went into zucchini bread yesterday, a friend picked up a few bags this morning, I froze one bag, and the other will go into the aforementioned fritters tonight.

Tonight I'll bake the remaining cauliflower crust pizza we don't care for.  I'll shred the remaining marbled cheese on top.  Tomorrow night I'll make homemade tortilla chips from low carb tortillas, and make a plate of nachos for supper.

And, once again, last week I noticed we were running out of food storage containers.  I was going to buy more, but before doing so, decided to take a current inventory.  In just the kitchen fridge and freezer, I counted 9.  Instead of buying more, I am going to make a concentrated effort to use up the food currently stored in them.  So far from the freezer, ham and beans went with DH for two lunches this week, one contained four slices of homemade blueberry cheesecake, two of which have already been consumed :), and a third contains chicken Alfredo with spaghetti squash for two of my lunches.  That's what, over a square foot of gained space in the freezer?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 16, 2021, 12:57:59 PM
@MountainGal - I'm currently zucchini-less! I've given away/used up everything. Of course, more are actively growing, but it's so freeing! I made zucchini muffins out of one big zucchini. We also have the same problem with food storage containers, and I refuse to buy more, but instead target a few things I want to use up. It works pretty well as a motivation to get things back into circulation.

-We made more wings to use up our habanero mango sauce
-I made a grilled cheese for lunch, with tomato soup. That uses up both bread, cheese & some of the soup. I think I'm going to have to tap out of the grilled cheese sandwiches, because my stomach definitely prefers a more salad based lunch with a lean protein. Can't win them all.
-Used up the last bit of trail mix (someone ate all of the M&Ms out of it) & a can of peanuts in a zucchini muffin recipe that calls for diced walnuts. They turned out great, and it emptied two containers out of the pantry. Double win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 17, 2021, 03:47:32 PM
Congratulations, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And, yes, it's amazing how quickly zucchinis grow.  And, LOL at someone eating all the M & M's.  Sounds like something I might do.  0:)  Great job clearing out the two containers.

Regarding containers, I should mention I also use glass jars after cleaning and removing the labels.  The best frugal tip I found online for the latter is to use rubbing alcohol.  It seems to zap the label adhesive quickly.  Homemade pancake mix is in an old preserves jar, spice blends are in smaller jars, and I regularly use medium jars for DH's overnight oats, and smaller jars to shake up homemade dressings.  And months ago, an old glass coffee jar was filled with dried beans and sent home with a neighbor.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 17, 2021, 03:59:22 PM
-We had a tiny cantaloupe ripen (size of a baseball), so I used it in a smoothie
-Made caprese for dinner, using garden tomatoes & basil
-Lots of garden veggies & herbs in our salad
-And, defrosted salsa chicken from a previously prepped meal. We'll have this in a tortilla or over cauliflower rice (Keto husband)

The kids are getting free breakfast & lunch at school (I believe this is a new national policy for the year), which is cutting way down on our food consumption!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on August 17, 2021, 08:11:48 PM
Had a container of blueberries drying out in the fridge.  Made blueberry cornmeal bars with them, even though I was tired.  They're yummy!  Although a finer grind of cornmeal probably would have been better...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 18, 2021, 12:32:25 AM
Yesterday I finally used up the first of 2 jars with homemade wild garlic salt. On top of a fish tha5 DH caught some weeks ago.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 21, 2021, 12:01:50 AM
Two more days to cook before leaving home again. I did not buy more food. Tonight we will eat leftover homemade pizza from the freezer, with leftover ruccola salad. And on Sunday we will improvise something from freezer ingredients. I plan to try the "soup from leftovers" that I heard about and use up the can with homemade chicken stock in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 21, 2021, 09:56:08 AM
We have officially used up all of the freezer bananas. I'm guessing we had 20+ at the start of the summer. They've all been used up in smoothies. Hurrah! The freezer is looking more organized.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 21, 2021, 01:50:12 PM
I used up a jar of homemade confit puffball mushrooms. First on a pizza. And today the remaining as a starter. And I made 3 new jars from various fresh mushrooms, as they are in season.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on August 21, 2021, 04:23:51 PM
This week I did not cook as Mon - Friday I ate the Spanish rice (Saturday) and the rice and black bean burrito mix (Sunday) leftovers

This week I have cheated - I have a fresh veggie hotpot in the open - I was craving vegetables. I did however finish a Zucchini and a shriveled pepper in it. Everything not a fresh veggie came from the pantry!

Competed out of the cupboards since I started on 8/1

Dried Chickpeas
Cashews and cashew butter
2 burrito wraps hiding - I made vegan quesadilla's
A bag of gnocchi - it was out of date but I survived!
Potatoes
Down to 1 jar of lentils
1 1/2 bag peas (I had more than 1 /2 bag?)
frozen cauliflower rice
Onions
Open can of coconut milk in the fridge
Small amt of Fusilli
Emptied 1st box rice - 3 more open to go
Finished a can of dried french onion - not sure when I bought it and I have another.
Jar of nutritional yeast
Bag with small amount Faro in it

Lasagne sheets - alas not - have more

It is a milestone birthday next week and apparently I will be going away for it. Emptying the fridge is now paramount - only fresh veg remaining will make a small salad, finished the almond milk - so the unexpected trip is supported by the August challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 22, 2021, 01:01:30 PM
Today I made a wok with some diced potatoes, a box of diced bacon from the freezer, a box of dices root veggies from the fridge, 2 boxes of leftover selfpicked mushroom that I didn't confit yesterday, one bellpepper that was the last veggie in the fridge, half a can of leftover tomatostuff, half a box of cream goat cheese, half a can of sour cream and half a box of leftover alm tree fruits that I froze in spring. It tasted good and there is little left in the fridge when leaving tomorrow. We will bring along the potatoes and some of the cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 22, 2021, 01:41:11 PM
Just successfully reheated leftover French fries in the oven. I've never been able to get them crispy before, and wouldn't have requested them from the restaurant, but they packaged them up with the rest of my dinner. Hurrah, saved food that the teen had with his lunch. Other teen had leftovers from his own dinner.

Tonight I'm making chicken fajitas (peppers from our garden), guacamole (jalapeno, tomatoes & cilantro from our garden) & blistered shishito peppers (also from the garden).

When I went to Costco yesterday, the fruit drawer was officially empty, minus a handful of limes. I was impressed with our fruit consumption, and lack of waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on August 22, 2021, 02:25:16 PM
Repurposed some leftover cooked oatmeal from two days ago... pancake batter was way too thin so I added a cup of the oatmeal, broke up the lumps, and sweetened with a couple of tablespoons of honey (I had to heat the bottle of crystallized honey in warm water to remelt it into a liquid). Family gave it a thumbs up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 22, 2021, 04:37:36 PM
Made 8 batches of pickled Serrano peppers (and, gave away another 60+ or so). I cut our plant way back, as it was taking over the entire bed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on August 22, 2021, 04:46:38 PM
Have some bulgur wheat that's been hanging around in my cupboard for a couple years.  Read on line bulgur is still usable after this length of time since it is precooked.  So I made tabbouleh using the abundant parsley and mint from my garden.  I think I will experiment with other recipes, but I have alot more bulgur, parsley and mint so I think this will be appearing frequently on my menu in the coming months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 22, 2021, 08:33:56 PM
Have some bulgur wheat that's been hanging around in my cupboard for a couple years.  Read on line bulgur is still usable after this length of time since it is precooked.  So I made tabbouleh using the abundant parsley and mint from my garden.  I think I will experiment with other recipes, but I have alot more bulgur, parsley and mint so I think this will be appearing frequently on my menu in the coming months.

I am currently trying to use up the bulgur in my pantry. It makes a great overnight oats type breakfast. 1/4 cup bulgur in a jar, add fruit and what ever else you would like in your over night oats, a bit of something sweet and cover with a milk option let sit overnight...it is freaking amazing. The texture is that of steel cut oats that are not mush. My 11 year old even loved it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 22, 2021, 08:38:48 PM
My 11 year old hates leftovers. I am currently really trying to have less food in our house. I am tired of managing it. (I am part of a massive garden group so my freezer is packed full of produce and I think I brought home 75# of produce today so it will take all winter to eat it down)

I told my 11 year old my plan to try to get away for Thanksgiving this year but to do that we will have to 'hack' the budget and 'turn in' the things we have all ready bought aka the food in the house, the food growing in the garden and use all of it. This would mean that she would have to eat leftovers...that kid ate leftovers and is helping to make food and a plan to use it all. She is also thinks she has just what she needs for school this year..I will use the supplies I have Mom...She loves to travel so it is a win win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 22, 2021, 09:23:29 PM
My 11 year old hates leftovers. I am currently really trying to have less food in our house. I am tired of managing it. (I am part of a massive garden group so my freezer is packed full of produce and I think I brought home 75# of produce today so it will take all winter to eat it down)

I told my 11 year old my plan to try to get away for Thanksgiving this year but to do that we will have to 'hack' the budget and 'turn in' the things we have all ready bought aka the food in the house, the food growing in the garden and use all of it. This would mean that she would have to eat leftovers...that kid ate leftovers and is helping to make food and a plan to use it all. She is also thinks she has just what she needs for school this year..I will use the supplies I have Mom...She loves to travel so it is a win win.

I like your plan. My son is picky (older, at 14), and when he doesn't want what the rest of us are having, he makes something for himself. He doesn't have to eat leftovers, but he can make something out of other items we have on hand. Often that's a protein smoothie, with frozen fruit & a banana. Or, pasta from the pantry, and some sort of protein from the freezer. He also is in charge of making dinners for the family, once per week. I thought having him cook would help him broaden his palate. He's actually become a really great cook, but doesn't eat 90% of what he makes. Win some, lose some. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on August 23, 2021, 01:27:45 PM
Have some bulgur wheat that's been hanging around in my cupboard for a couple years.  Read on line bulgur is still usable after this length of time since it is precooked.  So I made tabbouleh using the abundant parsley and mint from my garden.  I think I will experiment with other recipes, but I have alot more bulgur, parsley and mint so I think this will be appearing frequently on my menu in the coming months.

I am currently trying to use up the bulgur in my pantry. It makes a great overnight oats type breakfast. 1/4 cup bulgur in a jar, add fruit and what ever else you would like in your over night oats, a bit of something sweet and cover with a milk option let sit overnight...it is freaking amazing. The texture is that of steel cut oats that are not mush. My 11 year old even loved it.

Thank you for the tip, @seemsright!  I will try that.  Sounds delish!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 24, 2021, 08:36:54 PM
We made a lot of progress on leftovers, because I got home later than expected from soccer practice, and didn't have time to prep my original dinner:
-I finished off the chicken fajitas & guacamole + tortilla
-My husband ate the last of the salmon
-One kid had 1/2 the remaining pasta & some chicken
-Another kid has the last 1/2 of pasta & meatballs
Everyone had green salad, with plenty from the garden. It wasn't the best dinner ever, but it certainly cleared out the fridge!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 25, 2021, 01:39:58 PM
Husband and I went camping for our anniversary.  @Linea_Norway, I thought about you as there were so many different mushroom species in the forest!  Different colors, shapes, sizes....  It was remarkable.

Happy birthday, @SAfAmBrit!

Everyone is doing such a great job at avoiding food waste!  I love the fact you have included your children in this endeavour.

~Yesterday and today's lunch used up an open can of black olives and a handful of cherry tomatoes from husband's garden
~Last night's tacos used a tomato from a friend's garden, an avocado, and a bit of broccoli slaw
~Tonight's supper will include the remaining eggplant tempura, leftover pasta from camping, and another friend's tomato
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 26, 2021, 10:32:16 PM
Tonight's dinner used all of the things, I made fried rice, leftover grilled cabbage, carrots, celery, rice, ham, eggs, picked onions (I have no idea how long they have been in the fridge, I know I made them) and a bit of soy sauce all cooked in a bit of saved bacon fat. I also had some homemade kimchi and sauerkraut that a friend made that my preteen cannot get enough of.


Starting to see the back of my fridge...man it can get out of hand fast. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 27, 2021, 08:37:48 AM
@seemsright - that sounds like a delicious "use it up" meal.

We had several meals of leftovers throughout the week, and they really helped us empty the fridge.
-Finished off the leftover steak
-Defrosted carnitas, and had a carnitas burrito (featuring fresh garden tomatoes & cilantro)
-Kids ate more chicken that we're trying to use up (freezer)
-We made lots of smoothies, using up bananas, blueberries (garden), protein powder & frozen fruit

The fridge is looking good, as we roll into the weekend (and, grocery shopping)!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 31, 2021, 01:10:28 PM
@seemsright, I love stir fried rice!!!

Lately:
~Sunday's supper used up the rest of the store bought cherry tomatoes (silly me, I forgot the fact my husband said to not buy any due to his upcoming garden harvest), a neighbor's home grown cucumber, and a small yellow squash from husband's garden.  The latter two were SO good.  When I peeled the cucumber, my husband said from across the room that it smelled good.
~A 14" gluten free pizza yielded three servings for just me (husband ordered a calzone).
~Last night I cooked up the remaining one of two catfish fillets.
~Because husband bought two packages of mozzarella mini balls, I've made sure we are eating them so they don't go to waste as I mentioned happened in a prior post.  They go well with the abundance of cherry tomatoes.
~For snacks, I finished a bag each of almonds, cheese crisps, and a small bag of toffee popcorn.
~We finished the crock pot zucchini bread I made.  Giving a neighbor friend's bachelor brother a small bag of it helped to use it up.
~Sliced cucumber went well with sliced deli chicken and cheese for three different lunches.
~The rest of the broccoli slaw and remaining lime and avocado will go on top of tonight's shrimp soft tacos.
~Wednesday and Saturday nights will focus on finger foods such as frozen taquitos, bacon wrapped shrimp, and crescent dough wrapped little smokies.

The above aside, all that remains in the produce drawer is a 1/2 bag of baby spinach and a 3-pack of turnips.  I'll turn the latter into fries to accompany this weekend's BBQ.  (We keep apples, oranges, bananas, and husband's garden harvests on the counter.)

Much to my chagrin, last night I tossed a bag of cauliflower florets because we didn't get to them in time, and a few of the store bought cherry tomatoes because they were bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 31, 2021, 01:29:26 PM
Way to go, @MountainGal!

We tried a new recipe (oven baked chicken shawarma) & used up garden tomatoes, an open container of tzatziki sauce (the inspiration for the recipe) & a variety of other fridge ingredients. Plus, I cheated & didn't use flat bread, but used bake at home tortillas that I'm trying to use up, which were a passable substitute.

I also made a use it up granola bar recipe, which used stale cereal, the last of a bag of granola, as well as coconut oil my husband bought & never uses it. I don't love the recipe (the coconut flavor is a bit overpowering), but it works. Oh, and I was out of natural peanut butter, so I tossed a can of peanuts into the food processor & refilled my jar. That can needed to be used up anyway, so it was a double win.

I made up a huge batch of taco meat this weekend, and we'll have that for dinner tonight (rest in the freezer). It will also use up: garden tomatoes, the end of a block of cheese, and more of the bake at home tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on August 31, 2021, 02:12:39 PM
@MountainGal Do you have a link to the recipe you used for crock pot zucchini bread?  I've rediscovered crock pot cooking recently.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 31, 2021, 04:34:37 PM
Here's a query for the food preservation peeps... had a rough grocery delivery today and tub of fresh mozzarella leaked 100% of its liquid all over everything in the bag, soaking everything. I got refunds for what was ruined and cleaned the rest, but would like to minimize waste. The cheese was still in the tub, but without any liquid; will it be ok or should I repackage it with some salty water - or is there something else in that liquid that preserves it somehow?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 31, 2021, 04:36:27 PM
@Dollar Slice - I've had good luck keeping feta in salty water, but that fits well with the taste of feta. I'd try that here, then rinse before use, and use more quickly than possible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on August 31, 2021, 04:52:18 PM
Husband and I went camping for our anniversary.  @Linea_Norway, I thought about you as there were so many different mushroom species in the forest!  Different colors, shapes, sizes....  It was remarkable.

Happy birthday, @SAfAmBrit!

Everyone is doing such a great job at avoiding food waste!  I love the fact you have included your children in this endeavour.

~Yesterday and today's lunch used up an open can of black olives and a handful of cherry tomatoes from husband's garden
~Last night's tacos used a tomato from a friend's garden, an avocado, and a bit of broccoli slaw
~Tonight's supper will include the remaining eggplant tempura, leftover pasta from camping, and another friend's tomato

Thanks @MountainGirl
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 31, 2021, 05:58:01 PM
@Dollar Slice - I've had good luck keeping feta in salty water, but that fits well with the taste of feta. I'd try that here, then rinse before use, and use more quickly than possible.

I'll give it a shot :-) They were already getting a little weird and dried out so it can't be worse than letting them sit in the empty tub...

I always have trouble with those things leaking, I have no idea why they put them in such poor packaging.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on August 31, 2021, 07:36:38 PM
@Dollar Slice - I've had good luck keeping feta in salty water, but that fits well with the taste of feta. I'd try that here, then rinse before use, and use more quickly than possible.

I'll give it a shot :-) They were already getting a little weird and dried out so it can't be worse than letting them sit in the empty tub...

I always have trouble with those things leaking, I have no idea why they put them in such poor packaging.

Not sure how your mozzarella is packed in the US, but I slice the big ball I get then freeze it in a plastic tub without liquid. The slices go on my pizza as needed. They are difficult but not impossible to separate when frozen.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 31, 2021, 08:29:28 PM
Not sure how your mozzarella is packed in the US, but I slice the big ball I get then freeze it in a plastic tub without liquid. The slices go on my pizza as needed. They are difficult but not impossible to separate when frozen.

These are the little ciliegine balls (~2cm wide) and they come in a tub full of liquid. I was planning on using them raw in salads/appetizer type dishes since tomatoes are in season right now and they're so good together. The bigger balls that you would slice often come tightly wrapped in plastic wrap with no liquid.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 01, 2021, 03:23:13 AM
Here's a query for the food preservation peeps... had a rough grocery delivery today and tub of fresh mozzarella leaked 100% of its liquid all over everything in the bag, soaking everything. I got refunds for what was ruined and cleaned the rest, but would like to minimize waste. The cheese was still in the tub, but without any liquid; will it be ok or should I repackage it with some salty water - or is there something else in that liquid that preserves it somehow?

Just use it as soon as possible.....
I'm planning to make a pasta casserole this weekend to use up some mozzarella balls: stir fry some meatballs (from our freezer stash) and unions (from the cupboard). Add 2 cans of cherrytomatoes (cupboard inventory) and a little pasta (I will use orzo, a rice sized pasta variety which is in my cupboard). Add some herbs (oregano, basil, a little pepper and salt) Simmer for 20 minutes. Put everything in a large oven-dish and put the mozzarella balls on it. Heat for 15 minutes and serve with some salad!

We're back from holidays and my cupboard is still overflowing. This needs some downsizing, so I'm menu-planning around things I have.
Today is a simple pasta dish (no time to cook, so it will be simple pasta bolognese which is ready in 15 minutes). Tomorrow Taco dinner to use up the veggies before they go bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on September 01, 2021, 06:15:31 AM
Slow cooker mung bean daal using mung beans that have been hanging around for ... forever ?  I soaked the beans overnight just to make sure they were still good.  This recipe also involved using some spices that have been hanging around for a while.  Some of them are seeds that I grind in a spice grinder.  I understand that if spices remain in seed form they last much much longer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 01, 2021, 11:23:09 AM
@MountainGal Do you have a link to the recipe you used for crock pot zucchini bread?  I've rediscovered crock pot cooking recently.

Hi @Beardog!  Thank you for asking.  Below is the recipe I followed.  I used granulated sugar and butter because that's what I had on hand.  I omitted the xanthan gum (because I don't buy it), and didn't add nuts because my husband doesn't care for them in bread.  https://lowcarbyum.com/crock-pot-zucchini-bread-gluten-free/ (https://lowcarbyum.com/crock-pot-zucchini-bread-gluten-free/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 01, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
When attempting to put something away in the pantry last night, I knocked something to the floor (my dark chocolate blueberry sticks! Gasp!) and the container popped open and the sticks went everywhere.  I told my husband we have way too much stuffed in there.  Such a problem to have (sarcasm).  I'll focus on rearranging again this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 01, 2021, 12:22:58 PM
When attempting to put something away in the pantry last night, I knocked something to the floor (my dark chocolate blueberry sticks! Gasp!) and the container popped open and the sticks went everywhere.  I told my husband we have way too much stuffed in there.  Such a problem to have (sarcasm).  I'll focus on rearranging again this weekend.

I too am so tired of having to dig for things in my pantry, fridge and freezer. I am not buying much at all right now with all of the garden produce coming in.

Tonight's dinner, ginger miso soup, grilled flat bread and grilled corn. Yes random but trying to use up what we have on hand.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 01, 2021, 12:47:41 PM
Our chicken shawarma was so popular that I don't have enough for (planned) leftovers tonight. Instead, I defrosted some kebabs from the freezer, and we will have those with rice for dinner. Always good to free up freezer space.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 01, 2021, 07:18:14 PM
My ginger miso soup was amazing. I made some bone broth in my pressure cooker, added a chunk of ginger and a bit of turmeric root. Then I diced a bit of onion, carrot and celery. I added some miso paste to my pot, poured in my broth then tempered a couple of eggs into the broth. Added a couple handfuls of sliced cabbage...it was really easy and so so good.

Making soup with what you have on hand is not hard. Just make sure the texture is what you are going for. Tonights dinner was exactly what I wanted and I did not have to go to the store.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 02, 2021, 04:11:19 PM
@seemsright, exactly!  In our kitchen pantry, each shelf has a purpose, from top to bottom:  Husband's breakfast and lunch stuff, canned items, baking items, cooking oils/vinegars/almond flour on the lower half shelf, and husband's lunchbox, box of garbage bags, and the fire extinguisher on the bottom.  Problems start when miscellaneous bags of things get placed in front of the cans and baking items.  It drives me nuts to not see everything available at a glance.  And, your miso soup sounds delicious!

@MaybeBabyMustache, glad your shawarma was a hit!  That dish seems popular these days:  It was on a recent cooking show on the Food channel, and Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, recently featured it in her newsletter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 04, 2021, 03:48:19 AM
Our chicken shawarma was so popular that I don't have enough for (planned) leftovers tonight. Instead, I defrosted some kebabs from the freezer, and we will have those with rice for dinner. Always good to free up freezer space.

That is always the dilemma. An empty freezer makes me a bit nervous of not having anything stored (for a temporary crisis or so). But a full freezer has a lot of stuff that needs to be eaten before it expires.

I just installed an app called Best Before. I added all the stuff that is in the freezer drawers, that I earlier had written on paper lists. And I added selfmade products in fridges and cupboards. There is still all the other stuff. I added DH to the electronic list and I hope the system will work. It is supposed to give a reminder a week before it perishes.

In the last few weeks, we picked lots of blue berries that are in the freezer waiting for the plums in the garden to ripen. That won't take long. We had some other berries that I cooked and put in pots.

Yesterday I made a dish where I finished a pack of bulgur. It needed parsley which I didn't have. So I added a selfpicked plant from the freezer that tastes of parsley.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 04, 2021, 06:31:32 AM
@Linea_Norway - please let us know what you think of the app. I'd find something like that useful, I think.

I had eggs for lunch 2x this week, as there were almost no leftovers. I also defrosted leftovers from the freezer for lunch. They weren't great (enchilada rice), but added some guacamole, garden tomatoes & cheese, and it was passable. It's hard to go wrong with guacamole.

Had an insane work day yesterday, so we got Thai food takeout. It was delicious, & we have a lot of leftovers. We have a really busy weekend (teen soccer tournament), but I have cooking on the list of things to do:
-Grilled chicken & pasta salad (both also with leftovers)
-Chicken curry (makes 3x dinners) & rice
-Beef & cauliflower taco skillet (hope it makes x2 dinners)

Kids have lunch at school. We've gone through a staggering amount of smoothies (at least a couple of batches/day), as it's a great option for the kids ahead of school with a scoop of protein powder. Or as an afternoon snack. We made it completely through the freezer bananas, and have made progress on the enormous bag of protein powder.

Time permitting, I need to cut back all of the herbs this weekend. Maybe it will be time for a batch of fresh pesto.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 05, 2021, 11:29:08 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache
So far, the app Best Before (Android) works okay. I have the free version and that comes with commercials at the bottom.

It is reasonably easy to find back a product. I have just typed in a description, but you can also take pictures, something I didn't try. I find it easy to mark something as consumed when finished. And if I don't count the number down, it goes into opened. I have not managed to mark one item as opened when I have multiple of the same product. Also, when I have the same item stored various places (a silly thing to do, I admit), I need to give to give the second item a different name, otherwise it will be added to the existing item.
All in all so far, it works well. I like that we can use it with more users. And I like that I can turn off notifications for updates of items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 05, 2021, 11:49:51 AM
Thanks, @Linea_Norway - I'll give it a try.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on September 05, 2021, 01:39:59 PM
I blended the last remnants of a jar of cherry jam with some lemon juice and fresh watermelon and made popsicles. I like it when an ingredient "scrap" can become a featured ingredient in a new dish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 05, 2021, 02:06:42 PM
Today I used up a jar of pickeled mushrooms. I made a dent in a pot of pickeled carrot. And I used a lot of the flavours that we have in pots in the fridge. And I used up a small plastic bag of dried mushrooms, as well as some fresh one that I picked last week.

I registered my dried mushrooms with their picking date in the app, so I was a bit shocked to find a few from 2016. Good that they don't expire so much.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on September 06, 2021, 02:16:02 PM
I made a stupid delicious bean salad from out of date beans to take to my fancy neighborhood block party today.  Win win win.  Also, I re-inventoried my freezers this weekend, and am soliciting suggestions for roasted Hatch chiles, and white fish.  TIA. 

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 06, 2021, 03:04:48 PM
-Ate more pasta salad with dinner
-Continue to eat up leftover Thai takeout for lunches
-In a "use it up" fail, I'd stocked up on a few options for a pool party (mini pepperoni pizzas, chicken tenders, etc) & then found out the guests are vegetarian. So, had to buy new items. Oh well, the kids will eat these another time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on September 06, 2021, 03:14:37 PM
Sorry - I am sure I am driving everyone crazy with this list - but it is something that works to motivate me

Competed out of the cupboards since I started on 8/1

Dried Chickpeas
Cashews and cashew butter
2 burrito wraps hiding - I made vegan quesadilla's
A bag of gnocchi - it was out of date but I survived!
Potatoes
Down to 1 jar of lentils
1 1/2 bag peas (I had more than 1 /2 bag?)
frozen cauliflower rice
Onions
Open can of coconut milk in the fridge
Small amt of Fusilli
Emptied 2nd box rice - 2 more open to go
Finished a can of dried french onion - not sure when I bought it and I have another.
Jar of nutritional yeast
Bag with small amount Faro in it

Lasagne sheets - alas not - have more

I am buying only fresh vegetables and fruit - and tinned tomatoes - sorry life would be over without tomatoes in it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 07, 2021, 12:47:28 AM
Yesterday I made tapas for dinner. I used up one small jar of confited selfpicked mushrooms, with olives. Opened a jar of confited porcini mushrooms that is in the fridge because the jar leaks oil through the lid. I had some other dishes as well but those were bought fresh. I also baked a foccacia and could store 3 portions of it in the freezer. Should add them to the app.

I fifured out that in the app I can mark stuff as opened as long as I don't check off the box "count individually".
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 07, 2021, 02:32:46 AM
Still trying to get my overflowing cupboard down to more normal...... but one way or the other, things keep on creeping up and are not eaten by the family.
Today I'm hoping to finalise a few leftovers from the weekend and then tomorrow I will start cooking from the cupboard. Maybe some reorganisation needs to take place, since I'm finding same items on different shelves. I'm hoping that this weekend, I can get myself in a mood to do this. My husband starts complaining that he cannot find anything in the big mess, so there is some signaling.......

Plan for this week:
Today: stir fry noodles with loads of veggies and some chicken
Tomorrow: baked potatoes with salad and some meats from the freezer
Thursday: pasta day (simple, because of sports.....)
Friday: fish&chips plus some leftover veggies
Saturday: easy shawarma with pita and salad
Sunday: pasta casserole (the one I planned for last Sunday, but the weather was too good, so we BBQ-ed some burgers)

Lunches will be leftovers and sandwiches. Breakfast is cereal, crackers and anything the kids will find in the fridge..... (I'm not a real breakfast person, way too busy in the morning with getting lunchboxes ready and then head to work (either at home or at the office))
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 07, 2021, 01:43:39 PM
@dividend, I've made a casserole out of Hatch green chilis which was fabulous.  A quick online search will result in many recipes. :)

Saturday, I tackled the kitchen pantry.  I pulled out open bags of nuts, trail mix, cheese crisps, etc. which were in the way and driving me nuts.  I consolidated some to baggies and containers to eat with lunches.  DH finished the trail mix over the weekend.  I then organized the other shelves, grouping things back together such as baking ingredients, oils and vinegars.  Next time, I'll fully commit and pull everything out in order to remove the liner and wipe down shelves.  The only things tossed were a tiny bit of corn meal that expired last October, and 1/3 bag of pork rinds which expired in June.

This weekend included focusing on the bag of baby spinach, blueberries, and husband's garden harvests:
~Sunday was brunch smoothies with baby spinach, fresh blueberries, strawberries from the freezer, a can of coconut milk, vanilla, honey, and a dash of cinnamon.
~Yesterday's brunch featured a baby spinach, bacon, and cheddar omelet.  It used the remaining slice of bacon, and I served blueberries on the side.
~Last night we had 4 different garden vegetables for supper including our first home grown cucumber.
~Tonight's nachos will utilize some garden tomatoes, some Hatch flavored chili tortilla chips, bits and bobs of cheese, and a can each of beans and olives.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on September 07, 2021, 02:46:44 PM
How coincidental that this is at the top of my "show new replies to your threads" page, because I'm going to be using it all up. Primary fridge / freezer failed (hopefully just needs to be defrosted) and I just moved everything we own out into the garage fridge. Everything in the freezer was totally frozen but the fridge hit 68 degrees. Tonight will be eat up everything in the fridge before it spoils night.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 08, 2021, 02:13:12 PM
-The kids ate remaining pizza for dinner last night
-I finished off the last of the Thai takeout for lunch
-The teens had a couple of friends over to swim on Monday, so we have a few snacky foods that need to get eaten. The cheese puffs are already gone, and a few small bags remain.
-I had a few small pieces of grilled chicken over my lunch salad today
-Tonight we're having salmon (my husband) & chicken curry (everyone else). The salmon has been in the freezer for a few months, so I'm thrilled that it will be moving out & onto the menu

Need to clean out the fridge a bit & see what else needs to be eaten.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 09, 2021, 02:19:36 AM
Kids are doing great at finishing things from the cupboard. The snacks and crackers/cereal things are being eaten or they take some things with them to school. The oatmeal/banana/walnut muffins which were in the freezer are a new favorite for school/after-school snacks, so I might need to make a new batch, using up the oatmeal that I have in the cupboard. Plan is relatively unchanged, but the Friday will be different, since DH decided he craved fish yesterday instead of Friday. Oh well, at least it is being eaten!

Thursday: pasta day (simple, because of sports.....)
Friday: broccoli, baked potatoes with bacon and mushrooms, meatballs
Saturday: easy shawarma with pita and salad
Sunday: pasta casserole

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 09, 2021, 04:25:06 PM
I got 7 gallons of free ripe pears today. I have 3 pots of pear sauce/pear butter going. I washed them and then blended them in the vita mix skin and seeds and all. I did cut the stem off.

Dumped some spices into them. my house smells amazing. I will let the pots go for awhile and will can it tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on September 11, 2021, 11:30:04 AM
Maybe I am strange and don't know it! I have been known to buy 3 turkeys around Thanksgiving and eat one for Thanksgiving, freeze the others and eat one every 2-3 months. I have made meatloaf year round, pot roasts year round. I enjoy seasonal food but if I like something I will eat it any time of year. I have a friend that told me that they would never eat things like pot roast in the summer. I am like what??? I was not brought up to avoid certain foods in the summer.

I don't really care but it kind of blows my mind that some people won't eat certain foods in the summer. If you eat a hot meal of fish in the summer, what is the difference if you eat a hot beef meal? Hamburgers are hot, hot dogs are hot, chicken is hot, pizza is hot!

In summer I have the ac going so not like my house is 100 degrees.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 11, 2021, 01:10:32 PM
@Roadrunner53 - I find that my appetite is a bit lighter during warmer weather, and we try to eat out of garden. That lends itself to a different type of menu, for the most part. We don't actively avoid anything, but as we're planning our menus, it does factor in. We try to avoid using the a/c, except on the hottest days, so I also avoid meals that take a lot of kitchen time (roasting, oven time, etc). We do a lot more grilling &/or salads.

-Finished off the peanut butter pretzels (leftover from swim party) for lunch
-Trying to use a jar of lemon juice I found in the pantry (expires soon). Unclear why my husband would ever buy it, as we have access to fresh lemons here pretty much year round (typically for free from neighbors & our own small tree). Used some up on a Mediterranean Coleslaw I'm making tonight.
-Ate more of the dill pickle hummus + pita chips (leftover from swim party). Not quite gone yet, but working on it.
-Made up the last four pieces of chicken for the kiddos for lunch
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on September 11, 2021, 02:42:46 PM
I use my crockpot to cook a lot of things so there is barely any heat to make any difference. Some people use Instant Pot to cook things and that doesn't heat up the house either. I also have an air fryer that doesn't heat up the house. Heating up the house has never been a real concern to me. If I use the oven it is for maybe an hour and a half. We have fans as well to keep things cool.

I am an ac junky and no way I am going to live thru 100 degree days with no ac!

I had about 6 tomatoes from the garden that needed to be used. So, I cut them up and put them in the Vita Mix and blended them up. Then added some tomato paste. Poured into a ziplock and froze. Will add to it later on and make a nice pasta sauce. Cannot waste garden tomatoes!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 12, 2021, 08:37:15 AM
We picked some plums from the three in our garden. Put them in the freezer, because there are still many of them that are not ripe. We plan to make wine from plums and blueberries that are also in the freezer.

Today I picked some edible mushrooms, called shaggy inkcap. And an edible plant that I washed and frooze.

I finished a jar of confit penny bun mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 13, 2021, 07:08:29 AM
New week, new menu:
Monday: cauliflower, potatoes, sausages
Tuesday: burritos, using up various canned veggies from the cupboard
Wednesday: baked potatoes, some meats and veggies
Thursday: pasta
Friday: - need to do cupboard/freezer/fridge check on Wed/Thu before I decide

Lunches will be leftovers and sandwiches
Snacks are still enough in the cupboard. Kids will continue to munch on these.
Breakfast will be cereal / crackers / any other things lingering in the cupboard.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on September 13, 2021, 08:07:37 AM
Oldest kiddo caught 2 trout yesterday, DH cleaned and gutted them. Then the evening fell apart spectacularly, so today is going to be eat trout for dinner day.
Also, finally processed some old frozen tomatoes, mixed with some free tomatoes I acquired and blended them up to make a not quite pasta sauce. It will be the base for most of my meals this week
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 13, 2021, 08:09:33 AM
-Made a new recipe (beef & cauliflower taco rice skillet). It was great, and used up two large bags of cauliflower rice from the freezer - we doubled the recipe. I also used jalapenos from the garden, as I didn't have any tomatoes with chiles. Used plain canned tomatoes & jalapenos instead.
-Used up some freezer bananas in a smoothie
-Teens found my secret cereal stash (which, frankly, I'd forgotten about). I need to hide the cereal when it's on a great sale, or they will eat it all in a week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 13, 2021, 11:52:54 AM
I've returned from a long weekend of camping and volunteering.  :)

~Before we left, I made a dip out of the last remaining few tablespoons of sour cream, added some ranch dressing, onion and garlic powders.  It went great with pork rinds, the rest of a can of black olives olives, and some baby carrots.
~A snack plate I made for volunteers used up the rest of the baby carrots, among other odds and ends.

This week's menus will use the kielbasa my husband bought for camping and we didn't get to, the rest of the mini mozzarella balls, more of the cherry tomatoes, the remaining catfish fillet and low carb tortillas, and a pound each ground beef and pork.

Which leads me to:  Cherry tomatoes.  Oh, so many cherry tomatoes, from our garden, and some given to us by a fellow camper over the weekend.  Inspired by @Roadrunner53, I'm going to make tomato sauce from a recipe I found online.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 13, 2021, 01:49:10 PM
For lunch today, I had leftover rice. I warmed at the bottom of a pan with a little butter, then cracked in two eggs & added salt & pepper. Scrambled the eggs, and then topped with cheese. Added a little sriracha to it. Delicious & I would definitely make it again! (A take on omelette rice/omurice from Japan)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 13, 2021, 02:21:19 PM
Today we had a combination of 2 leftover dishes, a bean soup, combined with leftover slowcooked meat. Combined with leftover bread baked as croutons. Served with a leftover stump of cheese, and leftover cilantro.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 14, 2021, 08:19:49 PM
today I took a basic scone recipe and modified it to fit what I had on hand. I had some ripe pears that had to be used up today. I decided to brew some strong chai tea and make chai spiced pear scones...they were amazing.

My number one tip is to think outside the box. I still have a bunch of random tea in my house that I am going to try to use up. I bet I can make scones using green tea. Or maybe green tea steamed chicken or something like that.

I am so looking forward to not shifting things in my kitchen. And making things like scones is helping me use up some of the random.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on September 15, 2021, 08:09:24 AM
I moved the box of motzah ball soup up onto the kitchen counter so I remember to eventually make it.

Also, will force myself to finish off the almost done box of Tapioca pudding mix which has been sitting on the same shelf for about a year. ( wow!)   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 15, 2021, 09:58:51 AM
-Finished off the last of the rice with another rice omelette for lunch.
-Used up more of the fresh tortillas to make DS2 a quesadilla
-We had more of the Sunday dinner as leftovers last night. It was definitely better on the first night. I'm evolving my thinking, as I love the ease of cook once/eat twice, but I do think it's causing us a bit more waste, and my kids (and, sometimes my husband) are pickier with leftovers. I'll need to give more thought to this, as it's been my go to plan for the last 10+ years. I hate change. ;-)
-We're having leftover burgers tonight for dinner. I may make a caprese salad to go with them, as we have a glut of garden tomatoes, and an open container of fresh mozzarella
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 18, 2021, 07:31:38 AM
Today I made conocut cookies (kokosmakroner) because we had 2 boxes of eggs and way too much dried coconut stuff. Wiki says it is a traditional Norwegian cookie, but I know it from The Netherlands as well. It has no English name from what I can tell. For those who are interested, you could translate this recipe which I made: https://www.matprat.no/oppskrifter/tradisjon/kokosmakroner/

Now I used up only egg whites. So I need to make something else of the egg yolk, and one whole egg, because I f...d up when splitting one egg. The plan is to make cheese balls. Only, we do not have old cheese right now, so I'll use normal cheese with extra cummin, chili and 'umami from a box'.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SAfAmBrit on September 18, 2021, 01:13:48 PM
I finished 1 more box of rice - starting on the last 1 - you guessed it - making the Spanish rice again. My cupboards are starting to look respectable and have things I regularly use - I have started enjoying cooking again I am not hunting for Red October every time I need something. Think I will make chilli to start on my lentil and dried beans stockpile. https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/slow-cooker-lentil-chili/ Still only buying fresh fruit and veg - and tinned tomatoes - and making it up with everything in the pantry - slow and steady.

Competed out of the cupboards since I started on 8/1

Dried Chickpeas
Cashews and cashew butter
2 burrito wraps hiding - I made vegan quesadilla's
A bag of gnocchi - it was out of date but I survived!
Potatoes
Down to 1 jar of lentils
1 1/2 bag peas (I had more than 1 /2 bag?)
frozen cauliflower rice
Onions
Open can of coconut milk in the fridge
Small amt of Fusilli
Emptied 3rd box rice - 1 more open to go
Finished a can of dried french onion - not sure when I bought it and I have another.
Jar of nutritional yeast
Bag with small amount Faro in it
Last frozen dinner - gone!
Miscellaneous oats pots and sachets
Cous Cous complete :-(


Lasagne sheets - alas not - have more

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 19, 2021, 02:17:06 PM
DH has started to make wine from all the blueberries (7 kg) and all the plums (3 kg). That makes room in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 20, 2021, 08:12:12 AM
Used two packages of frozen zucchini to make zucchini muffins this weekend. It's always nice to clear a little freezer space!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 20, 2021, 08:43:46 AM
Today I made conocut cookies (kokosmakroner) because we had 2 boxes of eggs and way too much dried coconut stuff. Wiki says it is a traditional Norwegian cookie, but I know it from The Netherlands as well. It has no English name from what I can tell. For those who are interested, you could translate this recipe which I made: https://www.matprat.no/oppskrifter/tradisjon/kokosmakroner/

Now I used up only egg whites. So I need to make something else of the egg yolk, and one whole egg, because I f...d up when splitting one egg. The plan is to make cheese balls. Only, we do not have old cheese right now, so I'll use normal cheese with extra cummin, chili and 'umami from a box'.

I just love coconut cookies (kokos-makronen in Dutch). Reminds me that I also have some shredded coconut in a cupboard that needs to be used.
But first, we need to finish leftovers from the weekend that my inlaws gave us after a family gathering. I'm trying to keep away from the cakes and let my teens take care of that, but I cannot give them the wine......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 20, 2021, 02:51:04 PM
Those coconut cookies sound delicious!

@SAfAmBrit, I laughed out loud when I read your Red October analogy!  :D

I'm concluding my earlier quest of eating the food in plastic storage containers in the freezer.  The last small square containing pork tenderloin will provide two lunches for my DH this week.  A larger square of spaghetti squash chicken Alfredo will yield two lunches for myself.  To my knowledge, that leaves just one container containing slices of keto cheesecake I made a few months ago.  And the kitchen drawer of storage containers is full once again.  :)  And, as @MaybeBabyMustache said, it is nice to clear a bit of freezer space.

Other wins:
~Used up the rest of the homemade Italian dressing DH made a few weeks ago.
~Juiced half a dozen limes or so in order to freeze it for the winter.
~Used more cherry tomatoes on top of a baby spinach salad, as well in a caprese salad.
~Used a can of chicken breast in the above baby spinach salad.  I mistakenly bought another pack of 6 a few weeks ago.  So, we have 12 cans on hand.  Ooops.  The good news is the latest batch has a 2024 expiration date.
~I made a batch of homemade pancake mix, just the dry ingredients, to keep on hand.
~Snacking included finishing the rest of the Cajun trail mix from camping, my chocolate orange sticks, and a small bag of Cheetos.
~This week's suppers will utilize the rest of this season's garden harvest DH bought in yesterday.  It includes two types of cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, lemon cucumbers, and jalapenos.  The latter are up to him to process, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 20, 2021, 04:23:48 PM
@MountainGal - we quick pickle our (hundreds of) jalapenos. https://gimmedelicious.com/quick-10-minute-pickled-jalapenos/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on September 22, 2021, 01:17:46 PM
Finished a small quantity of dried black bean noodles that's been hanging around for a year or two. 

Finished off the bulgur that's been hanging around for a couple years using a suggestion from @seemsright to prepare it as breakfast cereal.  I mixed mine half and half by weight with my usual oatmeal.  I'm going to try the same approach with some buckwheat hot cereal that needs to be eaten.

Made some muffins recently which used some vintage dried coconut, oat bran cereal, and canned pumpkin.  Used some of that same dried coconut in a daal with some red lentils that have been gracing my cupboards for longer than I care to think about.

Today's dinner will use some red rice that I purchased in a large quantity during the heat of the pandemic, as well as some dried shitake mushrooms that I've had ... forever?

Things in the cupboard/freezer that have been around for a long time and need to be used up:
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 22, 2021, 01:27:21 PM
Thanks for the link, @MaybeBabyMustache.  I'll share it with DH.  We're not quite up to that amount, as the final harvest yielded 6 or so.  :)

Nice going, @Beardog!

I discovered two more food storage containers in the freezer.  One has ham and beans, which DH can eat next week, and one other I don't recall at this time.

Sunday evening, I made two jars of overnight oats for DH, which used up the rest of the strawberries and raspberries.  And I "sneak" a bit of flax seed in each jar.  ;)

Monday evening, much to my chagrin, I discovered I didn't get to a salmon fillet in time.  DH double bagged it and threw it out.  That was $9+ literally thrown away.  I will not make that mistake in the future.

I worked from home yesterday, and had a nice bowl of clam chowder topped with a handful of goldfish crackers.  Autumn is here, and it was a comforting lunch.  For today, I just finished the salad consisting of asparagus, chicken breast, cherry tomato, cucumber, on top of baby spinach I made Sunday afternoon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 22, 2021, 01:32:35 PM
If you were closer, @MountainGal - I could hook you up with all of the peppers you wanted. They grow like nuts here, almost year round. Sorry about the salmon. I just remember a filet that I had in our garage fridge, and it will be made tonight. It was a near miss!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 23, 2021, 04:04:09 AM
Made my daughter a hot french toast breakfast. She was pleasantly surprised that her mum would do this at 6.30 in the morning..... Anyway, this took care of some leftover baguette and a few eggs and milk.
The cupboard is still overflowing, but it seems to go better with baby steps. This week took out a can of pizza sauce, a can of corn and some cookies and have not replaced it!
DS started on a pack of crackers, so hopefully these will go out soon as well (as I have another box in the cupboard.... why 2????).

Autumn started here, so I feel the urge to eat pumpkin soup, apple pie and nice warm pear pie...... I got some fresh pears from my dad (around 3 kg), so need to finish those before they go bad (and pie is the way to go!!!).

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 23, 2021, 09:09:49 AM
Used up a couple of cans of diced tomatoes to make a quick tomato sauce, when I noticed we were out of prepared sauce. 1) it was super easy and 2) tasted better than many prepared sauces, even with just a few ingredients. This was not a "fancy" recipe. I'll be avoiding prepared sauces in the future.

My husband made salmon last night (saving the filet we bought from waste) & everyone else had tacos/taco salads. I bought an absolutely enormous container of salad greens at the produce stand on Saturday. It had at least 2x as much salad greens as I was expecting. I've been sharing it with my neighbors, and we've been going through a ton, but there's still so much left. All salads, all the time! :-)

Used up some garden tomatoes in our salad. I need to pick another batch of shishito & jalapeno peppers.

Dinner tonight will be grilled chicken & pasta with homemade sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 24, 2021, 01:35:29 PM
Just finished the weekend backing: 1 chocolate cake and 1 pear pie…… and my kitcherig smells delicious.
All ingredients were in my fridge and cupboard, so a win-win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on September 24, 2021, 04:31:53 PM
I've discovered that frozen broccoli and frozen snap peas can make an excellent stir fry.  I used some garlic ginger tahini sauce left over from a recent take out to top off a stir fry with frozen broccoli, rehydrated shitake mushrooms, marinated tempeh, the last quarter of an onion and some garlic - all over steamed brown rice.  It was delish and used several items I am trying to finish off as part of the 'Eat All The Food in Your House' challenge. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on September 27, 2021, 03:08:10 AM
I finished all the frozen leftovers I had, yay.
I have a bit more spare time than usual for the next couple of weeks, so I’m cooking smaller amounts of food right now. I do not want to freeze more meals before I am done with frozen fruit and veggies as well. Also made a dent in my excessive pasta reserves. But pasta and grains bother me less than frozen stuff.
Next step is to deal with my secret stash of chocolate. I am hoping to stretch it for as long as possible and not to restock. Not sure if I am capable but I want to give up chocolate for ethical reasons (and to reduce sugar intake, obviously)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 27, 2021, 12:12:00 PM
Aw, thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!  What a nice gesture regarding the jalapenos.  And, like minds:  Yesterday, I used approximately 4 cups of cherry tomatoes from our garden to make tomato sauce.  I put it in the freezer for this winter.  I, too, love homemade so much more than store bought.  The remaining tomatoes (yay!) went into a side salad which also used up two types of garden grown cucumbers and a store bought avocado.  I'm about 1/3 of the way through a strawberry balsamic I bought in July while on holiday.

@Dutch Comfort, those baked goods sound delicious.

@Beardog, thank you for the reminder, I think I'll use a frozen bag of broccoli in tonight's stir fry.  The meal will also use up a package of chicken breasts, and the remaining home grown yellow squash.

@tungu2, I hear you regarding using up the frozen fruit and veggies.

DH and I were out of town for a few days resulting in several meals out.  Our hotel room had a mini fridge, so I brought home two leftover half sandwiches, and several pizza slices and breadsticks.  Saturday night, I ate one leftover half sandwich and DH had a few slices leftover pizza, and I just ate the last slice of pizza for today's lunch.

And, speaking of chocolate stash, when organizing the pantry I posted about a few weeks ago, I discovered some "emergency candy" I'd put in the back corner of one of the shelves last holiday season.  Guess I better start nibbling on it before then next round of Halloween candy arrives.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 27, 2021, 01:05:36 PM
I made a curry with chicken from the freezer and many of the fresh veggies in the fridge. I also used some of my homemade honey fermented garlic, finished my homemade pickled carrots, used some homemade confited puffball mushrooms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 27, 2021, 01:58:02 PM
We had a crazy weekend, full of soccer tournaments & meals out & grab & go snacks. For lunch today, I had leftover kid lunches (grilled cheese, chicken). For dinner tonight, the kids will have the rest of the taco stuff, my husband will have salmon (+ a lurking zucchini I found in the garden) & I will likely have a salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 28, 2021, 08:12:49 AM
We made a lot of progress clearing out leftovers. The shredded cheese, last of the tortillas, & taco meat are gone. My husband had another piece of salmon (one to go).

Tonight we will have chicken curry (freezer) with rice (leftover from kebabs), and my husband will likely finish off the salmon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 28, 2021, 11:19:31 AM
I'd forgotten I bought yellow squash at the store, so I used that in last night's stir fry.  I figured the garden squash is fresher so it will keep for later on this week.  I served the stir fry on top of the remaining bag of cauliflower which I "riced" in the food processor.  Drizzled with low sodium soy sauce and a bit of sweet chili sauce, it was SO good!

We are now down to half bag of baby spinach, an avocado, and some romaine leaves in the produce drawer.  Off to the store I soon go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 28, 2021, 12:13:32 PM
I learned that I can cook down 8 gallons of chopped zucchini into 8 cups. I stewed it down in the crockpot for a very long time.

I am part of a garden group and my freezer was way two full of chopped zucchini. I froze it in about a cup and half servings which should add body to soups this winter.

Trying to add space to my freezer. My next project will be to make hot sauce with all of the hot peppers taking up room in my freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on September 29, 2021, 03:54:43 AM
8 gallons of chopped zucchini transformed into 8 cups!  That is truly amazing, @seemsright !

I made crock pot 'sloppy joes' this week using the following items that have been in my cupboard for a very long time:

The TVP has great texture and works well in this recipe.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 29, 2021, 07:08:52 AM
Made soup yesterday. The broth came from frozen asparagus-cooking-water that was still lingering in the freezer. Added some canned asparagus and some leftover ham and a delicious soup was born and a big empty space in the freezer! Ate it with some nice mozzarella breadsticks. And had enough for leftovers for lunch today and tomorrow.
The baked goodies that I made on Friday are gone. There are now some brown bananas in the fruit basket. I have to get some eggs so I can make banana-oatmeal muffins and put these in the freezer for the teens to take to school.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on September 29, 2021, 07:30:12 AM
Finally made the box of matzo ball soup into soup. It made almost a gallon! Finally finished it off. It was pretty good, actually! So the box is out of the house.

Uncharacteristic of me, I came back from a visit, to find I had left a half pound of hamburger in the fridge, which became stale, and had to throw it out. Blah!

Still working on the opened box of tapioca pudding mix.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on September 29, 2021, 08:13:44 AM
Thanks, everybody, for the continuing inspiration in this thread!

Tonight's dinner will be a chicken shepherd's pie, which will use up some frozen chicken thighs, a couple of potatoes, and some random frozen veggies.  We'll eat that for at least 2 meals, maybe 3, depending.

Later this week:  cod and potato cakes, to use up some frozen cod and the rest of the potatoes.

My goal for this week is to continue the use-it-up fervor to inventory the freezer and make a plan for actively using it up--I'm much better at FINDING great deals on stuff and freezing it "for later" than actually going to the freezer and using the food!  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 29, 2021, 09:27:47 AM
We used up all of the salmon, so that's nice to have off of the list (particularly because it's very $$). Tonight we will be having kebabs (with leftover pasta for the kids, rice for the adults). For lunch, I'll finish off the rest of the curry.

The kids are really eating a lot of fruit these days (always good to see), so we need to adjust our buying patterns. I made a switch to buying smaller quantities of produce at the local stand, and that's cutting down our waste (vs Costco). The price is very similar, but I'd rather have the local produce, and no waste, cost aside.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 29, 2021, 02:08:07 PM
I love the exchange of ideas here!  @Zoot, next Tuesday I am going to try something similar to the cakes you made using mashed cauliflower in lieu of potatoes.

Everyone's soup and comfort food posts sound delicious.  Here's to Autumn!

Last night, much to DH's disappointment, his garden grown patio eggplants were way too bitter for consumption.  Different vegetables are truly a learning experience.  :)

Tonight, I'll sauté the remaining three home grown yellow squash to serve under salmon.  As far as garden veggies go, that will leave just the jalapenos DH needs to address.

ETA:  Oh, yes!  A food container update:  The one I couldn't remember a few posts ago contained slow cooker banana bread which I sent with DH to share with his coworkers.  Other than a container of ham and beans in the garage freezer, I do believe that is it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 29, 2021, 05:09:27 PM
@MountainGal - one of my favorite "mystery freezer container" stories was when I defrosted what I thought was fresh tomato sauce. I had frozen a bunch of garden goodies, and used that tomato sauce in a Bolognese sauce. I had it simmering on the stove for quite a while, and thought it looked a bit more orange-ish vs red, but figured that the garden tomatoes varied in color quite a bit. When I tasted the sauce, I realized that I'd used a container of pureed persimmons (we had a huge tree)... it led to a *very* interesting Bolognese, which we actually managed to eat. But, I don't recommend!

Sorry to hear about the eggplants. I've grown so many bitter cucumbers that were totally inedible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 30, 2021, 10:51:52 AM
LOL, @MaybeBabyMustache!  Thank you for sharing that story.  Yes, in the past I've frozen a few things thinking, oh, I'll remember what this is!  It's too specific looking not to.  Well, then the freezer does what it does, and later it becomes Mystery Time.  Since then, I use a piece of freezer tape which I label with a marker.  Good for you for toughing it out and eating that bolognaise!

And, oh, yes.  Earlier this month, one of DH's cucumbers was a bit too bitter for my taste.  :-/

Last night, I picked up a small grocery order so we'll have produce for the next several days.  Asparagus will go well wrapped in bacon for football snacks, and I'll rice up some broccoli slaw to serve underneath the aforementioned cod and cauliflower cakes.  I bought four different types of berries, and we'll consume some now, and freeze some for winter.

Tomorrow night I am making Cincinnati chili to serve on top of the spaghetti squash I bought a few weeks ago, Saturday will be a chicken and shrimp stir fry, and Sunday DH will smoke Cornish game hen.  These suppers will free up a bit more freezer space.

ETA:  Last night I "dipped" into my candy stash.  Let's just say some things keep better than others.  A few orange Jelly Belly candies from last Halloween were among the winners.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 04, 2021, 07:28:10 AM
A friend gave me apples from her tree (I gave her zucchini, so it was a definite win for us), & I made a double batch of applesauce. It is delicious. I would cut the sugar a bit next time, but came out tasting like apple pie filling. Yum! The recipe also called for some lemon juice, so I was able to use up a wrinkly lemon that had been lingering forever.

I also used a couple of the mini watermelon (garden) in a smoothie for the kids. I think I have one more left in the fruit drawer.

I really need to clean the fridge today. It's near impossible to find anything.

One teen was "helping" me in the kitchen yesterday, & I asked him to shred cabbage for egg roll in a bowl. I'm still unclear on how he did it, but the cabbage is now the texture of cauliflower rice. I'm trying to figure out how to use it. I suppose I can cook it up like a cauliflower rice, and season it. We shall see.

I really need to brown the ground beef in the fridge. It was originally supposed to get used on Saturday for dinner, but the kids weren't home Friday, Saturday or Sunday, due to being teens & too cool to hang out with us. As a result, our menu plan got pretty out of sorts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 04, 2021, 08:01:28 AM
Used the weekend to clear various items:
- used 2 brown bananas for banana pancakes for breakfast
- used the last 2 brown bananas for a batch of banana-oatmeal muffins for the kids to bring to school
- made a tortilla casserole with ground beef from the freezer and half a bag of red sweet bell peppers that I was gifted by a friend
- used the other half bag of bell peppers in the lasagna last night (and cleared the lasagna sheets in my cupboard)
- brought ripe pears to the office today to eat as a snack

Now up to the rest of the cupboard. I managed to do groceries yesterday and not buy any new inventory, fresh produce only for the week. First its time to clear a lot from that famous kitchen cabinet! Hopefully I can see some progress next week.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on October 05, 2021, 03:22:19 AM
Ok, I made some progress. I only bought fresh vegetables and eggs. Not buying fresh fruits as I want to finish whatever frozen I have around. Surprisingly, relative brought me their leftovers twice, so I have some frozen stuff again. But they are extremely good, so it works for me.
Today I am cooking rice that apparently expired 5 months ago. I didn’t know it had shelf life of only 11 months, but I am sure it’s fine. I also checked my pasta reserves, and apparently some is good for a year, some for two and even three. Tbh, I ignore those dates for grains.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 06, 2021, 04:15:56 PM
After poking around the kitchen freezer basket and discovering a few random items buried under other items over the weekend, I finally caved and started an informal inventory in my phone.  The first meal consisting of freezer and fridge items will be a Fathead crust pizza this weekend.  This will use up the cooked ground beef quickly stuffed into a freezer bag before we headed out of town over the summer, and the rest of the homemade pizza sauce I made last month.  Fridge items will be two types of mozzarella and pepperoni slices.

I divided the inventory into categories:
~Immediate items to use
~Fruit
~Veggies
~Treats
~Proteins

This is just for the kitchen freezer.  The garage freezer and deep freeze are easier to look through "at a glance."
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 06, 2021, 04:30:10 PM

-I made applesauce muffins out of some of the applesauce I made over the weekend. Mostly because I needed the fridge space. ;-)
-Somehow, the teens talked my husband into buying them ice cream cones at Costco. They took up a bunch of freezer space, but unsurprisingly, are dwindling quickly.
-We finished all of the homemade bread (grilled cheese sandwiches)
-I'm almost done with the container of tomato soup. The weather has finally gotten cooler here.
-We used up a lot of cabbage/cabbage rice in our egg roll in a bowl. We will eat the leftovers tonight for dinner.
-I need to freeze or use up the leftover kebabs.
-And, I desperately need to clean the fruit drawer, and ensure there are no soggy lemons at the bottom. Oh, and use up the handful of strawberries & mini watermelon from the garden.

We have tomatoes & peppers coming out of our ears from the garden, so I'll need to do some pickling this weekend, and maybe make a fresh tomato sauce for the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 07, 2021, 09:29:56 PM
-We've used up all of the garden strawberries & mini watermelons in smoothies
-My husband used up 1/2 a bag of tortellini from the freezer, so I'll use the rest this weekend. Yay for extra freezer space. He also had a kebab with his eggs this morning, which was not appetizing in any way (to me), but to each their own I suppose
-I had an egg for brunch, with an applesauce muffin
-We bought the wrong kind of chicken at Costco, and we've struggled to get through it. Four pieces gone for dinner tonight
-And, we baked the last three pieces of frozen salmon pieces tonight. Hurrah

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on October 09, 2021, 04:55:44 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache  - Congrats on making it through the salmon.  And the chicken!
@MountainGal - Sometimes doing an inventory can be really helpful.
@tungu2 - It's amazing how much you can limit your shopping when you focus on using up the food you already have.

I'm thrilled to report that I am finishing up the last of a large bag of red lentils that I've had for at least a year!  Whew!  Now it's on to the urad daal.

I've also made progress using up more dried shitakes (I have lots!), red rice, brown rice, dried coconut, buckwheat cereal, and 2 cans enchilada sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on October 10, 2021, 07:53:27 AM
So I was thinking about making a spreadsheet of all the extra food in the house and then updating it (in a new column) every month so I can monitor my progress.

I have an excuse for my hoarding - I recently had a job that provided me with 1-3 heavy lunches a week, including chips and dessert and often with 2-3 meals leftovers.  Never completely reliable though- one week I'd have enough food for most of my meals and some of my Dad's, other weeks it would be one small lunch.  The pandemic is my other excuse- I bought canned beans because they were on sale and in stock, when before they hadn't been in stock if I went.  A third problem is that my Mom has slowly stopped eating some things - brown rice, lentils with skin - and instead of making her meals separate, all 3 of us stopped making those things.  At least we haven't bought more.

Anyway, I left the job with the free meals - a double-edged sword - so I should have a lot more opportunity to clean out the pantry and freezer.  On the other hand, I'm having a harder time saying no at the grocery store - I bought 20 cans of tuna fish cause it was on sale and apparently my brain thinks I'm about to starve to death.  So the list:

cereal - 7 - bought on sale for .50/box, I'm still a little carb phobic
cookies - 4 boxes, free
ice cream pints-11 - mix of sale and free, I tend to eat slowly, like a pint a week.
pizza - 7 - i thought I'd eat one/week, but I always have an excuse to eat something more healthy
canned tuna, salmon, sardine - 22,2,4 - parents won't touch fish, have to take the cans to the garage immediately.
beans, canned - again, I like the idea of a near-instant meal, but my Mom won't eat it so it doesn't get made too often
whole mung beans - I bought these to sprout in case of food shortages because: pandemic.  I can make these about once/month.
brown rice - see carb phobia plus Mom won't eat
urad dal with skin - I made the one without skin today
dry fruit - cranberries, cherries, kiwi, mango - I prefer the fresh or even frozen
frozen blueberries- 3lb - prob my favorite fruit, but fresh other fruit is better
frozen veg - spinach, peas, brussel sprouts, riced cauliflower, squash - bought as emergency foods, no emergencies have happened
frozen egg rolls - bought for a potluck that got cancelled
cheese - cream, swiss, cracker barrell3 - flip side of not eating much carb is not eating cheese on bread
pasta - shells 2, lasagne, spaghetti, rotini 3, plus rice ramen and regular ramen
peanut butter - 4? - mostly free, i love satay sauce but still excessive.
yogurt -20
pakoras, croissants, misc freezer containers
salad dressing - 40 individual?
canned soup - 10? idea was to eat these if a planned free lunch was cancelled, but didn't happen that often
granola bars - 20? boss at work would give these out, marginally healthier than cookies

I lost a bunch of weight 5 years ago by doing eggs breakfast, beans lunch, chicken dinner, and limiting carbs otherwise.  I'm trying to adapt this to one protein-heavy meal and one carb-based meal, but its hard.  I skipped dinner last night and lunch today rather than eat cereal or even yogurt/granola.  I do eat carbs if they're cake or donuts or even bagels. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 10, 2021, 08:26:35 PM
Wow, @Runrooster - that's a lot of food! What is your goal in keeping so much on hand? Do you find it reduces your worry? For me, having that much on hand would generate a lot of stress about tracking & management, to avoid waste. We couldn't eat 10 bottles of dressing before they expire, so 40 would give me a lot of pause.

-As for us, we had butternut squash soup for dinner, finally using up the impulse purchase butternut squash my husband purchased at Costco. My teen made French bread to go with it.
-I'm almost done with the sliced Cheddar cheese. I'm not a fan, and prefer the bricks. But my husband purchased this for cheeseburgers (he had a real "vision" in mind), so I'm working my way through. French bread at dinner made its way into grilled cheese sandwiches.
-Same teen made an apple crisp, with our leftover apples. A couple of servings were eaten, and we shared a bunch with a friend. One serving remains in the fridge. I'm not sure if it was really a win, as we bought ice cream to go with. But, apple crisp on a fall day sure felt right.
-I had leftover chicken & ravioli for lunch today
-I'm almost through with the enormous bag of long pointed sweet peppers (produce stand had a 5 lb bag for $.99, and I couldn't resist). That's a ton of peppers, btw. I turned most of them into chicken fajitas last night. A few remain, and I'll use them in salads this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on October 10, 2021, 09:57:55 PM
@Beardog  Just a suggestion for the TVP - I used soya granules (I don't know the difference) in my vat of chili as a meat replacement.  It took a while to finish it off, at 1/2c at a time, it swells a lot, but it added a nice texture to the chili.

For urad dal, the way we usually cook it is to add salt, turmeric and a 1/2c frozen chopped spinach.  It really perks up the dal.

@MaybeBabyMustache It's actually 40 individual servings of dressing - maybe 3 bottles worth? I'll be eating salad daily so it should actually go pretty fast.

I spent a few hours making a spreadsheet of everything that's hanging out in my pantry - mentally coming up with it, not an actual inventory.  Plus 2 hours making idli/sambar (idli uses urad dal too, but I'm guessing Beardog doesn't want to make that).  And I'm not hungry all day.  I ate the idli/sambar, and a cupcake my Mom announced she didn't want, but I think I'm going to just have a salad for dinner.  Thinking about food all day is weird.

As for why I bought so much  - I think each item has its own place.  I like variety.  The problem is when it's on super sale so I stock up.  The cereal was like "hey, I'll eat it cheaper than popcorn", but then I haven't.  I'm definitely adjusting to having to buy all my meals again, and half the food is something I can throw together mid-week with little effort. 

The thing you don't see is that my fruits, veg, and protein are all pretty dialed-in.  Chicken is on sale somewhere all the time, so I buy the value -pack, freeze half, use it up, buy more.  Fruits and veg we buy every week to 2 weeks, and finish it off with low-wastage. I did pick up extra eggplant this weekend, but I've already found a recipe I want to try out for it if my Mom doesn't want it.

And then there's this mix of "Mom is trying to increase her calcium so I'll stock up on individual yogurts" except she's not eating them every day like she said. Or the 6/$1 ramen she liked but then stopped eating.  The brown rice Mom bought and then stopped eating.  My sister gives us food, my Dad buys extra soup and cereal, the grocery store gave me free organic peanut butter, my coworker gave me her dried kiwi - I like dried fruit as an alternative to candy, but when I had a cold I needed hard candy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 11, 2021, 07:10:36 AM
@Runrooster - ha! 3 bottles is so different than 40. That makes more sense :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on October 12, 2021, 05:05:24 AM
@Runrooster - thank you for the tips on using TVP and urad dal.  I've made dosas from scratch before, and am fond of other fermented 'breads' like injera.  I've never had idli, but it looks very doable and I'm interested in trying it.  I don't have a special idli plate, but I found alternative ways of cooking the idli batter online.  I appreciate the idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 12, 2021, 06:24:02 AM
Slowly the cupboard is showing some free shelve space!
Last weekend we had a big DIY project. No time to cook, so Saturday we were eating all kind of snacks that came from the freezer as dinner. On Sunday I made a quick stir-fry noodle dish, using up some noodles from the cupboard and some fresh produce I had on hand.
Today I had a lunch omelet made with 1/2 zucchini, 1 tomato, 2 eggs, some bellpepper and some corn. So this used up some lingering veggies from the fridge.

Dinners:
Today: baked potatoes, veggies and bacon covered meatloaf
Wednesday: pumpkin soup (fresh) with mozzarella bread (fridge) and pizza (from freezer) - DD has to go to sport and needs a quick meal.
Thursday: pasta dish (sports day for DS / piano lesson day for DD, so pasta it is!)
Friday: Not sure, since DD has a school trip, DH has to leave early in the evening and DS will be exhausted from his school week and maybe my mother in law will join for dinner as well, so it will be something fast and easy from either fridge or freezer.
Saturday: all kind of activities, so I might just make some soup on Thursday/Friday that we can heat up as we please......

Breakfast and lunches will be the regular cupboard items (crackers / cereal / sandwiches). I have to get the kids back on cereal, because I found 2 packs lingering in the back of the cupboard that need to be eaten before it goes bad.

Couldn't resist and ordered a TooGoodToGo package from our local bakery store. They usually have a good amount of bread/bakery things in there, so depending on what is in there, the menu can change. Usually this will be breakfast/lunch type of things, but you never know!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on October 12, 2021, 06:50:12 AM
Used up a bunch of things this past week, either totally or in part!

* Pork chops with mustard/apple-butter sauce:  used up pork loin from freezer (bought at $0.99/pound), most of the remaining apple butter, most of the remaining dijon mustard, all of remaining maple syrup
* Broccoli-cheddar soup:  used up 1/2 of remaining broccoli, all of remaining block cheddar, all of remaining chicken stock base
* Flatbreads:  used up 1/3 of remaining self-rising flour (which I got free from Buy Nothing) and 1/2 of remaining tub yogurt (this recipe was a new discovery--gonna do this again in the future!)

Upcoming week looks good:  I'll be using up some frozen chicken to do kebabs on the grill, and some frozen brats and Italian sausage this weekend.

Edited to add that we also used up some flatbread-pizza-type things that I got from Lidl as a "too good to waste" special for $0.50 each to see if we liked them.  Bought two of them--each of them fed 2 people when paired with a salad.  Will keep an eye out for more of them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 12, 2021, 02:40:36 PM
Congratulations on finishing up the lentils, @Beardog!

@Runrooster, I have been primarily a low carber since 2012.  I lost 35 pounds that year.  Great job on your list!  Regarding cheese, I hear you about being breadless.  I use cream cheese in low carb pancakes, on salmon and stuffed in celery.  Swiss cheese goes well with sliced deli meat and layered on romaine leaves as a bread substitute.  I sometimes do buy carby things such as beans, rice, ramen packets, and canned soups as a just-in-case zombie/another grocery shortage stockpile.  If it becomes too much, I donate a small bagful to a friend in need.  :)

@MaybeBabyMustache, great job on those sweet peppers!

@Dutch Comfort, that omelet sounds delicious.

Nice meal planning, @Zoot!

As for me, autumn nesting has begun!
Over the weekend in the slow cooker I made:
Mulled wine which used a bottle of red we've had since last year, and a mulling spice packet.
Savory bread which utilized two types of cheese, some of the large bag of bacon bits, and half cup each heavy whipping cream and almond milk.

In the oven I made:
Peach cobbler which used up fresh peaches I froze over the summer, and a stick of butter.
The aforementioned Fathead crust pizza, which took the rest of the pepperoni slices.
Oatmeal pie cookies which I filled with the remaining marshmallow crème from smores season, and another stick of butter.

Last Thursday's leftovers included the remaining little smokies and bacon wrapped asparagus from Monday Night Football, homemade fries I made Tuesday using locally grown potatoes (SO creamy!), and the remaining tiny bit of spicy ranch dressing.

Sunday DH used the rest of the Dijon mustard contents in his beef roast rub.  Smoked, sliced beef was served on top of steamed broccoli slaw, with a side of packaged ratatouille from the freezer.

Last night I served pork chops that were simmered all day in the slow cooker with the remaining bottle of teriyaki sauce, spices, and about a half cup of a box of opened low sodium beef stock.  I took the remaining neighbor grown potatoes and peeled, cooked, and mashed them with butter and heavy whipping cream.

Among today's lunch contents was more of the broccoli slaw, half an avocado, and more of the bacon bits.

Tonight's supper will consist of two cod fillets, even more of the broccoli slaw (a package of it goes a long way!), and the remaining avocado.

Tomorrow we'll graze on any remaining perishables, as we are headed out of town soon.

For the freezer project I mentioned on a prior page, I switched large protein items in the top basket with lower basket smaller items such as baggies of frozen fruit and veggies.  It wasn't as bad as I originally thought, as far as older, hidden items.

Oh, and much to our chagrin, we confirmed we have a mouse.  I won't disclose how much mouse-sampled pantry food we tossed.  :(  It could've been worse, but still.  How frustrating.  DH bought a trap, and I bought new shelf liner.  Once the critter is gone, I'll wipe everything down and lay down the new liner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 12, 2021, 04:10:50 PM
@MountainGal - need more info on those oatmeal cookies! They sound amazing. I'm really hungry reading your list.

I, too, have been in autumn nesting mode, with the apple sauce, apple crisp, apple sauce muffins, and loaves of homemade bread. I made another loaf tonight to go with our leftover butternut squash soup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 13, 2021, 02:02:08 AM
The TooGoodToGo package was great: 4 donuts (got grabbed by the teens yesterday evening as a snack), 6 bread rolls (half of which my DS indulged on for breakfast, the other 3 will stay fresh till tomorrow), 6 sweet bread rolls (will stay fresh till the weekend), 1 loaf of low-carb bread (now put in the freezer), 3 luxury bread rolls (Both DH and DD took this for breakfast today, 1 left, which will be my lunch) and I only paid 3 EUR for the whole package. Not much is left after 1 evening/1 breakfast and that is how I like it!

@MountainGal: I can just smell all the good food from here while reading. That is what I enjoy most about autumn cooking.... those cinnamon/pumpkin/spice flavours.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on October 13, 2021, 08:58:13 AM
Today I used a can of beans, a can of tomatoes, and some pasta. I have never had pasta with beans before, but it is actually really good. The problem is that somehow the volume of the final dish is much bigger than I anticipated, ha ha. In addition, I added a lot of herbs and spices, which I am also trying to use up.
For dessert I had the last of my frozen plums.

Does anybody have any good recipes using leftover liquid from canned beans? I heard that you can add it to cakes but could find any good resources.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 13, 2021, 12:18:47 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache and @Dutch Comfort!  The recipe:  https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a10592/oatmeal-whoopie-pies/ (https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a10592/oatmeal-whoopie-pies/)  My batch yielded about 48 cookies.  I made "sandwiches" until I ran out of marshmallow crème, and bagged the "singles" for DH's lunches.  Our neighbor kiddos and DH's co-workers liked them.  :)

@tungu2, that combo does sound good!  I have never thought to use the leftover liquid, so unfortunately, I don't have any recipes.

Speaking of spices, the recipe I was following last night called for lemon pepper.  When I pulled the can from the lazy Susan, I noticed the contents were hard!  I flipped it over and discovered the expiration date was June, 2019.  It's funny, because I thought I had looked through the spices not too long ago....?  That is one thing that has always caught up to me.  Oh, well.

Today's lunch consisted of a can of tuna, a squirt of mayo, and some leftover cheese crisps for crunch.  A snack later will be 3 olives, strawberries, a string cheese, and some nuts.  It's my Friday, so it's clean out the office fridge day.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 14, 2021, 01:46:01 AM
DS has to go for his final swimming diploma (3rd survival training diploma, where they have to swim in full gear and show all kinds of diving and water orientation skills) tonight. He asked for cake afterwards. I checked my cupboard and found enough to make some chocolate muffins this afternoon. So this will be his cake (and he was happy when I told him that this was my plan as long as he could add chocolate sprinkles as well).

@MountainGal: I hear you on the spices. Same here.......

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on October 17, 2021, 10:02:56 AM
@Beardog-impressive that you made dosas.  We're North Indian so I'm the only one of our extended group to make the batter from scratch, which I think is important for idli (more than dosas).  It's basically the same batter, just less water in the fermenting stage.  I typically make a large batch at once, use first for idli, then the following week for dosas/ thinned out.  Everyone else buys pre-made batter at the store, but besides seeming expensive I just don't know how long it's been sitting there.

@tungu2 The chickpea liquid is called aquafaba, so try googling it. It's supposed to be a vegan egg replacement.  A quick search led to pictures of vegan meringue and whiskey sours.  Some people say to use any beans, other chickpea only.

@Dutch Comfort I read about TooGoodtoGo about a month ago, and I added it to my list of things to buy as a reward for clearing out my pantry.  The empanadas sound yummy.

This week wasn't very good.  I convinced myself not to use my coupons for cheap frozen veg and waffle fries, but then my parents decided to go to Costco as an outing.  I was in dread of what they'd bring back but mostly we didn't need more croissants. Then I got some free offers from the grocery store- popcorn, couscous.  I did make a pizza, eat cereal, yogurt and dressing, finish the nutella and dried mango, took the dried kiwi to work.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 17, 2021, 01:34:05 PM
-Finished up the last of the taco meat
-Used up a couple of kebabs (freezer) for my husband's dinner one night
-Made a bunch of fruit smoothies, as I've had a cold & it sounded good. Used strawberries from the garden
-Chopped the two fresh mangoes, so they are ready to go in smoothies
-Made applesauce from more gifted apples. Used the rest of the apples & a wrinkly lemon from the produce drawer
-Made chocolate chip zucchini bread, with the last garden zucchini

My teen made a Korean beef dish yesterday that was delicious, but not quite enough for leftovers. I'll make the rest of the beef into that today (we'll eat it later in the week) & then I'm making a caprese chicken skillet for dinner tonight.

Oh, & I caved & bought another huge bag of peppers, because it was cheaper than the one pepper I needed to buy. Now I need to add those back to the list of things to use up. :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on October 18, 2021, 03:56:05 PM
@Runrooster - I am vegetarian so I have dabbled a bit in Indian cooking as it provides so many tasty options.  We have a large Indian grocery store nearby which has beautiful produce, wonderful spices and breads, and pulses galore.

Used up all of the buckwheat hot cereal by mixing in with oatmeal!  Made good progress with brown rice/pea protein pasta - less than one serving left!  And used some barley from the cupboard in a soup instead of buying potatoes to use as the recipe called for.  Also used some oregano from the garden in said soup.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 19, 2021, 02:25:41 PM
It's grocery day!  The refrigerator is quite empty so yesterday I took the opportunity to wipe down it's interior, as well as the interior freezer bottom.  While looking through condiment expiration dates, I noticed the expiration date on the hot sauce was the day before.  So I made a marinade with it along with the rest of a bottle of canola oil, a bit of leftover beef broth, diced garlic and parsley and poured it over the remaining two bags of chicken from the freezer.  It's in the slow cooker now, and I cannot wait to get home to the heavenly smell.

Last night I sautéed the rest of the shrimp and served it over the last bag of shirataki noodles for me, and angel hair pasta for DH.

Tomorrow I'll make the salmon I buy tonight to ensure there's not a repeat of what happened last month.  ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 20, 2021, 04:28:19 AM
Last night I made borek, where I added some selfpicked mushrooms, including a bag of dried ones. And I used up most of the filodough that I had in the freezer. I added 3 types of selfpicked edible plants from the freezer. It tasted good, according to DH.

I also started eating homemade red cabbage kraut as a salad for lunch. I made a dressing with the last bit of fresh ginger. Still lots of red cabbage left, as it was a large pot. But I made a first dent. There is dressing left, so I will eat some more of it and hopefully the whole pot. I cannot make it for dinner, as DH doesn't want to eat red cabbage. I should also make a plan for all that kimchi in the fridge, 3 (smaller) pots.

I have a plan to use up more selfpicked mushrooms and I use a book with suggestions. One dish is with fried spring rolls. I have the ingredients for it, except for cabbage. But maybe I can use some kimchi here. Another dish is with tartar. I bought some beef and frooze it to kill off patogens. Then I will serve with with a pickled mushroom. And the last dish is fresh spring rolls, with mango in it. But I found out that we don't have the rice sheets for that anymore. I will get some new.

We did finish up the homemade pita breads from the freezer. Now we can start eating the prebaked ones that DH had bought. We also finished up the tropical icecream I made a while ago, from leftover tinned peaches and a tin of pineapple.

Our normal fridge with fresh veggies, meat, cheese, yoghurt etc is pretty empty now. But the fridge with conserved veggies and asian flavour bottles is as full as ever. One item in it, my sourdough starter, I use regularly, although I have started to but commercial bread again. It is a bit of too much work to bake all our own bread, 2 loaves at the time, like I did for more than a year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 20, 2021, 10:10:12 AM
We are heading out of town tomorrow (my parents are arriving to stay with the kids). Tonight, I'll be making a fiesta chicken skillet, with tortilla chips & all of the fun sides. Everything is ready to go for that.

I froze a bunch of leftovers, that we wouldn't eat before we left. My parents will likely go out/make their own stuff. I also defrosted the zucchini bread for my dad's breakfast & made a batch of cookies (from the freezer) for dessert for them. They should be all set.

I'm so looking forward to not worrying about anything while we're gone, including staying on top of meal prep. We have access to the club level at the hotel we're staying at, so I'm expecting to come home a pound heavier! ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 21, 2021, 12:12:26 AM
Got a TooGoodToGo box from our local bakery yesterday. It was a LARGE one (paid 6 euro, got around 30 euro of fresh bakery goods)........ So now my freezer is stuffed with bread (enough to last at least 2 weeks of lunchboxes for the teens) and the countertop also has bread all over (croissants, breadrolls, cookies, various buns....). Luckily the teens are at home due to autumn break this week, so a lot of the goodies (especially the cookies and croissants) will go quickly.
A nice bread with herbs will be a side for tonights pasta dish.

@Linea_Norway : the borek sounds delicious. Do you also add cheese to those?

For tomorrow, the teens decided they want some chinese comfort food. I offered them to cook it ourselves instead of take out. They came up with recipes for Jaozi (dimsum pot-stickers) and spring rolls. I have to get a few items from the local chinese shop, so that is on the list for tomorrow. It also clears out some veggies in the fridge and some chicken in the freezer. They also want a side dish of fried noodles (no chinese food meal is complete without noodles according to the teens).

@MaybeBabyMustache: enjoy!!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on October 23, 2021, 05:36:38 AM
Using up some oat bran cereal by mixing a small amount in with my daily morning oatmeal.  This technique vanquished some cracked wheat and bulgur wheat cereal that had been hanging around in the cupboard.

Yesterday I used up some cabbage by making sweet and sour cabbage in the slow cooker.  I have a mountain of sweet and sour cabbage to eat now!! Ha! ha!!!  It was fun to make because I got to use my thrift shop Cuisinart food processor to shred the cabbage.

Also have been working on some frozen fresh buckwheat noodles by adding them to a minestrone soup that I made without any pasta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on October 23, 2021, 06:32:00 PM
Week 2:  I did a large shopping trip, after spending only $20 last week, $100 this week.  Mostly staples we needed, but I have another mental debate: belgian waffles on half-price, they sound really good.  I just stocked up on eggs for breakfast, but I could eat waffles for dinner.  Better still, my parents could help me.  They finished the croissants they bought at Costco.  I still haven't eaten the couscous I picked up last week - I was going to, and then my Mom decided to make something else with the eggplant.

@Mountain Gal- thanks for the cheese on lettuce idea.  Instead of making salad this week, I did the cream cheese (smoked salmon flavor) with onion, tomato, capers on lettuce.  Surprisingly filling.  Next up is swiss cheese and salami.

This was opposite week to last week in what I ate, too: only 1 yogurt, no dressing, no pizza.  finished some beet kvass and 1 packet of wasa my sister gave me, 4 large cookies from prior job lunches, most of the cream cheese, 3 packets of rice ramen.  1 serving of: mung bean (as sprouts), ramen, nachos, fries, popcorn, cereal, 2 croissants.

I also turned 6 lb of a 10lb bag of onions into caramelized onions, which I use in cooking everything but esp. biryani.  I also defrosted/ cooked 22c of squash skin added onions, spices and turned it into 14c of chutney.  We heard about this from relatives who were visiting.  I can't get my parents to eat that much fiber, but it doesn't taste that heavy, and it's packed with vitamins.

On the one hand, that's a high-carb week for me. On the other hand, since my parents aren't eating much of it, using up the pantry is a slow process.  My brother brought over food this week, and we didn't make beans, dry or canned.  The great news is that I realized I'm getting home a full hour earlier than my previous job, so it's a lot easier to cook mid-week. I usually make a large vat of something on Sunday and then this Thu I made pad thai to get through Saturday.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on October 24, 2021, 11:41:40 AM
I finally used the remains of dried garbanzo beans I bought last year, wow. I now have several servings of frozen falafel. Does not help with my cleaning the freezer challenge but it least some progress with the pantry. Served it with fresh salad, dill sauce, and bulgur wheat. It was a hit.

As for shopping, so far I failed and restocked on some extras. On the bright side, it is now easier to cook more interesting dishes with old ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 25, 2021, 03:59:20 PM
Today I made spring rolls. I used carrots and some other veggie, a bit of selfmade kimchi, a bag of selfpicked dried mushrooms, ground lamb, and leftover glass noodles. I stir fried all ingredients first, but obviously left in too much water, maybe the noodles. So many of the rolls broke open during frying and it turned out a bit messy. But it tasted okay and we both eat 5 rolls each. I have 2 x 10 sheets left, so I have the chance to make some better looking rolls next times.
Tomorrow I plan to make a Thai style soup where I can throw in a bit of leftover stirfried vegetable from the springrolls, plus some more leftover fresh veggies. As well as some more selfpicked pickled mushrooms. I will add chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 25, 2021, 04:33:48 PM
Today I made spring rolls. I used carrots and some other veggie, a bit of selfmade kimchi, a bag of selfpicked dried mushrooms, ground lamb, and leftover glass noodles. I stir fried all ingredients first, but obviously left in too much water, maybe the noodles. So many of the rolls broke open during frying and it turned out a bit messy. But it tasted okay and we both eat 5 rolls each. I have 2 x 10 sheets left, so I have the chance to make some better looking rolls next times.
Tomorrow I plan to make a Thai style soup where I can throw in a bit of leftover stirfried vegetable from the springrolls, plus some more leftover fresh veggies. As well as some more selfpicked pickled mushrooms. I will add chicken.

You can make all kind of wonderful things with those rice papers. They can make a great Vietnamese Pizza (Bánh Tráng Nướng). Or fry them up into wonderful rice chips.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 26, 2021, 12:45:57 AM
@seemsright: I'm going to look for those vietnamese pizza things, since I also have some rice papers left......

Used up the last two brown bananas and made breakfast banana pancakes this morning. Heard no complaints from the teens!
I have some dimsum sheets and some leftover veggies from our chinese food party last Friday in the fridge. Need to see if I can turn this into a tasteful lunch today.

This week will be another attempt to empty our freezer and kitchen cupboard. I think I did OK on the grocery shopping this weekend, so let's see if we can make a dent into the inventory before the holiday season starts with all the goodies that go with that.....






Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 26, 2021, 03:13:43 AM
Today I made spring rolls. I used carrots and some other veggie, a bit of selfmade kimchi, a bag of selfpicked dried mushrooms, ground lamb, and leftover glass noodles. I stir fried all ingredients first, but obviously left in too much water, maybe the noodles. So many of the rolls broke open during frying and it turned out a bit messy. But it tasted okay and we both eat 5 rolls each. I have 2 x 10 sheets left, so I have the chance to make some better looking rolls next times.
Tomorrow I plan to make a Thai style soup where I can throw in a bit of leftover stirfried vegetable from the springrolls, plus some more leftover fresh veggies. As well as some more selfpicked pickled mushrooms. I will add chicken.

You can make all kind of wonderful things with those rice papers. They can make a great Vietnamese Pizza (Bánh Tráng Nướng). Or fry them up into wonderful rice chips.

Our grocery shop didn't sell rice papers. Therefore DH bought frozen wheat based papers. The pack said that they were meant for spring rolls, all purposes. It worked well for deep fried rolls, apart from the "exploding" ingredients. But they are thicker and a bit different from rice paper. You also don't need to soak them first.

I need to visit another shop (we call those shops for immigrant food store in Norway) to buy rice papers. But stores are in the next town. Those are also great for making fresh spring rolls with cucumber and mango and such ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 26, 2021, 01:15:24 PM
@Dutch Comfort, those TooGoodToGo boxes sound so good!

I love rice paper and appreciate all the ideas listed here.  :)  @Linea_Norway, yours sound so good!

My weight was up a bit after our 4 days away which was full of (purposeful) carbs, so I successfully refocused on eating back on plan.  Recent meals have included ground pork lettuce wraps, marinated steak, and a cauliflower crust pizza.  Today's lunch will feature leftover steak on top of baby spinach, and tonight we'll have canned salmon toasted cheddar "tacos" (I neglected to pull the cod out to thaw).

The kitchen freezer continues to thin out for easier viewing.  Sunday I made a lasagna for a neighbor friend which included two types of ground meat, the bag of tomato sauce I made from homegrown tomatoes, the container of leftover tomato sauce and paste, a container of cottage cheese, some shreds from the parmesan wedge, and the remaining wedge of mozzarella.

Our grocery order last week included a substitute of a 5 pound block of cheese.  There is no way DH and I can get to all of it in time.  I researched how to successfully freeze grated and sliced cheese, and will also give some to a neighbor or two.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 27, 2021, 02:01:28 AM
@MountainGal I remember to have heard about freezing cheese. Please check it out.

I have almost finished eating up my home made jams with blueberry and cloudberry. Now I had to buy new jam in a shop.

I have also been using up dried and pickled selfpicked mushrooms from last year. And I am currently drying new ones. We also eat some fresh ones in between.

I ordered a strong blender (1800 Watt). I hope that device will be able to effectively pulverise grains, mushrooms and lichen when I feel for it. I have wanted to try out plants and stuff that can replace flour, but never had a device that could pulverise well enough. And the dried mushrooms are just pulverised to use as flavor powder (umami). I so hope that this relativ large blender is not a bad bargain. I cannot do away with my old kitchen machine, as it is also a slicer, which the new one cannot do.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on October 27, 2021, 05:26:59 AM
Freezer cleanout continues! 

This week, used up a bunch of chicken thighs in an ultimately unsuccessful dish called "Sticky Chicken" (basically braised/roasted chicken in a sauce made from honey, vinegar, soy sauce, and ketchup).  Can't figure out if the chicken was just too old, if I did something wrong, or if the recipe just isn't very good in the first place.  The plan now, since we didn't like it, is to remove the meat from the bones, combine it with some leftover rice, salsa, beans, and cheese, and eat it as a kind of wrap sandwich on some flatbreads that I made with leftover yogurt and some self-rising flour I got from Buy Nothing. 

I also got a hunk of something labeled "hot beef" out of the freezer and thawed it--I think it was some kind of crock-pot thing made with rogan josh, which DH loved but was too spicy for me.  I made a sweet sauce (kind of like the one above but with less vinegar and some added hoisin sauce we are also trying to use up), and treated the whole thing kind of like fried rice:  meat in the pan, add the sauce, add the leftover rice, and stir around until hot.  It was surprisingly good--and I have two more hunks of "hot beef" left.  We'll do this again when we have some leftover rice and a hole in the meal plan!

I'm so thankful DH is so open to these weird experiments with leftover bits and bobs of food.  He's always interested in something "new" and enjoys watching and occasionally participating in my thought experiments and let's-see-what-happens-if-we-put-these-together kind of whimsy.  :)  It makes it much easier to engage in this kind of cleanout!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 27, 2021, 07:56:32 AM
We had planned to have a "leftovers" meal last night (my parents are visiting, so we are feeding six instead of four). We ended up also feeding our neighbor, and her daughter this week, as they were without power. As a result, we had a much smaller collection of leftovers. I was able to defrost two prepped meals (because they were scaled for our normal serving of four) of Korean beef, my husband made rice, & we had that with salad. I do now still have a few random leftovers that need to be eaten:

-3 or so servings of fiesta chicken skillet (will likely have one serving for lunch)
-1 serving of manicotti
-2 servings of lasagna
-2 servings of frozen beef

I need to freeze any leftovers, as my parents leave tomorrow, and my husband is also leaving on a trip. Time to decide what I'm feeding the kiddos & how to best take advantage of the above.

In exciting news, I picked the first four pomegranates from our tree. We love pomegranates, and planted the tree when we moved in. Last year, we had one pomegranate. This year, the tree is packed, so we're hoping to get a bunch!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 27, 2021, 10:17:56 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache Great to have your own pommegrenate tree that gives fruits!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 28, 2021, 12:55:36 PM
@Linea_Norway - they are really delicious. What a fun treat!

We've made a bit of progress on the leftovers:
-Husband polished off the last of a tub of yogurt
-I've had toast for breakfast a few days, using up most of a loaf of bread we bought for garlic bread
-I had a serving of lasagna for lunch
-I ate most of the pomegranate seeds, with a small container leftover

For remaining meals/items (hopefully a lot of this will go tonight)
-a few pieces of chicken
-the last of the lasagna
-one serving of manicotti
-1-2 servings of leftover guacamole (and, we're out of chips, so this might get interesting)

I desperately need to use a huge amount of tomatoes (we have a glut of garden tomatoes, so unclear why my husband also bought a box). I'm planning to make a tomato/meat sauce for dinner this weekend, and for the freezer.

I also need to pick the tomatillos & make a salsa verde, and then remove the dead vine. I need to pickle a huge amount of jalapenos & other mixed peppers. And, perhaps pull the zucchini & see what's left on the vine.

We have 10 or so strawberries from our plants, & I need to freeze those for smoothies.

Finally, the basil. Need to figure out what I'm doing with all of those basil leaves. Probably pesto, time permitting.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 28, 2021, 02:51:02 PM
@MaybeBaybyMustache

The basil just freeze it. It works wonderful for soups and sauces.

I just finished my garden. I have so much winter squash. I currently have a pot of turkey Hubbard squash chili cooking down using up some other random veggies in the fridge.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on October 29, 2021, 02:32:31 AM
My quest continues as well. Today I finished the last bits of frozen home made bread. It is still good from the freezer if toasted. Earlier this week I baked one of single serving frozen pies my family gave me. Amazing, I should probably be divided in to two servings next time...

I have been making random meals from whatever I had. Some were surprisingly good:
- bulgur with cubed tofu, sun dried tomatoes and Italian herbs
- pasta with brown champignons, garlic, butter and black pepper
- scallion scrambled eggs (and, apparently, I enjoy most herbs and spices on my eggs, weird)
- microwaved oatmeal with peanut butter, apples and cinnamon. I use water and no sweetener. Apples basically bake in there and turn very sweet
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 29, 2021, 09:12:16 AM
@seemsright - do you freeze the entire leaves, or dry/grind them? Interesting, I'll have to do that.

-Used up the strawberries in a fruit smoothie for a teenager
-Manicotti was eaten for dinner
-All pomegranate seeds are now gone
-I ate the last of a bagged salad, leftover from a big family dinner. They are ridiculously overpriced, so happy it didn't go to waste.

As for today:
-I'll eat the remaining chicken in a salad
-We still have some leftover lasagna. Need to see which kid (if any) will be home for dinner, and perhaps that will be dinner sorted.
-Need to use up a bunch of bananas, so more smoothies for the kids
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 29, 2021, 10:03:53 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache: bananas that are brown are perfect for banana pancakes (breakfast favorite here: 1 banana, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of flour per person (or sometimes x2 when person is a hungry teen)), banana-oatmeal-walnut muffins (these are a lunchbox favorite) or a banana-oatmeal-dried fruit cake which also can be eaten as snack/breakfast. Or as a standard banana-bread ofcourse. I'm becoming a pro in banana-baking experiments.

For today, I forgot groceries, so out of freezer/cupboard I have to find something for dinner.....

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 29, 2021, 10:37:54 AM
@Dutch Comfort - we use them for banana muffins/bread. I am trying to catch these ones before they have to make their way into the freezer for future bread making! :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 29, 2021, 11:08:01 AM
@MaybeBaybyMustache I just pull the basil leaves from the plant, wash, spin dry in a salad spinner and then store in a freezer bag in the freezer. I have never had a issue.

I was part of a massive garden this year and I think I have 4 gallons of basil in my freezer. We will use it for many soups this winter. Chicken and dumpling with loads of basil is one of my fav.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 29, 2021, 12:45:27 PM
@seemsright - sounds fabulous. And, now I'm thinking of making chicken & dumplings this weekend! Yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 30, 2021, 04:05:24 PM
-Figured out how to extract the pomegranate seeds from our fruit, and we all ate that. Although, I picked two more pomegranate, and they are mocking me from the counter.
-Used the last container of pumpkin puree (Halloween, last year) to make pumpkin muffins
-Defrosted leftover pot roast, and have a beef stew going.
-Had a teen chop carrots & celery that were going bad. I used the carrots in the stew, as well as in a bolognese sauce.
-The bolognese sauce also used up a bunch of tomatoes, & a pepper that needed to get out of the fridge
-Tomorrow I'll make chicken dumplings, using the last of the carrots & celery. Glad I caught these before they were wasted
-A teen ate a small container of applesauce from the freezer, which inspired me to defrost a larger container. I'll make applesauce muffins tomorrow.

And, I valiantly ate more leftover (from frozen) lasagna for lunch. It was fine, but I'm pretty over it. Maybe I can convince a kid to finish off the last piece.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 31, 2021, 06:44:27 AM
My new blender does what I hoped it would do. I let is pulverize dried mushrooms. My old kitchen machine would need 10 minutes to give a bad result. The num machine needs 10-20 seconds to make powder.
I used the machine to pulverize 4 bags of mushrooms into 2 different flavors. To be used in sauces and whatever that needs more umami.

Last week we have been making food with leftovers. We have been eating the leftovers for lunch. Once I added it to the evening wok dish, but then I had again an equally big leftover portion, which DH ate for lunch.

Yesterday I had expected it to be a rainy day, which it was not. But I spent it inside in the kitchen. I tried to make Duxelles, which is a French cooking method with mushrooms, parsley, union and bread crums cooked in the wok for an hour or so until all the water has vaporized. Then it can be frozen and later used for fillings in other dishes. But again, my second attempt failed, like the previous last year. It became bitter and unedible. Again I suspect the parsley, that I only cooked for the last 5 minutes. But maybe it is 5 minutes too long. Maybe I will try again next year, only adding the parsley when the mushrooms are finished.

I almost finished my jar of pickled beetroot, which I am eating daily on a slice of bread with cheese. Tastes okay.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 31, 2021, 07:18:55 AM
I tried to make Duxelles, which is a French cooking method with mushrooms, parsley, union and bread crums cooked in the wok for an hour or so until all the water has vaporized. Then it can be frozen and later used for fillings in other dishes. But again, my second attempt failed, like the previous last year. It became bitter and unedible. Again I suspect the parsley, that I only cooked for the last 5 minutes. But maybe it is 5 minutes too long. Maybe I will try again next year, only adding the parsley when the mushrooms are finished.

Maybe try it without the parsley at all, or with a different herb that is sturdier and will hold up to cooking and freezing better? I've seen duxelles recipes with no herbs at all, or with thyme, which might work better. Parsley is a pretty fragile leaf. I don't imagine it would freeze that well...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 31, 2021, 09:49:02 AM
I tried to make Duxelles, which is a French cooking method with mushrooms, parsley, union and bread crums cooked in the wok for an hour or so until all the water has vaporized. Then it can be frozen and later used for fillings in other dishes. But again, my second attempt failed, like the previous last year. It became bitter and unedible. Again I suspect the parsley, that I only cooked for the last 5 minutes. But maybe it is 5 minutes too long. Maybe I will try again next year, only adding the parsley when the mushrooms are finished.

Maybe try it without the parsley at all, or with a different herb that is sturdier and will hold up to cooking and freezing better? I've seen duxelles recipes with no herbs at all, or with thyme, which might work better. Parsley is a pretty fragile leaf. I don't imagine it would freeze that well...

I have frozen cut up parsley before when I had too much and that went well and can be used afterwards again. I usually use the Parsley type with curly leaves, Petroselinum crispum var.crispum. But I will try the next batch of duxelles with another herb like you suggest.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on October 31, 2021, 05:32:09 PM
Well my freezer is finally empty enough that I can actually see what I have.  Between it and the pantry, I’m hoping to make it to January before I need to buy anything of significance.  Except for Christmas stuff, that is.  And it’s starting to get cold enough that in a couple of weeks I’ll be able to defrost it.  Such a relief.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 31, 2021, 05:57:22 PM
Well done, @SunnyDays ! I'm envious.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on October 31, 2021, 08:59:18 PM
Well done, @SunnyDays ! I'm envious.

Thank you!  It's very nice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 03, 2021, 08:30:17 PM
Used up two bags of frozen (grilled) tomatoes, leftover from kebabs. Added them to a very tiny amount of bolognese sauce, plus meatballs, and three fresh tomatoes that needed to be used up. Seasoned & served over pasta. It turned out really well. Yay for things out of the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on November 04, 2021, 03:00:38 AM
Making progress with the freezer, fridge AND cupboard, before grocery delivery today:

- 3 pizza's out of freezer
- made frittata for lunch out of leftover boiled veggies and a few leftover slices of bacon (and some eggs ofcourse).
- kids are doing their part with eating snacks, noodles, leftover soup and bread that I had frozen last week for breakfast and lunches, still trying to get them to eat the cereal that is in the cupboard.......
- lunches for me are the leftovers (I now just have a small batch of plain rice leftover in the fridge...... looking for a yummy lunch recipe.....)
- today I will make sure the last part of celery makes it to our dinner table (I'm the only one eating it, but really like it every now and then) together with some potatoe hash browns (freezer), canned corn, apple sauce and some chicken.
- for tomorrow I just needed a pack of noodles (will be delivered tonight) to make a chicken-veggie stir-fry noodle dish, which will finish the last leeks in the fridge and some chicken breast from the freezer
- saturday will be either soup (from freezer) or Italian style buns (bread bun (cupboard) with mozzarella (will be delivered tonight), salami (from fridge) and tomato-sauce (from freezer))
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on November 04, 2021, 07:32:32 PM
I need to eat a bunch of stuff in the freezers to make room for Thanksgiving.  I'm approaching hoarder status and can barely shut the chest freezer.
I've got tons of salmon and white fish from my Sitka shares (this was way too much fish for the 2 of us), and massive quantities of roasted hatch chiles, plus homemade soups and cooked beans and grilled/smoked meat that I need to chip away at.  And a small smoked turkey carcass.  And a bunch of containers of duck, bones and fat.  I'm overwhelmed.

The plan so far is :
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on November 05, 2021, 06:35:57 AM
@dividend - Love your manta 'Stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good ...'  Thank you for the reminder.

Recently I used up some gluten flour and chickpea flour making seitan.  I also made some pumpkin pudding using canned pumpkin that had been hanging around for a long time.

Today I am using up a pile of parsley from the garden by make a Persian dish called kookoo sabzi (herb fritata).  It is very high on herbs and low on eggs - not like a a quiche at all.  There are many versions of it using different combinations of herbs.  In addition to the parsley, my recipe calls for two bunches of scallions, 2 bunches of cilantro and a small amount of fresh dill which I purchased yesterday from a local Indian grocery store.  It may sound like an odd combination of herbs, but it is a really a delicious way to use up parsley.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 05, 2021, 01:49:03 PM
@Beardog - have had kookoo sabzi many times, & it's delicious. My husband is Persian.

Meals are crazy this week, with kids doing school soccer tryouts & club practice. No one is every home, but they are hungry.
-I used leftover fruit in a smoothie
-Defrosted applesauce from the freezer & made a double batch of delicious muffins
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 05, 2021, 06:12:15 PM
Last week I turned my glass of selfpicked salted mushrooms into a spread to have on a sandwich. Salted mushrooms must first be cooked off in boiling as well as cold water. I needed 3 rounds until they stopped tasting salty. It smelled great in the kitchen while I was doing that. But after 3 rounds of cooking, they didn't have any taste left only substance. I threw it away after eating it for 2 days. At least, it is one big jar less in that fridge.

I hope that I tomorrow can find new motivation to eat the fermented red cabbage. After I had eaten it twice, a few weeks ago, DH used the remaining dressing for a dinner. Since than I was a bit demotivated to continue eating the cabbage for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on November 07, 2021, 11:22:48 AM
@Linea_Norway - I admire your harvesting of wild mushrooms.  When I am completely FIRE, I hope to follow your example.

Today I made a home-made pizza using a no-knead recipe from another posting on MMM.  The yeast I used I've had for probably 15 years, and I got it from someone on Freecycle, so who knows how old it is!  Amazingly, it's still viable.  The pizza also used one of the cubes of basil (made into a paste in food processor) that I harvested two summers ago (2020) and some long-in-the-tooth pasta sauce.  I'm amazed at how flavorful the basil was after such a long stretch in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 07, 2021, 01:09:21 PM
I inventoried my freezer (one of two) today. I'm quite excited about it, as I organized everything into logical places, tossed a few freezer burned items, and now have a list of handy meals that are already prepped, as well as a few ingredients I need to use up.

-Ate the remaining two pieces of leftover chicken for lunch
-One teen polished off an entire container of blueberries, before they had a chance to go in the fridge, let alone go bad
-I added some strawberries to a smoothie
-Realized I had a bunch of frozen bananas, so partially defrosted one for the smoothie
-Used a couple of protein drinks over the past two weeks, but adding them to smoothies. No one cared for the flavor, but in the smoothie, you couldn't taste it. It had a heavy coconut flavor the kids didn't enjoy, so I was glad to find a way to use it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: tungu2 on November 07, 2021, 02:31:45 PM
I used up a can of coconut milk for pumpkin soup and chia pudding. The soup was great, the pudding Not so much. I still have chia seeds that I bought on a whim, but I’ll need a different recipe for the rest.
I made oatmeal pancakes twice. They were good but I still need to work on the recipe. Plenty of oats in the pantry, so I’ll get to it. I prefer savory pancakes and oats work well with cheese and veggie toppings.
Also finished the last of canned hummus and some beans.
I restocked only on perishables, so far so good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on November 07, 2021, 03:39:59 PM
decided to reap the rewards all of the garden produce I put in my freezer this summer and I found a bag of frozen bananas so I told DH that I am not going to the store this week.

I made a pot of lentil stew with frozen veggies and leftover pizza sauce, I have a pork roast slow roasting in the oven, and some berries to cook some oats in the morning. So with the odds and ends in the fridge we should be able to get through this week easily. And if I can push it till mid next week all the better.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 09, 2021, 12:24:34 PM
Hope everyone is doing well.  I love the comfort recipe ideas!

I usually pick up groceries once a month, and that time is quickly approaching.  I'm actually finding I like it, as it prompts me to be more creative with what we have on hand.  In the past few weeks:

~Used up the large bag of bacon bits in omelets, on top of pizzas, in stuffed portabellas, and the last of it last night sautéed with the spaghetti squash purchased many weeks ago, baby spinach, and garlic.  The latter yielded 4 servings.
~We've been slowly eating the large package of sweet rolls leftover from our Halloween party.  Just 4 more to go.  ;)
~Speaking of party leftovers, I gave our neighbors the unopened bottle of spiced apple cider.  The kids will drink it.
~I didn't have time to make the little smokies in blankets for said party, so I made half to take to the above referenced neighbors last weekend, and will make a final batch for game day this upcoming weekend.  Game day food will also use the rest of the jar of jalapeno jelly and half cream cheese cube.
~Leftover fresh veggies and dip from the party were divvied up for DH's lunches.
~Various proteins from our 3 freezers over the past two weeks included a pound of chicken breasts, locally grown ground beef and pork, a few cuts of steaks, and a pound of pork chops.
~We were given a lot of potatoes and carrots from the neighbor's garden.  Last week, I made glazed carrots with some of them, and the rest I processed for DH's lunches.  Potatoes were mashed for a supper side last week, and some diced with locally grown ground pork for a brunch last Saturday.  I'll make smashed potatoes Thursday night, and a potato soup Saturday.  That should take care of them.  :)
~I've put a laser focus on fresh produce this week to ensure nothing goes to waste.  The aforementioned portabellas, an eggplant was made into tempura fries, asparagus was wrapped in bacon, baby spinach was used in salads and the rest will be sautéed for supper tomorrow night along with the remaining asparagus, and I'm hoping the remaining avocado can be rescued into guacamole this evening.
~Speaking of bacon:  It was utilized in two brunches, and wrapped around Sunday's asparagus.
~Last night's slow cooker pork chops used the rest of the jar of locally made apple butter.  SO good.
~Thursday night I'll use the package of shirataki noodles, along with the can of salmon.

All that remains as far as fresh produce is a container of cherry tomatoes I haven't yet addressed.  We have frozen vegetables which will get us through until grocery day.

What I've been doing is pulling a few proteins from the deep freezer and putting them into the kitchen freezer rotation.  It seems to work out well.

And, I put on this weekend's calendar to make banana bread, so hopefully I'll actually remember.  There are a few frozen bananas calling my name from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on November 11, 2021, 11:46:57 AM
having to do another batch cooking event today to make it through the weekend without going to the store.

My preteen wont be happy that she is out of Milk, but there is some almond milk she will be fine...she will fuss but she will be fine.

Cooking up another butternut squash, roasting some potatoes to eat with leftover lentil soup for lunch, dinner tonight will be shrimp stir fry with rice cooked in some Dashi I made this last weekend. And some green beans.

For the weekend I found some greens to cook up in the freezer and some frozen beets to make a salad. I made the preteen some protein bars.

If I can keep this up I will be able to see my pantry soon. I still have a ton of jars from canning during garden season. But I plan on making some black bean soup and corn bread tomorrow. So that should use up a jar or two.

I think Sat I will make some sorta pizza using the bits and bobs leftover and Sunday will be another soup of some sort.

Using up the odds and ends is a mental challenge that is for sure. Now it is a game in how long I can hold off going to the store.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on November 12, 2021, 02:08:28 AM
I do not want to go to the shop till Sunday, so here we go:

- Had a small pumpkin lingering on the kitchen counter. Added a few leftover carrots, some garlic and unions and made a pumpkin soup for lunch today. Together with a pasta-leftover, this will be enough to feed the three of us today.
- Tonight will be burritos (wraps in kitchen cupboard), filled with chicken (from freezer), bell peppers and tomatoes (from fridge), canned kidney beans, canned other beans (I will find some in that famous kitchen cupboard) and canned corn. Add some cheese and cream and this will feed the four of us.
- Tomorrow I plan on having Italian style bread to use up the mozzarella in the fridge, some tomatoes and some italian sausage.
- Sunday we will go out with friends and they invited us to a home-cooked dinner, so I think we're good to go there!

The teens finally made it to the last few slices of bread in the freezer. Now still that cereal!!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 12, 2021, 12:46:00 PM
@seemsright, I love the bits and bobs pizza idea.

@Dutch Comfort, great job with the soup and burritos!

I'm going to bring the leftover OJ from our Halloween party to a neighbor's house tomorrow morning for mimosas.  We'll make a virgin version for her sons.  I stopped at the store this morning to buy treats to go along with, including discounted frosted cookies, fresh strawberries, and donut holes.

While at the store, I bought oranges and limes to make skinny margaritas this weekend using leftover tequila.  :)

Am about halfway through the cherry tomatoes.  I'll serve them as sides with this weekend's suppers, along with the remaining English cucumber half.  And there's just one serving left of keto granola.  It is good and I will buy it again, as it satisfies my cereal craving when served with almond milk.

Last night I pulled the bananas from the freezer in order to make bread tonight for tomorrow's mimosa party.  Thawed bananas look quite unappetizing, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2021, 08:16:13 PM
@MountainGal - thawed bananas definitely look unappealing.

We planned to have steak & roasted butternut squash for dinner last Sunday, but my husband was unexpectedly out of town. Froze the steak & I assumed the squash would be good until today. (It was already cut). Roasted it, and it was not good. Bummed, as it was really nice squash & I love it with steak. Ah, well. Instead, we will just have salad with it.

We ate more pomegranates from the yard, & I picked two carrots for our salad, and used up some of our many tomatoes. I also picked a few strawberries, which will go into smoothies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: onward19 on November 13, 2021, 08:48:20 PM

I'm trying to work through an excessive stash of frozen berries. I typically buy them to make smoothies in the winter since fresh fruit is out of season, and even frozen berries retain their nutrients.
(just blend frozen berries with water to the consistency you prefer)
 
 But I wanted to find something else to do with them, besides pie. Turns out that frozen triple berry blends turn into amazing triple berry crisps, and you don't even need to thaw them! The berries are tangy and a bit sour, and contrast nicely with the sweet crisp topping. I made it with a blackberry/blueberry/strawberry blend and just cut the strawberries in half. I'm looking forward to trying it with other berry combinations.

 Here's the recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/triple-berry-crisp/ (https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/triple-berry-crisp/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 13, 2021, 09:55:58 PM
@onward19 - if you have frozen or overly ripe bananas, they add a lot of creaminess to a fruit smoothie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 17, 2021, 12:42:18 PM
What we've been up to lately:
-Used up all of the garden strawberries in smoothies
-Used up the balsamic chicken (freezer) that wasn't particularly good on first serving & doctored it up by 1) serving it over pasta and 2) serving it with caprese salad. It was much more popular on the second go round.
-The caprese had the double benefit of spicing up the aforementioned dinner, and using up our plethora of garden tomatoes & basil. We also have a package of fresh mozzarella with a rapidly approaching end date, so we will have more caprese tonight. Along with a bag of chicken I've been trying to get out of the freezer for awhile.
-We've also been eating a ton of pomegranate from the garden, as well as our abundance of kale.
-I had beef stew & chicken & dumplings for lunch (separate days), and my new freezer organization has been a complete game changer. I used a divider to create a separation between freezer items (corn, spinach, etc) vs prepped & frozen leftovers/meals. It's made grabbing a quick lunch or dinner option incredibly easy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 17, 2021, 02:37:13 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, glad you are finding the divider handy.  I, too, generally keep items in certain areas of the kitchen freezer, and it seems to help.

@onward19, that crisp sounds delicious!

~Last Friday I made the banana bread using the thawed bananas.  Though the neighbor kids, their mom, and my DH scarfed it down, next time I'll use the liquid from said bananas as well.  The bread seemed a bit dry looking.  (I refrained from eating any.)
~Sliced cherry tomatoes went into last night's niçoise salads.
~I just ate the rest of the tomatoes, English cucumber, and baby spinach in today's lunch salad.
~I bought a 2LB package of asparagus at Sam's Club earlier this week.  I froze 1 pound in two packages, and sautéed the other pound with bacon bits.  The latter yielded four servings.
~Monday night football munchies took care of the remaining package of little smokies, a can of crescent rolls, box of breaded shrimp, and the last 1/4 jar of jalapeno jelly.
~Tonight I'll finally cook the package of shirataki noodles from last month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 17, 2021, 03:08:45 PM
@MountainGal - it's always been there, I've just never used the divider before. Who knew - it actually organized the freezer? ;-)  Nice work on the progress with your supplies. I'm now craving asparagus with bacon. YUM.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on November 18, 2021, 03:05:59 AM
Finally had Teen1 starting the cereal stash! Now let's see how long this will last.
Need to make either banana pancakes, banana bread or banana muffins, since there are two brown bananas on the counter.

I do want to stay away from the supermarket till Sunday, so here is my plan:

Lunch for today and tomorrow will be celery sticks with some diced chicken, some cucumber and leftover green beans (this can make a great salad!)
Just checked and freezer is starting to look good with some space opening up. Currently thawing some chicken for tonights dinner. Add the last potatoes and some canned veggies.
Tomorrow, Teen2 wants to make a pancake dinner (savory pancakes with bacon and cheese). I will just let him as it will use up milk, a box of flour from the kitchen cupboard and some eggs.
Saturday will be the last leftover burgers from the freezer, leftover buns and any greens I can find in the fridge or canned veggies as a last resort.

The famous overflowing kitchen cupboard is starting to show a few small empty spaces, so I'm proud of myself! The empty spaces are really needed before the holiday preparations begin......

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 18, 2021, 09:20:23 AM
In my non inventoried freezer, I noticed a few ice creams, as well as a two pack of bacon wrapped chicken breasts. The timing is perfect, as I don't have a great dinner option for tonight. My husband will have salmon, the 15 y.o & I will have the chicken. The pickier 14 y.o. will have spaghetti & meatballs, using up the last of the pasta.

I'll have the last of the chicken curry for lunch today. Yum. It's one of my favorite leftovers, so no hardship there.

I've been uninspired with cooking lately, so really need to get on the ball for planning for the weekend/next week. Thanksgiving is covered, so I need a plan for the remainder of the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 22, 2021, 07:23:45 AM
Yesterday I made a soup from leftover vegetables, some chicken bought for the purpose, and some selfpicked mushrooms. It worked out okay, apart from that it was way too much. So, as usual, I have a leftover portion. Now waiting in the fridge. We were supposed to eat it at lunch, but forgot it. Next chance, tomorrow lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 22, 2021, 07:27:31 AM
We ordered celebratory takeout pizza on Friday, as both kids made their school soccer team. All of the leftovers were finished by lunch yesterday. Two teens can eat *a lot* of pizza.

I baked a frozen lasagna last night, from a two pack that was purchased when we helped out a neighbor who had no power for a few days. It's good to free up that freezer space, because it's not small. We have about half of it left for dinner tomorrow night.

I need to put together my to do list for Thanksgiving. I like to pre-chop the veggies, and can make the cheesecake & cranberry sauce in advance.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 22, 2021, 12:36:28 PM
@Dutch Comfort, those savory pancakes sound delicious!

@MaybeBabyMustache, congratulations to your kiddos!

I went out of town for a few days for business purposes.  Most meals were covered.  Thursday evening I bought a corned beef sandwich, ate half, and had the rest Saturday night.

DH's smoked ribs yesterday used up two remaining bottles of BBQ sauce.  Here's to more interior refrigerator door space!  We had a package of veggie made pasta with them which freed up a tiny bit of space in the garage freezer.

Tonight's cod tacos will use up the rest of last week's pork rind parmesan breading.

Tonight's tacos and tomorrow's enchiladas will use the 2 avocados bought last week.  Boy, they ripened quickly this time!

Tomorrow night's enchiladas and Wednesday's stir fry will use a package of riced cauliflower.

I expect to bring home Thanksgiving leftovers, so we'll eat those Friday evening.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on November 22, 2021, 04:20:13 PM
I need to eat a bunch of stuff in the freezers to make room for Thanksgiving.  I'm approaching hoarder status and can barely shut the chest freezer.
I've got tons of salmon and white fish from my Sitka shares (this was way too much fish for the 2 of us), and massive quantities of roasted hatch chiles, plus homemade soups and cooked beans and grilled/smoked meat that I need to chip away at.  And a small smoked turkey carcass.  And a bunch of containers of duck, bones and fat.  I'm overwhelmed.

The plan so far is :
  • Chili moco to use the last of the hamburgers and Hawaiian style chili
  • Pinto bean soup from frozen beans
  • White fish on a bed of pureed Royal Corona beans
  • Refried bean burrito to use up a couple of containers of Charro beans
  • Make stock from the turkey carcass and a bag of veg scraps, for a turkey soup of some kind
  • 3 containers of cranberry beans should make 3 different recipes from Six Seasons I have bookmarked - pasta, risotto, and on toast
  • Make hatch green chile sauce from the Cafe Pascal's cookbook, use to make smothered burritos
  • Use cooked garlic sausage and smoked ham shanks in Red Beans & Rice
  • Make a white bean and cabbage soup from the duck pieces
  • Stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good and just cook salmon.  I'm past the point of only usomg interesting perfect new recipes
  • Don't let it get to this point again.

I'm doing good with this.  Since posting this I've made 18 meals from the freezer and I can see the bottom on one side!  Other meals not listed include a pot roast, turkey and hatch chili panini, braised chicken on lentils, soft tacos, red curry roasted halibut, and crispy fish with mac & cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 22, 2021, 05:20:23 PM
Well done, @dividend !
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 23, 2021, 10:36:28 AM
Well done, @dividend !

+1!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 23, 2021, 03:27:02 PM
-Got a package of hot dogs out of the freezer (purchased for some sort of barbecue this summer, and never used), by adding a package of crescent rolls & doing pigs in a blanket. The kids were not jazzed about the plain hot dogs, but were happy with the pigs in a blanket. Package of hot dogs now used up.
-In the process of making cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, and using up some orange juice we already had on hand.
-Used up garden strawberries for smoothies after soccer practice
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on November 27, 2021, 10:39:11 AM
In my non inventoried freezer, I noticed a few ice creams, as well as a two pack of bacon wrapped chicken breasts. The timing is perfect, as I don't have a great dinner option for tonight. My husband will have salmon, the 15 y.o & I will have the chicken. The pickier 14 y.o. will have spaghetti & meatballs, using up the last of the pasta.

I'll have the last of the chicken curry for lunch today. Yum. It's one of my favorite leftovers, so no hardship there.

I've been uninspired with cooking lately, so really need to get on the ball for planning for the weekend/next week. Thanksgiving is covered, so I need a plan for the remainder of the week.

When I started reading I was hoping for a "Dessert for Dinner" plan.  :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 27, 2021, 11:42:12 AM
In my non inventoried freezer, I noticed a few ice creams, as well as a two pack of bacon wrapped chicken breasts. The timing is perfect, as I don't have a great dinner option for tonight. My husband will have salmon, the 15 y.o & I will have the chicken. The pickier 14 y.o. will have spaghetti & meatballs, using up the last of the pasta.

I'll have the last of the chicken curry for lunch today. Yum. It's one of my favorite leftovers, so no hardship there.

I've been uninspired with cooking lately, so really need to get on the ball for planning for the weekend/next week. Thanksgiving is covered, so I need a plan for the remainder of the week.

When I started reading I was hoping for a "Dessert for Dinner" plan.  :-)

Ha, my kids would definitely go for that, @Catbert !

We finished off the last of the frozen lasagna yesterday, and I burned an entire tray of garlic bread (curses), so into the garbage that went. We are having Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner tonight. Yum.

We've been using our pomegranates for all kinds of things - martinis, a squash/kale salad, and just for snacking. They are delicious.

I defrosted two packages of shredded zucchini, and will make muffins out of those.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 28, 2021, 08:42:00 AM
I had a leftover portion of pasta from the freezer for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on November 28, 2021, 01:04:50 PM
Yesterday I used up one of 6 packages of tempeh by making tempeh bacon (using a recipe from the book 'Baconish').  I brought some up to my Mom and we had TLTs (tempeh bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches).  My Mom liked it enough that I left the fixings for another sandwich with her.

Today I made chickpea flour waffles with sautéed banana for lunch.  Yum!  The chickpea flour has been in my cupboard for a couple years.

And tonight will be home made refried pinto beans on toast with salsa.  The chili powder used in the beans was made using dried ancho chilis that had been hanging around for a couple years.

In the slow cooker, I have a whole cauliflower covered with a mix of fresh sage, lemon zest, garlic, olive oil and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.  The sage came from the garden, and the lemon was frozen after a recent family gathering in which only one slice was used.

I've done a spreadsheet of everything in the cupboard and many things in the freezer, and this has been extremely helpful for menu planning to cycle through some things that need to be used.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 28, 2021, 01:16:30 PM
-Made a double batch of zucchini muffins for the freezer (used up three bags of shredded zucchini, leftover from our garden bounty)
-Turned a package of Costco ground beef into four dinner sized containers of taco meat. Each container will serve the four of us for two taco dinners. We have it one night, and then leftovers the second night
-Finished off the Thanksgiving stuffing leftovers, & green beans. There is a bit of mashed potatoes left over, as well as cranberry jelly & whipping cream, plus pie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on November 30, 2021, 11:49:00 AM
So, it took me FOREVER, but I read through this entire thread.  I've really enjoyed reading along as folks moved to reduce their food waste and save money, too!  In the mean time, it's inspired me to work through some of my super old boxes of tea, and to be much more on top of all the leftovers etc. that I have every week.  My food waste has dropped considerably, though I do sometimes still miss a few things here and there. 
So, last week I had roasted a chicken.  Had the breast meat left, and chopped it up and made chicken and rice (rice made with broth I made from frozen chicken carcasses!).  Today, I'm going to turn some of *those* leftovers into fried rice for lunch.  It'll be my first attempt at making fried rice, so hopefully it doesn't suck. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 30, 2021, 02:28:20 PM
Welcome to the thread, @FragglesRock666!

Since my last post, in no particular order:
~Thanksgiving leftover turkey, potatoes, and stuffing made for one lunch and a tasty midnight snack
~Leftover dessert went well with Sunday's coffee
~An envelope of free jasmine rice (instead of riced cauliflower) went under the chicken and veggie stir fry last week
~I baked up a Tattooed Chef cauliflower crust pizza doctored up with extra cheese, pepperoni, and olives
~Yesterday I used 2 pounds of ground beef in a meatloaf, and served it with a box of frozen vegetables in balsamic sauce.  More freezer room!
~I tossed some sad looking raspberries into the freezer to use in a future smoothie
~Made side salads from the lettuce mix DH bought last week.  Just one more serving to go!
~Tonight I'll use the rest of the bibb lettuce as shells for our shrimp tacos.  More of the broccoli slaw will go on top.
~Tomorrow night we'll have slow cooker pork chops and eggplant tempura fries
~Saturday night we'll have game food including some of the frozen appetizers I stocked up on for the holidays
~Tonight I'll bake up an oatmeal, apple, and walnut bake for DH's breakfasts
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shadesofgreen on December 03, 2021, 12:15:01 PM
The oatmeal apple and walnut bake sounds really delish MountainGal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 06, 2021, 11:15:27 AM
So glad to find this thread!!

Last weekend I spent a long time digging through our pantry, fridge, & freezer, then making a spreadsheet, then meal planning.  My sweetie & I combined households a few months ago, so even after giving away lots of food at the time, we've still got an overstuffed pantry, and we hadn't yet hit our stride on how to manage it.

One week in, we've cooked:
 - Rosemary Bean Soup (Budget Bytes)
 - Pesto Rolls (ditto)
 - Stir Fry
 - Pizza
 - Apple Crisp
 - Stuffed Mushrooms
 - Spaghetti & Meatballs

(We took the pesto rolls & stuffed mushrooms to parties, so I was especially happy to use up some food that way!)

The only groceries we bought this week (for meals) were red peppers, mushrooms, & 1 bag of salad.  Otherwise we had everything we needed!  Hard to believe so many tasty meals were just lurking here all this time...  ; )  I am still buying perishables like milk & yogurt as well as household supplies like toothpaste, so not a *tiny* grocery bill, but an improvement.  My main motivation is to reduce waste & clutter, but the grocery savings will be a very welcome bonus!

It's also been a fun creative challenge to see how many ingredients I can use up in a single meal.  I'm very much a recipe-based cook (always have been), so I'm not someone who can (or even aspires to) "throw things together" based on what I have, but I'm very grateful I can Google ingredients on my favorite websites (and search my own typed-up recipes) to find inspiration, and then sneak in extras. 

As a silly example, normally I'd go out and buy specific veggies to make stir fry (like snow peas), so I was excited that I managed to not buy anything, and instead used up lingering bits of green pepper, onion, mushrooms, cabbage, & carrots; a random can of baby corn & half bottle of stir fry sauce; and frozen broccoli, edamame, & ginger (along with three open packages of noodles!).  I know stir fry is a classic "use it up" recipe, so others won't find this particularly impressive, but it's a stretch for me so I was happy : )

It will probably take us a month to get through everything, but I'm feeling optimistic we can eat it all down. 

On the other hand, this has taken me a huge amount of time, so I'm forgiving myself for taking a while to get around to it.

Bonus: I also recently took time to update my price-checker spreadsheet to optimize where we buy items.  My SO is used to just popping into the nearest (expensive) grocery store to pick things up, so we should be able to do much better with carefully planned trips to Aldi, etc. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 06, 2021, 02:38:46 PM
-The kids joyfully finished off the Trader Joes holiday treats. That didn't take long ;-)
-I ate leftover Greek food for lunch on Friday & Sunday, taking the extra time to heat up fries for the kids on Sunday
-Today for lunch I ate restaurant leftovers from our family night out on Saturday
-I defrosted a freezer meal (taco cauliflower rice) for tonight's dinner. I'm excited to have it out of the freezer, and double bonus, as I have a late call with APAC & need a quick meal option. Having a freezer inventory of prepped food has been a game changer. I can easily tell what I have in dinner sized quantity, vs just a single lunch serving. It's also helped to remind me when I have easy lunch options.

I'll finish off the restaurant leftovers for lunch tomorrow, and for dinner, we'll have dragon noodles & coconut shrimp (freezer). I have a late day in the office on Wednesday, so we'll have kebabs & rice (leftover). Thursday is a bit TBD. Any leftovers, or something quick. The kids have school soccer games Tuesday & Thursday, so the schedule gets a bit dicey. Thank goodness for leftovers & freezer meals!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 07, 2021, 02:59:32 PM
Thank you, @shadesofgreen!  One pan goes a long way!

Welcome to the thread, @Psyche!

Agreed, @MaybeBabyMustache, thank goodness for leftovers!

The produce drawer contents are dwindling, so I'm planning a grocery shop soon.

~The yellow squash, zucchini, one envelope of riced cauliflower, and the remaining red Argentine shrimp were used up in last night's stir fry.
~I ate some of the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and leftover steak in yesterday's lunch salad.
~I'll try to remember to use the rest of the baby spinach and some cherry tomatoes for salads the rest of this week.
~One more serving of celery sticks is left for a lunch side.
~More of the broccoli slaw will be riced up for tonight's tacos.  I'll use the last of the two avocados, as well and kebob cherry tomatoes and mozzarella and drizzle them with balsamic dressing.
~Speaking of dressing:  A bottle of ranch was used up over the weekend, as well as two other condiments.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on December 08, 2021, 07:41:34 AM
Thanks for this thread! I think I hopped on a while ago, when we were still living in our house (sold August 2020). Current situation: living on our sailboat but off the boat for the winter while we do some massive work on the boat. Transferred the boat pantry items to the temporary living spot and am working to eat down that stash. Goal is to use up something (at least one thing) from the pantry every day. When we move back aboard in April I'll restock directly onto the boat.

Trying to only buy fresh items at the store (produce, meat, and dairy)

Yesterday:
lunch was curried chicken salad with can of chicken, can of pineapple, some cranberries - eaten on crackers
finished up the nuts and coconut flakes, plus emptied one container of maple syrup in granola
last can of pinto beans and some of the arborio rice, plus opened the jar of pesto for minestrone
made the box of brownies
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 08, 2021, 11:02:48 AM
Let's see, what have we done lately:
-Almost done with the yard pomegranate. I forgot about a few in our garage fridge. My son polished off the seeds from 3 smallish pomegranates as a snack
-I used a gorgeous garden green pepper in our salad
-We ate more of the kebabs & rice (from Sunday's dinner)
-Tonight will be coconut shrimp & dragon noodles for 2 diners. I'll use soy noodles for my keto eater, and made a taco quesadilla for my picky child, who will eat none of that. His meal will finish off the taco meat, which is a win.

I need to toss an opened container of tomato soup that my husband insisted on buying, but never finish. Drat. Otherwise, the fridge/pantry is in pretty good shape.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Britan on December 08, 2021, 11:14:25 AM
The grandparents will all be leaving us tomorrow. We’ve got a nice full fridge. But also some really weird ingredients that I never use that MIL bough huge quantities of for a recipe. I’ll have to take stock of what we have and see if we can cohere some meals out of it. For sure, I know we have a bunch of olives, bacon, avocados (may be bad already), and a bunch of pantry stuff that I don’t usually use.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 08, 2021, 01:00:46 PM
Today we had dinner leftovers for lunch. And for dinner an easy asian style tomato soup, followed by leftover Christmas bread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 08, 2021, 01:37:36 PM
So far this week I have skipped the store. Still pulling random out of the pantry and freezers.

Through this process I am learning what I need to keep on hand and what can go.

Tonight's dinner miso ginger grilled tofu, rice and veggies with some homemade kimchi

I almost can see empty space. It feels so nice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 09, 2021, 05:45:03 AM
Currently feeding the teens all kinds of Saint Nicolas candy from last weekend which is lingering in the house. They happily oblige!
Freezer is in good shape. Not too much inventory. Only a bit too much bread, so I need to work on that (with the teens, this is great stuff for lunchbox-sandwiches).
Cupboard is starting to show a few empty spaces. Doing the happy dance that this will continue in the next week, so I will have room for holiday goodies (but trying to keep this to a minimum....).
Fridge is in good shape. Just 1 package of celery sticks which need to be finished. Other items are all OK and we have sufficient room in the fridge, which I like to keep this way till just before the holidays.

Plan for the remainder of this week:
- today: pasta dinner (all from cupboard / freezer)
- tomorrow: "let's dig in the freezer and see what we find"-day
- saturday: homemade tomatoe and chicken soup with fresh bread (and make sure I have tons of leftovers from the soup, since these make nice, quick and easy meals)
- sunday: will go to the grocery store to stock up on fresh veggies, fruit, meats and bread for the week.

Breakfast and lunches will just be whatever we have as leftovers from the day before or a dive into the bread-supply in the freezer. And if needed, I always have that neverending stock of cereal.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 09, 2021, 01:01:18 PM
Dragon noodles & coconut shrimp yesterday were both delicious. I need to remember that recipe more often.

I ate the leftovers of our taco dinner (tiny amount of taco meat, and small amount of taco cauliflower rice) over a salad for lunch today. Two more small containers out of the fridge.

I've landed on dinner for tonight, which was previously a bit up in the air. My picky eater will get leftover rice + baked chicken (freezer). My non picky son & I eat will eat the rest of the dragon noodles & baked chicken. My husband will have the last of the kebabs from the weekend. Boom. Use it up menu planning!

I'm hoping that we will be able to get by with just one more large shopping trip before we leave for the holidays. I'll need to map things out a bit, so we can get away with hopefully just a very small stop ahead of heading out of town. We are flying, so can't bring food with us.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 10, 2021, 01:26:51 PM
You guys, I just made strawberry jam for the first time... one tiny jar made with the last, sad handful from a Costco box, plus a Tbsp of lemon juice left over from another recipe.

I am basically a pioneer.

Thanks to the forumites for the inspiration! I'm slowly reading back through the thread and enjoying all the great ideas :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 10, 2021, 04:57:18 PM
You guys, I just made strawberry jam for the first time... one tiny jar made with the last, sad handful from a Costco box, plus a Tbsp of lemon juice left over from another recipe.

I am basically a pioneer.

Thanks to the forumites for the inspiration! I'm slowly reading back through the thread and enjoying all the great ideas :)
You are awesome! I hate making jam. But marmalade...yes. And it is almost citrus season.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 12, 2021, 07:32:04 AM
You guys, I just made strawberry jam for the first time... one tiny jar made with the last, sad handful from a Costco box, plus a Tbsp of lemon juice left over from another recipe.

I am basically a pioneer.

Thanks to the forumites for the inspiration! I'm slowly reading back through the thread and enjoying all the great ideas :)

Well done.
Making jam is pretty easy, especially with the help of some pectin powder. I used to make jam from leftover fruits at work, from our weekly fruit bowl. Sometimes on Friday, it had hard plumbs or kiwis, or just apples. I often could make a pot of jam or 3. Now I don't work anymore, so I need to find my own materials. I used plumbs from our tree and blueberries and cloudberries from nature.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 12, 2021, 07:35:48 AM
Tonight I will make a lentil soup with leftover veggies. I have some leftover cauliflower and some frozen stuff in the freezer. I will add some bacon, as that pack has been staring at me from the freezer for too long.

I currently have a sour throat. I will take a Covid test tomorrow. In case I must quaraintin for the rest of the week, we will try to eat all the food in the house, literally. Maybe it is nothing....

By the way, I am fully vaccinated, but that doesn't mean you can't get infected with omikcron. The vaccin only protects you from getting more serious symptoms.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 12, 2021, 01:36:55 PM
Made 2 large pans of soup yesterday. 8 people ate from it and I still had enough to frezen 2-3 meals for 4. I also made a pan of meatballs, which had enough leftovers for today AND tomorrow.
Did the grocery shopping today and hope to have enough fresh produce for the next week till delivery on Thursday evening. 
Planning:
Monday: leftover meatballs, potatoes and veggies (probably roasted cauliflower)
Tuesday: traybake with potatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, any other veggies and a piece of chorizo that I found in the fridge
Wednesday: Baked potatoes and bruxelles sprouts with bacon wrapped sausage (I love the bacon/sprouts combo)
Thursday: pasta dish which will take care of all leftover veggies in the fridge.

Lunches and breakfasts will take care of the leftovers, the pile of cereal or my freezer stash of bread.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 12, 2021, 04:20:31 PM
It will be another low buy week in the grocery department for us. I have a pork roast in the oven with some homemade apple cider, onion and a apple and a splash of white wine. It smells Divine. I am going to mash some winter squash and eat with some frozen garden green beans. The most harvest meal ever. Makes my heart happy.

For the rest of the week it will be using up some of the canning we did this season. I am going to make a black bean soup with some salsa verde and chicken. I will stuff some more winter squash and maybe some fish tacos. I also found a turkey in my freezer that I will cook up in the later part of the week.

Simple is the name of the game. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on December 12, 2021, 04:45:57 PM
I love all the recipe ideas in this thread. Thanks to all who contribute. (Even the "leftovers of xxx" are great ideas!)

Tonight: leftover stuffed peppers
Tomorrow: bean taco filling over leftover quinoa/black beans with tortilla chips
Tuesday: stuffed baked potatoes
Wednesday: finish up anything perishable before we drive to Texas on Thursday/Friday. Might be a weird dinner!

For the 24 hour road trip we're packing sandwiches and a lot of nibbles, including veggies, nuts, and random crackers and cheese. And a gallon jug of water. We'll sleep in the van at a rest stop and will have to get coffee on the second morning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 12, 2021, 06:26:06 PM
Week 2 completed!

Meals & snacks made:
-Tacos w/Corn Salad
-Tuna Noodle Casserole
-Blueberry Muffins
-Strawberry Jam
-Nachos
-Beef & Barley Soup
-Beer Bread
-Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients used up:
-Taco shells (1.5 expired boxes)
-Celery (last few stalks from a pack bought eons ago--did you know they keep a really long time wrapped tightly in tin foil?)
-Peas
-Tuna (2 expired cans)
-Veggie Pho (microwave packet, my son ate it up as a snack)
-Strawberries (last sad few)
-Lemon juice (last Tbsp)
-Ground beef (last 2 pkgs)
-Crushed tomatoes (half a can that had been tossed in the freezer)
-Collard greens (last tiny bit that was left in the freezer)
-Beer bread mix
-Hot dogs (half a package)
-Crescent rolls

All of the "expired" things were still safe to eat, of course.  But there are so many of them in the pantry!  Glad we're finally eating them down...

We've mostly finished eating all those meals.  There's just quite a bit of corn salad left (I was the only one eating it) plus a tiny bit of leftover spaghetti noodles from last Sunday : / (oops, I was going to fold it into a stir fry this week but that kept getting pushed out).

By my estimate we have another two solid weeks of meals covered.  It will definitely help December feel like a less over-indulgent month. (I mean, we're eating really well, we're just not wasting money or food.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 15, 2021, 07:44:14 AM
Love all of the progress in this thread!

-We had leftovers for dinner last night (Impossible burgers), although we still have a bunch of buns leftovers.
-Tonight's dinner will be fesenjan (Persian chicken stew with ground walnuts & pomegranate) over rice, leftover from the weekend.
-On the fence about tomorrow, as we are heading out of town for the weekend. I'm thinking frozen pizza, but if there are other leftovers available, we'll go with that.

I need to freeze the bananas that no one ate this week, and turns those into banana bread on another occasion. Otherwise, hoping for no shopping/or a very small shop next week to fill in before we head out of town for the holidays.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: parkerk on December 16, 2021, 11:13:22 AM
This thread is so much fun to read through.  I've recently started ordering a produce delivery from a place that provides a big box of random B-grade/surplus produce for cheap (credit to Zikoris for the recommendation!), and my goal has been to use everything as much as I can.  So not quite the same as eating down the entire pantry, but it's a similar idea of "what can I cook with what I have?"  This week the win I'm most proud of was making a big veggie curry for dinner one night, then using the leftover veggies the next night in ramen with some tofu added in.  Two delicious, healthy meals out of a head of cauliflower, some carrots and a big daikon that otherwise would have gone to waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 16, 2021, 11:46:18 AM
Here's a fun(?) challenge... I'm isolating at home, alone and sick, so I put in a contactless grocery order for some can't-deal-with-cooking prepared foods. I ordered a rich, creamy butternut squash puree soup, and my grocery delivery person subbed in a fat free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan potato leek soup which is basically potatoes blended in water with a little flavoring. They didn't even use vegetable stock. I will not upset you by telling you how much they charged me for it.

So: how would you rescue this, given that I have a mystery plague and can't go to the store? I have no milk or cream, but I have a little sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan, some boxed chicken stock... a few frozen veg (broc, cauli, corn, peas), various other pantry stuff but I can't think of what else might come in handy. If I were feeling better I might just make broccoli cheese soup and mix it in and pretend it never happened. :-P
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: parkerk on December 16, 2021, 12:14:53 PM
Here's a fun(?) challenge... I'm isolating at home, alone and sick, so I put in a contactless grocery order for some can't-deal-with-cooking prepared foods. I ordered a rich, creamy butternut squash puree soup, and my grocery delivery person subbed in a fat free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan potato leek soup which is basically potatoes blended in water with a little flavoring. They didn't even use vegetable stock. I will not upset you by telling you how much they charged me for it.

So: how would you rescue this, given that I have a mystery plague and can't go to the store? I have no milk or cream, but I have a little sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan, some boxed chicken stock... a few frozen veg (broc, cauli, corn, peas), various other pantry stuff but I can't think of what else might come in handy. If I were feeling better I might just make broccoli cheese soup and mix it in and pretend it never happened. :-P

Ugh the wrong soup when your sick is just the most unfair!  If it were me I'd grate some cheese and mix that and the sour cream with a bit of the chicken stock until it's melted and uniform, then mix in the Sad Soup, then put the veggies in and let it simmer until they're cooked.  Taste it and add salt and pepper and hopefully that will be enough to bulk it up and make it worth eating. 

Also, if it was very thin I might make a roux first to thicken it up.  Do you have butter and flour on hand? (This might admittedly be more effort than it's worth depending on how you're feeling).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 19, 2021, 05:46:50 PM
Sorry to hear about the disappointing soup, @Dollar Slice!  Hope you are feeling better now : )

We just completed Week 3.  Fewer meals cooked this time since the guys ordered Indian takeout one night, but we still got through quite a bit of pantry items.

Meals etc made:
- Stir Fry
- Instapot Drumsticks w/Mushroom Barley & Broccoli
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Tapenade
- Punch
- Hot Cocoa

I did buy mushrooms, a lemon, crackers, and ginger ale.   I was especially proud that we hosted a cookie swap party this week and I found recipes to use what we had. (Inc. a new tapenade recipe that skipped sundried tomatoes while using up my black olives & most of the capers)

Ingredients used up:
- Chicken drumsticks
- Chicken thighs
- Chicken tenderloins
- Red peppers
- Green pepper
- Cabbage
- Onion
- Broccoli
- Tater tots
- PF Chang sauce pack
- Rice noodles
- Barley
- Black olives
- Capers
- Cocoa

Thrown away: some corn salad from last week (did not get through that fast enough) and a little bit of raita from the Indian takeout. (I still have a couple of other sauces in the fridge which maybe we can eat...)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: CanadianTeacher on December 19, 2021, 08:06:23 PM
I'm going to join this challenge.

Starting with a pantry of canned peaches from last summer. I picked up a Ninja Creami recently (https://www.sizzleandsear.com/article/pacojet-alternative-ninja-creami-overview/) and it's been converting them into Sorbets. Anyone got any other ideas for canned peaches?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 19, 2021, 08:23:16 PM
Sorry to hear about the disappointing soup, @Dollar Slice!  Hope you are feeling better now : )

Thanks. And thanks to parkerk for the suggestions earlier. I'm starting to feel somewhat better, but have not yet tackled Sad Soup. When I took it out of the fridge to give it a shot, I found that it had separated into a dense potato-y layer and a thin watery layer and I was even more turned off than before. The expiration date gives me until the 23rd...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on December 20, 2021, 07:42:44 AM
@Dollar Slice can you call the contactless grocery store and get a refund? That substitution is so not even close . . . and if you got a refund, you could throw the soup away with good conscience.

Otherwise I'd probably freeze said soup and plan on using it as part of the base for a future veg soup of some kind. A veg soup with lots of tasty veg, like carrots and squash and leeks or onions and tomatoes and not broccoli or cabbage because too strong in such a soup. Does not help your being sick and need soup right now problem, but eating tasteless soup isn't the answer either.

I'm sorry you're sick.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 20, 2021, 11:13:41 AM
@CanadianTeacher, you can make a peach cobbler or peach crisp.  That's my plan for our jar of peaches : )
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on December 20, 2021, 05:50:08 PM
This morning I took out about 64 ounces of pureed garden tomatoes from the freezer and made a great spaghetti sauce today. I added tomato paste, ground cooked sausage, spices, salt, crushed red pepper, onion, sugar and other stuff. It simmered in a pot all day long. It thickened up and very tasty! Tomorrow, I will put it in the crockpot to simmer some more and we will have either ravioli or spaghetti with it. YUM! I have lots more tomatoes from the garden to use! This has freed up some space in my freezer which is great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 21, 2021, 11:23:53 AM
Mmmm... the homemade spaghetti sauce sounds delicious!

Meanwhile I have a fail.

I used up some of my WW flour by baking a loaf of bread, and it turned out really dry (https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/100-whole-wheat-sandwich-bread-recipe).  I like baking bread but I have *not* figured out how to make it with WW flour. (To be fair, this is only my second attempt.)

So now I have two dilemmas: (1) How to successfully make WW bread (anyone have recipes/tips?) and (2) What to do with an extremely dry loaf of bread : P  (Bread crumbs? I don't think it will be shelf-stable for long.  French toast?)

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on December 21, 2021, 03:59:16 PM
(1) How to successfully make WW bread (anyone have recipes/tips?) and (2) What to do with an extremely dry loaf of bread : P  (Bread crumbs? I don't think it will be shelf-stable for long.  French toast?)

Any ideas?

While I don't have any WW bread recipes specifically, this recipe for WW biscuits is a staple around our house:  https://anoregoncottage.com/amazing-whole-wheat-flaky-biscuits/

I make it often; we're a household of two so I freeze the leftovers and warm them up in a toaster oven.  We love them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 21, 2021, 09:22:47 PM
Thank you!  Looks like she has lots of good whole wheat recipes - I look forward to trying them out : d
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: parkerk on December 22, 2021, 02:23:36 PM
(2) What to do with an extremely dry loaf of bread : P  (Bread crumbs? I don't think it will be shelf-stable for long.  French toast?)

Any ideas?

I love french toast myself, but bread pudding is always a favourite in our house. Croutons are another you can do if you're planning to use them relatively soon.  And I definitely like to keep bread crumbs in the freezer.  I pre-butter them so I can use them on mac and cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on December 22, 2021, 03:31:49 PM
Happily joining!
Planning to start with an inventory of pantry, freezer and fridge.
Then planning to use up as much as possible in January. The big problem is the pantry!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on December 23, 2021, 10:27:20 PM
Well, #fail on the cleaning out the freezer, as I just got a side of beef from a local farmer!  So now my fridge is absolutely stuffed.  BUT a win, because I had a bag of "mystery meat" in there from a while back that my SIL had gotten from a friend that was a butcher.  I knew it was pork, but that's about it.  It was sitting there because I didn't know what it actually was.  Well, it wouldn't fit back in the freezer after rearranging to fit the beef.  Same with some "garbage soup," i.e. broth I had made out of some veggie scraps back whenever I did that.
So I thawed them both out, and tossed it all in the crockpot.  Turns out that the pork was the end ribs, and it turned out really good!  So yay for using up some old stuff, and also for it actually tasting good, despite not even knowing what it was when I put it in the crockpot. 
Now I have to see how I can do with Christmas the next couple of days...
Happy holidays, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on December 29, 2021, 03:02:01 PM
Always love to see the creativity of making meals here and using up everything. I need all the inspiration I can get!
Have any of you seen the Budget Eats series on the Delish Youtube channel? June is a master at using up anything and making inventive meals in her tiny kitchen. Here is the use up the pantry video https://youtu.be/XWfK_NG774w (https://youtu.be/XWfK_NG774w) but I recommend you start with this one if you haven't seen the series yet https://youtu.be/wAPH8D2AL8c (https://youtu.be/wAPH8D2AL8c) 'I Made 8 Dinners For Two People On A $25 Budget (In NYC!)' It's 52 minutes long but you can really see her thought process in using everything.

My simple kitchen is bigger than that, so I guess I have no excuse (although I'm not planning to get a vitamix and make my own flours).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on December 30, 2021, 06:31:44 AM
Thanks for the ideas, @parkerk!

I'm late posting, but on Sunday we finished Week 4.  We *still* have meat in the freezer : |  but are nearing the end.  Another 2 weeks maybe?  This felt like a week with less momentum, but we still managed to make progress, plus there were a couple of memorable meals.

Meals etc made:
- Fish w/potatoes & corn*
- Ham dinner**
- Pizza
- Nachos
- Whole wheat dinner rolls (still dry despite honey, butter, & milk! I am doing something wrong, y'all)
- Sugar cookies
- Gingerbread cookies

Ingredients used up:
- An ancient ham
- Beer-battered fish
- Expired mini pepperoni (last half bag, thank God)
- 2 expired wild rice mixes
- Last of the expired taco shells (broken up as nachos)
- Expired mashed potatoes (I see a trend...)
- Mexican cheese (an opened half bag)
- Guacamole (left over from someone's Qdoba run this week: I'm giving myself credit for deliberately finishing it)
- An acorn squash that sat on our table for decoration all fall
- Mushrooms
- Lots of whole wheat flour (albeit unsuccessfully on not-delicious breads.  My partner is still eating them, god bless him)

The two notable dinners:

* Fish w/potatoes & corn
I did *not* want to cook this night.  Not at all.  And I didn't want to think about pantry challenges.  I was tempted to just order food.  But then I remembered I had put a dead-simple menu on my plan: a "strictly warm things up" meal of frozen beer-battered fish fillets, instant mashed potatoes, and frozen corn.  I had fully intended this to be for one of the nights my son or partner cooked (we have a rotation), so they'd have an easy pantry option.  But it saved me!  Bonus: my partner was impressed I managed to "cook" dinner. (Neither of us felt like doing anything that night.)

**Ham dinner
I made a pantry Christmas dinner, y'all!  It was just to feed our immediate family, but still, I was proud.  We happened to have an ancient tiny ham in the freezer, a decorative squash, and wild rice mixes.  All I bought was green beans.  I even made dinner rolls and almost polished off the whole wheat flour.  My partner made a delicious glaze for the ham (mmm, maple & cloves). 

Now the only problem is that I have a huge amount of leftover ham! LOL.  I diced some and froze it: normally I wouldn't move food in and out of the freezer, but there's a specific https://therecipecritic.com/ham-and-potato-cheddar-soup/ (https://therecipecritic.com/ham-and-potato-cheddar-soup/) my stepdaughter likes that I planned to use this ham for, and people have been cooking other recipes since, so I didn't want it to spoil before I got to it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on December 30, 2021, 09:29:56 AM
I’m in for January/as long as it takes! We’re generally good about not hoarding food but we just had our second child earlier this month and the combination of people bringing us food plus our own freezer / pantry prep means there’s an overwhelming amount of food in the house right now. I’m struggling to keep track of what we have and what we can do with it.

Thankfully I got the husband on board that we’ll only buy perishables for a while, and only as needed (milk, eggs, yogurt, fruit, veggies.) Otherwise we’ll try to eat down the fridge and pantry. I expect we have enough snacks and chocolate to keep us through at least March (!) and  I’m interested see what we can wrangle out of the frozen meat and veggies. Hopefully we’ll have a nice low grocery spend in January!

Today’s small achievement: I made a peanut butter banana bread using up our old bananas and topped it with the last of a package of honey roasted peanuts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Beardog on December 31, 2021, 05:45:05 PM
Today I used some buckwheat noodles that I've had forever in the freezer and dried shitake mushroom that's been around for a long, long time in an Asian inspired soup.  I also used some parsley from my garden that I had frozen, as well as other frozen herbs in a Persian herb frittata called kuku sabzi. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 01, 2022, 11:06:24 AM
Psyche - If you're just trying to use up the WW flour (rather than mastering baking with WW) substitute 1/2 WW for 1/2 white flour in regular recipes.  Or look for recipes that are 1/2 and 1/2.  When I make pizza dough I use 1 cup of WW and 1 cup of white flour.  Often a bit more liquid is required when substituting WW.  Oregon Cottage has some 1/2 and 1/2 recipes including this one:

https://anoregoncottage.com/easy-artisan-bread/
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on January 02, 2022, 02:07:37 PM
Thank you, @Catbert!  That is a good idea.  I've finally gotten through the whole (old) bag of flour, so I'm looking forward to buying fresh flour soon and then trying bread again.

Meanwhile, we've wrapped up Week 5.

Meals/etc made:
- Macaroni & Meatballs
- Spicy Black Bean Bisque
- Ham Chowder
- Frittata
- Ham & Cheese Strata
- Cupcakes
- Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients used up:
- Ham (remainder from last week's roast)
- Bacon
- Green pepper
- Mushrooms
- Potatoes
- Cheddar
- Hummus & crackers (from last week's party)
- Canellini beans
- Creamed corn
- Bread
- Whole wheat flour (hallelujah!)

I was especially proud of the strata: proud that I remembered it as a great pantry clean-out and proud I was able to polish off so many odds & ends with it.  I tweaked the recipe I had to use up the last sliver of ham, the last slices of my dry whole wheat bread, the last bit of shredded cheddar left over from the chowder, and even some green onions lingering in the back of the fridge. Yumm...

My tweaks of the ham chowder recipe turned out tasty, too, to my relief.  I added our last can of cannelini beans and subsituted the frozen corn for a can of creamed corn.  I also used a little bag of chopped potato I had put in the freezer a couple of weeks ago precisely for this recipe. 

And one last culinary success, though not mine: My son made https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/geoffrey-zakarian/smoky-black-bean-bisque-2697008 (https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/geoffrey-zakarian/smoky-black-bean-bisque-2697008).  He had bought a can of chiles in adobo sauce literally years ago, for that specific recipe, and never cooked it.  I had actually considered giving the can away, because I've never used chiles before and couldn't find many recipes that called for them, plus each recipe only seemed to use a couple tablespoons.  I'm glad I kept it, though: turns out they are delicious!!  We gobbled up the soup, and I froze the remainder of the can in 2T cubes.  Now I just need to remember to use those : )

Happy new year and happy pantry-cleaning to all!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 02, 2022, 03:53:41 PM
It was a wild few weeks for us, but we're back & settling down again. A few updates:

-Used the remainder of last year's frozen cranberries in cranberry orange muffins. We have two bags of cranberries (from this year) to still work through. Cranberry muffins are my husband's favorite
-Ate the last of the frozen soup/lunches I'd prepped & organized in my freezer clean out a month or so ago
-My husband got COVID (he was asymptomatic, vaccinated & boosted), and quarantined at home. He did do one grocery delivery, but largely ate what was on hand, which helped worked through a few lingering items here.
-I had snacks from our NYE appetizer cheese tray for lunch the other day
-I had potato skins (with bacon, cheese & chiles) from our NYE dinner as breakfast 2x this week
-I gave away a gingerbread set I got for free at work, and wouldn't use before it went bad. Out of the house, and in the hands of neighbors who enjoyed it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 03, 2022, 02:02:45 AM
Holidays are over and pantry and freezer are FULL. So the clear out begins.
First goal is to make sure that I can turn off the second fridge in the shed. It now still has leftovers and some frozen meat in it, so this has to be cleared out (eaten) and then I have everything back in my regular kitchen fridge and freezer.

Planning for this week:
- Monday: potatoes, cauliflower and sausages
- Tuesday: leftover chinese takeout for the kids since we will have to attend a funeral
- Wednesday: baked potatoes, meat from the freezer (to be decided which) and frozen/canned/whatever veggies I can find in the fridge/pantry
- Thursday: pasta
- Friday: either burritos or some other meal I can think of using what we have in the fridge.

Breakfast and lunch will be whatever we have left in the fridge/freezer. I have seen bread, breakfast muffins, some bananas and there is enough cereal to get through the week. Since I have also started IF, no breakfast is needed for me (the teens are still at home, so they will help me get through all other items).
There are still more than enough snacks available. The pile of chocolate seems endless.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: parkerk on January 03, 2022, 01:23:22 PM
Dutch Comfort, I hear you on the chocolate supply!  Although it's not exactly a hardship for us to get through it.

I used a bunch of veggies hanging out in our crisper drawer to make this curry from Budget Bytes (replaced the frozen veggies with what I had on hand): https://www.budgetbytes.com/coconut-vegetable-curry/  I think this one's going to be a winner in the future when I've got stuff that just needs to go.  The sauce is easy and you can use virtually anything in it for the veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on January 03, 2022, 04:33:00 PM
During my furlough during Covid 1.5 years ago (can you believe it's been that long?), I cleaned out my pantry.  I had found things in there that I know were purchased by my now-ex-husband, and we'd been divorced 5+ years at that point!  So I've actually been pretty good about keeping that from getting over-full and wasting more food after I threw out so much stuff that day. 
My freezers, OTOH...
So, my goal for January is to use at least 1 "old" thing from my freezer every day.  Today, I dug around and found some frozen cherries, so I thawed a bowl out for breakfast to go with my eggs. We're already having leftovers for dinner tonight, so probably won't pull anything else out of the freezer. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 04, 2022, 05:41:06 AM
@FragglesRock666 : I think I will use your system, but then extend it to fridge/pantry and freezer.
So far:

Yesterday: Leftover takeout egg dish for lunch (YAY!). For dinner: fresh veggies (does not count), sausages from freezer (YAY!).
Today: breakfast from pantry items (always good, but no specific old things), leftover takeout noodles for 2p. lunch (YAY!), leftover pasta from freezer for 1p. lunch (YAY!). Dinner is TBD.... might be a quick pizza from a free package of pizza crust (wrong delivery, they delivered pizza crust while I ordered layered crust..... so I filed a complaint and got a refund and got to keep the pizza crust) and a small container of tomato sauce from freezer (that would be good) and some mozzarella / salami / bell peppers / unions from the fridge/pantry (would be good for the mozzarella since this is about to go bad).

My mum will be with the kids this afternoon while we attend the funeral, so I put out some fancy chocolate for her as a treat.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: kaleidoscopicalkris on January 05, 2022, 09:20:57 AM
I'm in for January, with my goal to eat down the stuff that's been languishing in my freezer. So far:

- Last frozen banana in a smoothie last night, along with 1 cup of frozen mixed berries. I have three different bags of frozen fruit that are all old, so I want them eaten so I can replace them with smaller bags of the fruit I like. This also used up a cup and a half of the new vegan milk I tried but didn't like plain.
- Last pumpkin bagel for breakfast today.

I have posted a list on my fridge of what's in my freezer, so hopefully I will actually remember what's in there. Once I've eaten that down a bit, I'll switch gears to focus on the pantry. I want to get the weird stuff eaten so I have space for my staples again, specifically eating down the protein powders so I can just have the one pea protein I like moving forward.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 05, 2022, 12:51:42 PM
I organized my pantry a bit, and it's much easier to find things:
-Tossed some stale (partially used) crackers
-Added a ton of random ingredients to a stuffed pepper recipe (used up the rest of the stale crackers as breadcrumbs, subbed the last of another sauce for worcestire, subbed parmesan for another cheese, etc)
-We had leftover curry & rice for dinner
-Ate more NYE cheese as a snack

I've been on the lookout for cauliflower rice (my husband avoid grains due to a food allergy), & it's been really difficult to find. A neighbor was giving a few packs away, but wanted one person to take all of her items. Ended up with chicken broth, mac & cheese, & a few baking mixes. I used up one package of cauliflower rice last night, and made the blueberry muffins right away. One of the kids has already started eating the muffins. The chicken broth will be easy to use. I'll have to make up the mac & cheese for the teens one afternoon. I don't need additional pantry items, so it will be important to rotate through this quickly!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 06, 2022, 02:30:03 AM
We're making progress: my husband already commented that he can already see the kitchen counter again.

Tuesday night: finished up the last carpaccio (fridge!) as a starter and made a pizza from the pizza crust (fridge), some mozzarella (fridge), some grated cheese (fridge) and some salami (fridge) and a can of mashed tomatoes (and some herbs from the pantry). This really gave room in the fridge!

Yesterday: brussels sprouts, meat from freezer and baked potatoes. Kids and husband indulged on leftover christmas chocolate as snack. I took care of the last tangerines from 2021 which were still in the kitchen.

Today: pasta. I checked the pantry and found 3 packages of pasta (while I thought I had only 1.....). So one of them will be used today, together with some ground beef from the freezer and the remainder of the mashed tomatoes and a package of spiced tomatoe sauce. And add a cucumber/tomatoe salad and a glass of red wine (as an open bottle is still on the kitchen counter, so I need to make sure this does not go to waste!) as a side.
Kids need to work on the remaining bread buns and crackers for lunch. I might heat up a can of hotdogs I found in the pantry while looking for the pasta to go with the breadbuns as lunch.

Tonight some groceries will be delivered so things will be back to normal when the kids restart the school days on Monday!
Further, I have 2 brown bananas in the kitchen, so I think a bunch of oatmeal/banana/mixed nut muffins need to be made tonight and frozen for school snacks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 06, 2022, 11:50:03 AM
Happy New Year, everyone!

After three weeks of way too many snacks, baked goods, etc., I am glad the holidays have concluded.  When putting away Christmas decorations las weekend, I discovered a very black banana hiding behind things on the main kitchen counter.  I knew it was time, LOL.

~Unopened holiday snack cakes and popcorn went home with the neighbor children
~To DH's shop, I sent more unopened holiday snacks, homemade cookies, and a bag of white truffles gifted to me
~We snacked on leftover charcuterie items during a few football games, and I brought the rest to the office for lunches
~We had so much leftover ham!  We had some in an omelet, and I froze the rest.
~Leftover sweet rolls were used for breakfast sandwiches
~I sent my family home with 3 containers of the poundcake I made
~Froze a small loaf of gifted homemade bread we didn't get to

Meals lately (Santa brought me an air fryer per my request):
~Burger bites-used up some gifted to us butter pickles
~Chicken and veggies-used up a yellow squash and zucchini, and a bag of frozen broccoli
~I made mini skewers for lunch consisting of romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, salami, and cheddar
~Cauliflower pizza-I doctored it up with the rest of the entertaining salami and half bag of mozzarella pearls
~This weekend I'll wrap up little smokies in leftover crescent rolls and freeze the remaining smokies.
~Breakfast sandwiches will be made out of the unopened can of crescent rolls
~Late next week I'll focus on serving leftovers from the freezer which will include enchiladas and chili
~Similar to last January, we have a bit of leftover frozen appetizers which I'll incorporate into game day snacks

Produce drawer:
1 zucchini
1 yellow squash
Small bag romaine
Portobello mushrooms
An eggplant

Because of last month's overflow and abundance, I expect to have a $100 grocery bill this month instead of the usual $300+.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on January 06, 2022, 04:41:59 PM
I've been doing pretty good with the "1 old thing from the freezer each day" goal, sadly today will be the exception.  BUT I still feel pretty good about my progress today, since I have so far eaten the last of a curry from this last weekend with my last egg for breakfast.  And I also ate the last of a dish with pasta and fish that I'd pulled from the freezer and cooked on Tuesday.  For dinner, I'm going to be cooking some root veggies I got from my CSA 2 weeks ago to go with the chicken I'm roasting.  Basically the only thing I bought this week was the chicken, the rest I have already had.  And the fridge will be less stuffed, and less likely to miss something before it goes bad. 
I think I'll look in the freezer tonight or tomorrow and see what I can pull out and plan tomorrow's dinner around that. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 06, 2022, 05:33:55 PM
First, a "eat all the food" chuckle from my house. I have a reasonably picky teen. The rule is that, if he doesn't like the dinner I've made, he's in charge of finding something else suitable. He was not a fan of meatloaf last night, so I suggested that he make a taco out of the taco meat I'd defrosted. He makes the taco (tortilla, meat, cheese) & after a few bites says... what is this? It's not taco meat. Turns out that it was Korean beef. When I was organizing the freezer, I spotted the container, labeled it as taco meat, & went on my merry way. He was unimpressed with the "Korean beef taco", but did finish it. Tonight we're having actual tacos, and my husband will be finishing up the leftover Korean beef. ;-)

The kids/husband are going skiing tomorrow, so I used up a jar of marinara & meatballs (freezer), added spices, & prepped their dinner for Saturday. Picked up bread & a bagged salad & they will be good to go. I also sent breakfast fixings & snacks. They will eat lunch on the mountain, but otherwise, this will get them through the weekend.

On my weekend list (I'm staying home & reveling in the gloriousness of a quiet house), i'm going to make soup to restock the freezer, prep meals for the week, do some cleaning & organizing, work out & anything else that sounds appealing!

I also finished off the last of the Trader Joes dried pineapple, but I'm unconvinced that's a positive, as I finished it in just a few days & love it dearly. It's no hardship to eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 06, 2022, 05:56:03 PM
After a few months of shockingly high grocery bills, we're greatly reducing convenience foods/frozen meals and generally focusing on eating all of our existing food.  We made a meal plan for a week's worth of dinners and only needed to buy chicken fingers!  (And those, only to have a "fun" meal so that my SO will be happy skipping takeout.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 06, 2022, 07:11:36 PM
Totally emptied the pantry today to take inventory, pitching the couple of items that I've had forever and finally came to terms with the fact that we won't eat them (plus they were past date, not that that usually matters with canned goods but . . .) Along the way made note of possible meal combinations. I like @FragglesRock666 idea of "one item a day" - thanks!

Tonight we had sweet/sour veggies with garbanzo beans (using 1 can pineapple, 1 can garbanzo beans) over rice. Not the paella or arborio rice, though. Gotta figure out using those up (not huge risotto fans here.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 07, 2022, 12:55:31 AM
.......... Not the paella or arborio rice, though. Gotta figure out using those up (not huge risotto fans here.)

You can use the arborio rice to create a nice rice dessert (grandma recipe!):
Cook 100gr of arborio rice in 500 ml of milk for 15-30 minutes. Keep stirring!!!!!!
Add a teaspoon of vanilla, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt.

Eat as dessert either hot or cold. Add some cinnamon / raisins / walnuts..... whatever you like....
(my preference is to eat it hot with cinnamon and some additional suger........ my absolute feel-good dessert in winter)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 07, 2022, 07:10:33 AM
.......... Not the paella or arborio rice, though. Gotta figure out using those up (not huge risotto fans here.)

You can use the arborio rice to create a nice rice dessert (grandma recipe!):
Cook 100gr of arborio rice in 500 ml of milk for 15-30 minutes. Keep stirring!!!!!!
Add a teaspoon of vanilla, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt.

Eat as dessert either hot or cold. Add some cinnamon / raisins / walnuts..... whatever you like....
(my preference is to eat it hot with cinnamon and some additional suger........ my absolute feel-good dessert in winter)

Ooooh thanks! DH loves rice pudding and I've never made it. Sweet!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 07, 2022, 11:27:03 AM
Today lunch: kid 1 finished leftover pasta, kid 2 had a friend over and they finished the remaining bread buns with a can of hotdogs.
Finally made the oatmeal muffins tonight, using up the brown bananas and used some staples from the pantry (nuts, oatmeal and leftover soy milk).
Now I found some lemons which are becoming wrinkled, so looking for quick recipes……

Dinner used some meat from the freezer. Just 2 items remaining before I can shut off the second fridge…….
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 07, 2022, 12:19:14 PM
On lemons:
Lemon squares
Or even just zest (make lemon sugar!) and then juice - and store said juice in freezer. I like doing that in an ice cube tray, as 1 cube is approx 2 TBS and just right to liven up dishes or make salad dressing
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 07, 2022, 12:48:41 PM
I second the juicing and storing the lemons!  That's what I do with them and limes during the summer, so we have "fresh" juice throughout the winter for cooking and cocktails.

@MaybeBabyMustache, enjoy your peaceful bliss!

Now that there is some breathing room in the fridge, I noticed we have a lot of jarred items:  Dill pickle spears, bread and butter pickles and spicy green beans from a neighbor, artichokes, a jar of pickle juice (for muscle cramps), a huge jar of large pickles, green olives, minced garlic, two types of preserves, etc.  A lot of those jars are nearly empty, so I'll incorporate them into lunch snacks next week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 07, 2022, 02:19:07 PM
I made meatball soup today, & used up a bunch of things:
-Meatballs that have been in the freezer since I don't know when
-A container of tomato sauce (also in the freezer for a long time)
-1/3 of a jar of marinara sauce
-Chicken broth given to me by a neighbor
-2 boxes of opened pasta (just a bit in each)
-A chunk of tomato that was in the fridge

I also continued my slow & steady pantry organization, & tossed a tiny amount of breadcrumbs that have long since expired.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 07, 2022, 04:33:40 PM
Tmrw hubby is working on his side gig/side project for most of the day. The preteen and I are going to be eating leftovers. I have some chili and beef and mushroom soup, and a bunch of other odds and ends in the fridge. The preteen will fuss about leftovers but I think if I get out the tortilla chips she wont fuss about the chili too much.

This next weeks goal is to not buy much other than some fruit. Next couple of weeks are really busy and i just do not want to deal with going to the store much at all.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 08, 2022, 03:30:54 PM
I'm in  a real home ec kind of mood, with the kids off skiing with my husband. I'm making the most of the time.

-Made muffins with the bananas about to go bad on the counter + 1 bonus freezer banana
-Took apart a rotisserie chicken from Costco. Making broth from the bones now, and once that's done, I'm making a white chicken chili soup
-The rest of the rotisserie chicken is going into chicken taquitos (for the freezer, and potentially one meal this week)
-I made up a fajita spice mix, and took three pounds of chicken & added them to the spices + oil. Separated into three separate dinners worth & into the freezer they go
-I have three pounds of chicken in the crockpot for chicken taco meat, which will go into the freezer.
-Made a huge batch of cookie dough, formed the balls & put them in the freezer for easy dessert for the kids

Meatball soup from yesterday was fantastic. Had it for dinner last night, & lunch today. The rest is in the freezer for easy lunches.

Tomorrow I'll be making chicken & dumplings in the crockpot, which generates plenty of lunch options for the freezer. The freezer, however, will now be packed with prepped food. It's a great problem to have, but it's going to require master class level of organization.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 10, 2022, 11:00:24 AM
Well, my chicken taco meat ran into a bit of a problem. I had cayenne pepper out for the fajita mix, and inadvertently grabbed that instead of taco seasoning. 2 tbsp of cayenne pepper vs 2 tbsp of taco seasoning.... At first, I kept trying to adjust the spices, but once I figured out what I'd done, I instead rinsed the chicken numerous times, re-added the other ingredients, and then added a bit of lime & agave, to dial back the remaining spices. I managed to salvage it, but it was a lot of work!

I also used stale cereal from the pantry to make this recipe. https://www.budgetbytes.com/no-bake-pretzel-peanut-butter-bars/ Delicious! Most went into the freezer, but I kept a few in the fridge for the teens.

I fed the kids dinner when they got home from skiing, and used up more of the naan bread in the fridge. I finished off the sourdough bread, but I'm not sure if that's a real "win", as I love sourdough.

For the week ahead:
-Use up all chicken/freeze remaining. We need to make room in the freezer before I tackle this! Creating room in the freezer is a top priority right now.
-Make chicken tikka masala out of some of the fresh chicken. If I was confident everyone would like the recipe, I'd double it, but it's my first time making it, so I'll start with a single batch.
-Finish off the taco meat (dinner tonight) & bagged salad. I'll have my taco over the salad.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 10, 2022, 01:50:11 PM
Last night I started focusing on the jarred items.  Spicy green beans went into DH's lunch today.  I brought stuffed green olives and the remaining 3 pickle spears to the office for my lunches.  Next, I'll package up some of the spicy pickles and/or the bread and butter pickles for DH's lunches later this week.  Here's to more empty jars for storage purposes!

I finally addressed the back pantry and organized it and took inventory.  I'm glad I did because there were cans of tomato paste hiding on the shelf, and a bag of 5 different canned tomato varieties on the floor from last month's grocery shop.  I put those into the kitchen pantry rotation and removed them from this month's grocery list.

I made "clean out the produce drawer" smoothies for brunch yesterday which used up a small bag of sad frozen raspberries, "fresh" blueberries, strawberries and baby spinach which were on their last leg, a can of coconut milk, a bit of honey, vanilla extract, a few dashes cinnamon, and a tsp of flax seed.

An afternoon snack plate consisted of a few remaining romaine leaves, 2 slices deli chicken, and leftover mozzarella pearls and cherry tomatoes.

DH used 6 cups of sourdough bread mix to make three loaves yesterday.  He also baked up the remaining 2 of 3 potatoes last night.

My newest food focus is the abundance of homegrown sun-dried tomatoes a friend from CA sent me:

Tonight:  Sun-dried tomato chicken with air fried stuffed mushrooms on the side.  And, if it is still good, I'll mash up the remaining avocado into guacamole.
Tues:  Creamy sun-dried tomato cod with riced cauliflower and air fried eggplant fries.
Wed:  Patty melts which will use up leftover onions from Saturday's air fryer onion rings, with a side of Budget Bytes one pot creamy sun-dried tomato pasta.  Sauteed yellow squash and zucchini will be on the side.
Thurs:  Enchiladas from the freezer with leftover riced cauliflower.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on January 10, 2022, 07:58:22 PM
Got some kiwi fruit from my sister around Christmas and finally cut them into pieces and froze them for smoothies.

Instead of going out to buy frozen raspberries I decided to use up the frozen cherries from the garden together with the kiwi fruit first (really do like raspberries better though).
Started using frozen banana halves in the smoothies.

Just before going out to buy salad for a taxi salad dinner my neighbours son brought salad, bok choy and celery root. They have a relative who works for a supermarket chain testing fresh produce at their lab and they get a variety of produce that way (and sometimes share with us :)

We have so many spices that one of my priorities is to use a lot of them this year.

I made vegan peanut blondies using a very simple recipe that uses no flower but white beans and brought it to dinner at  a friends house last weekend. Our youngest daughter and their youngest need to eat gluten free and everyone really enjoyed the dessert. Used peanut paste ( is it still peanut butter when nothing has been added? Or would you call it paste like I did?) from the pantry.

Made cup sized tea portions in tea bags from all the loose tea we have been given throughout the year and for Christmas. My husband now uses them daily but if they are not portioned he will usually use the store bought preportioned variety and we end up with a pantry full of loose tea.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 11, 2022, 09:20:41 AM
Cleaned out the pantry last saturday. Very satisfying to see that I did not have to toss that many items. Now everything is back in the pantry and it looks nice.
Planned some lunches and dinners around the current stash of goodies, trying to use at least 1 item a day from our inventory (freezer or pantry):

Sunday dinner: roasted ham from the freezer with fresh veggies and baked potatoes
Yesterday: kids started the bread supply from the freezer and some cereal got eaten!
Today lunch: nicoise salad, using up veggies from the fridge, a can of tuna that I found in the pantry and a can of lentils.
Tomorrow: hoping that kids will continue their bread/cereal breakfast/lunches
Thursday dinner: burritos, using up veggies from the fridge, a can of corn, kidney beans and edamame-beans from the pantry.

This will give me more space.

Kids are working their way through the snack pile and I'm planning dinners around the freezer stash. We should get there in a few weeks time, because the freezer is needing a defrosting round!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 11, 2022, 09:44:11 AM
Progress continues, with a focus on using up as much from the freezer as possible:
-Made the kids fruit smoothies as a snack, using up some of our freezer fruit & two bananas
-Had tacos for dinner, using up about 1/2 of the meat
-Finished the bagged salad
-My husband had the remaining Korean beef over cauliflower rice
-I had white chicken chili for lunch, & then defrosted a container of meatball soup for lunch today

Tonight will be homemade taquitos, and my husband will likely have salmon. Tomorrow will be chicken tikka masala, which will use up the last package of fresh chicken. The rest is wedged into the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 11, 2022, 12:45:35 PM
Last night's chicken dish not only used some of the sun-dried tomatoes, but also a leftover container of a parmesan pork rind blend I made for breading purposes, as well as the remaining pint of half and half.

I stuffed the two portobello mushrooms with 2/3 of a can of salmon and brought the remaining 1/3 to the office with me to enjoy on top of the remaining romaine leaves.

Last night I poured the remaining holiday M & M's into a container so DH could pack them in his lunch, and I can now wash the candy dish and put it away.  Other than the fruit holder, the main kitchen is clear of food except for about a 1/4 of the holiday spice cake our neighbor gave us, a few more pieces in the box of See's candy, and the bag of granola set out to remind me to eat the remaining one serving.  I dislike counter clutter.  ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on January 11, 2022, 01:57:54 PM
Nice work, MountainGal!

We finished Week 6.  I am amazed we've been able to go this long without buying meat... But the current week (7) will likely be the last of that.  (I guess we did buy one bag of meatballs for a sleepover in week 5.)

Meals/etc made:
-Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
-Salmon Piccata
-Baked Macaroni
-Gingerbread Cookies

Used up:
-Salmon
-Boca burgers
-Meatballs
-Tofu
-Sushi rice
-WW spaghetti
-Lemon
-Capers
-Mozzerella
-Nutella
-Crisco

Most proud of:
There were two ancient veggie burgers in the freezer that no one was ever going to eat.  I convinced my SO to break them up & use them as "ground beef" in a baked macaroni recipe--which also allowed us to knock out the mozzarella and make a dent in both our big box of macaroni and the leftover spaghetti sauce I stashed in the freezer last week : )

Would I choose to do that again? No, but it was palatable and we ate something that otherwise would have languished till it was thrown away!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 11, 2022, 01:59:39 PM
I have found a use for all of the fridge door things. I was able to get some pork roast for 1.88 a pound. I plopped it into my crockpot, added a bunch of cut up veggies that my preteen decided that she refused to eat them because they looked dry, a bunch of random seasonings from my spice cabinet and random from the fridge door. Almost all of the home pickled jalapenos I did 3 years ago a iffy onion, some mustard some hot sauce. Over all it smells wonderful and should feed us for 2 to 3 nights.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 11, 2022, 03:51:04 PM
Well done, @Psyche - I'm currently eating meatball soup, which is delicious, but the meatballs themselves (pre-made Costco batch) no one would eat as they are a little on the sweet side. Maybe a teriyaki flavor. Anyway, it's not my favorite, but it's avoiding waste & it's working out.

@seemsright  - that is an awesome clean out the fridge meal! Well done.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 11, 2022, 06:34:42 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache if you have more of those meatballs to use up, maybe try something like a beef lettuce wrap (crumble them up). Slightly sweet teriyaki-kind of flavor would work well there.

Tonight: pork chops from the freezer with roasted veggies (used up the lone sweet potato) and leftover quinoa from the other night.
Tomorrow I'll get fresh fish and make a rice "bar" or Gado Gado kind of thing (rice and various veggies, with a sesame/ginger/garlic dressing.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 11, 2022, 08:02:23 PM
@SailingOnASmallSailboat - luckily, this was the last portion of those meatballs! Never to be purchased again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 12, 2022, 10:14:39 AM
I could turn off the second freezer today! Felt really good, since it is an oldie and using so much electricity.....
So now it is back to 1 freezer, 1 fridge and 1 pantry!

Today: kids had their lunchboxes filled with sandwiches (bread from freezer, cheese/meat/salad from fridge) and oatmeal/banana muffins from the freezer. I had a big salad which took care of the remaining tuna (fridge), all kinds of veggies (fridge), some sundried tomatoes (open container and needed to be used soon!) and a small can of chick peas (pantry) which was almost at due date so lingering way too long in the pantry.
For snacks, everybody is still munching on the Christmas chocolate....... will we have finished this before we start Easter chocolate?????

Dinner is pasta, since all sports this evening

Dinner tomorrow will be burritos (wraps, canned veggies/beans from pantry, fresh veggies from fridge, a pot of sour cream from fridge and some grated cheese from old cheese leftovers from fridge, chicken from freezer). Always a good dish to use up all kinds of bits and pieces!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 12, 2022, 01:49:39 PM
Thank you, @Psyche!  You are doing very well yourself!

@SailingOnASmallSailboat, I had to look up Gado Gado.  All variations sound delicious.

@Dutch Comfort, congratulations on the freezer!  I did that years ago with an old extra fridge/freezer and it shaved of $20 a month off our electricity bill.

DH ate the rest of the spice cake this morning, I had the remaining two pieces of See's chocolate last night and will eat the rest of the granola for Friday's breakfast with a bit of almond milk.

DH decided he wants takeout pizza tonight, so I'll make the planned patty melts next week, and tomorrow cook up the remaining yellow squash and zucchini with the enchiladas from the freezer.  Leftover olives will go on top of the enchiladas, as well as a few dollops of sour cream from the HUGE container DH bought last month.  I'll pull the container of ham and beans from the freezer so DH can eat it during my absence this weekend.

The fridge will now be cleared out enough for a good scrub tonight, and for groceries next week.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the 5 boxes of cream cheese leftover from last month's holiday baking, LOL.  Should be fun to work with them in the next few weeks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on January 13, 2022, 12:18:31 PM
This week so far hasn't been quite as good about using things from my freezer, but I *was* able to pull one of the containers we use for organizing my chest freezer out as I had used the last ham hock from that bin in ham-and-beans, which also used up the last of the ham-ham I'd cooked over the weekend.  Also, I had just a touch of chicken left from roasting this weekend, so I pulled an andouille sausage out of the freezer and used some of the "garbage soup" + cajun seasonings to make rice, and mixed it all together with some fried bell peppers I'd had in the fridge.  The sausage + leftover chicken was *just* the right amount of meat for the dinner.  And apparently folks enjoyed it, because I had zero leftovers from that meal.  All gone in one fell swoop!
Last night I did NOT feel like dealing with anything, so pasta out of the pantry.  The tomato sauce counted as vegetables. 
Tonight is going to be grilled cheese and tomato soup.  I actually bought everything for this meal except one of the 2 boxes of soup at the grocery this week, so this is a complete "clean things out" fail, but I've been craving this for several weeks, it's easy, and I know everyone else will love it, too.  Knowing this, I pulled more frozen cherries out for breakfast this morning, so at least there's that! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 13, 2022, 01:53:34 PM
@Dutch Comfort - very envious of your freezer progress. Nice work!

-Finished off all homemade taquitos in a dinner, and made progress on a tub of guacamole
-I'm having a protein smoothie for lunch, which used a freezer banana, frozen mangoes, protein powder & water. Delicious, & we have so many bananas on hand.
-I made a chicken tikka masala recipe. Didn't love it, but it's fine. It made leftovers, so we need to eat or freeze those.
-Tonight we're having gyozas. A friend gave us two freezer bags recently, so it will be good to get some of those out.

Tomorrow I'll make meatballs in a marinara sauce, as well as garlic butter. Both for taking on an overnight ski trip. Add a loaf of bread, bagged salad & pasta & it's an easy to transport & prep post ski dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on January 13, 2022, 10:49:16 PM
Just finished off a large glass bottle of apple cider vinegar today in a homemade salad dressing. I'm moving in two to three months so am in a phase of trying to eat down my pantry in earnest.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 14, 2022, 07:10:05 AM
Last night ate some gnocchi and truffle pasta sauce I'd bought as a "try to see how it is". OMG disgusting. As in, throw out the rest because there's no way we're eating any more of it. As in, can't finish dinner because it's so gross. The gnocchi by themselves weren't bad but not good enough to buy again.

2 more things out of the pantry, though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 14, 2022, 09:26:17 AM
Today we will finish the last of the green veggies, some chicken from the freezer and some frozen baked potatoes.
Groceries were delivered yesterday and I was proud that everything fitted in the regular freezer and fridge!

Tomorrow is leftover-Saturday. We usually eat something easy which is in the freezer, leftovers from the fridge or we just make an omelet/burger/whatever is on hand
Sunday will probably be homemade lasagna for which groceries were delivered yesterday.
Also try to make a nice beef-stew on Sunday (as I will have time to do this and I found the beef for this in the freezer) which will then serve as dinner for a couple of more days next week!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2022, 09:32:27 AM
-Finished a bag of gyozas & wings from the freezer for dinner last night, which freed up some space
-Tonight we're having leftover chicken tikka masala & rice
-I'll have a freezer soup for lunch, with cheese & crackers leftover from NYE
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2022, 08:10:47 PM
-We had chicken tikka masala for dinner & froze three leftover servings for lunches
-Finished the naan bread (picky eater had them with plain chicken)
-Used the rest of a bag of mangoes & a freezer banana in a smoothie

All freezer progress was negated of the addition of three containers of chicken masala being added ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on January 15, 2022, 03:51:20 AM
We are making some progress, slowly but surely.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 16, 2022, 09:13:40 AM
Yesterday I concumed the second of the three jars of pickled vegetables. One left to go.

I threw away a very old squeeze bottle of sausage mustard that was not all empty, because it was leaking and thus not airtight anymore. And I have been in doubt about it for years. I am the only person at home who eats mustard on sausages and I eat it seldom. I should rather used the smaller jars of other mustard that we also have for other purposes when I want it on my sausage.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on January 17, 2022, 04:52:33 PM
I had bought a side of beef recently.  While straightening out the freezer to accommodate the new meat, I had a few bits and pieces from the last side we had bought.  So yesterday, I cooked an English roast from the older side for dinner.  Along with a handful of smaller winter squash that needed to be cooked up and eaten, and my last bag of frozen zucchini from this last summer.  So that's 2 things from the freezer all at once!
I am sad that the veggies I put up for winter are all gone except for several bags of frozen whole tomatoes.  Oh, and some beets.  Though I have new fresh beets to cook up this week, too. 
Lunch and dinner today will be leftovers. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2022, 03:37:32 PM
We went skiing this weekend, & largely brought our own food with us, which worked out well. We made some progress on other items:
-Finished off two of the "fancy" cheeses we bought for NYE
-I made PB&Js for ski lunches, and those were all quickly consumed by hungry teens, as well as a bonus protein bar no one will ever eat in regular circumstances. Skiing makes you really hungry, I suppose.
-Used up the last of some shredded cheddar & extra bread from the PB&Js to make grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch before we left on Saturday
-I've defrosted leftovers for dinner, as we got home late last night & I didn't do any new cooking this weekend. We'll be having a Persian chicken/walnut/pomegranate flavored dish over rice. My husband will have his portion over the last of some cauliflower rice in the freezer
-A hungry teen ate pizza leftovers for breakfast, so that's one container out of the fridge
-I found one last pomegranate (from our tree) & took that apart, so we can use the arils on top of the dinner for tonight. The fresh pomegranate seeds really add a ton of flavor, but I wasn't willing to buy a pomegranate just for that. Luckily, there was one lurking in the back of the fridge

And, I brought almost exactly the perfect amount of food on our ski weekend. The cooler came back nearly empty, and other than a small bag of leftover snacks, everything was consumed. Woohoo! I love the efficiency of that type of packing & planning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 18, 2022, 03:46:39 PM
I went out of town over the weekend and ate the rest of the bag of snack mix, two beef and cheddar packages from my Christmas stocking, and a half bag of jerky.  In addition to the complimentary hotel breakfast, this meant I only paid for three restaurant meals.

I gave the fridge interior a good scrubbing in anticipation of this evening's grocery order.  Suppers for the next week (still focusing on the dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes):

Last night:  Canned chicken, the remaining diced black olives, the last of the Kerrygold cheddar wedge, and some BBQ sauce went on top of the last Caulipower pizza crust.  On the side was sauteed yellow squash and zucchini, and a one pot creamy sun-dried tomato pasta dish found on Budget Bytes.
Tonight: Cobb salads which will use up some of the sunflower seeds DH bought last month, and most of the remaining package of bacon
Wed: Salmon in a sun-dried tomato sauce with shrimp and veggies on the side
Thurs:  The patty melts I didn't get to last week and fries cooked in the air fryer using the remaining two potatoes (I mistakenly thought these were all gone) from the holidays. 
Fri:  Take out from?
Sat:  Chicken and shrimp teriyaki stir-fry to use some of the teriyaki sauce
Sun:  Grill/smoke something with shirataki basil pesto (we have a huge bag of walnuts to utilize) pasta on the side

For snacks next weekend, I'll make a dip to utilize the rest of the sad bottled artichokes.

The produce drawer is now empty except for a bit of sliced onion which will be used Thursday.  Here's to more fresh produce this evening.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on January 19, 2022, 07:25:46 AM
Today I used up an old bag of carrots plus some ginger, garlic, bullion, and miso paste making carrot soup. Now we’re down to daikon, green onions, and fresh ginger in the veggie drawer. Time to make plans to use our frozen veggies and winter squash from the cellar. I’m determined to not buy any additional veggies until the weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rosy on January 19, 2022, 09:23:32 AM
Joining for as long as it takes - anywhere from two to three months.
So far cleaned the big fridge and used up everything I could, only send one cabbage to the garden compost and stuck the green onion roots into the garden for more fresh green onions.
Double-checking the two small fridge(s) today.
Already replenished the produce - having steamed cauliflower and steamed potatoes with smoked pork chops tonight.

Inventory is up next:
Pantry, emergency supplies and food, water and general household item storage. I've tried to use the oldest first, we'll see how well it worked out this year.
That will take a while.

Meanwhile, I am working my way through the freezer(s). I will not let anything go down to bare-bones but I will reduce by 20% and replace the rest.
Tomorrow I'll start on the small freezer and plan my meals accordingly - until I'm done, then it is on to the mini freezer:).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 19, 2022, 10:32:03 AM
Made good progress on freezer meals yesterday, and another teen had leftover pizza for dinner.

Plans for the next few days:
-Meatball soup (freezer) for lunch
-Finish off remaining bread
-Use leftover rice with tikka masala (freezer)
-Make a protein to go with yakisoba noodles & veggies (dinner tonight)

I may need to freezer the bagels & leftover sandwich bread, so they don't go bad before we get to them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 19, 2022, 11:23:50 AM
Had a good few days:

Monday: beef stew with fresh veggies and potatoes
Tuesday: beef stew with more fresh veggies and baked potatoes
Today: sausages from freezer, canned veggies and fries from freezer
Tomorrow: pasta
Friday: spinach/mashed potatoe/egg oven dish

Still have beef stew leftovers, so I will make a nice goulash tonight (adding bell peppers, carrots, unions and canned tomatoes) and freeze this for a future quick dinner. Also have some brown bananas, but also noticed that the banana-oatmeal muffins from the freezer are mysteriously disappearing (blame the teens), so it might be time for another batch!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 19, 2022, 11:36:33 AM
Welcome to the thread, @Rosy.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Rosy on January 19, 2022, 04:08:17 PM
Welcome to the thread, @Rosy.  :)

Thx:) - Thanks for the reminder about the walnuts, I still have some from X-mas baking - I think I'll use those with the chicken breasts in the freezer.
Maybe bake an apple cake with walnuts over the weekend.
Then next week I could make dessert - a Southern caramelized (praline) peach with walnuts with a splash of Grand Marnier. 

I just realized that I have older soups I could have used for the last big batch, but I am partial to beef parley soup.
But OK, it is supposed to get cold again this weekend - so I'll do a potato and celery combo using the leftover ham in the freezer and whatever else appeals or needs to be used.
Mr. R. is lobbying for Chili - if it stays cold long enough I will make a batch.

So tomorrow may become pasta night since I have frozen meatballs and some truly good Parmesan cheese. Quick and simple - just the way we like it.
I like parsley in Italian-style dishes and I have enough in the garden to use both fresh parsley and fresh (strong flavor) garlic chives).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 21, 2022, 02:08:09 AM
Just made the first batch of banana-oatmeal-nut muffins...... these things are delicious when right out of the oven. As 1 of the teens is in quarantine right now, she is getting a few to snack on. Think I need a second batch as well, since I do not expect that these will make it to the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on January 21, 2022, 06:05:15 AM
made cheaterr chicken curry - used up the last jar of Tikka masala simmer sauce and the last red pepper. Leaving a fridge/freezer stocked with cooked food for DH while I'm away for the next 10 days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 23, 2022, 01:06:33 PM
Made lunches for the teens. They are normally on their own, but when I make lunch, I use up all of the "need to go" items. ;-)
-Made fruit smoothies, x2. Used up bananas, apple juice that's been lingering in the fridge, two garden strawberries, & frozen fruit
-Made two boxes of Trader Joes mac & cheese that came with a Buy Nothing item I really wanted. It was a "take all of this" type of thing.
-Used up the rest of the sandwich bread in grilled cheese sandwiches

We've also made progress on other lingering items:
-I wrapped up the last of the soba noodles for lunch
-The picky teen had a bagel with his chicken, as he doesn't like coleslaw
-Coleslaw was made to use up the last of the whipping cream (it actually calls for heavy cream, but the whipping cream was unsweetened, and worked just fine)
-Got a bag of coconut shrimp out of the freezer, by serving it with noodles earlier in the week
-Tonight we're having chicken fajitas, which will use up chicken in fajita marinade (freezer), opened containers of cheese & sour cream, and tortilla shells.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Psyche on January 23, 2022, 06:07:22 PM
We made coleslaw this week, too, @MaybeBabyMustache!  (As for the cream, I believe heavy and whipping are synonymous.)

I had a slight wrist injury a couple of weeks ago, so no posting or cooking for a while : P  Now I'm reporting on weeks 7 & 8.  While I was out of the kitchen we ordered a lot of takeout. (I'm technically only on cooking duty once a week, but I guess no one was in a mood to cook.)  We still managed to make some meals and eat some things down—including, amazingly, the last of our freezer meat!  Farewell, tilapia, you were delicious.

Now I've started to restock the freezer (with meats we'll actually eat, God willing).  We are still in the challenge because we're not yet done with the pantry (or fridge—random condiments).  It's exciting to see the very long list of those foods we've already eaten, though!  The days of restocking the pantry are not far away!

Meal/etc made:
- Spicy Noodles
- Egg McMuffins
- Smothered Pork Chops (the first new meat we've bought!)
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Quesadillas
- Fish Tacos & Coleslaw
- Tuna Salad
- Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients used up:
- Shrimp
- Tilapia
- Peaches
- Hot cocoa
- Mexican cheese
- Bread crumbs (so, so very far past expired)
- Egg noodles

Not finished but we made progress:
- Noodle kits
- American cheese (blech... have made mcmuffins, now guess I'll make hamburgers)
- Popcorn

I wasn't excited to eat the tilapia, but my SO finally decided to try this fish taco recipe I pulled a few weeks ago, and it was delicious!  https://carlsbadcravings.com/blackened-fish-tacos-recipe/ (https://carlsbadcravings.com/blackened-fish-tacos-recipe/)  (We made a different coleslaw and didn't try the avocado crema this time, just the fish itself.)

Also, to make the pork chops my SO used spinach and lemon juice I had frozen a few weeks back : )  First time I managed to not throw away spinach!! (Thanks to a poster earlier on this thread who suggesting freezing it)

Happy eating, everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 24, 2022, 10:23:55 AM
Hope this finds everyone well.

@Psyche, I love blackened fish!

For a few reasons, I didn't get to the pesto over the weekend, and will do so this upcoming weekend.  So, both Saturday and Sunday's suppers have been rescheduled.  I did cook up the onions for the patty melts, and the artichoke dip utilized the sad jarred artichokes, and the remaining bit of bottled garlic.  Oh, and a half cup of the aforementioned huge tub of sour cream.  The dip goes well with both crackers as well as vegetables.

This week's suppers, barring any unforeseen changes:
~Tonight's stir fry will use up more of the dehydrated cherry tomatoes, a bag of frozen broccoli, and some chicken breasts, shrimp and teriyaki sauce
~Tomorrow's fish tacos will use the remaining bag of cod

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: YellowCat on January 24, 2022, 01:05:00 PM
I finished up a whole bunch of ingredients last week making baked blueberry oatmeal, enough that the pantry shelves are once again emerging from the clutter.

I also baked a brownie mix we’d had in the pantry for a while, adding in the last of a bag of walnuts from the freezer. They were supposed to be for dessert after a dinner with friends, but our toddler got sick and we had to cancel. Oh well, more brownies for us. There were no complaints from anyone in my household :)

Today's cooking project is daal with random bits of lentils from the pantry plus canned tomatoes and spices. Maybe I’ll throw in some frozen sweet potatoes for interest.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 25, 2022, 06:36:13 AM
We're making progress:

Last saturday: made 2 batches of oatmeal-banana-mixed nut muffins from things I had in fridge/pantry. Also made a nice cake to snack on. No need to shop for one, since I had all ingredients at hand. Dinner were burgers for us / noodles for the teens, finishing the bread rolls and burgers from the freezer.
Sunday: homemade pizza..... my parents came over and joined us for dinner. But during some drinks we also went through some snacking material like chocolate......
Monday: had some leftover unions, bell peppers and mushrooms. Added some potatoes and made a tray bake with some sausages.
Today: finished some leftover meats on a sandwich. Dinner will be potatoes, cauliflower and some meat.
Tomorrow / Thursday: baked potatoes, green beans and some meat or fish from the freezer and a pasta night
Friday: leftover tortilla's to finish off any veggies / cheeses that are in the fridge with some ground beef from the freezer.
Saturday: grilled cheese/ham sandwiches, since we are planning some major home redecorations and do not want to cook

Breakfast and lunches still come from the pantry or freezer, so I'm not complaining! Teens are doing their best. DS suddenly took a bag of cheese/rice crisps which was already lingering in there for ages and decided this would be a good (addition to his) lunch. I'm actually starting to see shelve space in my pantry!!!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 25, 2022, 10:58:24 AM
I finished my pot with pickeled cherrie tomatoes (store bought). Next year, hopefully I will have my own cherrie tomatoes to pickle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on January 25, 2022, 04:31:04 PM
I work for a restaurant group, so often times that means eating out instead of in... Which means that I had food out for lunch Friday, and pretty much all day yesterday. So not much progress the last several days. 
So I plan on making up for it today!  Helps that it's snowy and cold outside, so cooking and warming up the kitchen sounds kind of nice.
For dinner tonight, I'm going to make a black bean chili type of thing using the following:
Black beans from last winter's CSA
Frozen roasted red peppers, probably from last year's CSA, too, though might be from this winter's?  Who knows, man!
A bag of frozen tomatoes, again don't know if it's from this winter or last...
Chorizo I had taken out for tacos on Saturday, but my kiddo decided she didn't actually want tacos so I made chicken and rice instead.
A little bit of chicken that's in the fridge that I need to cook

I think I might put some winter squash in the oven to roast tonight, too, so it will be cooked and ready to go for later this week.  Also, I have some beets that need cooking and using up...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 02, 2022, 07:26:19 AM
Over the weekend, I took a large Costco pack of ground beef (6.5 pounds or so) & made it into roughly half each taco meat, and spaghetti sauce. I kept 1/3 of each out for dinner this week, and froze the rest.

Our freezer is again looking full, but I've made good progress on the pantry. I can now see almost everything. The teens have polished off the remnants of a bunch of things, I've organized a bit.

On the freezer side, I find myself irritated, because there is so much food in there! On the flip side, I prep a lot of things, and store them in the freezer until we need them (dinner options, single serving lunches, & muffins). But, clearly the right balance is to have less than we currently have. ;-)

-I also dug out two containers of lemon curd from the freezer, and turned those into lemon muffins
-I convinced a teen to have a freezer cheeseburger

We've done a good job of eating through our prepped food this week (spaghetti sauce, chicken curry, taco meat).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 02, 2022, 07:57:35 PM
Slowly working through all of the garden produce that I froze from this last summers group garden.

Cooked a massive Hubbard squash for pumpkin pie oatmeal and pumpkin pancakes.
Working through garden tomatoes made enchilada sauce and will make ketchup tmrw.
made some more crockpot pork for tacos for two or three nights. Was able to use up more of the random in the fridge door, some spices that have been around for a long time and some hot peppers frozen from the garden.

I still have a bunch of stuff from the garden in the freezer to use up.

With food prices as high as they are I really trying to use up what we have. I am struggling to keep our food bill around $600 a month for hubby I and our preteen.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 06, 2022, 05:32:11 PM
We've done a good job eating leftovers, and weaving items into meals lately:
-Frozen bananas & berries into fruit smoothies
-The last of the overly ripe bananas also into smoothies
-Bagels for breakfast sandwiches for a hungry teen
-Bagels to replace buns to make a chicken sandwich
-Continuing to use the last of a giant bag of shredded cheese. We've used it for tacos, quesadillas, chicken sandwiches, eggs, & taquitos. Still have about a cup left.
-Tossed a couple of rotten pears, but cut the rest of the ripe fruit & served it with lunch for the kids
-Unearthed a bag of edamame (freezer) & paired that with a light dinner
-Made green beans for one of the kids, as his favorite side dish. This is only notable because we have a bunch of canned green beans, & I always forget about them
-Kids are making their way through a Costco sized bag of cheddar/caramel corn that a neighbor gave to me
-I have a bit of lemon curd left from the muffins, so I've been topping the muffins with lemon curd, & it's...amazing

For dinner tonight, we're having the other half of a bag of ravioli, meatballs (freezer) & a new pasta sauce I'm trying from Trader Joes. Attempting to broaden the palate of a picky eater.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 06, 2022, 08:06:53 PM
I made a big batch of chili with some meat substitute I got for free with coupons & rebates. No recipe, just added some black beans I made from scratch in the crockpot and had frozen. A handful of chopped, frozen onion, some canned tomato sauce, and a can of tomatoes & green chilis. Turned out delicious and the whole slow cooker-full (6 servings?) was less than $2. I got three cans out of the pantry, a bag & a box out of the freezer, and emptied a spice container. Meals for days!
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 07, 2022, 12:24:28 AM
Right now, everything is FULL again, since we had to quarantaine Saturday for 2 COVID cases in the house...... So, next week will be no groceries and everything from fridge/freezer/cupboard. Fortunately groceries were done just before and since I already suspected that the teens would test positive, I took some extra's while grocery shopping on Friday night!
So here we are, being creative with what we have.......... till quarantaine is over next Saturday.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 07, 2022, 03:29:24 PM
Covid and chili seem to be the theme lately!  DH and I both are recovering from Covid, and there is a large batch of chili in the slow cooker for tonight.  Eating is still a bit unsteady, but I am trying to get some vitamins into us.  The chili used up 2 pounds of locally raised beef, a can each of dark and light kidney beans, a large can of whole tomatoes, and a can of tomato paste.

While down, I also remembered to toss a few bananas into the freezer DH didn't get to, and I cooked up a pound of ground beef I'd thawed, but we didn't get to due to having no appetites.  I portioned them off into patties, cooked, cooled, and tossed them back into the freezer for future consumption.

~Sauteed yellow squash and broccoli went into two suppers.
~A bag of cauliflower was turned into mashed cauliflower and was eaten last night, and I had leftovers for lunch today.
~We ate the remaining chicken soup we had on hand, so I stocked up via a pickup order last Friday.  We're now flush in chicken soup, applesauce, yogurt and macaroni and cheese cups.
~Cooked up the remaining bag of shrimp with shirataki noodles, and served it with the remaining breaded shrimp.
~Much to my chagrin, because we were ill and vegetables didn't sound appetizing, I ended up throwing away an English cucumber, 2 portobello mushrooms, 1/3 bag baby spinach, and some fresh basil.

I'm going to make some healthy fruit and flax seed smoothies to go with tonight's chili.  The smoothies will use up a can of coconut milk, a yogurt, some honey, and berries frozen during season.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 07, 2022, 06:35:16 PM
Hope you both feel better soon, @MountainGal
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 08, 2022, 02:22:00 PM
Thank you very much, @MaybeBabyMustache!  We are getting better day by day.

I'm wrapping up what fruits and vegetables we have on hand as I am heading out of town soon.  Last night's 3-types of berry smoothies hit the spot.  With tonight's cod I'll serve asparagus which was frozen during season, and Alfredo spaghetti squash.  I looked up the nutrition for both and am pleased.  While I'm away, I'll focus on seafood and fresh veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 08, 2022, 07:36:21 PM
We used up two bags of taco meat today (one chicken, one beef). The chicken one is from the rescued crockpot chicken, where I'd inadvertently subbed cayenne pepper for taco seasoning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on February 08, 2022, 08:11:00 PM
I'm trying to eat down my pantry before an upcoming move. I was very pleased yesterday by the number of containers I was able to finish off yesterday by making a casserole and a batch of granola. A can of corn, a can of green beans, a can of soup, a big tub of oats, a tiny sample jar of orange marmalade, some honey, AND the last of a jar of wheat germ - all gone. Nearly finished off some panko crumbs too but will have to come up with one more meal to get rid of those.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 14, 2022, 01:45:24 PM
Good luck with your move, @draco44.

My trip got postponed until next month, which is fine with me as I didn't feel 100% until yesterday.  Still tired, however.

Because I hadn't planned on being home, finding fruits and veggies at home were a bit of a stretch.  We had takeout a few of the nights (sub sandwiches loaded with veggies, and Chinese for a belated Lunar New Year celebration, also containing veggies). Saturday, I made smoothies out of berries frozen last fall, one of the bananas I froze during our Covid weeks, and a can of coconut milk.  Yesterday for a snack I thawed a container of the Alfredo spaghetti squash I made last week, and last night I steamed up a bag of broccoli from the freezer for supper.  Here's to this week's grocery pickup.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on February 17, 2022, 05:10:28 PM
The day after my last post, I came down with a really bad stomach bug, and was really not ok for about a week.  So, i lost some things that I just couldn't eat.  Sad! 
Since then, though, I have been mostly keeping up with my weekly veggie CSA, and have focused on using the older beef in my freezer first where I can.  Also, the farm where I get my CSA had a VERY slow week in their retail store, which meant they had a ton of shiitake mushrooms that weren't sold.  My farmer friend hates mushrooms, so she sold them to me at cost. So I saved a bunch of money!  But that means I have a ton of mushrooms to use up.  Made a giant pot of cream of mushroom soup the other day, first time making it and it was super yum, but now I have to get the rest chopped up and either cooked or frozen for later. 
Haven't even thought of what I will do for dinner tonight, will have to be something easy or some sort of leftovers because I am just NOT in the mood to mess around with that stuff tonight! 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 17, 2022, 08:47:01 PM
spent the morning cooking. Still had to go to the grocery store but my bill was only $50 total.

I cooked more squash for pumpkin cake and pancakes this weekend.
made some veggie stock to make congee this weekend using some leftover cooked rice.
ground some buckwheat for the pancakes to change it up a bit and get one more thing out of my pantry.
cooked up the last of the potatoes. We will have hash browns some time this weekend
made some hummus for hummus bowls and snacks for this next week.


I need to make some english muffins this weekend as hubby and the preteen seem to be going through them and the cost of them at the store keep going up. I dont mind making the dough but rolling them out and cooking just takes a long time. It is not hard just annoying.

I am going to have to do much more work than I normally do in the kitchen as food costs keep going up and I really do not want to change my budget this year. I have other goals for the money like fun trips and doing things.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zoot on February 18, 2022, 04:54:19 AM
I need to make some english muffins this weekend as hubby and the preteen seem to be going through them and the cost of them at the store keep going up.

Would love a pointer to your go-to English muffin recipe, if you're willing to share!  I've never made them and would love to try.

That said, if you have Lidl groceries in your area, give their store-branded English muffins a try--they are $1.15 for six when I last bought them a week ago, and they are hands down the best store-bought English muffin product I've ever tasted.  WAY better than the national brands!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 18, 2022, 11:58:30 AM
@Zoot :  I have not made English muffins per se, but James Beard's English muffin bread is AMAZING (link:
https://www.mastercook.com/app/Recipe/WebRecipeDetails?recipeId=18161564)

We make it as a loaf, then slice it and toast it.  It's ok just as a bread, but as a toast it is AWESOME!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 18, 2022, 01:24:54 PM
@FragglesRock666, glad you are feeling better!

@seemsright, great job cooking!

@Josiecat23503, thank you for the recipe.  That is one I will try, as DH eats an English muffin almost daily.

Kept the monthly grocery/HBA order to well below our usual $300 at just $180.  I've been keeping a laser focus on using the fresh produce, and huge bottle of lemon juice I bought several months ago.  Along with various proteins, I made:

Mon:  Side salads with baby spinach and iceberg lettuce, used lemon juice on scallops
Tues:  Corn cobs
Wed:  Zucchini, yellow squash, and side salads with cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber
Thurs:  Asparagus, and used lemon juice on shrimp
This weekend:  Eggplant fries and more side salads.  And I think I'll make some homemade salad dressing to expedite the lemon juice usage.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 18, 2022, 02:45:09 PM
@Zoot :  I have not made English muffins per se, but James Beard's English muffin bread is AMAZING (link:
https://www.mastercook.com/app/Recipe/WebRecipeDetails?recipeId=18161564)

We make it as a loaf, then slice it and toast it.  It's ok just as a bread, but as a toast it is AWESOME!

Zoot. This is a very basic traditional english muffin recipe. Back in the day I decided I was going to learn how to make bread and now I 'just' make bread. So I really do not have a recipe. Bread is very much what I want out of it and what am I eating with it. Hubby and the preteen use english muffins as breakfast sandwiches with sausages so depending on the type of sausages we have I will add pepper or make it a richer dough by adding a egg. My preteen does not like to take the time to eat so if I can add a touch more protein in anything I can get her to eat I will.

If you decided to make the english muffins I really enjoy making them more on the sourdough side. I just make the dough the night before and let it sit out all night then roll them out and let them rise and then cook them. With some homemade pear butter nothing better.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: slackmax on February 19, 2022, 10:29:32 AM
Finished off a jar of preserves, washed it out and will sell it at flea market. Also, still eying
a small box of tapioca flakes(?) that has been on my kitchen counter for ages. I keep it out,
to remind me to use it up, lol.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on February 19, 2022, 12:13:19 PM
Finished off a jar of preserves, washed it out and will sell it at flea market. Also, still eying
a small box of tapioca flakes(?) that has been on my kitchen counter for ages. I keep it out,
to remind me to use it up, lol.

If tapioca flakes are aka tapioca flour/starch, then you could make a batch of Pao de Quiejo. Mmmm. https://hilahcooking.com/pao-de-queijo/ (https://hilahcooking.com/pao-de-queijo/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 20, 2022, 07:26:20 AM
We are heading out of town today for a ski trip, so we made an effort to use up a bunch of stuff:
-Chocolate almond milk used to make lots of smoothies. I thought the kids would drink it on its own, and I was mistaken. They loved it in smoothies
-Last of the apple juice, used
-All fresh bananas were used in above smoothies, and we even made a dent in the freezer stash
-My son ate two English cucumbers yesterday, sliced with salt. I'm not sure what brought on the snacking (he does love cucumbers, but this is a lot, even for him), but I'm glad they are not going to go bad in the fridge
-I wrapped up some baked chicken as breakfast, and had a few bites of mac & cheese (leftovers from the teens) as lunch yesterday
-We baked the last of the potato skins, & served those along side barbecued burgers.

We've made a ton of freezer progress, so it's nice to see some space open up there.

We rented a condo for our ski trip, and have a plan to go to Costco & the grocery store. I have one Keto eater (food allergies) & one teen who pretty much lives off of carbs, so it's pretty tricky to plan a menu that: has limited ingredients, is easy to prep after a day of skiing, suits all dining needs, won't generate leftovers. Fingers crossed that I've come close. Either way, it will be significantly cheaper than eating out for our meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 23, 2022, 12:52:06 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I hope you had luck with your Costco results.

Still working on the dehydrated cherry tomatoes.  I added some to Monday's meatballs and will add more to Friday's stir fry and Saturday's enchiladas.

Also continuing to work on the large bottle of lemon juice.  I'll squirt some on top of the stir fry, various veggies, and next week's cod and shrimp dish.

Sunday's lasagna resulted in about 8 servings.  The kitchen freezer is full again with containers of leftovers, and chicken breast and drumstick family packs.

A 2-pound bag of processed and breaded chicken tenders were used as a substitution for chicken breasts in last month's grocery pickup.  I don't normally buy them due to nutrition and sodium content.  I air fried some while we were down with Covid and finally wanting to eat, and more last night to go on top of baby spinach salads.  The air fryer cooks them up quickly and are actually quite tasty.  There's about half a bag left.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SailingOnASmallSailboat on February 23, 2022, 02:10:13 PM
On your lemon juice - if you'd like to keep it longer and are just trying to get the bottle out of the fridge, you could freeze it in ice cube trays and them have a dollop when you wanted, pre-measured.

Maybe that's just playing a shell game though.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 23, 2022, 04:53:38 PM
Lemon juice in some hot water makes a great lemon tea. I have been enjoying a slice of lemon and a bit of fresh ginger steeped in hot water as a tea. So good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Lunasol on February 23, 2022, 05:03:09 PM
Hi I am new to this thread.

We have some proteins in the freezer and this is my reminder to make the frozen beef neck in the instapot before end of the month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 24, 2022, 08:57:09 AM
We are leaving tomorrow from our ski vacation, and have done a reasonably good job of using up what we can. It's pretty much impossible to buy exactly the quantity you need for everything. But, we've finished off all of the fruit (minus the two bananas that will go into tomorrow's breakfast), we've eaten all of the pizza (minus one of four), the teens have plowed through the coffee cake-like bread I splurged on at Costco. We used the extra tortillas from the street taco kit (Costco) for breakfast burritos, as well as the extra cheese & salsa crema. The eggs will be finished tomorrow as well.

We will also likely bring a few things back, that are easily packed:
-Remainder of the trail mix
-I'll bring a PB&J for the airport for myself, and the non-picky teen
-I'll bring cold pizza for the airport for the kids
-garlic salt

I hope the folks who clean/service the condo are able to take home & use the unopened items. We will likely have some hard seltzer leftover, a cube of butter, some salad veggies, etc
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 24, 2022, 04:19:35 PM
@SailingOnASmallSailboat and @seemsright, thank you for the lemon juice ideas.  I put them on my to do list for the weekend.

Welcome to the thread, @lunahsol.  :)

Well done, @MaybeBabyMustache.

Not much new to report except I did use more of the pepperoni slices and bacon bits as pizza toppers last night.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 03, 2022, 02:38:45 AM
We went away for a long weekend with friends and a visit to my parents. Now the fridge and pantry is stuffed with leftovers which we need to polish off.
So far the teens did their fair share:
- eating a pile of waffles
- eating the sweet buns and pastries
- finishing the last pieces of chocolate fudge
- finishing some sliced meats, humus and cucumbers with some bread as lunch

Now we have to make sure we eat the following before it goes bad:
- cheese
- some snack sausages
- carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes (will cut this into snack size for today and tomorrow)
- grated cheese (use over the pasta tonight)
- some more pastries
- another box of humus
- some soda and sweet drinks (we hardly drink any soda / sweet drinks, so I really have to serve this to the teens, because they usually only drink water/thee/milk)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on March 03, 2022, 09:14:22 PM
Advice needed...

I had a stomach upset (ongoing GI issues since 2020, ugh) for the better part of a week which resulted in getting close to the expiration dates on a few things. I had a full quart of milk a couple days past due so I wanted to use it up all in one go. I've been doing a lot of mac and cheese/broccoli cheese soup type stuff in the last couple of months so I decided to do a milk-based dessert instead, and thought I would do a chocolate pudding/custard since I also had some chocolate chips that I kept running into in the back of a cupboard. I don't bake too much any more (see: ongoing GI issues, and I live alone) so they are a challenge to use.

Anyway, I got to the end where I would put in the chocolate chips to melt them into the hot mixture, and when I went to grab the chocolate chips, I pull them out and... they're white chocolate chips. Huh. I was sure I had a bag of regular ones. Looked everywhere. Couldn't find them. I must have brought them to my mom's house and forgotten about it. Must have gotten the white ones in a pandemic substitution or something early on? Can't remember that either. Figured I would make white chocolate/vanilla pudding, I have already pretty much finished it and I couldn't find any other plain chocolate that I could use (just stuff with nuts/etc.).

So I used them and when I tasted it, it had a little bit of a weird flavor. Chemically tasting, almost. I thought maybe it was too much vanilla extract and I was tasting that, or the alcohol. But I looked at the white chips bag just in case, and the expiration date was 2018 :-/  Is this super rancid and I shouldn't eat it? Does anyone know anything about white chocolate expiration dates? I tasted one of the chips and it seemed... OK? Not amazing, but not obviously horrible either. I'm a little more tentative about eating sketchy food since my stomach has problems. The milk was 100% fine when I opened it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 04, 2022, 01:58:20 PM
@Dutch Comfort, well done everyone!

@Dollar Slice, I understand where you are coming from.  As much as I don't like to throw it away, I concluded risking stomach upset or worse isn't worth keeping/consuming expired and/or questionable food.

It's Friday clean out office fridge day!  I just ate the last of the celery, cream cheese, and sliced turkey.  If I am hungry later, I'll have cashews and the remaining cheese stick.

This week I finally made the homemade lemon juice dressing I've been meaning to get to.  We ate more of the baby spinach (why must it come in such big containers?) and another bag of frozen cauliflower.  We finished the cherry tomatoes, and there is about 1/4 cup of the dehydrated tomatoes left.  All that remains in the fresh produce bin is the baby spinach, half a cucumber, and a lime.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 04, 2022, 05:35:05 PM
Another productive kitchen day. My goal today was to delay going to the store till monday. Today I rendered some lard, made sweet potato brownies, and homemade coffee creamer for the hubby. Started some beef broth and Sunday we will have some French Onion Soup.

We will have random from the freezer for meals. Things like breakfast skillets, hummus bowls, burritos and what ever else my preteen can find in the pantry that she will eat.

Nothing exciting. I think I still have a cold beer in the back of the fridge and some stale box wine that I will drink this weekend.

With food prices I am trying to drag out going for as long as I can. I am almost out of rice and chickpeas so I will need to go soon.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 09, 2022, 12:59:17 PM
Loving the longer days!  Since my last post:

~Ladies' night leftovers were added to leftover taco meat for Saturday night nachos.
~More baby spinach, blueberries and strawberries frozen during season last year, the other frozen banana we didn't get to during Omicron, a can of coconut milk were used in Sunday smoothies.
~Raspberries frozen last year went into two jars of overnight oats for DH.
~I'll make another jar of fresh dressing with more of the lemon juice.
~The remaining dehydrated tomatoes will go into dirty rice Thursday.
~Finished bottles of teriyaki sauce, blue cheese dressing, and mayo.
~Ate the remaining imported cookies from Christmas last night and am slowing getting through a bag of dark chocolate squares.
~Sunflower seeds and bacon bits have been tasty salad toppers.
~Speaking of, tonight I'm going to bake maple bacon almond flour bread to use more of the bacon bits as well as some maple syrup.  We still have 2 large bottles, and a small bottle of real maple syrup to consume.
~Tonight, we'll have breakfast for supper to use some syrup
~Next week I'll make fudge from white chocolate chips leftover from Christmas baking.  I'll dye it green for St. Patrick's Day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 10, 2022, 06:41:15 PM
@MountailGal, I'm loving your inspired uses of leftovers! Dying white chocolate chips for St. Patrick's Day fudge is a great plan.

I was tired of the vegetarian chili, so dumped the last of it over some corn chips and called it chili pie.
Made an omelet with the last of a package of cheese and some bacon remnants.
I'm still fondly remembering the chicken pot pie I made last week with freebie items. I may need to make another one.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 11, 2022, 12:27:44 PM
Thank you, @okisok.  And your chili pie sounds delicious and comforting.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 17, 2022, 02:20:42 PM
Below is the opposite of the "eat all the food in your house" thread, but keeping it real.

I'm in a giant rut with cooking & meal prep. I have one really picky teen eater who prefers everything separated, and carbs are his primary food choice. I also have a Keto eater, who eats that way due to a food allergy. Food allergy happens to be in almost everything Keto rules out, so it's a shorthand for his allergy requirements. Other teen & I will eat a wide variety of food. Time is pretty limited these days (I'm going back to the office, husband & I are both about to start traveling for work on different weeks, kids have a ton of activities). I'm not enjoying the menu planning, meal prep & cooking.

I was out of town for the weekend, so my usual plan of meal prep on weekends, and then leftovers during the week hasn't been happening. Instead, it's been a lot of really questionable meal choices. Let's hope I get inspired next week! I also need to adjust our system to reduce the mental load on myself. For the next few weeks, I've ordered HelloFresh (facepunches galore) with an extreme discount code. It won't be a regular thing due to the package waste, but I'm looking forward to someone dropping off all of the items we need, and me just throwing them together.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to do more experimenting with freezer meal prep, and perhaps big batch cooking, so I at least reduce the kitchen time during the work week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 21, 2022, 05:41:43 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, things get so hard when life becomes busy!  I hope HelloFresh works out for you.  Excellent job finding the discount code.

The fudge using the white chocolate chips was a hit.  I had just a taste while making it, and people raved about it at our party.

Other things used up:
~A can of whipped cream-they went perfectly on top of Jello shots at a recent party, LOL
~More bacon bits went into a dip for the aforementioned party
~Leftover deli turkey, summer sausage, cheese, celery, and olives have been eaten a few times for a light lunch
~A container of leftover lasagna frozen in February
~A jar of mayo
~A four pack of chicken drumsticks
~Leftover restaurant carne asada went on top of nachos the next night
~There's currently a container with 2 slices of keto blueberry cheesecake from last year thawing in the fridge
~Last night's dinner consisted of the remining corned beef and pork belly, along with some leftover potatoes I air fried
~A friend graciously gifted us several cartons of eggs, which I'll share with folks in the office building.

Headed out of town soon, so suppers will be fresh vegetable heavy focused.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 21, 2022, 06:58:18 PM
@MountainGal - I'm heading to your house, where apparently there is fudge & jello shots! Sign me up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 22, 2022, 06:14:04 AM
Some progress last weekend:
- put 1/2 jar of lemon curd into a cake with a delicious outcome (so delicious, that I bought a new jar of lemon curd especially for replicating this in the near future.....)
- instead of getting take-out last Saturday, talked the teens into Turkish pizza and "breakfast for dinner" (eggs and bacon) for which ingredients / ready to grap items were all lingering around in freezer and fridge.
- made a highly appreciated grilled cheese lunch for the teen who is working through her "school-test-week" which took care of a few slices of ham, some cheese and some bread from the freezer

The freezer needs a deep clean, so next couple of weeks will be "empty-the-freezer" weeks where I will need to meal-plan around the bits and pieces that are still there. Already started doing this on Monday by finishing a bucket of cinnamon-ice cream........ (somebody has to do the hard work here....).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 22, 2022, 06:47:53 PM
Y'all are so inspiring! I made some pasta for dinner with a box from the pantry and an opened jar from the fridge. I tossed in a small package of pepperoni and it was delicious. And it kept me from ordering takeout pizza.

I had a package of venison that had been thawed out but I had no plan for. There was a half full bottle of salad dressing in the fridge door so I'm marinating the venison in the salad dressing with a bit of pickle juice for tenderizing. We'll see how it turns out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 23, 2022, 02:28:02 PM
LOL, @MaybeBabyMustache, you are welcome anytime!  ;)

@Dutch Comfort, that ice cream flavor sounds refreshing!  I've never heard of it.

@okisok, how was the venison?

The cheesecake I mentioned was delicious, despite the fact it was from last summer.  I love the art of freezing food to save for later and to save money.

As mentioned, I'm heading out of town soon, and have several snack items packed in order to save money at my destination.  Once there I'll have groceries delivered in lieu of dining out.

Last night we ate the rest of the leftover dip and veggies from last week's party alongside the remaining sliced ham.

4 cartons of eggs given away, 4 more to go, LOL.  We'll keep 2.

March spending:
$214.62 Food
$13.96 HBAs/cleaning/paper products (napkins, facial tissue, slow cooker liners, cupcake liners)
$10.90 Tax
$239.48

Buying the half pig and quarter cow really cuts down on the monthly grocery bill.  I do buy other protein such as chicken, fish, shrimp, and the occasional Cornish game hen.  I buy family packs when possible, including chicken breasts, drumsticks, fish, and 60-count boxes of eggs.

Last year I spent a rounded monthly average of $368 on food and $82 on HBAs, etc.  I am loving this year's reduction in spending.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 23, 2022, 02:37:09 PM
Excellent, @MountainGal - I'll time my visit around the next jello shot occasion. You can similarly join me for margaritas outside, because spring is here in the bay area, and the weather is lovely. I'm also super impressed that your spending is lower, particularly with all of the inflation. Well done.

I'm working on building some healthier lunch habits for myself, and it's going reasonably well. It's not the most frugal, but I'm hoping for salad & lean protein most days. And, the teens just won't stop eating, so there is an abundance of spending at our house. It's lower than it was at the height of the pandemic, and we're pretty good about not eating out. So, even expensive groceries are cheaper than taking four people to dinner.

I made soup over the weekend, using up chicken broth & ham, and it was delicious. I added garbanzo beans, as I haven't made hummus in forever, and figured I may as well go for it. The meal sized portions are gone, and now I have a bunch of easy ham & bean soup lunch options in the freezer.

I also made applesauce muffins (applesauce from the dregs of the freezer), as well as zucchini muffins (shredded zucchini, also from the freezer). I did have to toss two pieces of pizza. I was confident the teens would eat them, but they must have gotten shoved to the back of the fridge.

I also noticed that one of the teens plowed through a package of blackberries, two small container of blueberries, two Costco sized Danishes, & three yogurts when he got home from a late soccer practice. He can't really eat dinner ahead of practice (and, we can't flex earlier due to other schedules), so he ends up eating a ton after he gets home. Most of the options are reasonably healthy (minus said Danishes), but sweet merch, he is expensive to feed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 24, 2022, 04:31:33 AM
@MountainGal, the cinnamon ice-cream was originally bought and partly used for a desert: warm apple crumble with a spoon of cinnamon ice-cream..... this is HEAVEN!!!!

Teen2 helped me out by eating the last remains of chocolate-chip icecream. 

Both teens are helping on the bread stash in the freezer at breakfast/lunch.
For today I have dinner in the fridge. Tomorrow will be a tortilla-pie which will take care of a pack of ground beef, some tomato sauce and some grated cheese from the freezer.

The weekend will be used to track the freezer inventory and decide on some more freezer-based meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 24, 2022, 05:47:18 PM
@MountainGal The venison was delicious! I had the last of it for lunch today, and I looked forward to it all morning. My partner said it was the best venison cooked indoors he'd ever eaten. (First place overall went to a haunch roasted over an open fire he once had.) I'm content with second place because it was a totally made-up recipe based on a vague remembrance of some googling 'how to cook backstrap' from months ago and what I was trying to use up, plus a dash of inspiration from this thread. 

I served it with some frozen veggies I found in the back of the freezer and a very tiny salad made from my indoor greens I've grown over the winter from bases of romaine lettuce, green onions, and celery. I informed DP that it was a hyper-local micro-salad when he asked why we each had about three leaves of lettuce ;) I used up some of a tiny jar of spicy mustard to make the salad dressing, since I used up the jar of actual salad dressing to make the marinade. I prefer making my own salad dressings, so I was doubly glad to get the jar out of my fridge.

I did get the salad dressing free with a coupon, and the venison was a gift, so the entire dinner cost about $2. It was enough for two people and my lunch today. 

And we've almost polished off the package of cookies I bought yesterday, if that counts!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 01, 2022, 11:22:19 AM
It's a deal, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And I have a particular fondness for the Bay Area, as that is my old stomping grounds.

@Dutch Comfort, that desert sounds so good!

@okisok, backstrap is VERY popular around these parts.  And, I giggled when I read your DP asked about the three leaves.  :D

I ended up giving away more cartons of eggs, leaving us one, which is fine.  I also picked up an impromptu grocery order last night as we are completely out of fresh produce.  So, $64 or so added to the March total.

The Freezer Leftover Consumption for Space and Container Purposes project:  If I recall correctly, the only remaining container in the kitchen freezer is spaghetti squash Alfredo which we'll have Monday.  There are freezer bags full of berries and such, which we will get to eventually in smoothies and overnight oats.  And there may be a container of ham and beans in the garage freezer, and if so, I'll thaw it so DH can have them for lunches next week.

The next 1/4 cow is scheduled for pick up tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on April 02, 2022, 02:24:05 PM
A half jar of spaghetti sauce used up in making mini pizzas, except for a few tablespoons that went into an ice cube tray in the freezer. They also used up the last of a package of pepperoni. Finished off a few squares of nice dark chocolate.

When I was making room in the freezer for the ice cube tray, I found a container of frozen cookie dough and baked them.

I managed to put grocery shopping off for a couple more days by eating from the pantry and got rid of three containers.

I have people coming over tomorrow and I'm making cookies with ingredients I already have. Three more packages out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on April 03, 2022, 07:34:55 PM
Almost all of the cookies were eaten. I packed up the last few in a bag and sent them home with the last friend to leave. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shadesofgreen on April 04, 2022, 02:30:40 PM
I made kitchen sink soup..It's red/purple due to me having red cabbage and now I know to be careful on what I am wearing so no clothing gets stained.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 04, 2022, 02:44:20 PM
Hello Fresh made an error, and sent us another box (same one as last week) for free, so I need to get busy using up those items. It's an expensive service, but the doubling up makes it pretty cost effective. ;-)

Also this week:
-Used up a container of pumpkin puree from Halloween 2020(?), after the kids carved pumpkins & then I cooked them & pureed them. Made pumpkin muffins that turned out absolutely fabulous.
-Used up another 2x containers of ham & bean soup, from the freezer
-Kids found a 1/2 full container of cookie dough in the freezer, and baked/ate all of those cookies last night
-I used up a Friday freebie grocery store container of yogurt in some cranberry muffins, as well as frozen cranberries.
-A teen polished off all of the taquitos in the freezer
-One of the teens played in a six hour tennis match yesterday, so I brought snacks to the court. A few of those snacks were "use it up" items, including an apple & pear lingering in the fruit drawer, the last of a hoagie bun from a Hello Fresh recipe, and a protein bar with unknown origins.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 07, 2022, 12:27:57 PM
I confirmed all frozen contents in containers have been consumed and the empty container cupboard is now quite full.  I'm currently eating the rest of the Alfredo spaghetti squash.  Lately:

~Froze spaghetti sauce into two freezer bags from a bottle DH opened for eggplant parm during my absence.  He said a little went a long way, LOL. 
~For a brunch with neighbors I pulled out of the freezer the bag of chocolate-chocolate chip crinkle cookies I made at Christmastime, and what wasn't eaten at brunch, I sent home with the children.
~Random leftover olives and cheeses were added to sliced cucumber and deli turkey for my lunches.
~Leftover salmon was added to cream cheese and onion powder then rolled in everything but the bagel seasoning to make little balls for lunches.
~DH finished a box of Triscuits opened months ago, a container each of Cheetos and peanut butter filled pretzels.
~Using up leftover potatoes from St. Patrick's Day.  They are SO good French fried in the air fryer!
~Used the remaining bit of parmesan pork rind breading I made last month on 4 air-fried chicken drumsticks.
~Used the remaining bottle of balsamic dressing on Monday's salad.
~Bagged broccoli slaw usually comes close to going bad, so when I opened it Tuesday, I made a point of ensuring it is featured in several upcoming suppers.
~Continuing to soak the labels off of decent jars with lids in order to wash and reuse for future edible presents as well as pantry storage.
~And in sort of a similar realm as "eating all of the food," I am going to focus on using restaurant gift cards this upcoming weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on April 18, 2022, 05:53:46 PM
Only have $10 left in the grocery budget for the rest of the week. I really want to go buy good bread and pimento cheese dip. BUT, I made a list of all the stuff in the pantry and what it could be made into. It doesn't do any good to buy a bunch of non-perishables if I never consume them. Working on doing the planning on one day and the cooking on another so that I don't have to do too much that I decide to just eat cereal again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on April 22, 2022, 08:36:01 PM
almost through the garage freezer. Food prices are kicking my budget hard core. I am going to have to up my budget for food.

I am going to have to do so much more work in the kitchen.

Tomorrow I will make pizza using the odds and ends in the fridge. Sunday i think I will make rice bowls.

 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on April 27, 2022, 12:47:50 PM
I ended up redeeming two different gift cards since my last post.  I've got my eye on using two more in the near future.  Other items:

~Frozen raspberries went into overnight oatmeal
~Frozen blueberries went into smoothies
~(Finally) air fried the two remaining frozen chicken tenders for DH
~A remaining bit of chicken will be warmed up in the air fryer for tonight's cobb salads
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: FragglesRock666 on April 28, 2022, 08:44:58 PM
Work has been crazy busy the last month or so (onboarding a new payroll and accounting system, give me strength to get through the next 30 days until we are up and running), which means that I have been way less diligent about making sure nothing goes bad before we get to eat it.  At least I can say that I after realizing this, I DID make an effort to buy/make less so less gets wasted, but still.  Not happy with how much food went in the bin lately. 
Since my whole family was gone for dinner today, I decided to treat myself with sushi, but was so disappointed at how small the portion sizes were!  I work for a restaurant group, so I get the "trend" of making portions smaller because prices are skyrocketing, but whereas the last time I went with the same exact order, I was just past pleasantly full, this time I was still hungry after and basically had to dive in the fridge and create a whole other meal.  Which I could've done in the first place w/o spending $20 first. 
So, lesson learned. 
Tomorrow for dinner, I will do something with the ground lamb I took out a couple of nights ago and didn't get to, along with some root veggies in the back of the fridge that are getting a little old.  Going to do a Moroccan-style something or other with it, and rice on the side. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on April 29, 2022, 04:53:20 AM
FragglesRock666, maybe you could try freezing oddball veggies, scraps of this and that and then pull out at some point and make a soup or broth from it. Save your bones and freeze too. Yesterday, I had an abundance of mini peppers and mushrooms. I decided to roast them up with olive oil and oh so good! Cabbage sliced into 'steaks' is also good roasted.

I have been known to throw out stuff too. Sometimes I have an abundance of leftovers in the fridge, and something gets forgotten or pushed to the back of the fridge. I hate throwing out food and try to use it up in creative ways.

In the past, restaurants have disappointed me a lot. You pay so much and usually get very little. I spend quite a bit on food for home consumption...guilty! However, I don't feel bad about it. As an example, I might spend more for preformed quality hamburgers per lb. but I compare the price I pay if I were to eat at a restaurant. A burger and fries in a nice restaurant/pub in my area is probably around $12 minus tax and tip. If I were to spend $5 on a great burger for home consumption, I feel like I am eating at bargain prices! We never ate out a lot anyway and since Covid we have never eaten out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: StarBright on April 29, 2022, 08:05:30 AM
We need to defrost our chest freezer so May's goal is eating down the freezer!

Even though I am in it a couple of times a week, I don't really know exactly what is in there but off the top of my head:

We do have some individually frozen salmon
Chicken breast
A few packs of leftover meats (pork rib roasts? top sirloin steaks?) from when we bought a quarter cow and half pig last year.
lots of smoothie packets
convenience foods for kids lunches (uncrustables, etc)
lots of cauliflower rice and mexican street corn

Should be a fun month of eating.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 29, 2022, 08:08:31 AM
It's been a wild few weeks, with my parents in town, other people cooking (hurrah), but handling leftovers differently than I would. I typically freeze leftovers right away after the first meal, in this case they were pushed to the back of the freezer. We had some food waste, & this week I had four work meals out in a row, which meant I wasn't home for dinner, my husband prepped meals, etc.

A few wins:
-We made enchiladas, and put the leftovers in the freezer
-My husband finished off all of the guacamole
-I took two small dinner leftovers (different pasta dishes) from restaurant meals, & combined them into one dinner for myself another night
-The kids are still eating the cookies my mom baked & froze

We are primarily out of snacks. I'd be okay skipping them, but the teens are ravenous. I need to find some good options this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 03, 2022, 10:50:19 AM
I forgot to mention our 1/4 beef was indeed purchased and put into the deep freeze.  We're now flush with it and pork.

Ended up using one of two food gift cards.  The second one is for the local hospital district cafeteria, which is still closed to the public.  The remaining gift certificate was given to me for my BD, and I plan to use it for DH's BD.

Our fresh produce bin is empty sans 1/4 bag baby spinach, so I have a large produce order planned for later today.

Since my last post:
~Bought nothing extra for our camping trip by using what we had on hand
~Leftover kielbasa, olives, and other odds and ends went into pseudo chef salads when we returned Sunday evening
~Used up the bok choy in last night's stir fry
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on May 05, 2022, 04:24:13 PM
I finally bought some bread and pimento cheese spread and stir fry sauce. Everything else I'd been making do with pantry goods or leftovers. Today I finished the last of the pasta with jarred sauce and some pepperoni tossed in for pizzaz. That lasted four meals.
Earlier this week I prepped some overnight oatmeal and tossed in some dried coconut on a whim. I used some of the coconut in cookies for a gathering but had nearly a full bag left. The coconut made it so freakishly delicious that I look forward to eating it every day! That never happens. I'm actually going to use up the coconut before it expires or goes bad.

Edited to add: I made a serving of sweet potato fries in the air fryer from what I was able to salvage of three sweet potatoes that got pushed to the back and forgotten about. I added them to the last of the chicken nuggets that I got for free from a grocery deal. I had a complete meal for free that was much better than a fast food meal but about the same nutritional quality ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 10, 2022, 12:21:37 PM
Well done, @okisok!  You have inspired me to pull older baking ingredient pantry items and set them out as a reminder to use them up.

Since my last post:
~Last month mini low carb tortillas were part of the grocery order, and they've gone a long way!  So far, we've used them as taco shells, tostada shells after toasting them a bit, and as breakfast burritos.
~Iceberg lettuce leaves were used as taco shells and wraps, and the rest was shredded and served under sweet chili sauce ground pork.
~Instead of bacon, I put the rest of a package of sliced pepperoni on top of asparagus and air fried it.  Yum.
~Last night tasty fritters were made from last year's shredded and frozen zucchini.
~Have been going through a Sam's Club sized jar of artichoke hearts:  I've steamed them for two different suppers, and tomorrow will air fry them.

Next, I need to focus on salad dressings and condiments in general.  They no longer all fit in the fridge door shelves.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on May 14, 2022, 10:24:58 AM
Mountain Gal - Pasta salad is a great way to use up random condiments and salad dressings. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on May 14, 2022, 12:49:47 PM
@Catbert & @MountainGal , excellent ideas!

I have some pasta in the pantry and some random veggies and condiments. My current target is the almost-empty jar of artichoke tapenade. It was an impulse purchase at a specialty store. There was no expiration date. The label says "use soon after opening" so I'm trying to finish it in two weeks. It feels very fancy to spread on toast or use as sandwich filling. Artichoke tapenade, olive oil, veggies, pepperoni, that could be good !
My refrigerator door is also filling up with condiments and pickles. This is a good reminder to have a pickle and cheese snack plate or to toss a few pickles on the side of dinner entrees to get those used up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on May 16, 2022, 01:40:10 PM
So... for complicated cost/pandemic/supply-chain reasons that I won't bore you with, I was planning to split groceries this week between a trip to the store and a delivery and then do a batch cook. I bought meat at the store last night and then couldn't get a delivery slot for three days. Arg. Finally got a delivery slot for Wednesday morning and then when I looked at the package to see if my meat would be OK until Wednesday, I found that it had expired last Friday! Crap! I forgot to look at the expiration date in the store, which I always do at that place because they are terrible with expiration dates. They had it on the shelf two days past the sell-by date. I hate to throw away almost two pounds of meat... do you think if it smells OK and looks OK when I open it, it's safe to cook tonight? Or is that crazy? It's chicken, if that matters...

(I could try to get them to refund it, but then it will be definitely thrown away, and this is the place that has "no returns for any reason" signs up so I have a feeling it would not be easy. I try to minimize meat consumption for environmental reasons and this was going to be a big treat. Ug.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 16, 2022, 01:42:35 PM
@Dollar Slice, I usually Google and smell.  And, if it's a go, cook the crap out of it just in case, LOL.

Thank you, @Catbert.

@okisok, I, too, am a fan of snack plates.  Perfect for camping or housecleaning day, mine contain a variety of items, depending on what is on hand.  Pepperoni slices, cheese slices, berries, nuts, raw veggies... The list goes on.

I did an inventory on my day off and counted 4 different salad dressings, a bottle of minced horseradish, a bottle of creamy horseradish, two opened bottles of BBQ sauce, two opened bottles of maple syrup, and an unopened jar of queso that needs tending to.  There are of course other condiments, but these are what I'd like to address.  In the next few weeks:

Horseradish
~Homemade salad dressing
~On top of pork chops

One of the BBQ sauces
~On top of something grilled

Queso
~On tomorrow's Taco Tuesday shredded chicken tacos
~On next week's Navajo tacos
~As a dip with LC homemade tortilla chips

Syrup
~Maple bacon almond flour biscuits
~Atop almond flour pancakes

And, instead of buying yet another salad dressing, I'm going to make homemade Greek dressing for Wednesday's Greek salads.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on May 16, 2022, 01:50:29 PM
@Dollar Slice, I usually Google and smell.  And, if it's a go, cook the crap out of it just in case, LOL.

I googled, but websites are always really conservative about that kind of thing IME. I think they don't want to be sued. I thought maybe someone here might have experience dumpster diving or buying manager specials or that kind of thing and say 'yeah, I do it all the time,' or 'no, three days past is rotten 80% of the time'. You never know on MMM :-)

I always cook chicken with an instant read thermometer since my mom got campylobacter food poisoning that they think was from chicken. (And I didn't tell her but I'm pretty sure it's because she does that old school "wash your raw chicken" thing which gets raw chicken juice/water all over the damn place - your hands, the sink, the counter, the faucets and handles, etc. Just cook the damn chicken, people.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on May 16, 2022, 08:34:58 PM
Two opened jars out of the fridge door and some veggies before they went bad. I made an entire box of penne and split it between artichoke tapenade and pesto. I added some olive oil to thin out the spreads into dressing. Tossed in some pepperoni and salt and pepper. They've gone into the fridge portioned out for lunches this week.

Thanks to this thread for inspiration to use the stuff into pasta salad.

I've got some frozen berries thawing to make some corn bread muffins. There's a withered apple I may grate into the batter to use it up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 17, 2022, 12:42:36 PM
@Dollar Slice, I usually Google and smell.  And, if it's a go, cook the crap out of it just in case, LOL.

Just cook the damn chicken, people.)

Exactly!

Well done, @okisok!  What type of berries will you put in the muffins?

I'm happy to report the horseradish dressing was tasty.  Here is the recipe I loosely followed for the dressing.  (I halved the recipe since it's just the two of us,) Salads consisted of baby spinach, a drained can of tuna each, mini mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes on the side.  I sprinkled sliced almonds on top of mine.  The latter of course is an ingredient that needs to be used up.

https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Mixed-Green-Salad-with-Horseradish-Dressing-1000090048/ (https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Mixed-Green-Salad-with-Horseradish-Dressing-1000090048/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 17, 2022, 01:20:46 PM
I was gone all week on a business trip, so I've no clue what anyone ate, and need to clean the fridge. We did manage to polish off all of the frozen lasagna. As well as:
-I finished the last of the apples
-We're eating leftover burgers tonight
-The kids have eaten almost any and all available snacks, including the banana Kit Kats (a gift) that they didn't particularly like.

On the flip side, I need to clean a few things out that weren't rotated while I was gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on May 17, 2022, 03:36:52 PM
For the record, that chicken that was past the sell-by date smelled and looked perfect when I opened it, so I cooked it last night and ate a couple of pieces and so far I feel fine. Google tells me you can get food poisoning symptoms anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 weeks later so it's quite a gamble, LOL. But I think it was fine. I cooked it another ~5 minutes after it hit 165F just to be extra careful. I'll report back if I suddenly get terribly ill anytime in the next three weeks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on May 21, 2022, 12:35:12 PM
Youngest kiddo has a friend staying over this weekend. So far I've fed them both:

 multiple grilled cheese sandwiches using bread and cheese that I'd been keeping an eye on and knowing would have to be tossed in a couple days if not consumed.
Cereal that the kids have consistently ignored despite my begging
Milk that needs to be used up
Some sad fruit into a smoothie. My kid liked it, the other picky kid claimed to like it and forced me to pour him more, then after he heard it had frozen blueberries in it, he said he didn't like blueberries and therefore now didn't like the smoothie and poured it down the sink >:(

Have reminded my husband that he needs to use up a 20+ oz bottle of Tapatio hot sauce that he bought ages ago. Its so spicy I use just the tiniest bit and that doesn't seem to make a dent at all.

On a personal consumption note I used up a half a head of cabbage, too many extra onions (from urban food rescue), some baby carrots that looked dry and a can of coconut milk with some thai curry paste to make a cheap stew.
I've managed to drain both fridge / freezer combos to the point that everything could be condensed into 1 fridge. The goal is to continue and condense before our 2 week trip at the end of June.

School ends this Thursday and that means the 3 kids are no longer eating free breakfast or lunch at school so I anticipate much larger food bills coming up. Also going to try to be mindful of cooking meals or suggesting items that help keep going through the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 21, 2022, 07:55:17 PM
-We ate lots of leftovers throughout the week (tacos, burgers, etc)
-I used up a few really close to being tossed carrots in a chicken yakisoba. Bonus, took care of one package of "roast beef" flavored ramen, that I picked up for $.25. The yakisoba recipe doesn't call for the flavoring, so any of the noodle packs will do.
-I've been making my way through a gyro bowl that I got as a takeout dinner on Thursday. So far, it's fed me for a dinner, a lunch, and enough for at least one more lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 22, 2022, 01:18:43 PM
Made zucchini muffins today, using a lot of random ingredients:
-Two containers of shredded zucchini, from the freezer. These are from last summer's zucchini produce. I'm trying to eat through what we still have frozen before the new zucchinis are ready to be picked.
-Used up the last of slivered almonds (from Thanksgiving) in the muffins, as well as other random nuts we had around
-Used up (almost all of) a bag of dried fruit that was purchased for unknown reasons
-Used the last of some almond flour that was about to go bad
-A random stick of butter that was in the freezer (?) We don't store our butter in the freezer, so this was particularly mysterious. Found it while I was unearthing the zucchini.

Bonus - the muffins are amazing, and I got two batches out of the ingredients. Win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 23, 2022, 02:23:04 PM
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.  Since my last post:

~DH used some horseradish and BBQ sauce on last night's smoked ribs.  Still not enough to empty any bottles.  I was going to make air fried eggplant fries to go with supper, but alas, I didn't get to the eggplant in time.  $1.41 into the garbage.  So I made air fried brussels sprouts instead.  Never again, LOL.

~Used the lime in my vodka cocktails

~I used the rest of a squeeze mayo in egg salad.

~The remaining balsamic vinegar dressing will be used up on my three salads this week.

~The remaining spicy pickles went into DH's lunch cooler.

~I put the remaining blue cheese stuffed olives into a container for my lunches.

~Last night I processed fresh produce for the week:  Blueberries, strawberries, celery, bell peppers, baby carrots, cucumber, baby spinach, and romaine.  I made salads out of the latter three ingredients topped with the remaining feta, kalamata olives, and sliced turkey.  The salads used up a package of baby spinach and the remaining romaine head.  Large containers of the two types of berries were part of last week's grocery pickup, so I washed them, and a third each will be part of DH and my lunches, and a third went into the freezer.  DH bought iceberg to supplement sandwiches in much-to-his-chagrin gluten free bread I bought him last week.

~Tonight's supper will include sauteed asparagus and baby spinach, with a side of steamed broccoli.  Tomorrow includes a keto skillet which will utilize the yellow squash.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 23, 2022, 02:57:41 PM
@MountainGal - I would have expected air fried brussels sprouts to be pretty good. What happened? Was it a texture issue?

-I had orange chicken & fried rice leftovers for brunch yesterday, nicely cleaning out two containers from the fridge.
-For dinner tonight, I have a late meeting & needed an easy dinner option. I defrosted two small packages of grilled chicken. He'll make rice to go with that, and I prepped a big salad yesterday to round things out.
-We also have leftover yakisoba & egg roll in a bowl, so those will keep us going for the rest of the week (or, mostly).

It's a really busy work week for me, plus finals week for the kids, so easy options for the win.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on May 24, 2022, 06:13:07 PM
Over the past few days:

Made a non preferred mac n cheese box for the kids. It was eaten
Finished off some trader joes cauliflower crackers. Almost finished off the pepper jelly. May go attack the final tbsp or so with a spoon after this post
Convinced DH to finish off this Thai stew I made since it seems I've developed an allergy to coconut (2nd time I've reacted after eating canned coconut milk / coconut oil)
Cooked a ready made panera mac n cheese bowl that one of the kids was taking to school regularly but then abruptly quit eating once i stocked up. Kid abandoned it again. Oh well.

Time to go evaluate the newly urban foraged produce in the garage fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 25, 2022, 07:49:55 PM
I've been eating at the office for lunch this week, but plan to WFH tomorrow, so I can take a teen to school with an enormous poster board & two text books. I've planned my lunch, and will be having grilled chicken & salad, using the last of a bag of salad that really needs to be eaten.

-Tonight was a long work day, so I took an easy path & made chicken sandwiches. I remembered the leftover brioche buns in the freezer, and briefly popped them in the oven to toast them.
-I picked 30 oranges from our neighbor's tree (with her permission). Her tree extends over our fence, and if we don't pick the oranges, they fall into our pool, which becomes a problem. I now have 30 oranges to deal with this weekend. I'm thinking orange muffins, & the rest to juice, which I'll use in the kids smoothies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 26, 2022, 01:24:48 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, yes it was both a texture and taste issue.  Apparently, air fryers draw out the moisture of the brussels sprouts, whereas one wants to put moisture in?  I received feedback on one of my other social accounts frying them on the stove w/ bacon is much better.  Side note:  Orange chicken is one of my favorites.  :)

@fuzzy math, thank you for posting!  I must check out those Trader Joe's crackers.

DH is going to smoke a tenderloin this weekend which will utilize more horseradish.  This evening, I am going to ask a chicken owning neighbor if she would like me to start saving the ends and peels of my weekly produce for them.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 26, 2022, 01:29:33 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, yes it was both a texture and taste issue.  Apparently, air fryers draw out the moisture of the brussels sprouts, whereas one wants to put moisture in?  I received feedback on one of my other social accounts frying them on the stove w/ bacon is much better.  Side note:  Orange chicken is one of my favorites.  :)

@fuzzy math, thank you for posting!  I must check out those Trader Joe's crackers.

DH is going to smoke a tenderloin this weekend which will utilize more horseradish.  This evening, I am going to ask a chicken owning neighbor if she would like me to start saving the ends and peels of my weekly produce for them.

@MountainGal - if you eat rice, I prefer the TJ's rice crackers over the cauliflower version, so maybe try both & see which you prefer.

I desperately need to figure out what to do with the runaway cilantro. It's everywhere. Oh, and the mint. We have the mint on its own (old fire pit, as we can't have fires here), and it's taken over the entire space. Need to have a plan for using some up!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on May 27, 2022, 08:38:39 PM
I second the tiny rice crackers being better than the cauliflower ones. The cauli ones also come in a 2.5 oz package... not something I'd buy again probably.

Finished off a package of frozen meatballs, a head of kale, some freezer burnt tamales, a frozen cauliflower pizza,  fast food hot sauce packets and some chocolate that MIL brought over. Sad baby carrots got finished too.

I've been responsible these past 2 weeks and only had 3 shopping trips (for 5 ppl and many animals): an Aldi trip at $95, a local grocery at $40 (mostly sale bacon) and a Sams club at $212 that included months worth of dog food and toilet paper. The ultimate goal is to eat through ALL the older stuff in the freezer, some of which may date back as far as 2-3 years. We have no idea honestly. Then going to restock with current items so I can confidently say everything is from 2022.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 30, 2022, 03:33:00 AM
6 weeks to go till our holiday to France and I want to have the fridge/freezer as empty as possible. So we're going to start this week.
First the shed-fridge which includes leftovers from our Greek inspired dinner of saturday (only some salad, pasta and olives left) and a few fresh veggies which I need to take out, so I can turn this thing off again (major electricity-user, so double win).
And then the regular fridge which also has leftovers in it from a Friday night unexpected visitors dinner, where I managed to talk everybody out of the take-out option (Chinese food) and into me rushing to the bakery and picking up some delicious breads with all kind of condiments (which saved me at least 50 euro compared to the take-out).
So this week will be eating the leftovers and reorganise the fridge so I can have an overview of what we still have in stock and try to minimise the shopping.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 30, 2022, 05:40:59 PM
Haven't figured out what to make with the runaway spices yet, but I did do the following:
-Juiced all of the oranges & made most of them into two dozen orange muffins
-Used the rest of the orange juice into fruit smoothies
-Used the last of a sketch looking bag of lettuce into a salad, and topped with a bonus piece of chicken from a kid's lunch leftovers

I'm flying to Hawaii on Friday (~6 hour flight from my house), and need to pack at least one meal. I'm looking through the pantry/fridge options, and it's going to be something sketchy for sure. PB&J on a hot dog bun? Plus random snacks? Who knows, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to pay for airport food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on May 30, 2022, 07:33:45 PM
PBJ on a hot dog bun sounds delicious! Just use extra jelly.  Pack some baby carrots, an orange, some leftover cheese and you're good to go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 30, 2022, 08:05:18 PM
PBJ on a hot dog bun sounds delicious! Just use extra jelly.  Pack some baby carrots, an orange, some leftover cheese and you're good to go.
@fuzzy math - I will report back with, what is sure to be, an incredible combination!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 31, 2022, 01:03:08 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache , what about those orange muffins..... they should be good for a flight? Last week I took some banana bread (which I had frozen) on my flight. Was delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on May 31, 2022, 12:51:59 PM
Thank you for your rice vs cauliflower cracker feedback, @MaybeBabyMustache and @fuzzy math!  And I'm glad the flight to Hawaii subject came up, as I am headed that way this summer.  I am one to pack snacks, too, as I am a low-carber and find airport offerings sparse and expensive.

Our chicken owning neighbor said they would appreciate the produce remnants.  Yay less garbage waste!

DH has been "working with" the gluten free bread I bought him.  He's been toasting it to use for sandwiches and last night's burger bun.

Been working through the head of iceberg DH bought and used only once.  So far, it's made for yummy side salads, and a "bed" for my burger patty last night.  We'll have some shredded on tonight's nachos.  I'm going to make tortilla chips using some low carb tortillas.

Baby spinach has been used for side salads and Thursday the rest will be sauteed with spaghetti squash and topped with homemade walnut pesto.  Still working on the Sam's Club bag of walnuts, LOL.

Broccoli slaw has been steamed and topped with butter and parmesan, was sprinkled on top of my burger patty last night for some crunch and will be placed on top of tonight's nachos.  I love that stuff, but one bag goes a long way!

The semi-locally made queso was drizzled on top of last night's burgers, will go on tonight's nachos and Saturday's Navajo tacos which I haven't yet had time to make.

Still so many condiments....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on June 02, 2022, 10:14:39 AM
This is a continuous struggle.  I keep a meticulous inventory (spreadsheet), plan weekly around what I have, eat 90% at home, and my freezers and pantry are still bursting at the seams.  And it's a cycle - I'll cook a whole pound of beans, and several 2-cup containers of them end up in the freezer, or I'll use them to make a dozen burritos that get frozen. 
Or I'll grill a whole bunch of chicken boobs from the bottom of the deep freeze, or a box of 14 bratwurst at a time, and then freeze a bunch of them, cooked, for quick future meals.
Or I'll have everything I need to make red beans and rice except smoked ham shanks, but they come from a butcher shop I don't visit that often so I'll buy them 4 at a time and freeze 3. 
Or, I'm missing one key ingredient to make the perfect recipe to use up like four things in the freezer.  Right now if I could unlock a bunch of great combinations if I bought pork shoulder and pork tenderloin, but the cheapest way to do that is a 15 pound pork shoulder that needs to be cut up, and - you guessed - frozen, and unless I buy the tenderloins close to when I'll cook them, they need to be frozen too, and I literally don't have room.
And this week I'm stalled on any freezer/pantry progress because I hosted Memorial Day and have so. many. leftovers.
Anyone else feel like this is a Sisyphean endeavor sometimes? 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 03, 2022, 01:56:42 AM
I had a good week. Leftovers will (hopefully) be finished at lunchtime today with two hungry teens joining me for lunch.
Shed-fridge got turned off yesterday, so this is already a major win.
Teens did a good job with finally finishing the boxes (you know, those with just a little bit left in it....) of cereal in the pantry. This is giving me some space.
Today will be dinner from the pantry (canned veggies), fridge (fresh veggies) and freezer (some meat and some potatoe-type thing I found deep down there....).
Tomorrow we will have dinner at my parents, where I offered to bring a pasta salad, which will use up half a bag of pasta which I found this week in the pantry, some canned corn, the last few tomatoes and other veggies.
Sunday is time for drinks and dinner at friends, where I offered to make some baked goodies. This will use up flour, sugar, butter, eggs and some other items from the pantry.
5 weeks to go and I think I will be in pretty good shape when we get there.

@dividend, I recognise the continuous struggle and the fact that you're just missing 1 item to make a great combination. Sometimes it feels like the fridge/freezer only have veggies in there, while the next week, it feels like there is only meat in there. Never the right amount or combination to avoid shopping/additional stuff to be put in.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 03, 2022, 06:59:37 AM
Nice work turning off the shed fridge @Dutch Comfort ! And, thanks for the suggestion on the muffins. I leave this morning, and just found out I got upgraded to first class for the flight. I don't have much status, but was on the upgrade list due to preCOVID work flights. There should be food, so I'm just packing a few snacks, which works well, as a hungry teen ate one of the planned items I had set aside from the fridge. ;-)

I managed to use up many fridge items this week, as my husband will be running the house while I'm gone. He's wonderful, & quite a chef, but doesn't enjoy using up leftovers. I did everything I could to leave the fridge relatively empty, knowing he'll prefer to grocery shop tomorrow & start fresh.
-Used up two pieces of chicken (leftover from teen dinner). While not my favorite, they suitably served in two sandwich wraps
-Used a bag of freezer edamame. One as a side dish to a dinner, the other on top of a salad
-Used freezer chicken for a salad, and for the main dish of dinner one night

I picked my first zucchini (it tripled in size in just a few days) & now need to seriously start getting on top of the garden. Things are growing like mad!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on June 03, 2022, 11:07:47 AM
A while back I bought a precooked boneless turkey breast from Costco. It was fairly large so we cut it in half and froze both sections. We pulled out one section to defrost the other day and warmed slices up in some gravy last night. It really was a good looking piece of meat and beautiful white meat. However, It had a weird texture and the meat was salty. I ate a little of it and that was it. I chucked out the rest of the meat this morning and Mr. Roadrunner threw out the other frozen hunk. He did not like it either. BLEH! So that will be permanently off my list of foods to buy in the future. I am assuming they pumped it full of salt solution. YUK!

Normally, I try to salvage things that are a tad off but this meat was just wrong! The only salvage it got was the garbage can.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 03, 2022, 10:24:59 PM
I cook like that too @dividend ... sometimes it feels like I took less food and somehow made more food out of it. Great for the eating part, just hard to store.

@Roadrunner53 rancid freezer meat is THE WORST. DH always freezes old turkey and its freaking nasty. I'm going to have to start throwing it away out of principle.

Cooked borscht here today using mostly free produce and pickled a quart worth of red onions. My older produce haul is almost gone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 04, 2022, 03:25:56 PM
Emptied both fridge drawers to salvage what I could. The grapes had to go to the compost, along with one apple and an onion. The carrots, celery, peppers, and green onions were still ok and one apple was wizened but still good inside. Used the celery and carrots to go with some dip and my tiny sandwich made from the last heel of bread.

I'll have to buy some eggs to make muffins using the diced apple and some frozen berries in a cornbread mix. I found a second carton of oatmeal in the freezer, so I have plenty to make cookies to take to work to use up the rest of the coconut, chocolate chips, and dried fruit.

I'll make some chicken salad with the green onions that will be great for sandwiches or salads this week.

Found two guavas in the freezer that I turned into a smoothie with the last of the oj, the end of a carton of milk, and some of the frozen berries. So my entire lunch today was salvage.

I was thinking about @dividend's issue with having to buy things to finish up other items. On my part, I think I'll stop buying bundled produce at Aldi--if I only need one pepper for a recipe but I have to buy three and two go bad, or I have buy more ingredients to use them up, I'm not saving money. It would actually be cheaper and less wasteful (of food and plastic, as Aldi loves to wrap produce in plastic) if I went to a regular store that sold loose produce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 07, 2022, 02:36:37 PM
Thank you for the reminder, @okisok.  I put making overnight oats into my calendar.

Random things:
~Used the remaining avocado as a fry bread side
~The remaining iceberg was used as a bed for my cheeseburger patty
~Drizzled strawberry balsamic onto my salad yesterday.  Just one more serving of it remains.
~Ate the rest of the macadamia granola for Friday night's snack
~The remaining half cucumber was diced into two salads for this week
~Leftover enchiladas from May were pulled from the freezer so DH can eat them for lunches.  Yay more freezer space!
~Salmon cream cheese was schmeared onto low carb tortillas to make turkey wraps.  About 1/3 container remains.
~Grilled portobello mushrooms were served under last night's grilled burgers
~Discovered a package of little smokies in the back of a fridge drawer with a use by date of NOW, LOL.  So, I'll wrap them in bacon and air fry them tonight.

~The remaining fresh vegetables:
Tonight, baby spinach and spaghetti squash with alfredo sauce and canned chicken
Wed., a skillet of zucchini and yellow squash with beef sausage, air fried artichokes on the side
Thurs., broccoli slaw will go on top of cod tacos, and the remaining zucchini will be made into air fried fries



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 08, 2022, 06:29:48 AM
4.5 weeks to go before our holiday and the freezer definitely needs to be emptied. Fridge is doing OK-ish and I'm trying to finish one thing every day from the pantry. So far, I managed to get from the pantry:
- Saturday: some couscous, a can of corn
- Sunday: flour and sugar for baking cakes
- Monday: a bag of prawn crackers
- Tuesday: last few of the chocolate easter eggs
- Today: a can of lentils, pasta and tomato sauce

I have stocked up on a few easy-to-make-items for dinner next week, since we will have no time for dinner preparations during the week due to the teens activities (end of school year evening walking event for 4 evenings....).
Cakes and chocolates from the weekend are gone, salads are almost gone (DD had pasta-salad for breakfast, DS took some to school). I made a nice lunch salad from the last of the celery sticks, half a cucumber, a leftover part of smoked chicken and a small can of lentils.
As from this weekend, I will start doing to-the-point groceries, so there will be no buildup of inventory somewhere and we will just use what is in the pantry/fridge/freezer. It might make some strange combinations, but it usually helps emptying the cupboards.
I have checked the pantry and we will definitely have a few rice-dishes (found 3 opened packages of brown rice....), some pizza-like things (I found 2 cans of pizza-tomato-sauce), soup (there is broth and frozen veggies in the freezer) and pancakes (found maple syrup, icing sugar and pancake-mix) in the next couple of weeks. Now I just need to plan these meals, so I do not buy any groceries for those days. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 08, 2022, 06:08:42 PM
Used up old italian sausage, an unloved can of black refried beans, an unloved can of enchilada sauce and an old brick of colby cheese (which i personally dislike) to make layered enchiladas. it turned out great except that the enchilada sauce really kinda sucks. still got eaten

Eating up some out of date fancy salad mix and cherry tomatoes

Ate the last knockwurst from a package

Kids are cooking and required 8 oz of baking chocolate. Between all the odds and ends, candy, and chocolate chips we found enough.

Giving DH instructions to eat other leftovers
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 11, 2022, 06:33:24 PM
-Used up the leftover fried rice as lunch, by adding eggs & warming it back up in the pan. (Did this twice, and the fried rice is now gone).
-Kept on top of leftovers, and ensured the teens were eating the freshest food first
-I'm flying solo with the teens this weekend, so meals have been a bit scrappy. Smoothies (using up lots of things) + corn dogs from the bottom of the freezer were served last night
-More smoothies today, and we're making good progress on the giant bag of protein powder
-I picked a bunch of lettuce from the garden, & used that for a salad bed for dinner last night.

Tonight will be taco quesadillas, using taco meat from the freezer, as well as tortillas & cheese that I need to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 12, 2022, 03:48:24 PM
@MountainGal, I made overnight oatmeal after I posted, too! It's so lovely to just pop that glass jar in the microwave and have a hot, filling breakfast ready with almost no effort at the time.

I still haven't made the cornbread muffins. With last weeks fridge cleanout I had enough to skip the grocery shop, so no eggs. Now I have eggs but it's really hot here and I don't want to fire up the oven. Maybe the air fryer....

After several events at work, I ended up with lots of free meals and some leftovers. I have a bag of fresh fruit from a platter that I might end up freezing for smoothies. When it's this hot I don't feel like cooking or eating much.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 13, 2022, 03:17:09 PM
Right on, @okisok!  I also made two jars last night utilizing the rest of some very sad looking frozen raspberries, some honey that needs some loving and about a tablespoon of flaxseed.  Only one more tablespoon of the latter remains.

@fuzzy math, I love your children's resourcefulness!

~Poking around the back pantry food storage shelves, I discovered two boxes of crackers are nearing their expiry dates.  Apparently I ordered just a bit too much during the holiday season.  They went with DH to the shop today.
~Another box of crackers expires next month, so I put DH on alert.
~I finally remembered to check the baking ingredient tote and discovered an unopen bag of melting chocolate (cannot remember why I bought them during holiday baking season? They aren't as tasty as melted chocolate chips), a HUGE half used bag of chocolate chips, and another unopened regular sized.  All nearing expiration.  I used half the bag of melting chocolate to dip strawberries and blueberries and will use the rest next weekend for macadamia nuts.  Because it's so hot outside, I'm not utilizing the oven, so I'll bake pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on the Traeger.  The cookies will utilize a can of pumpkin, some of the chips, and brown and granulated sugars.
~The remaining parmesan and pork rind breading I blended last week was used on air fried artichokes.
~The rest of the sour cream will go on tomorrow's tacos.
~Last week's alfredo spaghetti squash served as my Thursday supper, and lunch Saturday and Sunday.
~We used a few dabs of creamy horseradish on last night's steaks.  Condiment baby steps, LOL.
~Last week I did use up the last of the ranch and balsamic dressings here at the office.
~The remaining bit of cream cheese went into DH's lunch for his celery.

Speaking of unopened things, a few months ago I bought some apple cider vinegar with the mother per a friend's suggestion for health reasons and haven't yet utilized.  I'll use some in tonight's pork chop and tomorrow's shrimp taco recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 13, 2022, 06:09:32 PM
DP wanted tacos last night so I did a batch cook. The tacos cleared out a pound of hamburger, a can of roasted tomatoes, and some frozen peppers. DP used the last two tortillas and I made a taco salad.

Two boxes of cornbread mix turned into 1) plain cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet and 2) a batch of muffins with the frozen apple and some coconut. Way more coconut than I intended because a big clump fell out of the jar, but they turned out delicious! I mixed up both boxes in the same bowl, then poured half into the skillet and dumped the fruit & coconut into the rest.

Since the oven was on for the cornbread, I put some black beans in the oven. Then I found the last packet of falafel and put it on a cookie sheet instead of frying it in oil. That made four pans in the oven at once.

Two boxes, two cans, one frozen package, and two pantry packages out. Two dinner servings last night and a lunch salad for me today, with two more servings and two more snacks.

I love the way this thread helps me keep on top of my grocery spending and pantry organization. It was so nice to crave tacos and have everything we need and be able to prep for other meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 13, 2022, 10:22:56 PM
-Used up the last of some sliced cheese on taco quesadillas
-Made up a double batch of chicken fajitas, using cilantro & peppers from the garden. We have enough leftover for dinner tomorrow as well. Bonus, we'll also use up the tortillas I want to finish off.
-My 16 y.o. is working at a summer camp, and doesn't feel the need to bring a traditional "lunch". As a result, he's been lazily packing protein bars that have been sitting untouched in the pantry for months. I think they are part of a variety pack, and this is the undesirable flavor. Whatever works.
-Made spaghetti with meatballs tonight. Combined a bolognese sauce (freezer) with a $1 jar of sauce and meatballs (freezer). Made enough for two dinners.

I need to seriously stay on top of the garden produce. That's my new challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 14, 2022, 01:01:49 PM
Glad your garden is successful, @MaybeBabyMustache!

As of last night's HOA meeting, I'm going to double this Friday's pumpkin chocolate chip recipe.  Half will be for a group gathering Saturday, and half I'll take to a new sub-contractor the HOA board hired.  We want them to stay happy with us, LOL.  If there are any left, I'll take them to the local VA center.

And because our social plans were cancelled last weekend, I still have two pasta salad kits to utilize.  I'll cook them up, and some extra goodies to them, and bring them to this Saturday's gathering.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 16, 2022, 06:28:31 AM
Managed to stay away from take-out this week (so far), which is a big win with all the end-of-school activities.
Made a salad of 1/2 cucumber, a few lingering tomatoes, some leftover meat and some leftover cooked veggies for lunch.
Added a few slices of sugary bread as a desert and I was good to go.

DD and DS are doing their best to finish all random snacks in the pantry in these last few days of school before summer holiday. I stated that I'm not buying new, so they have to work around what we have! So far, they are making good progress.
Only 3 more weeks to go before our holiday. It's getting hot here, so I think I will start eating some icecream from the freezer with DS, who will get home in 30 mins. Somebody has to finish those goodies!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 16, 2022, 12:02:10 PM
@Dutch Comfort, I've also been focusing on pantry and office snacks.  Yesterday I finished the bag of pecans here at the office.  In the past, I would've added other nuts to the grocery list.  Instead, last night I packaged up some almonds to bring.

Last night we had queso on top of our shrimp tacos.  About a 1/4 cup is left.  Yay!

I brought leftover ribeye to serve on top of today's salad.

Instead of buying pre-made or a mix, Sunday I am going to use more baking ingredients to make DH some birthday brownies.  It is HOT here, so I'll use the air fryer or Traeger in lieu of oven.

I'll refrain from buying the salad dressing my mom recommended until we use up more of what we currently have.

This month's food, HBA and cleaning spending is about half of last months, so the inventory laser focus is working.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 17, 2022, 12:21:42 AM
@MountainGal Good that you managed to half your spending!

I'm already thinking about next week's family gathering (will host around 10-15 additional people for dinner) and decided that the pantry rice supply will be turned into a nice big batch of fried rice with veggies (my easy, big batch recipe that will need some preparation, but on the day itself will be done in 15 minutes). We will grill some chicken to go with it (also preparation, but only needs 10-15 minutes cooking time (or, when the weather allows, BBQ by DH), make spring rolls (can be prepared the day before and fried on the go) and make some vegetarian side dish for the non-meat eaters. This will use up a few opened bags of rice, the tempeh that is in my freezer and various condiments in the fridge to go with the spring rolls.

I find that this kind of planning really helps in using up the various pantry items.

Today we will have the last veggies from the fridge and some ground beef to go into tortilla's, together with a can of diced tomatoes, some leftover corn and a can of beans. Will check if there are some cheese-endings in the fridge which I can turn into grated cheese to top it off!

Tomorrow will be freezer time...... we just eat odds and ends which are in the freezer and see how the meals turns out......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 17, 2022, 04:47:43 PM
Had some rescued tomatoes and onions... used them to make a giant pot of vegetarian chili, which I must now be diligent in eating, and diligent in harassing DH to consume.

Managed to find a leftover partial sleeve of crackers for one of the kids who was requesting crackers to accompany some sliced cheese.

Decided for the meantime to cream my coffee with milk instead of half and half, so I haven't been buying (and wasting!) half and half for the past few weeks. It also makes there be less things to think about buying, watching levels on, taking up space etc.

MIL dropped some vegan butter off a while back and its almost gone. I'm not eating it yuck!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 18, 2022, 05:12:24 PM
I've had luck with freezing portions of half & half in an ice cube tray. I don't drink it and DP doesn't always go through it fast enough in his coffee before it goes bad. I keep an eye on the date and the smell and pour it into an empty ice cube tray before it goes bad. When it's frozen solid, I dump the cubes into a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer. DH can toss one into his coffee and none gets poured down the drain. He says he prefers it, so I should probably start freezing it all as soon as I bring it home from the store...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 20, 2022, 04:30:08 AM
Saturday, two frozen pizza's made it our of the freezer.
Sunday, DS requested a tray bake, which took care of various veggies and a piece of spicy sausage which lingered in the fridge.

This week mainly lunches and breakfast will come from pantry/freezer/fridge items. I found my grocery bill yesterday to be smaller than usual, so this gives me hope that we will get to the inventory items! Kids still manage to find snacks in the pantry. No complaints so far and I start to see some empty space here and there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 21, 2022, 08:00:35 AM
We had barbecued chicken last night (using barbecue sauce dregs from the fridge) & forgot to pick up a veggie side to go with it. I went to the garden & picked tomatoes & basil. Would have been great with fresh mozzarella, but we don't have any. So, just let chopped tomatoes & basil marinate with olive oil, balsamic, salt & pepper for about 20 minutes. It was amazing!

Using lots of lettuce from the garden.

Tonight - planning to make a new crockpot chicken recipe, subbing fresh tomatoes for canned (we're out), and using again lots of basil. We'll see how it turns out. I also have a mystery squash (garden) in the fridge that I'll roast as a side.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 21, 2022, 12:17:17 PM
Thanks, @Dutch Comfort!  And your post reminded me about the large quantity of rice we have.  I'll cook up some tonight for DH to go with our ground beef tacos.

Regarding coffee accompaniments, a few years ago I switched to unsweetened almond milk.  It is also good for smoothies, recipes, and pouring it over keto granola satisfies my cereal craving.

~6 dozen homemade cookies used up a can of pumpkin, the opened package of flour, and most of the large bag of chocolate chips.
~I ended up "baking" the brownies in the air fryer.  They turned out SO good!  Put the rest of the above chips in them, and they also used some cocoa powder and 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate.  Baby steps!
~Boxed crackers #3 went with DH to work today.
~Slowly using the apple cider vinegar via a faux (cauliflower) potato salad and in a vinaigrette poured over salmon. I'll use some in tonight's homemade salad dressing and in Thursday's slow cooker pork shoulder sauce.
~Packaged up the remaining green olives to bring to the office.
~Condiments:  Finished a large bottle of BBQ sauce, DH put chipotle ranch on his eggplant fries the other night, and we are going to give the leftover bottle of relish and ketchup to the neighbors.  The latter two are from a recent group event, and the neighbor kiddos LOVE ketchup.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 22, 2022, 08:56:23 AM
@MountainGal I'm intrigued by cauliflower potato salad!

At the fuzzy household we've used up

- a squirt bottle of curry masala sauce
- some older rice in a fried rice dish which also finished off the remnants of a bag of peas. Managed to sneak a 2nd egg into it after "egg hating child" demanded only one egg in it :D
- we have a gallon size zip lock bag of restaurant condiment and salt and pepper packets. I try to exclusively pull from there because it gets filled at an alarming rate. don't think we'll ever have to buy soy sauce, ketchup or hot sauce again
- some frozen chicken thighs... out of frozen chicken now yikes!
- have used up over 10 lbs of free onions... down to the last 2 now. should coincide nicely with our vacation in a week
- a small weird cauliflower head that my MIL gave us

Ultimate goal is to unplug the garage fridge before we leave next week. This is complicated by me having found some great deals on frozen pizzas and Brazi bites and refilling our primary freezer. Its always such a balance buying deals vs having too much food!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 22, 2022, 11:12:01 AM
Thanks, @fuzzy math!  The faux potato salad recipe I follow is so old it no longer pops up on an internet search.  If you do a search, however, there are many different variations to choose from.  My time saving tip is to use frozen cauliflower florets instead of fussing with an entire head.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on June 23, 2022, 02:21:11 PM
I'll join in. Clearing out our freezer & pantry of some things I stockpiled during Covid; I obviously over purchased and prefer to eat fresh foods. Made a pasta dish this week using what was left of a partial box of pasta, a partial jar of leftover marinara sauce and several open bags of mozzarella. Added fresh basil from the garden. Tonight I've thawed a steak and will likely eat fresh okra from the garden. Trying to stay out of the grocery store and using up what we have.
Taking leftovers all week to work to create less food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 24, 2022, 01:53:05 AM
@fuzzy math , I totally agree. The balance between having too much food and stocking up on deals is extremely difficult.

Today, I do not have a specified meal ready. So I need to explore the pantry, fridge and freezer to come up with something. It might be homemade pizza, since I think I will have most items on hand for making the dough. Just the toppings need some exploring. I know there is some mozzarella, some grated cheese, a bell pepper and some salami in the fridge. And a can of tomatoe sauce and some fresh unions in the pantry. So I think this should do it for tonight.

Yesterday, it was hot here. DD wanted a snack and before they could think about going to any fastfood chain to get icecream/milkshake, I talked them into making our own shakes at home. So this finished the last bag of strawberries, emptied a leftover vanille ice-cream bucket (Jay for freezer space!) and used up some milk from the fridge. Double win (no money left the house and more space in fridge/freezer) for me!

Tomorrow, I will start the preparation for a family gathering on Sunday where about 15 adults will have dinner in our house. Last week, I found chicken thights on sale, so I'm turning those into Indonesian-style BBQ-chicken. Together with a large pan of Indo-style fried rice and some side dishes (Indonesian peanut sauce, spicy tempeh, cucumber salad, fried unions, shrimp crackers), this should be sufficient! Any leftovers will be taken into next week's menu options.

Only 2 weeks to go before our holiday. Fridge is quite OK, freezer is still loaded, but after Sunday, I expect to see some empty spots.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 24, 2022, 07:01:24 AM
Things I'm excited about:

- bought a clearance white board that has magnets that say things like "chore list" "meal planning" "shopping list" and I plan to make it my home base next to the fridge telling people what leftovers need to be eaten and have everyone write down their grocery needs there too
- finishing off the vegetarian chili and some rice for lunch
- have discovered the lowest prices for some things that were accidentally rotting when we'd buy larger quantities and now I'm buying smaller packages of those items so no waste going forwards hopefully!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 24, 2022, 12:35:52 PM
Welcome, @GardenBaker!

@Dutch Comfort, those homemade shakes sound tasty!  I'm doing something similar tonight by serving taco pizza.  It'll use one of the prepared cauliflower crusts in the freezer, a can of tomato paste, the rest of the taco meat, a portion of the cheddar wedge, and hopefully, finally, the rest of the queso.

I like the white board idea, @fuzzy math.

Brought the two condiments to the neighbor's yesterday.

Speaking of taco meat, other than the aforementioned pizza, the two pounds of ground beef I cooked Tuesday yielded supper for two that night, leftovers for two the following night, and lunch for me today.

Per my request earlier this week, DH brought with him to work for lunches the leftover frozen ham from I cannot remember how long ago.

Instead of putting more snacks onto the grocery list, I've continued to nibble on almonds, keto cheese crackers, and as of last night, a bag of flavored pork rinds.

This weekend's focus:  Brunch tomorrow will be smoothies to use frozen strawberries.  Sunday will include some of the not so tasty sausage links I bought several months ago.  Silly me thinking they would be good just because they are maple flavored.  And, naturally, it's a rather large bag.  I'll also make a stack of blueberry pancakes to use up some of the frozen blueberries and tasty blueberry preserves.  Oh, and perhaps some of the chocolate chips which need to be consumed?  The homemade pancake mix recipe I make and keep on hand is very convenient.  https://thesupermomlife.com/homemade-pancake-mix/ (https://thesupermomlife.com/homemade-pancake-mix/)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 26, 2022, 04:38:55 PM
Oven is broken, so I'm cooking around it until I can get it repaired.

Breakfast was a smoothie with the frozen berries and the last of the thawed plant milk that separated and looked weird but tasted fine.

Mixed berry cobbler in the air fryer, using up some of the endless frozen berries, some of the almond flour, and a butter stick scrap.

Rice pudding in the crock put, using up half of the coconut milk and some bulk rice.

Thawed out the rest of the local sausage and fried it up. Half of it went into some breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs.
The last bit that wouldn't make a full burrito got tossed into some meh fried rice I'd frozen a while ago to jazz it up.
The other half got tossed into some chickpea penne and jarred garlic alfredo sauce.

Next up is some chicken salad to use up the last of the cut green onions. The bulb ends were rooted out in water for the past two weeks and planted in a pot for continued onion harvests.

The cornbread is all gone. I chopped up the last serving that had gone stale into croutons. Put the pieces in the air fryer with a bit of olive oil and some Herbs de Provence. They came out so delicious I ate them all as a snack before they made it to a salad.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 27, 2022, 08:53:55 AM
Not that much left from the family gathering. Fried rice only has 1 serving left together with the vegetarian dish. BBQ chicken has about 4 servings left, so enough for a hot day where I do not feel like cooking. I only need to add some bread or rice and a salad.

For the fridge, I have a lot of veggies left, so a lot of lunch/snack opportunities this week. I decided that I will check on a daily basis what is left and only buy the needed groceries to make meals for 1-2 days. This will involve some trips (by bike, so exercise!) to the supermarket, but will leave me with a hopefully empty fridge before we leave for our summer holiday. Only 12 days to go.......

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 27, 2022, 03:06:08 PM
@okisok, I don't use the oven in the summer so as to not heat up the house.  Instead, I also use the air fryer, along with the slow cooker and Traeger.  Those croutons sound delicious!

@Dutch Comfort, I also have been focusing on clearing things out before an upcoming holiday.

~Making an actual dent in the apple cider vinegar.  Last night a 1/4 cup or so was used along with a bit of strawberry balsamic (bought this last fall, so close to being finished), olive oil and basil to make a marinade.
~Nibbled on half a bag of pistachios Friday night.
~Fresh lemon juice frozen months ago:  I used one cube in Saturday's smoothie and will use another with tomorrow's seafood meal.
~Cooked half the remaining bag of sausage links.
~Organized the back pantry, put a few things into current rotation, and tossed a jalapeno sliced potato boxed mix which expired two years ago.  Oops.
~Yesterday's pancakes utilized the rest of the homemade pancake mix, so I'll make more.  We didn't have any blueberries left, but I did add about 1/3 bag of the remaining chocolate chips.  Still have ample pancake syrup.
~Going to make protein balls which will use up the crystalized honey.
~One of many cans of chicken will used tonight along with spaghetti squash, baby spinach, and homemade walnut pesto.  I finally have some fresh basil so I can make the latter.  Only a few more cups walnuts to go. Yay!
~There are several random freezer bags full of elk sticks and sausage, so I'll ask DH to start packing them in his lunches.
~Tomorrow's 7-layer salad will use most of the remaining bacon, the romaine, the rest of the blue cheese and cherry tomatoes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 27, 2022, 05:22:28 PM
We have so, so, so much garden lettuce. This is a wonderful problem to have, of course, but I hate waste, & lettuce doesn't exactly freeze. We have salads every night with dinner, so that's a given. Other creative options?

I'm also going to start offering bags of it to our neighbors.

Things I want to use up this week:
-Chicken enchiladas (freezer). My mom is awesome, and made these when she was visiting in April. I need the pan back, and the space in the freezer.
-Barbecued chicken (freezer). Will have over salads. ;-)
-Chicken fajita kit, purchased at Costco. The price was super misleading, so I want to use this before it goes bad. It was $$$, & I should have just made it myself.
-Tomatoes & peppers (garden). Planning on making at least a triple batch of pico de gallo, and then want to pickle the rest of the peppers. They are everywhere.
-Must eat/freeze the blueberries
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on June 27, 2022, 06:29:58 PM
We have so, so, so much garden lettuce. This is a wonderful problem to have, of course, but I hate waste, & lettuce doesn't exactly freeze. We have salads every night with dinner, so that's a given. Other creative options?

Maybe ssam/lettuce wraps? I haven't made them at home, but I'm sure there are easy homemade recipes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 27, 2022, 06:30:15 PM
@MountainGal I don't like to use the oven much, but today would be a nice cool day to make a huge batch of granola or some cookies! I can make those in the 2 QT air fryer, but that would take a very long time.

I've been working on the condiments. The hot mustard got used up in marinades and dressings. The Caesar salad dressing  has been drizzled over fresh broccoli as a side and will continue to get used up that way. It's super thick and doesn't 'dress' so much as 'slather' so it makes a great dip. Next will be the TWO bottles of fancy balsamic vinegar that I just can't use fast enough in dressings.

I had so much veggie broth from my scrap bag that I poured some in an ice cube tray to freeze into smaller portions. I can toss a cube into savory dishes that need a little liquid but not a whole pint. DH came out of the kitchen saying, "Honey?? There's something wrong with your ice cubes..." because they were a rusty brown instead of clear. I had a good laugh explaining that it was broth, not water. I dumped the of frozen cubes into a plastic bag so that we could free up a tray to make actual ice cubes.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 27, 2022, 06:43:24 PM
@okisok - at least he didn't try to use the "funny" ice for a cocktail!  That would have been....interesting....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 28, 2022, 10:46:07 AM
@okisok, good call on the granola or cookies.  If you did indeed make them, I bet your home smelled delicious!  And LOL at the ice cubes.

@MaybeBabyMustache, regarding the lettuce, maybe make a 7-layer salad?  There are many beautiful, inspirational pictures on the internet.  As I posted yesterday, mine will use up odds and ends in addition to the romaine.  And I'm going to add leftover black olives and half a cucumber to ours and make a dressing out of some of the apple cider vinegar.

Last night I made chocolate covered almonds (instead of the rather old macadamia nuts) to use up the rest of the Christmastime baking melting chocolate and the protein balls turned out well.  Tonight will be the last of the cod until grocery shopping next month.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on June 28, 2022, 04:28:54 PM
@MountainGal I don't like to use the oven much, but today would be a nice cool day to make a huge batch of granola or some cookies! I can make those in the 2 QT air fryer, but that would take a very long time.

I've been working on the condiments. The hot mustard got used up in marinades and dressings. The Caesar salad dressing  has been drizzled over fresh broccoli as a side and will continue to get used up that way. It's super thick and doesn't 'dress' so much as 'slather' so it makes a great dip. Next will be the TWO bottles of fancy balsamic vinegar that I just can't use fast enough in dressings.

I had so much veggie broth from my scrap bag that I poured some in an ice cube tray to freeze into smaller portions. I can toss a cube into savory dishes that need a little liquid but not a whole pint. DH came out of the kitchen saying, "Honey?? There's something wrong with your ice cubes..." because they were a rusty brown instead of clear. I had a good laugh explaining that it was broth, not water. I dumped the of frozen cubes into a plastic bag so that we could free up a tray to make actual ice cubes.


Great use of the fridge door is to make pulled pork, BBQ beans, or anything else like that. I have some pork in the crockpot, I used a bit of BBQ sauce, a bit of raspberry jam, sun dried tomatoes, and some random salsa. It has been cooking all day and it smells so good. I call it fridge door roast. The preteen loves it. I am serving it over some potatoes, and some random veggies from the fridge for dinner tonight.

I stocked up at the start of summer, and no again starting a no buy for the next while. We will see how this one goes I have way two much in my pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 29, 2022, 12:13:01 AM
Fried rice with vegetarian dish and last of the prawn crackers were DD's and my lunch yesterday. So this is gone!
DS and DH finished the last frozen pizza as a lunch on Monday.
Freezer is still stuffed, but hoping to get through some items this week.

Fridge is quite good. Still a lot of fresh produce in it that needs to be finished:
First bag of carrots gone, two to go.
First bag of snack tomatoes halfway, two and a half to go.
Still a few cucumbers lingering in the fridge, this will be turned into salad/side dishes at every meal

Found a few brown bananas at the fruit basket. This will turn into banana pancakes or banana bread/muffins. Might be good for a snack during our trip to France!

DS took some bell pepper and some leftover sausage as a snack to school. He also wanted sandwiches with the leftover cheese to go with the snack as his lunch. I happily agreed!

Hoping to talk my parents into a family start-of-the-holiday BBQ this weekend. This is something we usually do before the summer holiday and everyone brings the BBQ dishes that are still in the freezer/fridge to clean out. Makes a nice interesting BBQ every year!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on June 29, 2022, 01:12:06 PM
@seemsright, what a brilliant condiment usage!  I'll keep that in mind next time I'm working with a large protein.

@Dutch Comfort, thank you!  You inspired me to make some sort of comfort bread for our upcoming trip.

I put Monday's chocolate covered almond clusters into cupcake liners similar to the color of DH's company and sent them to work with him today.  Ingredient odds and ends leftover from last night's 7-layer salad also went with him for side salad purposes.  When he said they only had light (gasp!) ranch at the shop, I remembered we had a fast-food leftover container of ranch, so he took that, too.  The produce scrap bag for the neighbor chickens is getting full.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 29, 2022, 02:15:17 PM
We haven't gone shopping in 10 days or so, and the fridge is looking great! My husband has some food anxiety, and typically needs the fridge to be constantly stocked. However, our teens are out of town, so he is very relaxed about inventory & fridge fullness right now. Maybe this is a good sign for when it's just the two of us. :-) I love a fridge where you can see exactly what needs to be used up.

-Baked a pan of chicken enchiladas that my mom made for us in April (freezer). We have some leftovers of that, and a chicken fajita dish that need to be eaten.
-We're having barbecued chicken tonight (freezer) over salads, using up more of that copious amounts of lettuce, & other garden goodies. @MountainGal - I'll take a look at Seven Layer Salad - haven't had that for years! @Dollar Slice - lettuce wraps are a great idea! I'll try that out with some of our larger leaf lettuce varieties.

Still on the list:
-Blueberries
-All of the peppers. Still have plans this weekend for pico de gallo & pickled peppers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 29, 2022, 06:37:39 PM
Savory cocktails with veggie broth cubes, anyone? They might be delicious in a Bloody Mary!

I love the fridge door BBQ idea. I'm not a big BBQ fan, but DP is and that would be a great way to use up some meat scraps and condiments.

I overcooked the rice pudding so it was dry. I tried a spoonful in a smoothie as a thickener and it worked. So now I have many many smoothies worth of rice pudding. I may try mixing it in pancakes or muffins. I put some in the freezer so I don't have to use it all up so quickly. Now I'm hungry for pancakes...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 30, 2022, 05:54:54 AM
@okisok , how did you make your rice pudding?  I found a recipe to make it in a instapot that I want to try this weekend.  Because, it's always a great idea to try out new recipes when you have houseguests, right???

Unfortunately, I don't have an Instapot brand, I have a Crockpot Express brand pressure cooker.  I love the thing, but it doesn't have the "porridge" button described in my recipe....so I think I'm going to do Manual for 20 based on a quick google search, but if anyone has tried this before and has ideas, I'm all ears!!!

This is in an effort to use up some of the pandemic hoard of rice we've accumulated.  (so on-topic-ish)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 30, 2022, 12:57:50 PM
-Made grilled cheese to go with a box of tomato/red pepper soup that I've been wanting to use forever. It expired six months or so ago, but is still fine. One box down, one to go. I love soup, but my husband doesn't, so we rarely have it.
-Picked a bunch of lemons off of our tree. Next up will be to juice all of them. We use lemon juice as salad dressing, so the lemons will go well with all of that lettuce! ;)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on June 30, 2022, 07:20:27 PM
@Josiecat23503 Just a random recipe I googled that used coconut milk. The directions said to put the ingredients in a casserole dish inside the crockpot and cover with foil. I laid foil on top instead of wrapping it around the bowl, so all the moisture escaped into the crockpot bottom.

So today I took a cookie scoop and scooped smoothie-sized portions of the dry rice pudding onto a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer. Now I can drop one or two in a smoothie instead of dealing with a whole bowl of frozen not-good rice pudding. That way I won't waste the rice, milk, and fruit that went into it. I usually put a little scoop of oats in my smoothies, but I may make oatmeal cookies instead.

I used up a to-go packet of dressing today on my raw broccoli at lunch. I liked it and will work on the bottle of Caesar dressing next.

The last of the carrot sticks got chopped up and put in the stir fry/air fryer bag in the freezer.

A real win--today I harvested the potato crop! A few months ago I had some forgotten potatoes sprout in the pantry. I dumped them in an old plastic bin with some potting soil and watered them occasionally. I think its about a 1:1 on the potato volume that was going bad and the potato volume I took out, but they were edible and the original ones werent any more.

The repair person is supposed to come fix my oven soon and I am craving cookies and granola. Can't wait to use up a bunch of stuff in some kitchen sink cookies and granola.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 01, 2022, 01:54:07 AM
Yesterday, DS wanted to join the school BBQ at the last minute. He needed to bring a side dish, so I turned a load of veggies into a Polish style cole salad and added some dressing to it which was lingering in the fridge. This used up a lot of the fresh produce that I had in the fridge.

Tomorrow will be the BBQ with my parents. We will bring whatever is in the freezer. So far I found a few burgers and some chickenwings. I also have some bake-off bread in the pantry and will make a pasta salad or couscous salad. This will definitely help cleaning out!

Only one week to go. The fridge is OK-ish. The freezer is starting to show a few dents, so hopefully we can get through more freezer stuff in the next couple of days.
First one is today..... I need to dig some meat/fish from the freezer for tonight's dinner. I still have one meat-serving in the fridge, so need to find 2-3 servings.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 01, 2022, 07:11:16 AM
Leftovers for dinner last night, which used up 1/2 of the remaining fajita chicken (I had it over salad) & 1/2 of the remaining chicken enchiladas. We'll have everything finished by today.

I also defrosted the last two packages of shredded zucchini (from last season's harvest) & made zucchini fritters to go with our otherwise boring dinner.

Oh, and lots of garden lettuce & tomatoes used in the salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 01, 2022, 04:06:27 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I love zucchini fritters!

Chocolate covered almonds feedback from one of DH's co-workers:  "There's no better combo than almonds and chocolate."  Yay!

Still focusing on that apple cider vinegar!  For tonight there is currently a chuck roast beef stroganoff in the Crock Pot.  It used a tablespoon of the vinegar, LOL.

I decided to bake Traeger chocolate chip cookies this weekend and bring them up to neighbor friends who are camping.  This will use the rest of the chocolate chips from last Christmas.

Tomorrow's salads will utilize a can of tuna and the remaining cherry tomatoes and avocado.

Sunday smoothies will feature another bag of frozen strawberries, fresh blueberries, a can of coconut milk, some baby spinach, another frozen lemon juice cube, and the rest of the flax seed.

I hope to use up more of the syrup on top of Saturday breakfast pancakes and Sunday's breakfast-for-supper country pork sausage and almond flour biscuits.

For the holiday, if we don't BBQ something fresh, I'm going to thaw the leftover ground beef and pork burgers from last month and serve them with shrimp to use a small container of frozen dipping sauce, and steamed broccoli topped with the rest of the queso that just doesn't seem to want to be finished, LOL.

Happy 4th of July to those in the states.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 01, 2022, 10:07:57 PM
Finished off the veggie rice with sausage and scrambled egg and it wasn't half bad! The local sausage made such a difference. Meh-verging-on-bad became almost-tasty. The rice and sauce were left over from a boxed frozen meal and the veggies had been in the freezer since Easter from crudite platter leftovers. The entire dish was scraps or left over and, by gum, I wasn't going to waste it.

Almost done with giant bag of frozen fruit I swear I've had for months. I've been having a smoothie every day either for breakfast or snack. Refreshing and a great way to use up odds and end like the dribble of coconut milk and the Nutella jar scrapings. And all the dry rice pudding! :P

Finished up the last of the party crackers from Father's Day with some hummus last night. Now the bulky plastic container is out of the pantry.

More of the boring tea is out of the drawer. I've been mixing one blah blag with two plain bags to make iced tea. Now it's a refreshing hint of mint or citrus instead of a hot tea I don't want to drink.

One of my coworkers was in line at the cafeteria today when she remembered she had some leftovers she'd brought.  She explained it was going to go bad soon so she really wanted to eat it even though it wasn't that great. Solidarity, sister!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on July 01, 2022, 10:11:12 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache Zucchini fritters are so awesome!

I had some riced cauliflower and broccoli in the freezer that I made into fritters last week. Not as good as zucchini, but still tasty. I have more frozen veggies that I will probably turn into fritters of some sort.

I made a few smoothies out of frozen fruit that has been languishing. It was hot out and I had been out of ice cream for a few days, so it was also a good way to resist shopping. I may turn some of the frozen berries into a nice sauce.

I also found some old jello pudding boxes and made some chilled pudding. It was underwhelming, though, so I may bake the two remaining boxes into some sort of muffins or bread. I also have some oats I would like to use up by making it into flour for baking. I may combine the two into an interesting mad science experiment recipe.

I had a bag of dates that I kept forgetting about, so I put them into single serve snack baggies and have been taking them to work. They are disappearing slowly but surely, and are nice to have when I sometimes pack my lunches a little too light.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 03, 2022, 06:46:01 PM
I have done all of the things with our garden yield. Mostly, because I'm stressed that my teen has COVID, and my husband is doing a 24+ hour round trip drive to pick him up at my parents house. Being in the kitchen helps me when I'm anxious.
-Made a 4x batch of pico de gallo, using up oodles of tomatoes, cilantro & jalapenos
-Made a double batch of macaroni salad, using up some celery that was about to be composted, and a bunch of other fridge/pantry ingredients
-Picked up a 5+ lb bag of tomatoes at the produce stand, because they were calling to me from the $1/bag markdown area. They needed to be used ASAP, so I turned them into tomato sauce, and then added them to the freezer
-Made caprese salad out of tomatoes & basil
-Picked about 1/10 of our mint plant (it needs to be cut WAY back), washed everything, pulled all of the leaves off, and have them drying in the oven.
-Made a chimichurri sauce, out of our enormous overgrown parsley bush, as well as some fresh oregano I found in one of the rolling beds

For tomorrow, I'm making a cake with strawberries from the garden, and a watermelon/mint/blueberry/feta salad, using up more of the very prolific mint.

I also stress ate Ben & Jerry's, and sadly, I don't make grow any of that at home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on July 05, 2022, 10:04:32 AM
Avoided the grocery store on Friday in preparation for the holiday weekend and ate from what we had on hand. On Monday we smoked a frozen tenderloin from the freezer, cooked green beans from the garden and a watermelon for dessert which was also from the garden.

Going to the grocery store today, but only buying some fill in items. Tonight we're making some chicken breasts I thawed from the freezer and roasting okra from the garden.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 06, 2022, 01:59:03 AM
Fresh produce is almost gone. Start thinking about what we can bring on our trip. We're leaving Saturday morning, so only 3 days left.

Today, DS has his last day of school and they are having a potluck picknick. I turned eggs, bell peper, unions and herbs into egg-muffins. This cleared out 20 eggs out of the 26 I still had in the fridge! The last 6 will be used up in preparing snacks for our trip.
Milk is almost gone (only 1/2 liter remaining), other diary products and veggies are close to gone.

Dinners for tomorrow and Friday will be interesting...... let's see what we can make from the remaining scraps.

@MaybeBabyMustache hope your teen is feeling better.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 06, 2022, 01:17:56 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I, too, hope your kiddo is doing well.

~Saturday, I used half a bar of dark chocolate from last Christmas in the chocolate chip cookies
~Saturday night's supper used the remaining 7-layer salad and remaining bag of frozen mozzarella sticks
~A rinsed and chopped head of broccoli will be eaten by DH for lunches
~Used the leftover frozen sauce packet as a breaded shrimp dip
~Used several cups each cornbread in Friday's air fried bread, and a cup of rice for a side last night
~Last night's tacos used the remaining romaine leaves as shells
~Just finished the rest of the cucumber as a lunch side
~Tonight, we'll finish Monday's sauteed yellow squash, zucchini and baby spinach
~Tonight, will also use some of the apple cider vinegar in a sauce for air fried pork chops
~And I am pleased to report, the jar of queso is finally finished
~Tomorrow is clean out the fridge night which will include a zucchini, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, and some mini mozzarella balls which will go on top the remaining cauliflower crust to make a pizza.
~Munchies lately include more almonds, taco seasoned protein chips, cheese sticks, and pepperoni slices.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 06, 2022, 02:03:19 PM
Thank you, @Dutch Comfort and @MountainGal ! He's past the fever/chills/body ache portion, and is pretty much just bored silly, in his room. He loves gaming & electronics as much as the next teen boy, but even he is maxed out. I'm guessing he'll start testing negative by tomorrow, and can get outside for more walks, and perhaps a bike ride.

Also, @MountainGal - congrats on wrapping up that queso! I would have helped, had I been around, because I heart queso.

I made baked oatmeal to use up a couple of enhanced jams I'd used for my 4th of July poke cake. I'm impressed that I thought to do this, because it normally would have sat in the fridge until it spoiled, or I got tired of looking at the mini containers, and I would have tossed them. Fingers crossed the baked oatmeal is a hit. I'll likely top it with the "frosting" for the cake, which was actually sour cream, lemon juice, & a bit of agave. My teen will like that addition.

Teen's appetite is recovering, so he's plowing through the macaroni salad leftovers. I feel like that salad has reproduced inside of the fridge.

Made 5 baking sheets of mint into dried mint, then crumbled & added to our spice jar. My husband uses it as seasoning for a few Persian dishes. Five baking sheets of mint adds up to very little crushed spice. It's amazing to see! I need to work through more of our fresh spices, & preserve them.

Making a coconut curry chicken dish tonight, which will use up a few other garden items: basil, cilantro, jalapeno. Trying to make the most of our produce while we have it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on July 06, 2022, 07:02:09 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, a good way to use up mint is to make "Sassy" water.  You use 12-15 leaves of mint, 1/2 a thinly sliced cucumber, 1 thinly sliced lemon and 1 TB of grated ginger and 8.5cups of water.  Let it sit in the fridge overnight, then strain and drink.  It is supposed to help with bloating as most of the contents are mild diuretics.  I don't know about all that, but it is certainly very refreshing on a hot day!

Hope your son is feeling better.  Teenage boys want to lay in bed and play video games all day until they *HAVE TO*.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 07, 2022, 05:58:54 PM
Dinner tonight was the last of the open package of rice, some stir fry sauce I found in the cabinet hiding behind the olive oil, and the veggie scrap bag. I put the frozen veggies in the air fryer and made the rice on the stove top. Dumped it all together with the sauce and it was good! I have enough leftovers for one more meal and one more plain serving of rice.

I planned my freezer meal menu for tomorrow. Breakfast smoothie with the last of the freezer fruit, failed rice pudding and greek yogurt that got frozen and thawed out runny.
Lunch is bean burritos I made in a big batch last month with a side of bell pepper and broccoli florets with Caesar dressing/dip.
Dinner is broccoli alfredo pizza with the last of the alfredo pasta sauce and the little bits of broccoli from the freezer bag that were too small for the air fryer.

I'm trying to get more veggies in my diet and this challenge is helping.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on July 08, 2022, 12:45:28 AM
Yesterday I made pancakes for dinner, finishing the last milk, bacon and eggs.
Tonight I will make a meal with chicken, the last (baked or fried) potatoes, and a salad of bell pepper, cucumber and canned corn (not fancy, but that is all that is left in the fridge!).
We're leaving tomorrow, so I'm happy with the fridge status (close to empty!). The freezer is OK-ish, not completely empty, but enough space to have a clear sight of what is left. We will take a few frozen things with us to serve as meals for the first 2 days (and serve as cooling packs on the way). Pantry is getting better. Now I have to be careful of what to bring back from holiday. I usually bring back some good olive oils and sausages from France, but since we're in the Bordeaux region, we might as well bring some wine.......

Back in 3 weeks!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 08, 2022, 03:23:49 PM
@okisok, that stir fry sounds delicious.  And congratulations on increasing your veggie consumption.  It's also one of my goals, and I actually keep track in my nutrition journal.

Have a blast, @Dutch Comfort!

Last night I baked the pizza in the Traeger, and it included the last Cauliflower pizza crust (I love those things) topped with a ranch drizzle, a tiny bit of garlic salt, the rest of the shredded and mini ball mozzarella, half of a zucchini cut into half-moons, and the remaining baby spinach and pepperoni.  It was SO good!  It smelled fantastic and the crust was crispy.  I forgot to add the cherry tomatoes, so I set them aside to bring to the office with me today and of course I forgot to bring them.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 09, 2022, 08:46:25 AM
Have a fabulous time, @Dutch Comfort !

@MountainGal - that pizza sounds amazing.

-Finished the absolutely fabulous one dish coconut curry rice skillet I made earlier in the week. It was no hardship to have it as lunch leftovers, and next time, I'll double the recipe.
-Working through the baked oatmeal
-Making smoothies for the kids, using my oat milk (I add it to my coffee in the am), frozen bananas, & fruit from the freezer. I always like making my way through the frozen bananas, because they tend to linger in the freezer.
-Husband grilled some chicken sausages we bought at Costco. They were "okay". We won't buy them again. It was a reasonably large package, so I'll be having them on my salad for quite some time!
-Continued using lots & lots of garden ingredients (tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, peppers, lemons, strawberries, etc)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dicey on July 09, 2022, 09:18:38 AM
Posting this here because I had all the stretching ingredients on hand...

Bought a "Chub" pack of ground beef at Costco to batch cook for tacos. I had some TVP in the back of the pantry, but it smelled kind of weird. I turned to Sir Google for ideas besides TVP or oatmeal and came up with this:

1/2 cooked rice
2 large, raw carrots
1 c. cooked or canned black beans

Pulverize in food processor.
Using a mixer, combine thoroughly with 1 lb. ground beef.
Cook the mixture per usual.

Since I had way more than one pound of beef (and I'm a mustachian), of course I deviated from the recipe. I used one can of rinsed beans, about 5 old-ish, not-fat carrots, and however much cooked brown rice was languishing in the refrigerator, maybe about a cup. I used about 40% of the chub of beef, probably 2-3 pounds. I cooked the rest of the beef separately and gave both pots the usual taco seasonings.

It turned out surprisingly well. I served it to DH to good reviews that night. I portioned out both pots and froze the results. Next day, I defrosted the meat mixture to make burritos. The texture and appearance were really good (thanks to using the mixer) and DH said it tasted great.

The only thing I'd change is the order of ingredients. I pulverized the carrots, then the beans, then the rice. Some of the rice was still recognizable. Next time, I'll do carrots, then rice, then beans.

It should be noted that I'm a vegetarian, but I cook meat for my humans. Batch cooking means I only handle it once. On taco, burrito, etc. nights, they just heat it up from frozen. This also means I didn't actually taste this, but the reports from the field were very positive.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on July 09, 2022, 11:18:28 AM
Earlier in the week I made pasta with a home grown roasted tomato sauce.  I cooked a pound of italian sausage mixed with garden zucchini to add on top of the pasta.  (This time of year many dishes get zucchini randomly added).  Since there's only two of us, we finished the pasta but had most of the sausage zucchini mixture leftover. 

Yesterday we had homemade pizza with another batch of homegrown roasted tomato sauce, zucchini (of course), red onion from the back of the frig, more leftover sausage/zucchini mixture and the last of a Costo bag of mozzarella.

Tonight I'm making pinto beans with the last of the sausage mixture, my last two jars of tomatoes canned last year, peppers from the garden, partial can of chipotle peppers that have been languishing in the frig forever and whatever else I find that goes with beans.  I've promised my DH that I won't add more zucchini to the beans other than the part which is already with the sausage. 

After that I'm not cooking anything until either all the leftovers are finished or we go on our trip in 8 days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on July 10, 2022, 01:50:29 PM
^^^I made the beans too spicy hot for DH.  I guess I was excited about using up the chipotle peppers that I forgot how hot they are.  So I spooned out as much of the "juice" from the bean concoction as I could and then added another jar of tomatoes.  That toned down the heat of the beans. Now I have about 2 cups of a spicy, vaguely tomato-y bean juice to figure out how to use.  If all else fails, I'll toss in the freezer as an addition to soups in the winter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on July 10, 2022, 02:04:00 PM
I've promised my DH that I won't add more zucchini to the beans

^^^I made the beans too spicy hot for DH.

It's his own fault, if you bulked it up with 50% zucchini like nature intended all food to be this time of year, it would have been a lot milder ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 11, 2022, 10:21:38 AM
-Made grilled zucchini last night for dinner, and it was amazing. This will be our go to recipe, when we need to use up garden bounty.
-Continuing to eat through the baked oatmeal, and topping it with jam, to get through that as well.
-Lots & lots of garden items being used, as always! (Lemons, tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, cucumbers)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 13, 2022, 06:57:24 PM
-Ate a cheeseburger that had been lingering in the freezer for quite some time. Topped with a garden tomato, to add some extra flavor
-Served a dinner of various leftovers with some chicken samosas (freezer). I find that having a nice side helps the leftovers become a little less boring
-16 y.o. is making his way through a box of Lucky Charms cereal. No idea where it came from, as I rarely buy packaged cereal, and if I did, it wouldn't be Lucky Charms
-I have some sort of upper respiratory thing (not COVID), & have been enjoying a box of tea I found at the back of the cupboard. Summer isn't normally tea time, but I'm enjoying it right now.
-15 y.o. is at residential tennis camp, on a college campus. He's a pretty picky eater, and was nervous about the food options. He's been reporting that the food is excellent, and he's having a fantastic time. Not my food, but yay just the same! Maybe he will also broaden his horizons a bit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 15, 2022, 05:00:19 PM
Finished off the bag of white rice, now on to the quinoa! 

Making a big dent in the rice pudding balls of shame. I put a few in every morning smoothie and I'm down to about 6 more servings, if that tells you how much dry rice pudding I made.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 15, 2022, 05:19:29 PM
-Used garden strawberries, an overripe banana, and the last of some oat milk in a smoothie
-Had my husband pick up Chinese yesterday (not the point of this thread, I realize), because I'm sick, &  we had a gift card. Eating through the leftovers, to ensure nothing gets wasted.
-Used the extra lettuce (lettuce wraps, but no more of the meat/veg mix) to add to our salad
-Organized our pantry, so I can see what we need to use up
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on July 18, 2022, 06:53:52 PM
Finished off the twice baked potatoes that I'd frozen for dinner tonight. Oven is still not repaired so I cooked them in the air fryer. One more container out of the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on July 18, 2022, 10:29:46 PM
More veggie fritters this week. I had/still have eggs on the edge of expiration to use up, plus leftover veggies from other meals. They were okay. When I make more, I will probably add a little fish sauce to the mix for more flavor.

Froze some half and half into cubes, which was also on the edge. That should be fairly easy to use up in coffee/ smoothies/cooking.

Resisted the urge for McD's fries when I was running errands and forgot to bring a snack. Made my own at home with my air fryer.

Added the last of a baggie of "meh" quality chocolate chips to a carton of ice cream. Much better as an additive than a standalone.

I'm now working on my last baggie of dried dates, which I take with my work lunches.

I have been using plain Greek yogurt to plump up the salad dressings on my dinner salads. It's actually way past it's expiration date, but still fine.

Also used up some corn tortillas that were long expired but still good and tasty.

Prepped some soft older apples to make into German fried apples, but I ran out of time before work.

Froze some Mi-Del gluten free pie crusts that were close to expiration. Those have become hard to find in my town for some reason. They will get used up in the fall.

I feel like every time I eat something up from the freezer, I end up replacing the open space with even more stuff lately. It has also been more difficult using things up with hubby out of town. I keep forgetting and buying for two. It also doesn't help that I often get cheaper groceries at Grocery Outlet, so things can already be close to expiration from there. I think I just need to be a little more mindful when buying. Maybe I should also do a 2-week grocery no-buy and get really creative to make some better progress. :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 19, 2022, 10:55:14 AM
-Ate leftover burgers for dinner
-Used garden peppers for kebabs
-Tonight's dinner will use up a batch of tomato sauce I made a few weeks ago (freezer). I'll add meatballs (freezer) & this will also use up some lingering pasta & soy noodles.
-Continuing to use up garden produce in salads & other meals
-Kids are making their way through random boxes of cereal
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 20, 2022, 12:35:31 PM
Lots of excellent ideas here, everyone!  @Night Elf, what a great idea regarding the chocolate chips!

We returned from our week in Hawaii.  I took Monday off to adjust to the time zone and that evening made a box of food for a neighboring family who lost a loved one during our absence.  I utilized two pounds of locally sourced ground beef and made it into meat sauce for lasagna and spaghetti sauce.  The sauce used the frozen red sauce and tomato paste from the freezer and half the pantry angel hair and lasagna noodles.  Into the box also went a small container of shredded parm for the entrees, a half dozen deviled eggs, a chocolate treat from HI and two lunch kits containing lunch meat, sliced cheese, blueberries, olives, cherry tomatoes, club crackers and mayo packets.

I hadn't planned for meals for when we arrived home but think I did fairly well without having to go to the store.  Saturday's supper utilized the remaining frozen breaded shrimp and half a bag of frozen vegetables.  Monday, we had what I call dump chicken, which used a large chicken breast from the freezer.  DH did a mini store run Sunday, and I picked up our usual monthly stock up yesterday evening.  I made Caesar dressing from scratch for last night's salads, because of the continued focus on reducing fridge door items and I don't want to buy bottled dressing for quite some time.

Tonight, the hollandaise envelope mix will be poured on top of grilled salmon and portobellos.

I'm going to ask DH to remind me of the oldest proteins are in our deep freezer to start incorporating them into suppers.  I'm also going to suggest he bake one of the pizza kits we bought through a neighbor kiddo's fundraisers during my absence later this week.  I love regular pizza crust, but it doesn't like me.  ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 21, 2022, 03:04:05 PM
Hope Hawaii was fabulous, @MountainGal ! One of my favorite places.

-Defrosted a lunch sized chicken curry for today. I forget about these easy lunch options, but was desperate today. Glad I found it.
-Similarly, defrosted taco meat for dinner tonight, which will use up taco meat from the freezer + shells + cheese we want to use up. And, garden tomatoes, of which we have so many!
-Made a large caprese salad for dinner last night, using up lots of tomatoes. Of course, my 16 y.o. got to it before it even made it to the dinner table.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on July 27, 2022, 01:59:45 PM
~DH ended up baking one of the pizza kits and had some for supper and had leftovers for a day or two.
~Conducted the inventory and incorporated the remaining cuts of pork into meals for the next several weeks.
~Baking keto bagels and English muffin bread utilized many baking ingredients.
~Going to assemble a homemade brownie mix which will utilize even more baking ingredients.
~Condiments continue to remain on the radar.  Creamy horseradish has been blended with sour cream to make a crema for both last night's taco Tuesday and the next two weeks.
~Romaine has been used in salads, as taco shells for me last night, and will be utilized in wraps this weekend.
~A brisket was slow cooked yesterday and used in tacos last night, and the rest wrapped up in tortillas with enchilada sauce frozen for a future supper.
~Tonight's stir fry will finish a bag of shrimp and the leftover frozen bag of stir fry veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 27, 2022, 06:32:52 PM
-Have been dicing up garden tomatoes, adding salt & putting them on the table as a side dish. Everyone is a fan, and nothing is easier.
-Used up some really old carrots in a curry dish
-Used the last of sour cream with fajitas
-Ate leftovers 3x this week, more out of desperation due to a crazy week than any particular well thought out plan, but I'll still take it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on July 27, 2022, 07:49:40 PM
was gone the first 2 weeks of July then spent too much time restocking the house! I suppose now I just have more foods to brag about eating later. Only things of note I've eaten:

Some gluten free buns I brought home on the plane with me from vacation - one left (I'm rationing it in the fridge)
The last Oikos triple zero yogurt. These are nowhere as yummy as chobani. would not buy again
Surprisingly came home to a bell pepper and some green onion that hadn't rotted. used it all up
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 01, 2022, 01:20:25 AM
Back from holiday and it was just great. Now my fridge and pantry is stuffed again due to restocking and stuff we brought back (mainly French sausages and snacks). I was good in food planning while camping, so not a lot came back. The teens will be at home for the next 3 weeks, so loads of opportunities to get them to eat leftovers and other fridge/pantry stuff/snacks.
Yesterday's grocery run was well planned and I should be OK for the next few days, after which I only need to go and get fresh produce. Because of the heat, I cannot keep the produce fresh for more than 2-3 days, so a small fresh produce run in between grocery runs is my way to go.

Plan is for the teens to take turns in cooking, since DH and I will be working and they are still at home without major plans. So we decided that they should plan 1 dinner each week. So far teen #1 will make an Italian lasagna tomorrow and teen #2 will make a chicken roast with veggies on Friday. In the 3 weeks they should each cook 2 healthy meals and they can do 1 less healthy meals (pancakes for dinner, burgers & fries or something like that).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 01, 2022, 03:15:41 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, those tomatoes sound refreshing!

@Dutch Comfort and @fuzzy math, welcome home.  @fuzzy math, our produce is also overripening quicker than usual because of the heat.  Especially the cherry tomatoes.

Speaking of tomatoes, yesterday DH pulled the first of his harvest from the garden.  A small, lonesome cherry tomato, that I just know will be packed full of flavor!

We went camping for three nights and I utilized the same concept during that time:
~Friday morning, I cooked up a pound of country sausage and served half of it that morning, and saved half for Sunday's brunch.
~The last of the local pork chops were grilled up Friday night.  DH is looking into restocking options.
~I made what I call snack plates, aka informal charcuterie, Friday and Saturday nights.  Unbeknownst to our fellow campers, doing so used up the rest of our salami, beef stick, cheddar, cherries, and other random nibbles.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on August 02, 2022, 11:43:02 PM
- The last of my frozen mango, more Greek yogurt, and eggs were used up in a mango cake recipe.
- The last of the Greek yogurt, an older onion, an older Poblano pepper, frozen ground turkey, and the last of a salsa container were used in a casserole. The leftovers are my work dinners.
- Dodged fast food on the way home from errands, ate salad leftovers before work instead.
- Used iced half and half cubes in my coffee yesterday.
- Stir fried some underwhelming cabbage salad mixes and added leftover diced ham from the freezer. Also cooked and then stir fried rice noodles one night and cellophane noodles another night. I would have added eggs, too, but they were all used in the mango cake.
- Finished all of my dried date snack baggies.
- Cooked a freezer burned fish filet, then flaked and refroze it on a cookie tray, then stored it for easy access. I pull bits out and thaw them to top my dog's food, and she loves them.

I'm happy I finally have some space in my freezer again! I went two weeks without buying groceries. I still have more to work on in there. I may do some sort of potato soup to use up the bigger half and half cubes. I also have lots of frozen pineapple. I'm thinking pineapple cake or Dole Whips. Probably the latter, since it has been hot out.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 03, 2022, 01:59:16 PM
Refrigerated fresh produce was down to half a cucumber, so I stopped by the store this morning to restock.  I also bought eggs and tub butter and managed to somehow Tetris it all into the office mini fridge, LOL.  In order to make room, I finished the container of blueberries and sliced cheese.

-Made homemade pizza sauce which used up a can each of tomato sauce and paste.  It made enough sauce for two pizzas.
-Mixed the leftover homemade dip from camping with creamy horseradish for a tasty sauce for last night's fried cod (I make a pork rind and parmesan breading).
-Monday I stir fried the remaining quickly declining cherry tomatoes with asparagus.
-Counter produce includes three overripe bananas, which I'll turn into air fryer baked banana bread this evening.
-Monday's slow cooked pork ribs used up a bottle of BBQ sauce and a partial box of chicken broth.
-I used the remaining romaine leaves as lunch wraps.
-Ate the rest (boo) of the chocolate covered macadamia nuts bought in HI.
-Supper tonight will be teriyaki chicken.  Currently in the slow cooker are the remaining chicken breasts, the last bit of light soy sauce, and more of the aforementioned chicken broth.
-Gave a neighbor another baggie full of produce scraps for her feathered family members.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 05, 2022, 02:54:58 AM
Found an unlabeled, unclear mysterious package of meat in our freezer yesterday morning. Defrosted it and it turned out to be diced chicken. Made a nice stir-fry noodle dish out of it yesterday evening with some spring rolls on the side.

Teens are a major help with leftovers, so none in the fridge at the moment! We're eating through the freezer stash of bread during breakfast and lunch (grilled cheese sandwiches / bread pizza for the win!) to make sure it is gone as soon as school restarts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on August 06, 2022, 09:49:33 PM
Hi everybody! Is this a good place to ask for recipes for the random things in my pantry that need to be used up? Or is the thread only for the listing of vanquished vittles?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 07, 2022, 12:07:16 AM
Hi everybody! Is this a good place to ask for recipes for the random things in my pantry that need to be used up? Or is the thread only for the listing of vanquished vittles?

You can definitely ask for ideas, people in this thread are good at cooking and improvising and using stuff up :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 07, 2022, 08:14:11 AM
-Got home from vacation yesterday, and briefly pondered takeout. Instead, dug around in the freezer & found a couple of Trader Joes frozen options (stir fried veggie rice + orange chicken). Made those, while my husband made a quick trip to Costco. Rounded it out with salad (Costco ingredients). I made a menu on the flight, so I think we should be all set for the week.
-Still have a seemingly unending supply of tomatoes. Need to come up with some recipes that will use up a lot at once. Maybe another triple batch of pico de gallo.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on August 07, 2022, 10:18:04 AM
Hi everybody! Is this a good place to ask for recipes for the random things in my pantry that need to be used up? Or is the thread only for the listing of vanquished vittles?

You can definitely ask for ideas, people in this thread are good at cooking and improvising and using stuff up :-)

Thanks! Don't want to step on any toes. I only read the current page, which is an impressive list of people's creativity & accomplishments in using up food! (but not advice)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on August 07, 2022, 11:43:26 AM
I have several containers of egg white I bought for a sick dog who passed away recently. I would like to use them up but not a fan of them. Any easy ideas on using them up? I supposed I could add it to some whole eggs and scramble but would like to see if anyone has any ideas. I was adding cooked up egg white to my furry boy's diet, and he seemed to like it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 07, 2022, 12:00:31 PM
I have several containers of egg white I bought for a sick dog who passed away recently. I would like to use them up but not a fan of them. Any easy ideas on using them up? I supposed I could add it to some whole eggs and scramble but would like to see if anyone has any ideas. I was adding cooked up egg white to my furry boy's diet, and he seemed to like it.

There are a jillion kinds of dessert that use egg whites, if you don't like to eat them cooked up as regular eggs. Angel food cake, meringues, souffles, macaroons, pavlova, mousse, marshmallows, etc. etc. Some of them can be challenging if you're not much of a baker, though, as they tend to require whipping the egg whites and folding them in carefully.

If you prefer savory I would try something like a frittata where you can add meat, cheese & veg to give it more flavor since egg whites are pretty bland and lean.

Off the wall: I've seen recipes for granola that used egg white for crunch (but you would need to make a ton of granola to go through many egg whites) and there are some shaken cocktails that use egg white for froth (likewise, you'd need to drink a lot of cocktails!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on August 07, 2022, 12:57:43 PM
Thanks Dollar Slice! I am more of a savory person. I will look up a frittata recipe.

I was wondering how it might be in an egg drop soup. I think egg drop soup uses whole egg.

I might try an omelet with meat, cheese and veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on August 07, 2022, 01:36:04 PM
Dollar Slice, found this recipe and looks good!

https://tastefullygrace.com/vegetable-egg-white-frittata/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGzLEO4gbhA

Need to buy some ingredients to make it! LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on August 07, 2022, 08:26:31 PM
Hello again! The pantry is inventoried link (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/journals/brave-new-journal/msg3045118/#msg3045118), and there is a plan for some of it. However, help with many of the baking ingredients and also the oatmeal would be appreciated.

For the rolled oats, I don't want to eat oatmeal/porridge for breakfast, although I will probably have some. But there's a lot. For example, I've heard it can go in meatloaf. I've never made meatloaf, so how easy is that and what do people think of this idea? Like, do you personally like oatmeal in meatloaf and why or why not? For those who like it, do you have a go-to recipe? And do you think I could sub in the meatless ground "beef"? Any other ideas to use the rolled oats?

A bunch of baking ingredients came from someone who moved cross country recently. Some are quite old, for example the unsweetened baking chocolate bars and the beet sweetener don't exist on the internet. So they are discontinued. If there's a concern about food safety on these things, let me know.

What sorts of things can be made with unsweetened cocoa, unsweetened baking chocolate bars, peppermint extract and lemon extract (not all together of course)? Brownies, I guess? Anything else? Just looking for a category/search term, but would love a recipe if you have one handy.


I am a beginner cook. Willing to learn, but tricky things are still intimidating. Current skills are:
basic dessert baking (cookies, pies)
simmer
boil
sautee
roast

Thanks all!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on August 07, 2022, 09:23:43 PM
What sorts of things can be made with unsweetened cocoa, unsweetened baking chocolate bars, peppermint extract and lemon extract (not all together of course)?

There's definitely chocolate-oat desserts, and definitely peppermint-chocolate desserts, and definitely lemon-oat desserts, but I haven't been able to come up with one Dessert To Rule Them All that will knock out all of your ingredients in one go ;-) I have to admit I've never used peppermint or lemon extract in a recipe, so I'm going to hope someone else has ideas for those.

Unsweetened cocoa is used in tons of chocolate cake/brownie type recipes (I don't have a preferred recipe handy, I'm sure someone will - I don't tend to bake cakes, since I live alone). You could also use cocoa as a coating for chocolate truffles; or to make old-fashioned hot cocoa (hard to imagine as we're all sweating it out in August).

Unsweetened chocolate, likewise, is used in quite a few cake and brownie recipes (where you melt it into the batter - do not use it in chunks/chips where it would be incredibly bitter). You might also be able to find some sweet-and-creamy type desserts that use it - like mousse or pots de creme. You can probably sub it in for melted dark chocolate if you add some extra sugar to taste, depending on the recipe (if it's a very fussy recipe I wouldn't chance it, but something like brownies is probably fine).

Rolled oats - you can use up a ton if you bake oatmeal cookies. I've seen, but haven't tried, recipes for oatmeal walnut bread - that sounds pretty tasty to me and would use up lots of oats, also, if you didn't want to do more sweets.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 08, 2022, 01:14:53 AM
Oatmeal banana breakfast (baked, good for freezing, so I usually make 1 batch which is good for 5 breakfast servings):

3 bananas (ripe/brown)
180 grams oatmeal
75 ml honey
3 eggs
300 ml milk (can also use almond milk/soy milk/oat milk)
3 handful of raisins
3 handful of nuts (chopped)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

Mix banana, honey, eggs and milk
Mix oatmeal, raisins, nuts, cinnamon, baking powder and salt

Add 2 mixtures together
Put in buttered brownie tin
30 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius in the oven

Let it cool, divide in around 10 pieces and have 2 for each breakfast serving
(sorry, all in grams/Celcius...... I'm in Europe!)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on August 08, 2022, 04:08:03 AM
I have made this recipe or a version of it and enjoyed it very much. To this, you could also add a sunny side up egg. You could also add cooked meat of your choice.


SAVORY OATMEAL with SCALLIONS & SOY SAUCE
Hands-on time: 2 minutes
Time to table: 5 minutes
Serves 1

Uncooked oats, for more fiber, preferably old-fashioned oats
2 green onions, white and green parts, chopped
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Cook oatmeal in your favorite way. (See microwave oatmeal, stovetop oatmeal, oven oatmeal or slow cooker oatmeal.) Stir in most of the green onion and the soy sauce. Garnish with remaining green onion. Enjoy!

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Serving, presumes 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats: 88Cal; 2g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 601mg Sodium; 16g Carb; 3g Fiber; 1g Sugar; 4g Protein; Weight Watchers 1 point

https://beetrootrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/03/savory-oatmeal-with-scallions-soy-sauce.html
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: savedough on August 08, 2022, 07:15:14 AM
It's been a long while since I visited the forum and this thread in particular, but we are soon embarking upon a non-Mustachian kitchen remodel because I have been putting up with sub-par cooking conditions for far too long.  I need to use up everything in my freezer before the demolition, so the goal for the next 48 hours is to at least inventory it and then make a plan for what can be realistically used without making something that will go back in the freezer.   (I think I've been stashing a lot of dairy-free desserts in there, so my dairy-free kiddo is going to be thrilled that they need to get eaten.)

I'll check back in on Wed for accountability and perhaps a call for help!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 08, 2022, 02:02:25 PM
@Dutch Comfort, excellent job on the mystery package!

@MaybeBabyMustache, welcome back from vacation.

@oneday, welcome!  I've been doing the same thing with older baking ingredients leftover from holiday baking last December.  Last weekend I made brownies which utilized unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate chips.  This Thursday I'll make another batch only these will be brown sugar brownies in order to use some hardening brown sugar and more unsweetened cocoa.  For your oats, look up no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies.  They are tasty, and don't require oven use.  At the holiday season, Candy Cane cookies use peppermint extract.

Good to see you, @savedough.  Luck to y'all with that demo.  :)

Recently:
-I finally had time to make keto walnut shrimp which used a half cup of walnuts.  It was a big bag, so we're making progress.
-Made the banana bread.  Baked in the air fryer for just 30 minutes, it was GOOD.
-Made almond bars which used half the remaining sliced almonds and a cup of powdered sugar.  Also baked in the air fryer, they, too, were tasty.
-Tonight, I'll make fried pickles in the air fryer which will finish last week's parmesan and pork rind breading.
-Saturday night I finished the rest of the unshelled chili pistachios
-Tonight's sausage bake will use one of the remaining packages of locally raised country style pork.  Instead of cream, I'll add the rest of a container of coconut milk.  And I'll bulk it up with baby spinach for nutrition purposes.
-Taco Tuesday will include more homemade horseradish crema.
-Wednesday's cauliflower crust pizza will use the remaining half of the frozen homemade pizza sauce.
-I hope to finish the remaining bag of sunflower seeds on upcoming random salads.
-Because the cost of many proteins, instead of buying chicken breasts, I'll start focusing on the canned chicken and tuna we have on hand.

And now I'm hungry.  Time for lunch.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on August 08, 2022, 08:13:20 PM
Started in on the meh pantry ingredients. Quinoa, canned chicken, beans, white onions, celery, etc. I used the quinoa, beans and onion in a cold pasta-salad-type-thing with the last of the cherry tomatoes.

Chicken became chicken salad which used up some more onion and some celery.

The rest of the celery got cut into sticks for dipping in the hummus. It's too hot to be making soups and casseroles that would normally use up the celery and onions.

All of these things are good, I just don't get excited about using them up. Then I get really excited when it's time to eat them! :) The chicken salad is almost gone--it was dinner and lunch and there's enough for lunch tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 09, 2022, 06:58:32 AM
Thanks, @MountainGal , and nice progress on your side! You are inspiring me.

Over the last few days:

-Made fresh tomato paella to use up a bunch of garden tomatoes
-Made a double batch of chicken curry, using up the last two cans of coconut milk, a bunch of garden basil, as well as jalapenos. Should have added even more jalapenos - it could have used a bit more of a kick.
-Used six over ripe freezer bananas to make a double batch of muffins
-Had a cup of ramen that my son doesn't prefer (he's really the only ramen eater) for a last minute lunch, along with a muffin
-Diced up all of the cucumbers & served that with hummus for my 15 y.o., who got home from 8 hours of tennis, & hadn't packed a lunch or eaten breakfast. Sigh.

I'm impressed with my time management yesterday. I had a super crazy insane day, which included a full day of work, and lots & lots of driving teens around. I wasn't sure when I would be able to make dinner, so any time I had a few minutes between meetings, I'd chop veggies for the salad, chop onions/jalapenos for dinner, gather the items. I was still running a bit late on the meal prep, so I had my husband supervise the last 10 minutes or so of the recipe, while I left the house. Anyway, it saved us from a night of takeout. Fingers crossed that yesterday will be the busiest day of the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 09, 2022, 12:23:43 PM
Great job on the time management, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And, holy smokes, 8 hours?!

@okisok, glad you get excited when it's time to eat them!

-Last night's air fried pickles were just so-so.  I prefer a crunchier breading.  The breading itself, however, had a kick due to the spices I added for last week's cod breading.  Eating the rest of the pickles with lunch now along with leftover sausage bake and a cup of leftover low sodium chicken broth from last week's slow cooker teriyaki chicken.

-In order to use them up, I decided tomorrow's pizza will be served inside portobello mushrooms instead of the last Caulipower crust pizza.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 09, 2022, 07:21:55 PM
@MountainGal - yes, he's a crazy person who deeply loves tennis camp. He follows that up with a 2 hour soccer practice most days. This is why the teens at my house are so ravenous. 1) they are terrible about packing the appropriate amount of food and 2) they work out a lot

As for today, we're having leftover burgers & tomato paella, and using more garden tomatoes.

We didn't end up with many garden cucumbers, so I bought 4 boxes of the Persian kind at Trader Joes. My teen has already eaten one box, and is making his way through the second box.

I need a menu plan for the week that incorporates more freezer options, so that will be my priority for next week. We've made huge progress in the (non-snack area) pantry, and it's looking really good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 12, 2022, 12:26:00 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, I love the passion he has for sports!  And it's great they eat healthy foods.  :)

-Tuesday evening, I made two jars overnight oatmeal for DH containing the rest of the blackberries.
-Wednesday's portobello pizzas were yummy!
-Wednesday evening, I nibbled on the rest of the Hawaiian BBQ macadamia nuts.
-Last night's ginger garlic shrimp with coconut milk finished the open container of coconut milk, 3 cups or so of the baby spinach, and all but two servings of shrimp.  Served with air fried eggplant fries and homemade horseradish crema, the latter contained another 2 TBS or so creamy horseradish.  Condiment concentration continues!
-This weekend for the first time ever I'll make brown sugar brownies in order to use some of the hardening brown sugar.
-Tomorrow evening we'll have cobb salads containing rapidly ripening cherry tomatoes and some of the sunflower seeds.
-Sunday I'll make tuna zucchini cakes which will use the frozen zucchini.
-The fresh produce drawer is down to a few cups of baby spinach.  Time to go shopping!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on August 13, 2022, 10:47:57 AM
I have several containers of egg white I bought for a sick dog who passed away recently. I would like to use them up but not a fan of them. Any easy ideas on using them up? I supposed I could add it to some whole eggs and scramble but would like to see if anyone has any ideas. I was adding cooked up egg white to my furry boy's diet, and he seemed to like it.

I tend to mix them along with whole eggs.  2 egg whites = 1 whole egg in my substitutes.  So meatloaf that normally uses 2 eggs, use 1 whole egg and two egg whites.  My frittata for two is usually 5 eggs so substitute whites for 3 or 4 of them.  I don't mess with baking recipes where the egg yokes may provide necessary fat or something. (I don't bake much.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on August 19, 2022, 08:48:43 PM
@Slicy, thanks for trying to find The One Dessert :)

I found Hershey's hot cocoa recipe (https://www.hersheyland.com/recipes/hersheys-perfectly-chocolate-hot-cocoa.html), so if there's any of the powder around in a few months, that will be the go-to. And sounds like brownies and oatmeal cookies are in my future.

@Dutch Comfort thank you for the recipe, that sounds delicious and uses up several things! No worries with the grams/Celcius. That is what computers are for. :)

@Roadrunner53 thank you! Like all the recipes, I'd have to buy something, but this one is minimal. Just the green onions. And definitely within my skill level.

@MountainGal ooo, I'll look for the brown sugar brownies for sure. Didn't know that was a thing. Please share your recipe, if it's online, and let me know how they came out!

Good point about the candy cane cookies. I may just hang on to the peppermint extract for the holidays...it is a seasonal flavor for sure. Might also put a drop in my hot cocoa! You are going ganngbusters in using up your stuff!




Almost-A-Fortnight Report:

-seitan strips used up in a weird seitan/rice/brussels sprouts bowl. Not the tastiest. Better with a bit of BBQ sauce.
-one serving rice & brussels sprouts left, will combine with beans & BBQ sauce for a meal tomorrow.
-peppermint patty gone (this was never in doubt)
-produce used & replaced multiple times (will not track any more as it changes too quickly)
-opened Indian food packet meals eaten
-opened jar of peaches eaten
-milk eaten & replaced (also will not track, this is a staple & constantly on hand/replenished)
-1 jar marinara opened for pizza and is #1 priority to use; 1 pizza dough kit used up (bought frozen meatless meatballs to use with the sauce & noodles)

Hm, do I need a rule not to buy anything, unless it combines with something I already have? I think I do.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 20, 2022, 07:43:14 AM
-Used up last scraps of taco leftovers to make a taco quesadilla for 15 y.o, after tennis practice
-Used up/gave away almost all of the garden tomatoes
-Turned a jar of marinara sauce into dinner one night, leveraging pantry extras

What remains for the weekend:
-Pickle the bowls & bowls of jalapenos, so I can get them out of the fridge
-Juice the lemons the neighbor dropped off
-Use up the remaining Japanese eggplant another neighbor gave us
-Roast & puree squash sitting in the fridge
-Shred zucchini for the freezer. And, eventually, muffins.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 20, 2022, 07:56:33 AM
All I can say is groceries are through the roof in cost. I had to go to the grocery store yesterday. I spent almost $400. Now it should last me for a while as I did have to buy meat (I try to eat as much plant protein as I can, but I will feel ran down if I do not eat meat a couple times a week)

I am going to have to get creative, as I did not buy anything that was crazy. But a bell pepper was $1.50 each. And my peppers in my garden most likely wont ripen due to our weather this year. I this point my green beans and tomatoes are not doing anything either. Over all my garden is a big flop. The weather was ice cold till mid July, and now it is warm but not days in a row, and it is all ready getting cold at night. My poor veggies are so confused.

I am going to have to start sprouting. For at least some fresh stuff this fall and winter.

Keep up the good work in using everything. Your wallets thank you.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on August 21, 2022, 02:55:49 PM
Pre-COVID I had a tradition of trying to eat down my fridge and freezer (and pantry, to some extent) in the summers. I live in hurricane country, and it reduced the amount of groceries I might lose in an extended power outage as well as making space before the holiday season (there are some specialty items like Trader Joe's butter puff pastry that are only available then, that I stock for all year). Then the pandemic arrived and I turned into a bit of a food hoarder, between trying to cut way back on the grocery trips and never being sure what I would find when I got there. I'm also just wrapping up a multi-year project of retesting a bunch of recipes that I had saved over about 15 years because I had made and liked them at one time, and I wanted to find out if I still enjoyed them. It was a good pandemic project, but generated a lot of bits and bobs leftover. 

I decided this summer would be the "clean out the pantry project." I probably won't remember everything, but some of my achievements:

1. Found a couple of different recipes to use up a very old smoked sausage from the freezer
2. Broke out the Instant pot to make a recipe that turned freezer-burned chicken breasts into a tasty dinner
3. Made a big batch of gazpacho to use up a lot of cucumbers and tomatoes that were sketchy
4. Roasted a lot of wilted cherry tomatoes and have been using them on sandwiches
5. Pulled chicken wings out of the freezer that had been sitting around for awhile and air-fried them
6. Found a couple recipes in Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express cookbook (which I highly recommend for pantry-use-up inspiration) to cook asparagus and eggplant when I realized I hadn't restocked on ingredients I needed for my original plan
7. Made brownie and chocolate cookie recipes to use up several bags of mint baking chips I was gifted with
8. Made baked fish with fresh tomato sauce to use up some frozen fish I impulse bought
9. Learned that I like quinoa a lot more if I toss a couple of tablespoons of pesto into it--will be helpful with the rest of the bag in my pantry!
10. Made thumbprint cookies to use the end of a jar of lemon curd that had been around awhile. I thought they were just OK but my family really liked them.

Tonight I will make a favorite pasta recipe that will finish the rest of a bag of pasta and some fresh tomatoes and green onions that need used before I leave for a trip on Wednesday.

My next challenge--a jar of orange marmalade I bought for one of my recipe re-tests. I'm not really into jam on toast or biscuits...I wonder what else I can do with it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: dividend on August 22, 2022, 02:12:46 PM
My next challenge--a jar of orange marmalade I bought for one of my recipe re-tests. I'm not really into jam on toast or biscuits...I wonder what else I can do with it?

I can help with this!  Use it to make a marinade/glaze for pork.  You can google for specific recipe, but here's what I generally do - sauté some garlic and red pepper flakes (if you like) in olive oil until it's fragrant.  Add the marmalade, some Dijon mustard, some Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce - you're looking for an umami booster here), and some salt and pepper.  Stir together until it's all melted and smooth, then let cool.  Use some of it as a marinade for whatever pork you like, however you like to roast it - it's great on a tenderloin.  I have thinned extra marinade with a little broth and let it simmer while the pork cooks, then finished with a little butter and/or cream and used as a sauce for some pasta.  (This is all great with some broccoli, roasted until crispy.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on August 22, 2022, 09:05:46 PM
My next challenge--a jar of orange marmalade I bought for one of my recipe re-tests. I'm not really into jam on toast or biscuits...I wonder what else I can do with it?

I can help with this!  Use it to make a marinade/glaze for pork.  You can google for specific recipe, but here's what I generally do - sauté some garlic and red pepper flakes (if you like) in olive oil until it's fragrant.  Add the marmalade, some Dijon mustard, some Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce - you're looking for an umami booster here), and some salt and pepper.  Stir together until it's all melted and smooth, then let cool.  Use some of it as a marinade for whatever pork you like, however you like to roast it - it's great on a tenderloin.  I have thinned extra marinade with a little broth and let it simmer while the pork cooks, then finished with a little butter and/or cream and used as a sauce for some pasta.  (This is all great with some broccoli, roasted until crispy.)

I like to make orange chicken with orange marmalade. Just take the chicken, put in pan, dump the jar of marmalade over it, add some pepper and maybe some salt and if you are feeling fancy a bit of garlic. Bake till done, eat with steamed veggies and rice. Every winter I make marmalade it is my favorite thing ever.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 24, 2022, 02:10:14 PM
@seemsright, I successfully used your fridge door roast idea yesterday.  Into the slow cooker went a large roast, along with the rest of a bottle of BBQ sauce, some Worcestershire and soy sauce, a can of mild Rotel with chilis, various spices and minced garlic, topped off with the remaining box of chicken broth.  Cooked all day on low, it turned out tender and flavorful.  I served it with leftover air fryer eggplant fries and the rest of the leftover rice for DH.  And your orange chicken and marmalade sound delicious!  @dividend, as does your glaze.

@oneday, alas, I do not remember which brown sugar brownie recipe I used.  If you do an online search, there are many different recipes which will also fit your other ingredients on hand.

Excellent job, @Noodle!

Lately:
-We were out of town last weekend and have been finishing up restaurant brunch and family BBQ leftovers for lunches.
-I made a homemade version of a McGriddle using homemade almond bread, the last package of locally raised country sausage, eggs and cheddar.
-Fridge condiments/door items:  Used a bit of the horseradish on last night's beef, some syrup on the McGriddles, spicy ranch on the eggplant fries, and a small container of bacon grease in which I scrambled the eggs.  I also finished up a jar of stuffed green olives.
-Tonight's ratatouille will utilize the zucchini, Roma tomatoes (three from a friend's garden), an eggplant, and can of tomatoes.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 24, 2022, 02:56:51 PM
I made good progress with our garden items over the weekend:
-Shredded and froze a zucchini, for future muffins
-Roasted four squash, pureed & have in the freezer for future soups
-Pickled 4 batches of jalapenos & other peppers. My husband/teen snack on those

Tonight we're having a chicken, tomato basil dish from the freezer, and for lunch I had a chicken curry (freezer). I love having single serving lunch options ready to go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 25, 2022, 01:37:28 PM
Nice work, @MaybeBabyMustache!

It's my Friday which means it's clean out the fridge day here at the office.  Munching on celery with the rest of my mom's dip from last weekend, more blueberries, a cheese stick, and the next to the last serving of sliced deli chicken.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 26, 2022, 02:30:54 AM
Working on finishing last weekend's BBQ leftovers (we had a party of 10, so I stocked up, but had a lot left). Mainly easy fruit and snack size veggies, so this is great for snacking (munching on some seedless grapes as I type!).
Currently, the freezer is overflowing and we have 2 fridges running. So my first effort is to get to 1 fridge and find some freezer space.
We have to get into the school-flow again, so I have stocked up on lunch and snack items for the teens. Now I need to see what gets finished first to see what their current favorites are (and then only buy when they've eaten all other things as well.....).

I'm just planning dinners, while we will have breakfast and lunches from fridge and freezer available items.

Tonight: fish (some salmon and some battered fish from freezer), pre-cooked potatoe (fridge) and veggies (fridge)/applesauce (fridge).
Tomorrow: chicken soup (fridge/freezer), french bread (pantry), burgers (freezer) with condiments (spotted some slices of cheddar in the fridge)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 27, 2022, 07:45:08 PM
Thanks, @MountainGal ! Back at ya. Hope you have a great weekend.

I bought a bunch of snacks & easy options for the family, as I head to Japan for work tomorrow. That means, all of the teen taxi duties are on my husband, so meal prep is challenging.

Also:
-Teen ate the entire giant tub of raspberries that I purchased yesterday. All were eaten for breakfast
-Other teen finished off all of the frozen fruit, and overly ripe bananas. He doesn't eat breakfast or lunch on school days, ate prefers to come home & make protein smoothies. :-|
-Made both teens breakfast this morning, ahead of soccer games. That finished off some bagels, & the milk.
-Made the teens lunch as well (feeling helpful, as they are super busy right now), which wrapped up a package of chicken from the freezer
-Also made myself lunch from the freezer 2x, with two different chicken curry dishes
-My husband grilled steak tonight, from a bag that was marinaded & frozen
-Used up a giant bowl of garden tomatoes & basil to make a caprese salad. The mozzarella is almost past its prime, so I'll need to finish that off quickly as well.
-Managed two use up, not one, but two bags of pasta in the pantry, that contained only 1/4 of the original amount. It's so nice to get those out of the way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 29, 2022, 03:56:39 PM
Save travels, @MaybeBabyMustache@Dutch Comfort, luck to you getting down to one fridge!

Significantly reducing the number of snacks from the monthly grocery order has resulted in a lean inventory, especially when it comes to camping munchies.  Friday before we left, I packed:

-A small bag of keto snack mix
-A small bag hot and spicy jerky leftover from my Christmas stocking
-A twin package of beef sticks
-The large bag of pork rinds leftover from a July social gathering.  There's still some left-it just keeps on going, LOL.
-Bumped up the remaining container of mom's dip by adding in some mayo and chopped up piece of bacon cooked the night before leaving.
-Warmed up the leftover ratatouille from Thursday and served it on Saturday evening.
-Made fresh cobb salads which used a boiled egg, more of the bacon, the last can of chicken bought last year, more of the shelled sunflower seeds I've been focusing on for over a month, etc.
-Sunday campsite brunch used the rest of the homemade pancake mix with some of the Eggbeaters I bought to try out, as well as the 3 remaining pieces of cooked bacon.  Oh, and (finally) a bottle of maple syrup.  :)  Even DH was on the same page as I with the latter, LOL.  We also polished off a bag of strawberries.
-I also packed a medium size bag of shelled pistachios which I didn't get to.

Fresh produce is down to 1/3 bag baby spinach, an unopened bag of coleslaw, and one each yellow squash and zucchini.  I'll do a grocery pickup tomorrow and we'll do a Sam's Club haul Thursday.  I want to get the latter completed before cold weather hits.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BiscuitsandGuy on August 30, 2022, 08:21:20 PM
I’ve lurked forever here and read this entire epic thread - y’all are rockstars!

I’m joining in now for several reasons, including but not limited to (1) holy grocery prices!, (2) disappointed with our food waste, (3) overall financial goals, and (4) several bags of homemade chicken broth leaked all over and outside freezer so I need to defrost and clean it.

This is a wonky time to be trying to get a grip on things as we’re gearing up for back to school plus me back to the office. But better late than never! Some of my personal challenge areas are large items lurking in the freezer (a turkey, a brisket), some things I made and froze but am not crazy about, and an entire inside fridge freezer full of random odds and ends. I also have a pretty picky DH and two young kids who have the usual young kiddo finickiness. It’s a challenge to get folks besides myself to reliably eat leftovers around here.

Looking forward to making some progress here.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on August 31, 2022, 11:52:09 AM
Welcome, @BiscuitsandGuy!  Sorry to hear about the broth leak.  And thank you!  You mentioning the large items reminded me of the fact we are going to smoke a ham this weekend and I need to pull it out of the freezer to thaw.

Last night I made deconstructed Po'boys which used 1/3 bag of the coleslaw.  Another 1/3 is currently in the slow cooker along with chicken breast, zucchini, spaghetti squash, etc. for a type of pad Thai.  Tomorrow the remaining slaw will be used in wraps along with leftover pulled pork from the freezer.

As a side last night, I sauteed up the yellow squash and the rest of the baby spinach.  Continuing to put produce scraps aside for our chicken owning neighbor.  Am very pleased with the lack of food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on August 31, 2022, 12:14:28 PM
Welcome @BiscuitsandGuy My mother just thawed out a turkey from her freezer too and we had Thanksgiving in August complete with dressing, butternut squash and cranberry sauce. It was a fun dinner and helped clean out her freezer.

This week I thawed some sirloin steak from the freezer and will grill it like fajita meat. I have some bell peppers in the fridge to use up too, so we'll have beef fajitas tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 02, 2022, 12:40:50 AM
Slowly but surely getting there:

Teens happily joined me in getting fruit snacks and leftover salads out of the fridge for lunch a few times this week.
I expect to be able to shut down the 2nd fridge tonight after dinner.

Had progress with:
- leftover salads from 2nd fridge, all gone now!
- snack tomatoes went down easily during work
- sliced a full cucumber to a teen and served with humus as a snack between school and sports practice
- had breakfasts and lunches all from fridge and freezer, so this is going according to plan

2nd fridge is now down to some fresh produce (bell peppers, tomatoes, chives etc.), which I will turn into a salad for dinner tonight and add some broccoli and potatoes to it (from 1st fridge).
Thawing some chicken (freezer space!) to eat with the salad tonight.

My parents gave me a lot of pears, so I have to eat them and find some recipes to make sure they don't go to waste.

Next plan: empty the freezer..... so getting rid of all kinds of half-eaten icecream boxes and the icecream-popsicles which are still in there (there will be loads of icecream based deserts the next couple of days.....).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 02, 2022, 01:26:29 PM
@Dutch Comfort, excellent job on the fridge emptying!

Today is clean out the office mini fridge day.  Lunch will consist of leftover BBQ pork, a cheese stick and two stuffed green olives.

Last night while munching I came across a dark chocolate reindeer from my Christmas stocking.  I was rather disappointed about its quality, so I decided I'll grate it and make brownies.

This weekend I'm going to bake sugar cookies and give them to various neighbors.  I'll frost them with the tub frosting bought for holiday baking last year.  I'll also bake more almond bars to address more of the sliced almonds.  This should wrap up last year's baking ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 04, 2022, 09:38:35 AM
I was out of town last week, and my husband isn't as diligent about working through the leftovers as I am. I cleaned the fridge, and tossed a few things. At least now, I'm starting from a clean fridge & know what we have.

-Ate leftover Greek takeout for lunch, & have enough for one additional meal
-Made my son 2 fruit smoothies. Used some garden strawberries in one batch, and wrapped up all of the bananas & juice in the second batch
-Used all of the garden tomatoes in the fridge. Mostly in salads, but it was a nice milestone to have them all cleared out, ahead of picking more yesterday

We are hosting two pool parties this weekend (15 y.o. + friend group today, 16 y.o. + friend group tomorrow), and we have a bunch of "party food" now on hand. I'll keep an eye on what we have leftover & work our way through that as well. Teen boys eat a lot of food, so it's possible that nothing will be left over!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Noodle on September 04, 2022, 03:10:26 PM
Thanks for the orange marmalade suggestions. I ended up going a different direction and making a batch of jam-oatmeal bars, which I had forgotten as a way to use up random preserves. I used this recipe which was super-easy in the food processor. They do come out a little on the crumbly side but I liked the more delicate texture. (Do follow the advice about lining the pan with foil, though) I have to take a dish to a potluck next week, so stuck these in the freezer for that purpose.

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/oatmeal-jam-squares.html (https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/oatmeal-jam-squares.html)

Had some aged peaches in the back of the fridge that became a batch of peach butter. I make my own yogurt so I think the peach butter will be nice with that.

Cooked off a steak that needed to be used from the freezer--my big achievement was broiling it without setting off the smoke detector (it wasn't grilling weather). Put the last of a bag of mini-falafel over a bagged salad from Trader Joe's.

I did a pretty good clean-out before I left in terms of using up perishables, so I am back to working on the weird pantry items. I think the next is a bottle of Trader Joe's yellow curry simmer sauce. That's easy...I'll just use it the way it was designed.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 05, 2022, 12:12:02 AM
Did a grocery run yesterday, but managed to keep the 2nd fridge turned off. The first fridge is now fully stocked, but we should be OK for the week.
Not much left the fridge, freezer or pantry this weekend, since we were mostly out with friends (street BBQ on Saturday, unexpected visit on Sunday where we were invited to dinner). 
Few things I need to do this week:
- use up some frozen bananas - probably make a banana bread or banana-oatmeal muffins for teen-snacks
- grate some bits of leftover cheese and freeze it so it won't go to waste
- eat icecream / serve icecream to the teens

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 05, 2022, 04:58:03 AM
Don't any of you get anxious about having an empty fridge or freezer? I do. I case of an emergency i like to have a reasonable store of food. But on the other side, I am a forager and want to eat whatever I foraged before it expires. And I don't need to store it for kore than a year. So it is a fine balance.

When I look in my fridge before making dinner, I always get more inspired to make something from fresh food, rather than finding something frozen or dried. But maybe I should rather go through my "best before" app, and select something from the stored food. And then make a plan to eat from it, maybe the next day, so I can prepare to buy or find/soak other ingredients if necessary.

One challenge I have is that I stored many bags of dried, edible leaves. In spring time, these are perfect for salads as a lettuce replacement. But what to do with them when frozen? Sometimes I throw some into a curry. They have neutral taste that can't compete with curry, but I presume they add healthiness to a dish. I have also used a handfull in a smoothy. I already made veggy burgers, but half the amount of burgers was put in the freezer again and forgotten there.

Another challenge are my dried, edible mushrooms. I have a crate full of a large variety of species that I dried before testing how they tasted. I have a cookbook that have described every one of these species with a suggestion for a dish. That is why I picked so many. I should just go ahead and make a plan.

Oh, I forgot to mention my homegrown vegetables and herbs that I have this year. Not the big quantities that they are a problem, we have been eating what I picked so far. The herbs though, produce a lot of leaves, like the mint and the sage, both with a strong taste. For mint, I checked out a lot of recipees with mint and already made a couple of those, including mint vinegar. Sage is maybe more difficult, but I'll make plans for that as well.

So I guess planning is the way to go.

Yesterday I prepared meat from the freezer, grilled on the stove. With green beans from the freezer and 4 small homegrown bell peppers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on September 05, 2022, 05:44:13 AM
When my fridge is full, I am very happy! However, when I have leftovers to put in the fridge and there is no room, I am unhappy! LOL!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 07, 2022, 04:04:28 PM
When I ran out of tub frosting for last weekend's sugar cookies, I made homemade icing which used a cup of powdered sugar.  The sugar is also a remnant of last year's holiday baking.

Traded some cookies for some neighbor's zucchini and pickling cucumbers.  In one of the large zucchinis, I stuffed thawed locally grown beef, seasoned rice cauliflower, cheddar and mozzarella, and leftover diced tomatoes.  I drizzled it with some of the last remaining bottles of BBQ sauce.  It's rather zingy so it added a lot of flavors.  I made two lunch bowls out of the leftover "stuffing."

Leftover veggies and a bit of the beef with cheese log went nicely with other ingredients onto a charcuterie board.

Recently finished a bottle of BBQ sauce, syrup, and mayo.

Froze the remaining bottle of lemon juice nearing its expiration date into molds, then transferred it to a freezer bag for winter.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to old bananas in time to bake banana bread.  Saving $1 is not worth getting sick.

We went out for appetizers Saturday evening, ate half, then split the rest later that night for munchies.

DH thawed leftover andouille and BBQed them Sunday night.  I ate half of one that night, and the other sliced into an omelet the next day.

Continuing to use bacon fat in which to cook eggs.

I'll make homemade Alfredo sauce to use the can of evaporated milk with a 09/22 expiration date.

Tomorrow night's avocado tuna salads just may finish off the sunflower seeds.  ;-)

Time to focus on cornmeal due to its expiration date.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 08, 2022, 01:14:06 AM
half-week fridge check:

- bag of lettuce is gone, together with bell pepper, pickles, few eggs and tomatoes it made a huge salad on Monday
- on Tuesday we fried the leftover boiled potatoes and added a few baked potatoes to it.
- cheese was grated and used over pasta yesterday. Still some remaining, but I'm planning pizza-night tomorrow, so this will be used up

Today: green beans, iceberg lettuce with cucumber, bell pepper and tomatoes (and maybe some pickles or eggs if I can find them), some meat and baked potatoes
Tomorrow: pizza day which will use up the mozzarella in the fridge, tomato-sauce from freezer, last of grated cheese and various meats and leftover veggies from fridge (and some flour/yeast from pantry)
Saturday: probably some soup from freezer and burgers or grilled cheese on the side

Breakfast and lunch (lunchboxes for the teens) will continue to come from pantry, fridge and freezer. So I'm hoping on a good dent in this in the next week or so.
Icecream is still in freezer (just a few popsicles were gone), since we're first finishing all kinds of diary products in the fridge.

Next challenge: make a good freezer inventory so things will be used up! Frozen bananas are still in there, waiting for being transformed into banana-oatmeal muffins or banana bread. Now I just need to DO IT.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 09, 2022, 02:58:03 PM
This week we ate a lot of my foraged mushrooms fresh. One of DH's selfcaught trouts from the freezer. I have also dried some mushrooms and pickled and confitured some. Now just a plan to eat them. I did use a mushroom recipe book for idead to eat two different species today, one in a cake and one in a barley risotto. The latter tasted really good. I used a couple of vegetables from the freezer as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 09, 2022, 03:50:11 PM
We hosted two pool parties for the teens this weekend, and one lasted pretty much all day, and had 15 teen boys. So, we went through a lot of food! We'd only planned one meal (pizza + snacks & drinks), but the kids were having so much fun, that they stayed & ate our dinner. We'd planned for kid friendly anyway, so they loved the hot dogs, potato salad & watermelon. Plus, of course, round two of ice cream. As all of the other parents said, they weren't on their electronics, & they were all having fun together, so it was a win.

For the rest of the week, we've eaten other leftovers, and today I cleaned the fridge & made a list of what needed to be used up:
-I made myself an interesting lunch wrap of a tortilla, tiny amount of takeout Greek sauce, a piece of cheese, garden tomato, & leftover chicken. All foraged from the fridge
-I froze some leftover pizza, to have next week when things are particularly crazy
-I made a meal plan for tonight, taking advantage of what's left in the fridge: grilled chicken salads & pizza (kids)
-Reviewed the freezer for easy options during the week, as my husband is traveling. Plus, made a very slimmed down shopping list.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on September 10, 2022, 11:08:09 AM
Tonight's dinner. Leftover slow roasted pork, leftover peppers and onions, leftover pineapple from our pizza last night is going to be turned into sweet and sour pork that I serve over rice.

Should be pretty damn good. And I get to clean out the fridge...win win
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 10, 2022, 01:59:08 PM
We ate a lot of leftovers for dinner last night, and then I froze everything left. Good progress was made on the fridge cleanout.

We have two late soccer games this evening, so we'll have a Trader Joes frozen option for tonight (orange chicken + fried rice). Tomorrow, my husband will grill burgers, which will use up some garden tomatoes + buns from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 11, 2022, 01:48:08 PM
Friday: pizza-day, finishing frozen leftover tomato sauce and various meats from fridge
Saturday: grilled cheese sandwiches with a cucumber/tomato salad

Today a grocery run, picking up fresh veggies and bread for the coming days. Did plan the menu for 5 days, using all kinds of items from freezer/pantry:

Today: traybake using the last few bbq-meats from freezer and fresh veggies
Monday: boiled potatoes, cauliflower and sausages from freezer
Tuesday: green beans, baked potatoes and meatloaf
Wednesday: pasta night
Thursday: all leftover veggies or canned veggies if there are no leftovers, French fries from freezer and burgers from freezer.

Breakfast and lunches will be from fridge and freezer.
Today we finished the last bottle of wine from the fridge…….. I think this counts…….
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on September 11, 2022, 02:51:50 PM
My hubby is leaving for a week tomorrow so I'm going to eat from the fridge/pantry while he is gone and see how that goes. Would love to spend $0 on groceries for the week! Thanks for all the inspiration on this thread :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BiscuitsandGuy on September 11, 2022, 08:18:39 PM
I had little successes last week, have to start somewhere! I spent $86 on groceries for last week, and used some odds and ends from fridge/pantry and a few small things from the freezer:
- a couple strips of bacon, questionable lettuce and a soft avocado went to BLATs
- the last of a bag of shredded Mexican cheese blend and a few remaining tortillas when to quesadillas for the kids
- a bag of chicken Marsala from the freezer went over pasta one night (this didn’t freeze all that well but thinned it out with chicken broth and it was edible)
- frozen grilled chicken and random fridge veggies went to packed salads for work lunches

Food waste: some berries and two zucchini that were lost in back of fridge, some leftovers that didn’t get eaten before we left for Labor Day weekend trip

I’m trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of bread I was given last weekend. White hot dog buns and sliced bread. Maybe just process them as bread crumbs.

Groceries for this week were $160, which is way more than last week but includes 3 chuck roasts I bought on sale to freeze and some extra stuff to help ward off takeout temptation.


 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 12, 2022, 04:56:25 PM
@Dutch Comfort, I think it counts!  LOL

@Serendip, glad you found inspiration here!

I added leftover green beans, and two boiled eggs DH didn't get to on top of last Thursday's salads.

Earlier this year DH made bacon from a locally raised pig.  Although he followed the recipe, it came out way, way too salty, so he rinsed and froze it.  Saturday, I cut up a few slices and cooked it in the air fryer along with asparagus.  It was so good!  I cooked two more slices and put them on top of last night's breakfast for supper eggs benedict.  Leftover bacon and asparagus will pair nicely with tonight's cod and shrimp.

Had the remaining blueberries and cucumber slices along with some cheese and pepperoni slices for lunch yesterday.

For taco Tuesday tomorrow I'll serve seasoned ground beef in romaine leaves for me, and tortillas for DH.  On the side will be sauteed yellow squash from DH's garden and zucchini from a neighbor's garden.  Cherry tomatoes continue to come in a few at a time from DH's garden.

Wednesday's air fried zucchini fries will use more of the neighbor's zucchini.  I'll grate the remaining zucchini for bread.

And, as @BiscuitsandGuy, posted, I had a bit of food waste.  Yesterday while organizing and wiping down the refrigerator in anticipation of this week's monthly grocery pickup, I removed the carton of cottage cheese from the back with an 08/5/2022 expiration date.  I hadn't realized it was in there for so long.  Tossed it without investigating the contents.  I also tossed one of the lunch bowls I made last week and didn't get to, along with the fresh produce scrap bags as my chicken owning neighbor has been out of the state.

Regarding the latter, DH and I briefly discussed the idea of composting.  We shall see.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 15, 2022, 12:26:15 AM
We will host a lunch/high tea party on Sunday. I started the prep by looking up recipes. Yesterday evening, I made a grocery list and went to our pantry with that list. I could cross a lot of the list, since I already had it in my pantry (big win....)! We will need the 2nd fridge again, but hopefully just for the Saturday and Sunday (with the current energy price level, I want to keep that fridge from running too long). I will send leftovers home with the guests!

Today: cucumber/tomato salad, canned corn, french fries and meat from freezer
Friday: chicken stir fry with noodles
Saturday: leftover pasta, soup from freezer and burgers
Sunday: lunch/high tea party, so no dinner planned

Still manage to get breakfast and lunch options from fridge and freezer. I start to see some dents in the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 15, 2022, 07:15:04 AM
@Dutch Comfort - the tea party sounds fun!

With my husband out of town, we've been scrappier with meals, which has been nice:
-Finished off a bag of chicken (freezer)
-Made lots of protein smoothies
-Last night for dinner, I added two eggs to leftover fried rice. It was delicious, & just filling enough.

For tonight, DS16 & I will have a chicken curry (freezer), while DS15 will have a leftover burger. I need to freeze some fruit that didn't get eaten, but otherwise, the fridge is looking good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on September 15, 2022, 01:34:43 PM
Last night I used an overripe banana, the last of an open container of almond milk and frozen strawberries to make a smoothie for a small dinner. I also heard a tip from a friend to soak a banana peel in water to fertilize my vegetable plants with; she recommended letting it soak for a week, remove the peel then water the plant with the phosphorous rich water.

Tonight I'll thaw some salmon from the freezer for dinner and reheat some leftover sides that have been in the refrigerator.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on September 16, 2022, 09:35:41 AM
My hubby is leaving for a week tomorrow so I'm going to eat from the fridge/pantry while he is gone and see how that goes. Would love to spend $0 on groceries for the week! Thanks for all the inspiration on this thread :)

5 days in --the only food I've purchased was a chocolate bar for a big hike (9 hours!), although someone bought me lunch on Wednesday (and then I took the leftovers home which has given me another two meals)

Will roast spaghetti squash and cauliflower this morning so i have those ready in the fridge. Will also make some oat or nut milk since I'm all out. And will rummage through the fridge to make sure there isn't anything else that needs to be used up asap. I might have collards that need to be used--perhaps I'll make a baked orzo this weekend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 16, 2022, 12:47:44 PM
@Serendip, I like your idea of roasting the veggies ahead of time.

DH cooked several more slices of the bacon and we had some on last night's cauliflower crust pizza.

Wednesday, I arrived home late so instead of making dinner, we grazed on what we had on hand.  I finished the last of the pepperoni slices and had hatch chili chips with sour cream.  DH made a burrito out of leftovers and helped finish the chips.  Tonight, I'll make what I was going to Wednesday:  Air fried chicken tenders and the zucchini fries.

Today is the usual clean out the office mini fridge day which will include the last deli turkey slice, a cheese stick, and the remaining black olives and cherry tomatoes from home.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on September 17, 2022, 11:01:45 AM
BiscuitsandGuy - If you need more ideas of what to do with extra bread:  panzarella (bread and tomatoes); bread pudding; or this recipe (which sadly might be behind a paywall):

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023349-juicy-tomatoes-with-parmesan-olive-bread-crumbs?action=click&module=Collection%20Page%20Recipe%20Card&region=Summer%20Tomato%20Recipes&pgType=collection&rank=8

It's a savory toasted bread crumb recipe that goes on lots of things besides fresh tomatoes.  I put it on salad every night and others have suggested using it on top of pasta with a tomato sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 17, 2022, 01:48:26 PM
We made good progress this week, and finished off a bunch of odds & ends.
-Garden strawberries, used in protein smoothies
-Salad mix used for lunches
-Curry used for 1 dinner & 1 lunch
-Leftover buns finished off. All remaining burger patties frozen for future use.
-Finished off a bag of chicken (freezer)

I went to brunch with a friend this morning, and brought back 1/2 a breakfast burrito. The 16 year old polished that off quickly. :0
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on September 17, 2022, 08:45:06 PM
Success- one week gone with no grocery shopping 🛒
Will see how long I can stretch it.

I made a quinoa salad to add all sorts of veggies to (shishito peppers, yellow zucchini, kale, cherry tomatoes, red onion, basil, mint, etc)..bonus is that it’s tasty too.

Had ricotta which needed to be eaten so I made a (somewhat odd but tasty) chocolate pudding with cocoa since I’m now out of dessert chocolate too :)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on September 18, 2022, 01:58:53 AM
We are visiting FIL and left an almost empty fridge at home.
At FIL I looked for margarine to put on sandwiches. The contents of the pack had strange different colors. After I smeared it, the knife smelled bad. So I ended up throwing away the sandwich and checked the pack. It had an expery date in 2020. So did the other, unopened pack. So we could throw away both.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on September 18, 2022, 08:23:06 PM
This past week I used up a partial bag of baking mix and some chocolate chips by making Bisquick cookies. This board made me look up recipes to use those items together. I even filled out the recipe with some almond flour that expires soon. They turned out pretty good, as they all got eaten in two days.

I used up the last of the dried coconut by mixing it in with my breakfast yogurt over a few days. A few heels of bread got toasted and whirled in the blender to get added to the breadcrumbs bag in the freezer.

There's still some frozen veggie broth in the freezer I'd like to use. When it cools off, I'll probably use it in soups.

I've had a little food waste--some cucumber and celery bits I didn't use them fast enough in salads; a small opaque bag of grapes that spoiled in the crisper; some quinoa I didn't love. I finally tossed the last of the frozen rice pudding after using most of it in smoothies. Everything went in the compost except the quinoa which has meat broth so it's waiting on trash day.




 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 19, 2022, 04:18:12 AM
Plus from last weekend: 1 managed the whole high tea party on 1 fridge (advanced tetris skills!!!!!)

The leftovers did not go with the friends, so we're stuck eating leftovers this week. This morning we started and DD was happy with her english scones as breakfast.
And since we did not plan any dinner (lunch/high tea was more than enough) we still have hungry teens in the house, so DS had some italian meatballs with some pasta as a late dinner yesterday.
 
Leftovers still to eat:
1. vitello tonato (small portion..... as lunch extra)
2. tomato salad (small portion, will go as salad with our dinner tonight)
3. quiche (lunch portion, will see if DH has eaten this today, since he is at home, otherwise it will be my lunch for tomorrow.....)
4. lemon/almond cake (we can snack on that for the rest of the week)
5. apple - cinnamon muffins (I think I will freeze some tonight, 1 already went as a snack to school with DS)
6. scones (breakfast and snack for DD and me)
7. italian meatballs (I think enough for 2 teenage dinners. I will freeze for some quick dinner options on sports nights)
8. mascarpone/strawberry desserts (will go as dessert tonight)

Used up this weekend:
- 1 leftover pasta lunch from freezer
- 1 box of chicken soup from freezer
- a pack of burgers, which also used up a few lingering slices of bacon and a few slices of cheddar from the fridge
- 2 cans of tuna from pantry
- 1 jar of ansjovis from pantry
- last part of a pack of quiche dough which was in the freezer
- 1 little jar of pesto from pantry
- 1/2 pack of pasta that I do not like, but DS did not have a problem eating it. So the next half will go to him as well, when he is craving pasta!

So this week it is eating leftovers and then identifying new projects to finish, since our pantry is still overflowing.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on September 19, 2022, 09:07:35 AM
Here's a round up of what's gone from my life lately:

- fridge pickled a bunch of peppers from gifts from the neighbors and from my kid's friends family
- DS1 has been on a personal mission to eat up all the chicken strips / patties from the freezer
- pawned off some weird chicken fries (bought during the 2020 scare when no other frozen chicken was available) on my neice / nephew
- pawned off some weird frozen mac n cheese pouches on neice / nephew
- have been grilling a lot of chicken and pork, decided to use up the most empty sauce jars. Finished off an Indian curry squirt, some GF teriyaki marinade and am working through a memphis bbq bottle like there's no tomorrow
- slow cooked the rest of the peppers that didn't get pickled with a bunch of gifted tomatoes
- cooked a pound of dried beans, made a chili with the tomato mixture (that I then accidentally poured cinnamon in instead of cumin), salvaged said chili by scooping out spices and adding new spices. Finished off almost all of it, have 1 portion left.


Not food related, but have repurposed some items in my home (2 throw pillows into a sofa back cushion) and a backpack for a kiddo. These were otherwise scenarios where I would have spent money for a different solution, so it feels pretty similar to the sentiment in this thread.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on September 19, 2022, 05:24:14 PM
DP was gifted a bottle of chili honey. He, DS, and I all tried it and didn't care for it. I took it to work where some colleagues have commented before that they really like it. So I decluttered a very temporary item!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on September 20, 2022, 09:05:32 PM
Managed 10days without buying any groceries 😁

 My SO is home for just a night so we picked up some oat milk for coffee and a few other things (lemons & limes) and then when he leaves again tomorrow afternoon I will resume my eating-down-the-fridge-&-pantry experiment.

I have a bunch of collard greens to use so I might try to make them into snacks with my kale chip recipe and see how that goes.

Also baked coconut flour cookies but they were a bit odd IMO. If anyone has ideas for using up coconut flour—I’ll take them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on September 20, 2022, 10:13:10 PM
Great to see you all still hear valiantly keeping food waste at bay :)
@MaybeBabyMustache @seemsright @Noodle @dividend @Dutch Comfort @BiscuitsandGuy @GardenBaker @Linea_Norway @Roadrunner53 @Serendip @Catbert @okisok @fuzzy math

@MountainGal thanks for the tip on the recipe; I'll do some searching to optimize what I have.


Used up recently:
~2 c. slighly frost bitten summer squash
1 banana
1 nectarine
2 tomatoes
less than 1 quart grape tomatoes
less than 5 oz whole raw almonds
1 serving leftovers (needs BBQ sauce)
1/2 bag pink beans
less than 1/2 gal soy milk
less than 32 oz plain greek yogurt
less than 32 oz sliced cheese, various varieties
less than 2 lbs baby carrots
2 lbs grapes
2 red onions
8 oz red lentil linguine
7 oz riced vegetables
1/2 dozen eggs
1 lb butter

Next on the chopping block:
cucumber
marinara sauce, noodles, olives
hmm...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 21, 2022, 12:16:51 AM
Fridge check before ordering groceries revealed that we did a good job eating leftovers this week. Plan for the rest of the week:

Wednesday: pasta dish with a side salad of rucola/tomato
Thursday: sweet potatoes, chicken from freezer and leftover veggies or canned veggies
Friday: fish from freezer, baked potatoes and broccoli
Saturday: busy day with DH out of town, so it will be something from the freezer (soup with fresh bread is always a good idea, according to DD)

Lunch for today will be the last bits of the leftover quiche. We still have enough in fridge / freezer to have breakfast / lunch and snacks.

Items to be used up:
- grapes in fridge
- pears in pantry
- few grape tomatoes in fridge
- 1 serving of greek yoghurt (used part in a recipe, now need to eat the rest)
- 1 serving of regular yoghurt
- leftover 1/4 jar of tomato salsa
- leftover 1/2 jar of capers
- leftover 1/2 mini-jar of pesto (few tablespoons left)
- 1/2 bag of a new type of soy crisps....... nobody really liked them, but maybe I can convince a hungry teen after school.....
- 1/3 bag of bread sticks
- cheese with italian herbs - need to cut into snack sized portions to send with the teens to school
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 21, 2022, 07:38:03 AM
We did too good of a job eating leftovers. I had to go to the store yesterday evening (basically unheard of) to pick up additional fruit & veggies.

-Finished off the beef kebabs, and most of the rice. I'll serve rice tonight to one lucky diner, and finish it off.
-Turned the rest of the ground beef into taco meat, and we've had that for one dinner, and will have the rest tonight.
-Realized we were out of a brick of cheese, so I diced up slices for taco night.
-Found some Keto friendly taco shells for my husband. He was jazzed, as he hasn't had a taco shell in years. They were actually pretty good, & I also had one. However, the tacos were so good that we went through nearly 2x as much volume as usual, leaving stingy leftovers for tonight.
-Continuing to eat up the garden tomatoes. They are so juicy & sweet. The kids just slice up a bunch, sprinkle them with salt, & eat them with their meals.
-I've been using up oat milk in protein smoothies for the kids. I have way too much almond milk, because I couldn't pass up the sale price, combined with $1 off offers. I need to find more creative ways to get through them, vs just in my coffee.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on September 21, 2022, 02:44:08 PM
Since my last post I've tackled using up some real straggling items in my pantry:

- 2 bags of vegan marshmallows (ugh - leftover from DD's brief stint with vegetarianism) made into rice krispie treats
- 1.5 boxes of GF lentil lasagna noodles went into a lasagna (still 0.5 box left to go)
- tube of Italian tomato paste went into the lasagna

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 22, 2022, 10:00:04 AM
We've done such a good job of whittling down our prepped freezer leftover meals, that today I struggled to find an option. This is pretty unusual at our house. Instead, we'll be having a few options, since there wasn't one meal big enough for everyone. Two servings of chicken fajitas, one serving of tacos (DS15 didn't eat after practice last night, so that's carrying over), & one serving of barbecued chicken. All with a big salad to round it out, and a bit of rice, if anyone wants extra carbs.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 22, 2022, 11:54:42 AM
Doing well, everyone!

@Serendip, regarding coconut flour, in the past I've made low carb crepes, coconut flour cheddar biscuits, and pistachio cookies.

@MaybeBabyMustache, do you remember what brand of taco shells?

~I finally addressed the hollandaise sauce envelope by making breakfast for supper two weekends ago, and on poached eggs and Traeger baked homemade sourdough bread this past Sunday.
~Making fresh produce from DH's garden a supper side priority.  So far, we've had sauteed yellow squash, air fryer yellow squash and zucchini, cherry tomato (SO good!) caprese salads, and ground beef stuffed zucchini.  Up next will be zucchini fritters and bread, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, and air fried eggplant fries.
~Made my own tartar sauce for Tuesday's air fried cod.  DH prefers mine vs. store bought.
~Romaine has been used in several salads, and tonight will be served underneath enchiladas and will be kielbasa "buns" this weekend.
~Baby spinach will go into weekend smoothies and will be sauteed with yellow squash Saturday night.
~Last night I made chicken crust pizza with homemade sauce using one of many cans of chicken, and a can each of tomato paste and sauce.  The sauce recipe made enough for last night's pizza and two more which I froze.
~Sunday we'll bake one of the pizza kits bought earlier this year from a neighbor kiddo's school fundraiser.
~Snacks:  The rice crackers and Cheeze-It Puff'd are almost gone, and a small bag of pistachios was consumed.  I'm going to make a cheesy diced green chili artichoke dip in the slow cookier this weekend which will pair well with pork rinds.  I'll use the soft block cheese given to us by a coworker of DH's.
~Condiment clearing:  Finished a jar of blue cheese dressing and bottle of BBQ sauce.  Threw away a very old bottle of hot sauce.  We have opened bottles of spicy ranch, chipotle mayo, and creamy queso sauce to utilize.
~The current container of blueberries is plump and juicy rather than tart which I am happy about.

Tomorrow is clean out the office mini fridge day consisting of cherry tomatoes, strawberries, shredded cheese, and a can of tuna from the cupboard.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 22, 2022, 12:43:54 PM
@MountainGal - it was these. https://guerrerotortillas.com/products/nutri-ricas-carb-watch-flour-tortillas/ Guerrero Carb Watch, with flax seed.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on September 23, 2022, 09:17:22 AM
Used the last 1/2 cup of black rice to make a macadamia nut, coconut, beet & black rice porridge (there was actually a recipe for this in one of my cookbooks). People are so creative..

@MountainGal --I like the idea of coconut crepes, might try those. Or some biscuits!

My hubby is coming back tomorrow so today I will do some more cooking with the odds & sods as he surely will want to go grocery shopping upon his return :)

Todays goals: make collard chips & homemade granola.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on September 23, 2022, 02:05:36 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!

Sounds good, @Serendip!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 23, 2022, 02:34:19 PM
-Finished the roasted potatoes
-Ate the rest of a leftover sandwich
-Organized the extra space in the freezer, to make it easier to find everything

Tonight will be: wings, gyozos & salads. We somehow ended up with 3 bags of gyozos, so hopefully can wrap up one tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on September 25, 2022, 04:18:34 PM
Made a chicken pot pie for dinner for DS and sent one home with visiting nephew, clearing out 2 boxes of nearly freezer burned pie crusts and all the bits of roasted carrots and potatoes from Friday night's dinner

Made a huge vat of chili using up a 3lb log of ground beef languishing in the freezer and several cans of beans/tomatos etc (for DH and DS)

Made a pot of pumpkin/butternut squash soup for me....because it's fall and I wanted it!!! 



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 26, 2022, 03:40:11 PM
-Finished the last of the sliced provolone, having a breakfast wrap this morning. I also used copious amounts of (incredible) garden tomatoes, in the wrap. I don't know if I can go back to store tomatoes again. This summer, in particular, the garden tomatoes were super sweet.
-Took the ground beef that didn't get dealt with this weekend (soccer tournament that went long, due to making the finals) & made it into taco meat, and popped it in the freezer. Tacos are a top choice at our house.
-Defrosted a bolognese sauce, to go with ravioli my 16 y.o. picked out at Costco
-I was home alone for dinner on Saturday night, which is a super rare occurrence. I found a small container of chicken curry in the freezer, and that was dinner.
-Finished one of the bags of gyozos. We now have a much more manageable two in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 27, 2022, 11:56:24 PM
Our Sunday plans changed and we had dinner at my parents. DS took leftovers (my mother made his favorite dish) with him to our house and ate these for lunch yesterday.
So yesterday, we had a nice "sunday roast" for dinner. Together with salad that came from the garden of my inlaws, it was a good one!
Also finished the last of the baked goodies yesterday as dessert (some chocolate cake and some apple pie)


Plans for the rest of the week:
Tonight: sports night, so pasta to the rescue with some leftover salad
Tomorrow: green beans, baked potatoes and meatloaf
Friday: wraps filled with everything left in the fridge (bell peppers, tomatoes), canned corn, beans and chicken from freezer
Saturday: burgers and soup from freezer

Still need to use up all kinds of leftovers in the fridge. Let's see if I can make the teens some snacks out of what is in there.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 02, 2022, 08:41:45 AM
I need to get back into this challenge.  We moved recently so don't have a huge amount of food, but I've been noticing that I'm not doing *quite* as well on using up leftovers as usual.  Also we did move some pantry odds and ends so I need to get on with using those.

Most recent pantry-raiding recipe was a "persian multi bean soup" from a cookbook I got years ago.  Used some dried lentils, chickpeas, white beans, and pinto beans (was supposed to be red kidney beans, I used the pinto instead rather than buy more beans).  Also a bit of farro from a small packet we've had for ages.  It got positive reviews from spouse and child, despite some initial noises of skepticism.  I have been trying to work a wider variety of legumes into our diet so was happy to find this recipe!

Right now my most pressing thing to use up is a couple of large zucchini. I had vaguely thought I might make zucchini noodles and mix with spaghetti.  But could use some other ideas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 03, 2022, 05:03:20 PM
@cats - you could always shred the zucchini, and freeze it. Defrost it later for a zucchini bread or something. I also sometimes make zucchini fritters, similar to these. https://natashaskitchen.com/zucchini-fritters-video/

Our kids have a Soda Stream that they rarely use, and we have lots of those Bubly flavorings, that came with it. I've been using a few drops of the Bubly in my water bottle, and enjoy it for a very light flavor. And, it's slowly working through the mini containers of flavoring.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 03, 2022, 08:27:11 PM
I need to get back into this challenge.  We moved recently so don't have a huge amount of food, but I've been noticing that I'm not doing *quite* as well on using up leftovers as usual.  Also we did move some pantry odds and ends so I need to get on with using those.

Most recent pantry-raiding recipe was a "persian multi bean soup" from a cookbook I got years ago.  Used some dried lentils, chickpeas, white beans, and pinto beans (was supposed to be red kidney beans, I used the pinto instead rather than buy more beans).  Also a bit of farro from a small packet we've had for ages.  It got positive reviews from spouse and child, despite some initial noises of skepticism.  I have been trying to work a wider variety of legumes into our diet so was happy to find this recipe!

Right now my most pressing thing to use up is a couple of large zucchini. I had vaguely thought I might make zucchini noodles and mix with spaghetti.  But could use some other ideas.

I too need to get back into this challenge. My friend and I have canned a few things in massive quantities, because she does not do anything small.  I have a gallon of fresh sauerkraut in my fridge now. We made 5 gallons, we will can the rest next week. i have a ton of pickles and loads of veggies stashed in my freezer for winter soups from out garden. So much to use. It is crazy and on top of that my interest in cooking and eating in general is very low. I just do not really care...but the family needs to eat so i need to cook.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 04, 2022, 01:56:09 PM
@cats - you could always shred the zucchini, and freeze it. Defrost it later for a zucchini bread or something. I also sometimes make zucchini fritters, similar to these. https://natashaskitchen.com/zucchini-fritters-video/

Our kids have a Soda Stream that they rarely use, and we have lots of those Bubly flavorings, that came with it. I've been using a few drops of the Bubly in my water bottle, and enjoy it for a very light flavor. And, it's slowly working through the mini containers of flavoring.

Yes, I found some guidelines for freezing zoodles so I think I will spiralize and freeze one of the large zucchini, and the other I will freeze for turning into a currried zucchini soup at some point.

We finished off the rest of the multi-bean soup for lunch yesterday and DH commented again on how delicious it was.  Since our pantry still contains most of the ingredients, I'll definitely be making it again soon.  Today I am making a batch of butternut squash soup, blending in the cores and leaves from some cauliflower we got last week.  I have been trying to make sure we really get the maximum use out of any produce we buy and cauliflower leaves are an easy one.  My default is to use them in a blended soup, but you can also grate them up and mix in with stuff like fried rice, or put a small handful into salad for some different texture (definitely just a small handful though).  Broccoli stems are another thing that can be used like this, though at the moment I'm finding it's much cheaper to buy frozen broccoli ($1.35/lb) than fresh ($2-3/lb), so haven't been using that option much!

My next item to figure out is some frozen orange juice concentrate.  I got it to use in making popsicles for my son but 1) the weather is turning cold and 2) it turns out once there are popsicles on demand available he doesn't want them so much.  Hrmph!  I think I have some muffin recipes that call for orange juice so will probably whip up a batch of those soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 05, 2022, 02:19:51 PM
@cats, for the orange juice, mimosas come to mind.  Yum!  And count me in with the zucchini crowd.  So far this season I've made a batch of banana zucchini bread which used up some old bananas, made two loaves, one of which was given to a neighbor.  I've also made sauteed zucchini with a few other vegetables, as well as zucchini fritters twice.  As @MaybeBabyMustache mentioned, I'll probably freeze the remaining one of two for winter use.

Lately:
-A ham hock and leftover sliced ham from earlier this year were slow cooked with pinto beans
-A can of the stockpiled chicken was seasoned and warmed up for tacos
-Tonight, we'll have leftover burger patties from the freezer with leftover zucchini fritters from last night
-Tomorrow I'll make a canned chicken crust pizza with some of the homemade pizza sauce from last month
-Speaking of zucchini, this weekend I'm going to attempt tempura zucchini fries for the first time in the air fryer
-Side salads using romaine, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach will go with the latter two entrees
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 06, 2022, 12:05:10 AM
Inlaws came over yesterday and brought endive with them. So tonight DD and I will enjoy fresh endive with mashed potatoes and bacon (typical Dutch dish), while DH will help himself with some leftovers from the freezer.
Tomorrow, DS will be back from camp and he demanded leftover pasta as lunch, so happy to oblige to that!

The fridge is quite empty, not much fresh produce left and the leftovers will be gone tomorrow.

Tonight: endive mash / leftovers
Tomorrow: meat from freezer, sweet potatoes from pantry and canned veggies / cucumber salad
Saturday: burgers and soup (this one I planned for last weekend, but things got frozen, because we were having "italian buns with everything from fridge" as dinner).

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 06, 2022, 11:48:13 AM
Just put on a pot of red lentil curry. Was able to use up a jar of home canned tomatoes from last year, some salad greens and a couple carrots that were on their last leg, and some frozen garden produce from the freezer. This pot of soup should last us for at least two meals.

I am trying to get back into this challenge, my life is just simpler with less food in this house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 06, 2022, 01:18:42 PM
Good job, @seemsright and @Dutch Comfort.

DH indicated last night we have a lot of ground beef in the deep freeze.  In the next few weeks, we'll have:

Slow cooker meatloaf
Meatballs with riced cauliflower for me, white rice for DH
Slow cooker meatballs in sugar free BBQ sauce
Cheeseburgers

Tomorrow is clean out the office mini fridge day consisting of blueberries and a cheese stick, LOL.  I'll supplement with a protein bar from the cupboard.

My new goal is to strive to make less complicated suppers hopefully resulting in less dirty pots, pans and dishes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on October 08, 2022, 06:31:07 PM
I have been AWOL from this thread since my initial posts about a year ago. I made an excel spreadsheet with everything I needed to use down. In the intervening year I used up about half. Some cases I was gifted more than I used up - pasta e.g. There was some falafel batter which I used up after x years (it was made as part of baby shower celebrations, the twins haven’t started school but yeah). It was delicious but barely one meals worth. I listed 12 ice cream pints, one is left and 6 were added this summer. My sister always brings us granola bars but refuses to take them on the plane for a snack. I was also given 18 Kodiak bars, not as high protein as I expect, better than a cookie.

My last 8 months I’ve worked jobs with kitchens stocked with snacks, including chocolate and drinks. This one has coffee and tea but everyone has their own snack drawer. I try not to take in really junky food because I will inhale it when stressed. Somehow it’s easier to eat one piece of chocolate if I have to walk to the kitchen than if it’s in my drawer. I guess I could take in a baggie of 5-6 every week.

I was surprised to see couscous on last year’s spreadsheet, apparently I bought it exactly a year ago. Two boxes left. I thought I put a big dent into the brown rice but then I found a second bottle, back to square one.

FWIW, I’m not buying things, it’s either stuff we stopped using or stuff I’m being given. Oh I did buy some spring rolls in 2021 when we thought there would be a potluck but then pandemic again. I really just forget about them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 10, 2022, 03:17:07 AM
Did a good check on the freezer before grocery shopping and made a meal plan to incorporate the meats that are in there. We are fine till at least Wednesday, but probably for the rest of the week as well when counting leftovers. Just need to buy some fresh produce for Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
At this moment, the fridge and freezer are having an "in control" status. Now just for the pantry, where I get complaints from the rest of the family that they cannot find anything.......

@MountainGal good work on planning the ground beef dinners.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 10, 2022, 03:47:18 AM
Yesterday I used the last frozen trout, caught by DH. Together with frozen broccoli roses that were probably left over from some other time.
Today half a bag of elm nuts that I gathered in spring.
Earlier this week I used a pot of confit mushrooms that I picked last year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 10, 2022, 01:43:06 PM
Good to see you @Runrooster.

Thank you @Dutch Comfort.  There is currently a meatloaf in the slow cooker.

@Linea_Norway, I love your posts as I often learn new things.  For instance, I'd never heard them called broccoli roses.  :)

Lately:
~Rotated several canned goods from the back pantry to the kitchen pantry
~Brought 2 packages ground beef and a package of beef ribs from the deep freeze to the kitchen freezer
~Grated 4 cups zucchini and froze them into 2 cup packages for zucchini bread over the winter
~Baked the cheesy bread kit with the neighbor kiddos
~Baked the rest of the cookie dough for the neighbor kiddos
~Divvied up the package of broccoli for DH's lunch and steamed as a side last night
~Speaking of last night, a few months ago a neighbor gave us several packages of a bear he harvested and processed.  It was DH and my first time working with that protein, and it made for tender bacon cheeseburgers.
~I'll make baby spinach salads with warm bacon dressing as a side this evening.  The bag will yield one more meal after that.  I'll toss in a few cherry tomatoes from the garden.
~I baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookies yesterday which used up the rest of the chocolate chips and random dark chocolate bars.
~Made avocado crema which yielded three servings
~Boiled up one of two cartons of local eggs for breakfasts this week
~Processed celery, strawberries and blueberries for lunches this week

After the spinach is consumed, the produce drawer will be empty, just in time for going out of town.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 10, 2022, 01:50:19 PM
~Grated 4 cups zucchini and froze them into 2 cup packages for zucchini bread over the winter

Thanks for the reminder. I have two really fat zucchini hiding in the veggie drawer that I never cooked last week because I had an upset stomach. I need to freeze them or bake them or something.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 10, 2022, 01:54:58 PM
~Grated 4 cups zucchini and froze them into 2 cup packages for zucchini bread over the winter

Thanks for the reminder. I have two really fat zucchini hiding in the veggie drawer that I never cooked last week because I had an upset stomach. I need to freeze them or bake them or something.

Of course, @Dollar Slice!  Hope you're feeling better.  I shredded the zucchini while the neighbor kids were there.  They wanted to work the food processor so badly!  I told them no, as it's a bit dangerous even for me.  I did pull my two box graters from the cupboard to teach them the difference between slow, arm and hand operated graters vs. food processor.  They then wanted to manually grate something, so I gave them both ends of the zucchini.  When I turned on the food processor, one of the boy's eyes got huge, LOL.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 11, 2022, 01:01:11 AM
@Linea_Norway, I love your posts as I often learn new things.  For instance, I'd never heard them called broccoli roses.  :)

@MountainGal
"Roses" is how we call the parts of broccoli and cauliflower that are not the stem in Dutch and in Norwegian. I just presumed I could translated the expression literally.

Yesterday I used up chicken thighs as well as young ground elder and caraway leaves. All from the freezer.
Edit: and added it to a homemade soup that we had stored in the freezer.

I added 2 pieces of home made brioche bread and some bags of frozen peas and beans.

When cooking I now search actively through the "best before" app to see what I can use from what we have.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on October 12, 2022, 02:17:00 PM
Was visiting my parents who have a small orchard.

Came home with a paper bag full of dehydrated apples and a bunch of mint, etc.
.. now am using up some of the fresh apples I brought home-- an apple crumble is in the overn and also baked an apple-sauce cake this morning (to eat with some raspberry jam that my mother made)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 13, 2022, 01:25:55 PM
Sounds delicious @Serendip!

Headed out of town soon.  Last night's supper included leftover meatloaf and broccoli and the remaining American cheese slices, more baby spinach, and the last neighbor grown zucchini.  The latter was turned into air fryer tempura fries, and we ate half.  The other half will be eaten this evening with leftover parmesan and pork rind breaded cod and the remaining home garden yellow squash.  And yes, more of the baby spinach. :)

The fridge is relatively bare, which will be taken care of next week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 14, 2022, 01:07:07 AM
2 half packages of brown rice were processed yesterday into an Indonesian fried rice dish. Teens absolutely loved it, DH is not a fan of rice, but he was out of town yesterday, so we had a go with this. Only 1 lunch leftover remained and will be taken care of today by either the teens or me. The dish also called for some sides of prawn crackers, fried unions, fried peanut/coconut mixture, which were all in the pantry and now all gone! The teens ate so much they didn't even want a desert!

Yesterday the groceries were delivered and the fridge is fully stuffed, so lots of choices for the next couple of days.

Still have to take care of the apples that nobody seems to like. Maybe an apple pie for the weekend can convince my picky eaters?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 14, 2022, 08:55:05 AM
Used up an entire bottle of citrus teriyaki marinade on a giant pack of chicken thighs. Have had this bottle for probably 3 years and I always avoided using it for some weird reason.

We have pantry moths >:o
Can't seem to get rid of them. Somehow they got into a supposedly sealed container of bread crumbs and reproduced in horrifying numbers. DH opened everything, threw away some stuff and reorganized the pantry by item type. I'm thrilled with the results. I can see what we have, plan for meals etc. That's what lead to the teriyaki finally getting used.

Also used up a weird box kit of papadum crisps w sauces (not so great), finished off a different chutney from the fridge and opened a new chutney (not so great). I'm getting to the point where if something is gross I'm just going to throw it away instead of trying to find something to hide it in to make it palatable.

We are probably moving in a number of months. I'm going to be strategically finishing everything off and posting the results here! Told DH its not time for any out of the ordinary or aspirational grocery purchases. This weekend's list includes making a GF cheesy biscuit mix and eating some canned fish or chicken.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 15, 2022, 11:46:08 AM
Made some good progress this week, with the exception of the salad I didn't fully get so, as I was unexpectedly out of town over the weekend:
-Made dinner last night, using the last of the taco meat
-Found a couple of bacon wrapped chicken breasts in the freezer, and made those, with a can of green beans. The beans have been on the shelf for a while, so it was nice to use those up.
-Used up the last of a small amount of coconut shrimp & sauce, that I also found in the freezer.
-Made chicken for lunch, and wrapped up the last few pieces with dinner, with a bit of the leftover sauce from the shrimp.
-I'm making banana bread, out of a bunch of overripe bananas.
-I'm giving away all of my unopened, flavored almonds. My husband doesn't love the flavored kind, and I have a newly discovered almond sensitivity. I LOVE almonds, so I have three cans, and one giant Costco bag. I'd rather pass them on to someone who will eat them, vs discovering them, expired & stale on our pantry shelf.

For dinner tonight, I'm making a stir fry, using a package of rice noodles I've had forever. It, and the chicken curry tomorrow, will also use up some very elderly carrots. I'll use cilantro from the garden, for both dishes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 15, 2022, 04:22:13 PM
Used up the last of my zucchini making zucchini bread. I also had a bunch of bananas that were super brown so it was actually banana zucchini bread. I used the Budget Bytes banana bread (https://www.budgetbytes.com/yogurt-banana-bread/) as a starting point but left out the yogurt and instead put in a medium shredded zucchini (I also shredded the zucchini the night before and left it wrapped in a cloth in the fridge to get out some moisture). Also, instead of all purpose flour I used half whole wheat flour and half oat flour, and I cut the sugar in half BUT added 1/4 c. mini chocolate chips (which have also been in the pantry for quite a while). So yes, I'm one of those annoying people who does not follow the recipe, sorry!

Other cooking/baking: I made a berry apple crisp. I bought a bag of frozen berry mix a few months ago because it was a great price for berries but then I've been reluctant to actually eat them because they feel like "special occasion" food. This is sort of stupid.

I also made a sheet pan chicken recipe from NYT, using chicken leg quarters from the freezer: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023551-roasted-chicken-with-crispy-mushrooms. Once again, I made modifications! I used 4 onions instead of 3, and also put ~4c each chickpeas and white beans (from the pantry) in below the onion/mushroom mix. Goal was to extend the chicken a bit. And, since we did not have sherry, I used the lime/orange juice mix suggested as a substitute, so used up a (very little) bit of my orange juice concentrate. Progress.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 17, 2022, 11:52:36 AM
The freezer is really full. Our freezer exists of in total 6 drawers in 2 combi fridges.

We have been eating meat from the meat drawer for weeks. I added very little new meat to it, but I did add 2 bags of grown vegetables from the garden. And today a box of icecream that was on sale.

I also need to make a plan to making stock from the meat bones that are in the freezer. But with todays electricity prices I am sceptic to do it. I will wait to the next cheap price day.

There is also a bag of frozen picked blueberries in the meat drawer. They is not completely clean, as there are still stems on the berries. The berries were originally meant to making wine, but we had too many bags of berries. I want those stems removed before making jam, which can then be stored in a normal cupboard. I guess I need to clean them little by little so that they don't thaw too quickly. On the next rainy day. Maybe I can even do one jar of jam at the time, so that it isn't as big a job as it seams now.

Otherwise I am filling up my storage of dried mushrooms because it is the time of year for that. I will make a plan for eating them during the rest of the year. And I also prepare many of my freshly picked mushrooms for dinner already. It's just that I tend to pick many different species several times a week. = Free food.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on October 17, 2022, 05:44:35 PM
ohmy goodness--we have SO many apples. I barely brought any home compared to the boxes & boxes at my parents house but now I'm cooking with apples, baking with apples and stewing apples to freeze :) Think I have it under control now.

We will eat the last of the fresh pac choi from the garden tonight and yesterday I made spaghetti squash with kale, chickpeas & roasted tomatoes. We still have 3 more spaghetti squash and my SO has decided that I should eat them since he doesn't love them. ha

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 17, 2022, 09:21:24 PM
Jealous of all you lovely folks with apples... I love apples, and used to live in a place where they are abundant (Washington). They are not nearly as fresh/good in California.

I defrosted a hunk of delicious sourdough, and the last remnants of soup that had been in my freezer since spring. Had that for lunch today. Our freezer is packed, but I need to organize it, because I've eaten almost all of the actual meal leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: cats on October 19, 2022, 05:56:44 AM
Well, my freezer is *somewhat* more under control than it was a couple weeks ago, thanks to this challenge :)  Other stuff I have been cooking:

-Salmon chowder.  I used  this recipe (https://themodernproper.com/salmon-chowder) as a starting point. I used canned salmon, and also used about half as much cream and bacon as called for.  I also found a couple half empty bags of frozen corn hiding in the freezer and was able to use them all up. Result was (I thought) quite tasty but even with half as much cream it still really sat in my stomach a little too much afterwards, so when we eat leftovers tomorrow night I think I will have to have a smaller bowl.  DH thought it needed "more flavor" so maybe I should have used the full amount of bacon, but then he also said he probably could have made it meet his flavor expectations by adding more black pepper, so...that doesn't really sound like a lack of bacon problem.  DS gobbled it up.  Overall I think I will make it again, and serve with a pepper grinder at DH's plate.  It's definitely a good winter meal and one of the better ways of using canned salmon that I have found so far.

-lots of rice and legumes.  DH and I are now having a lunch bowl most weekdays that consists of assorted vegetables (either roasted on the weekend or pulled from the freezer), beans+rice, seitan or a fried egg, and a spoonful of this delightful chili crisp oil from the local asian grocery.

-Oatmeal & oat bran.  We started ordering both of these in bulk at the beginning of the pandemic as part of an effort to reduce grocery trips.  As time has gone on, we've also found that purchasing in 25-50 lb increments is also a fair bit cheaper.  But, every time 50-lbs of rolled oats or oat bran appears at the house, I do have a moment of "shit, this is a lot of oats for us to get through, what was I thinking".  Our most recent shipment arrived in September and we've definitely made a noticeable dent in it already.  Oatmeal with mixed seeds and peanut butter is a breakfast staple, and I also make some very tasty oat waffles on the weekends.

-More cauliflower leaf/stalk soup.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 20, 2022, 01:04:34 AM
Last night I started to make stock from a bag of calf bones from the freezer. First I roasted them in the oven and then cooked them in a large pan. Overnight I put the pan under a blanket instead of cooking on the stove all night. It was really warm in the morning and I had to warm it up only a little before it started boiling again.
Now (in the morning) I added vegetables, including some parsley root and some homegrown celeriac stem, both from the freezer. Brought it back to boil and put it under the blanket again.

I had to buy leek and more carrots for this dish. And I forgot to buy tomato puree. That is supposed to be a staple in this household and for reasons unknown it is not in the cupboard.

I am still in doubt about what to do with the stock. The recipe says to filter it and reduce it to 1/3 of the volumn to make a sauce basis, which can then be put in the freezer again in portions. But I think I will also make a bit of vegetable soup from some of it. Or maybe a risotto. The goal must be to not have it all back into the freezer for another year.

Edit: I am making soup with beetroot and carrot. And I will add mushrooms, green plant leaves and some grain product later. Let's call it Borscht (soup with beetroot).

We also finished all portions of brioche bread that I made recently.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 21, 2022, 08:45:20 AM
aaaaaaaaaaaa food waste emergency!

Not sure what the right place to ask this, but.... I woke up this morning to discover the fridge had not quite shut when I got a glass of water last night - my rental apartment's fridge loves to do this; I've successfully remembered to push it all the way shut for the last 8 years, but I had a migraine yesterday and things have been hectic and I guess I finally forgot. It was open about two inches for about 7 hours. As soon as I saw it I temped the milk (and closed the fridge). The milk, and presumably everything else in the fridge, was about 46F.

Trash or no trash?? Sniff and use immediately? I dunno? I'm not too worried about stuff like juice or vegetables but: eggs, raw meat, hummus, milk... ? The internet generally is kind of useless because everyone just says "anything over 40F for two hours is bad" but there must be a spectrum... I don't think the fridge could have been THAT warm since the door was mostly closed and the milk was only 46F. (The door is open two inches but the shelves block most of the opening.)

NB I do have kind of terrible GI problems so I'm more concerned about food poisoning than most people would be :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on October 22, 2022, 10:31:07 AM
I worry less than most about intestinal issues so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.  I wouldn't worry about milk and eggs - it's pretty obvious when they go bad.  Use up as quickly as possible obviously since their shelf life has at least been shortened.  Make ice cream for dinner?

Meat is harder to decide.  I would definitely toss any ground meat bc it has space between morsels meaning more surface to get contaminated and warm up more quickly.  A large solid piece of meat I'd immediately cook thoroughly and call it good.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 22, 2022, 11:28:59 AM
I worry less than most about intestinal issues so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.  I wouldn't worry about milk and eggs - it's pretty obvious when they go bad.  Use up as quickly as possible obviously since their shelf life has at least been shortened.  Make ice cream for dinner?

Meat is harder to decide.  I would definitely toss any ground meat bc it has space between morsels meaning more surface to get contaminated and warm up more quickly.  A large solid piece of meat I'd immediately cook thoroughly and call it good.

Thanks - but 24+ hours later, I already made my choices :-)  I had gone back in to get something to drink while I was deciding and realized it seemed pretty warm ... so I temped something near that and it was 65F. So obviously there were hot spots and cold spots and the milk was in a cold spot. I tossed the meat and eggs since you can't temp the eggs and the meat was ground turkey. The hummus went too, it was already open/half eaten so probably had bacteria in it ready to grow in warmer temps. The milk stayed since it was cold-ish and seemed fine.

I'm just really grateful I hadn't done a big batch cook or something, I would be so mad if I had half a dozen prepped meals in there! Everything else seems like it should be fine - condiments, pickles, apples, juice, flour tortillas. The only other dairy I had were hard cheeses which should be OK, especially since I had just finished my previous cheese and hadn't opened a new one yet.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 22, 2022, 07:24:00 PM
Last night I started to make stock from a bag of calf bones from the freezer. First I roasted them in the oven and then cooked them in a large pan. Overnight I put the pan under a blanket instead of cooking on the stove all night. It was really warm in the morning and I had to warm it up only a little before it started boiling again.
Now (in the morning) I added vegetables, including some parsley root and some homegrown celeriac stem, both from the freezer. Brought it back to boil and put it under the blanket again.

I had to buy leek and more carrots for this dish. And I forgot to buy tomato puree. That is supposed to be a staple in this household and for reasons unknown it is not in the cupboard.

I am still in doubt about what to do with the stock. The recipe says to filter it and reduce it to 1/3 of the volumn to make a sauce basis, which can then be put in the freezer again in portions. But I think I will also make a bit of vegetable soup from some of it. Or maybe a risotto. The goal must be to not have it all back into the freezer for another year.

Edit: I am making soup with beetroot and carrot. And I will add mushrooms, green plant leaves and some grain product later. Let's call it Borscht (soup with beetroot).

We also finished all portions of brioche bread that I made recently.

I typically always have some sorta broth in my fridge. You can do all kinds of things with this broth. From making soup, chili, cook some potatoes or rice in it. Man nothing better than some homemade broth steamed rice, some grilled fish and roasted veggies with some olive oil on top. Some fancy salt sprinkled on top just to make it fancy. I will even use both instead of water when making bread.

I used my broth this week to make a pumpkin black bean chili. it was amazing. i have enough to feed us for a couple more meals. When i serve the leftovers this week I think i might make some pumpkin cornbread to go with it. I grew a bunch of winter squash this gardening season. And all of it in my world is pumpkin.

My preteen loves a bowl of pumpkin puree with maple syrup and  a sprinkle of oats on top.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 23, 2022, 05:16:08 PM
Have been working on a 32 oz bottle of Tapatio hot sauce that no one likes. DH bought it and refuses to eat it. Its not that its super hot (although it is) the taste is just kinda ICK. I discovered that if I cut it with sour cream (like on my morning eggs) its fairly enjoyable. Bottle is half empty. Also discovered that the dog has been chewing on her lead while outside and we cannot find our bottle of spray spicy chew deterant stuff so now I'm pouring some Tapatio on a q tip and rubbing it on the place where doggo secretly chews. She's a coonhound (excellent sense of smell) and is horrified so I'm pretty sure the chewing is done. Also achieving the goal of getting the stupid hot sauce gone sooner.

Used up half of an unopened ancient Asian marinade from the pantry on some grilled chicken. Now to spend the rest of the week eating said chicken.

Organized the freezer - its one of those bottom 2 drawer types. There are 4 areas, now its split into fruits and veggies, meat, dessert items and ready made random stuff. Its going to help a lot with not overbuying items (found 3 bags of peas).

Cooked some garbanzo bean noodles, put some thawed freezer pesto on it and some reject pepperoni the kids have been ignoring.

Going to feed DH all those little fancy salad topping packets on his salad tonight. I don't like most of them (dried corn, quinoa crunchies, sunflower seeds etc). I just like the cheese and bacon.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on October 23, 2022, 07:14:11 PM
@Dollar Slice The milk will probably go sour sooner but sour milk makes a great substitute for sour cream and buttermilk in baking. Have been using it for decades and nary an upset tummy.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 24, 2022, 02:14:44 AM
@Dollar Slice , some comments for a next occasion.

I wouldn't have tossed the eggs. My mother used to store eggs in a drawer under the fridge. They would keep long, but they lasted a few weeks. Eggs can be tested by putting them in a cup of water. As long as they don't float, they are good to eat.

Meat, especially ground meat, is indeed best to be careful with as ai think it is a bacteria bomb.

For milk, I think you can use your nose to decide. And even milk that has gone sour or is past it's best before date, can be used for pancakes and stuff.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 24, 2022, 10:27:11 AM
I wouldn't have tossed the eggs. My mother used to store eggs in a drawer under the fridge. They would keep long, but they lasted a few weeks. Eggs can be tested by putting them in a cup of water. As long as they don't float, they are good to eat.

You may not be aware, but eggs in America and in the EU are processed differently. In the US you must refrigerate them, like milk and meat. Smelling them or floating them will detect old/rotten eggs but you won't know if there is salmonella growing in them, which is the main worry for unrefrigerated eggs.

I spent a month on specialty antibiotics for my intestinal problems last year, and it didn't fully cure me, so I'm not looking to mess around with something like salmonella, even if it's a small chance.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on October 24, 2022, 07:46:45 PM
We have a chest freezer with a mysterious lower region.  I dug deep and emerged with a couple of packages of sale drumsticks, which were tossed with oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper before meeting the air fryer (10 minutes a side at 400 degrees).

I also found a ziplock of pumpkin puree which will be reincarnated as a loaf for tomorrow's potluck, and a packet of powdered milk which will enable us to get through another day before going to the grocery store. Thus I can combine trips and do my shopping on the way home from the potluck.

@Dollar Slice, have you considered shimming the front of the fridge up so the door's natural tendency is to close? Or often they have those rotating front legs that can get longer if you turn them the right way...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on October 24, 2022, 08:57:00 PM
@Dollar Slice, have you considered shimming the front of the fridge up so the door's natural tendency is to close? Or often they have those rotating front legs that can get longer if you turn them the right way...

If I didn't live alone I probably would have done that, but I can't lift a fridge by myself and I never cared enough about it to organize strong people to come over and help me... :-) I've lived here since 2014 and since I noticed it just after moving in, I've remembered to close it properly every time until now. I had a migraine for 4-5 days straight and I think my brain went on power-save mode or something. I can't even remember what I got out of the fridge late at night when I left it open.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on October 25, 2022, 03:37:29 PM
Continuing eating up the great harvest!

We still l have so much kale so made coconut, lentil & kale soup-- then I also stewed up a chickpea, kale & tomato pomodoro. Made the last apple crumble with fresh apples from my parents house and baked another batch of spaghetti squash.

Discovered a nice recipe which used fresh sage combined with lemon zest and almonds to make a paste for a decadent grilled cheese. VERY tasty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 27, 2022, 05:47:36 PM
@fuzzymath I belly laughed at your horrified coonhound! I woke up the lab mix next to me who used to chew on stuff. The spray bottle bitter deterrent didn't work for me, she just grew out of it. What a great use for meh hot sauce!

I finally have a working stove, so I've been using up all the stuff I bought when I didn't. I was going to buy groceries today but came up with enough meal ideas to get through to the weekend. I have $20 left in this week's budget so I might buy a loaf of bread and some eggs but not a full grocery shop.

I used up the last of the fake chicken nuggets and romaine in a Caesar wrap for dinner last night. I'm almost done with the bottle of Caesar dressing.

Today's lunch was some jarred butter chicken sauce, pantry rice, and canned chicken. I tossed in some frozen onion and a bunch of the celery that needs to be used up. Not bad for improvised Indian food. There's enough left for another meal even after I ate three bowls of it.

One of the two big containers of oatmeal can become granola. I'm in the 'big chunks' camp, so I'm following the suggestions from earlier in the thread. Granola is such a good way to use up random bits of pantry items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 28, 2022, 01:17:48 AM
I wouldn't have tossed the eggs. My mother used to store eggs in a drawer under the fridge. They would keep long, but they lasted a few weeks. Eggs can be tested by putting them in a cup of water. As long as they don't float, they are good to eat.

You may not be aware, but eggs in America and in the EU are processed differently. In the US you must refrigerate them, like milk and meat. Smelling them or floating them will detect old/rotten eggs but you won't know if there is salmonella growing in them, which is the main worry for unrefrigerated eggs.

I spent a month on specialty antibiotics for my intestinal problems last year, and it didn't fully cure me, so I'm not looking to mess around with something like salmonella, even if it's a small chance.

@Dollar Slice
I grew up in Salmonella country. We learned to never eat eggs raw, as cooking breaks down the bacteria. I still have that habit, even though Norway doesn't have salmonella.
I store eggs in the fridge myself, as they last much longer that way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 28, 2022, 03:44:40 AM
How come that when you do not pay attention on a daily basis, your fridge become a big mess??????

After a nice dinner with friends on Saturday, we invited my inlaws on Sunday to take care of the leftovers. They were more than happy to oblige and most leftovers were gone!
The teens were both at home for the full week due to half-term holidays, but this seems to ruin my fridge. After a sleepover party with 6 teens in the house, I have loads of pizza-leftovers, snacks and suddenly a load of salad and tomatoes..... don't know why they bought it, while they do not eat it (*insert teen-eye-roll*).....

So I started yesterday with a big clean of the fridge and menu planning:

Yesterday: BBQ-sausages (out of freezer, barely recognisable, but still good), baked potatoes and brussels sprouts
Today: salad with tomatoes, bell peppers, boiled eggs and some condiments, fried potatoes and I need to dig out some (surprise)meat from the freezer.....
Tomorrow: leftover pizza and if not enough just breakfast for dinner items (eggs, bacon, ham etc).
Sunday: we're invited to come over at our friends house. I offered to bring cakes, so I need to do some baking, trying to incorporate all kinds of leftover fruits (apples, pears, lemon)

The snacks/lunch/breakfasts for the coming days need to include some french cheeses that are lingering in the fridge.
I also need to incorporate parmesan cheese to every meal, since I found a big block of it in the fridge and this should be used up.

Pantry is getting better, so let's see if I can keep it this way.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 29, 2022, 09:26:00 PM
Man I am trying darn hard to simplify food in our house. This has been such a process. And we still have a bunch of work to do. Hubby and I are starting the process to really minimalize our entire house. This includes food and how we eat. I am beyond excited.

I am not buying any food for the month of November other than milk, bananas and a few onions., I have a bunch of garden veggies I froze from the summer garden that I want to use. I also have a half of a cow on order. So i need to work on clearing out the freezer. Half of a cow is a lot but it is more to help out a friend more than anything. She has a friend who raises them and we are going to split one. It should feed us for a very long time.

Sundays dinner will be a pork roast in the crock pot covered in some mustard (I have a few containers in the fridge) and some homemade krout that needs to be used up. I will roast some potatoes, and we will have a simple side salad with it.

I need simple quick meals.  .
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on October 30, 2022, 08:41:02 PM
Made Halloween treats with themed sprinkles I bought on clearance after last Halloween (they didn't expire until next May, I checked before I bought them). There weren't enough to decorate all the cookies so I chopped some nuts for the rest.
Then I used to leftover nuts and loose sprinkles to flavor some overnight oatmeal for breakfast later in the week. There are a few cookie decorations I can carry over to holiday cookies but they're almost all used up.

Finished up the vaguely Indian food when DP had a craving after driving by our favorite Indian place. It was even better the next day, of course, and I used up the last of the tortillas as substitute naan.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 31, 2022, 01:37:01 AM
School is starting again, so we need to start clearing out pantry, fridge and freezer before the Christmas break (8 weeks to go!).

The weekend was good for polishing off the remaining french blue cheese, some crackers and leftover snacks. Just 1 leftover of french cheese remaining. We also finished the leftover pizza on Saturday.
This week we need to focus on the leftover baked goodies (apple pie, apple/pear/nut cake, lemon/almond cake) that I made for our friends meetup yesterday. It was so good, but a little too much. I already left part at our friends house, but still enough for us to munch on this week.
I further need to focus on the fridge and eat the diary products that are getting near the expiry date.
Today I work from home and DH is here as well, so I will try to incorporate some leftovers into our lunch today (thinking about making italian bread rolls: there are some buns, cheese, italian sausage, tomatoes and olive paste in the fridge).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 31, 2022, 04:30:48 PM
Got back from a week vacation, while my parents were at our house, staying with the kiddos. We are working our way through the random leftovers. I'm not sure I needed the tortilla chips or chocolates, but here we are.
-Had to toss a bag of chopped romaine that my mom bought
-Salvaged the majority of a cucumber that I found in the back of the fridge
-Used up ALL of the fruit in the drawer. This is an accomplishment, and rarely happens before a grocery run. Of course, we skipped a week, and my parents just filled in with what they wanted/needed for meals. Apparently, that didn't involve much fruit.
-My mom made several meals for us that are now in the freezer.
-I made chicken & dumplings this weekend. Leftovers for lunch today, and a few servings into the freezer.
-I also finished off: orange chicken, an orzo salad, and some chicken curry, all of which were found in the fridge. It was nice not to have to cook for a few days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 31, 2022, 04:39:02 PM
Welcome home, @MaybeBabyMustache!

@seemsright I've also been looking to easier meals, especially for weeknight suppers.  I researched one sheet pan meals and put several into rotation.  So far, I've made salmon and asparagus, andouille sausage and our garden veggies, and oven roasted neighbor garden beets and carrots.  Tonight, I'll make another pan of the latter which will finish this year's garden harvest unless our neighbor brings more.  Thursday I'll make a one pan beef and broccoli supper and Saturday a one pot cheesy taco skillet.

It's been a while since I've checked in:
-Last weekend I used cupcake liners I've had for quite some time for cornbread muffins.  Need to bake more muffins to finish the current cornmeal stock.
-This past Saturday I used more liners to make devils food cupcakes for neighborhood kiddos
-Used more of the Halloween sprinkles from 2+ years ago on said cupcakes
-Slow cooker meatballs used up two half empty bottles of BBQ sauce
-Leftover fresh veggies from two different parties were divvied up for our lunches
-Leftover meatballs and dip supplemented work lunches
-Leftover taco meat topped Friday's pizza crust and Saturday's nachos
-Baked the rest of the bacon and diced it up into a veggie dip
-The rest of the unsweetened chocolate from last holiday baking season went into Hallowmas cake dough for tonight.  I didn't have enough of the chocolate, and we live a distance from the nearest store, so I substituted with some unsweetened cocoa powder.  The cakes will use a cup of powdered sugar as well.
-Bought a head of iceberg for last night's 7-layer taco dip, and I'll incorporate the remaining 2/3 of it into this week's lunches.

The fresh produce bin is nearly empty again which I'll take care of later this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 31, 2022, 04:52:04 PM
@seemsright - we typically have a system where we cook on weekends (usually Friday, but Saturday & Sunday almost always) & then have leftovers during the week. It doesn't work for everyone, but our kids have very busy schedules, as do we, & it helps make weeknights go smoothly. For the weekends, I often do a large batch of taco meat, a bolognese sauce, chicken curry, etc. We try to get at least two dinners out of every recipe we make. We also have quick freezer options for nights when we can't get anything else together. Sometimes those are things we've cooked ahead & froze, other times it's a Trader Joes option.

Thanks, @MountainGal - and, your sheet pan meals sound delicious! We've been making skillet dinners here & there, and they are always a hit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 31, 2022, 07:58:51 PM
Thanks for the tips. I will try sheet pan dinners. This weekend I put a pork roast in the crock pot with some mustard and homemade fresh sauerkraut. It was so dang good. Tonight hubby made a take on Rubin sandwiches and made a homemade thousand dressing that had home fermented pickles in it. It was so good...we might make it again this week.

I am working on taking the emotion out of food. Which is a whole process in itself.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 01, 2022, 12:33:25 PM
Thanks @MaybeBabyMustache.

@seemsright that pork roast does sound delicious as does that homemade dressing.  I'm also a fan of our slow cooker, especially when it comes to large cuts of meat.  Coming home after a long work day to a yummy smelling house is delightful.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 01, 2022, 05:26:27 PM
My hubby made a spicy side-dish using up some coconut cream, spicy sambal, tomatoes and frozen green beans from the garden. It was delicious with pulled-pork & rice-- and a good thing since we have heaps of frozen green beans so necessary to come up with new ways to cook them :)

He also baked a pie with frozen blueberries & haskaps..so delicious.

There are a pile of lemons that need to be utilized so I will make a lemon cauliflower dish tomorrow and maybe lemony dal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on November 05, 2022, 10:56:21 AM

There are a pile of lemons that need to be utilized so I will make a lemon cauliflower dish tomorrow and maybe lemony dal.

Make preserved lemons if you want to spread out the use of tangy, salty lemons.  I make it every year with limes bc I have a lime tree but not a lemon one.  Lemon + salt + time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 05, 2022, 03:21:34 PM
We have way too much food in our house, and I need a plan.

-I picked up two large free pumpkins at the grocery store after Halloween. Roasting them now, and will puree & freeze the majority of it. I'll keep one batch out to make muffins with.
-We have 2.5 Costco sized boxes of tomatoes, due to a shopping list sync problem. This is the downside, I suppose, of using a shared digital shopping list. I may take the easy route & freeze most of them, if I can't get up the energy to puree them. We shall see.
-I also have 1/2 a burger (leftover from a work meal), a few spring rolls (sent home from an anniversary party), ravioli & meatballs, 1/2 a French dip sandwich, taco meat & a few other random items I've since forgotten.
-1/2 a large container of mixed greens that are about to go bad
-So, so many lemons. And, I need to pick the tree again.

I have made a lot of progress, but some days you just have too much food & it doesn't feel like I'm making a dent. I ate leftovers for lunch the last two days, and we've been plowing through things, but have been eating out a lot (work dinners, anniversary party, etc) & that meant not eating our planned food.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on November 05, 2022, 09:31:11 PM
Used up the last two tablespoons of yeast I found in a jar in the pantry to make bread. The recipe called for honey but I was out. I substituted brown sugar and the bread came out delicious. The honey was just to feed the yeast-the recipe called for white sugar that I did have.

Made a batch of muffins with some leftover pumpkin puree. Had lamb stew out of the freezer for dinner with homemade bread. The last of the stew and a few slices of bread will be lunch tomorrow.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 06, 2022, 11:38:51 AM
Finished off some sauteed cabbage / carrot / onion mixture that's been in the fridge for over a week. Put some eggs on it and a slice of American cheese (I know YUCK - but it was brought home from a camping trip with communally purchased food)

Used up more of the giant hot sauce bottle when making some taco meat the other night. Used these markdown ground turkey patties. DS had accused me of making "boring taco meat" last time so I seasoned the hell out of it.

Secretly helping the kids go through their Halloween candy :)

Bought some markdown chicken drumsticks, managed to get them cooked before they went bad and DH finished the last of them this morning. He also opened a jar of ghee and fried them in it. That ghee has been an irritation of mine. It was an aspirational purchase, definitely something I've avoided using.

Taking a moment at the grocery store every time to put something back that I've chosen on a whim. Lots of "I can get this next time" or substitute X kinda thinking. Its working out.

Put a centerpiece on the dining table with a condiment and spice caddy. The kids have already tried a few random things. Score!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 06, 2022, 01:49:07 PM
I need pesto for a recipe I'm making tomorrow. I didn't have pine nuts, so subbed walnuts that I found in the pantry. Used up a small amount of parmesan from dinner earlier this week, as well as parmesan leftover from a bagged salad. Found 1/2 a lime in the fridge, and squeezed that in as well. The basil was from the garden, so other than the olive oil, it was as close to "free/on hand" as I'm going to get.

I also used some taco meat on a salad for lunch, made muffins out of the pumpkins I pureed yesterday, and encouraged my husband to finish off the last of the chicken curry. Tiny progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 06, 2022, 06:26:48 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, re the glut of tomatoes...Have you tried oven drying them?  You can make "sundried" tomatoes by halving them and then cooking on low heat for 2.5h.  They can then be frozen then added to pasta dishes or pesto or other dishes as needed.  Just a thought from someone else who occasionally over buys produce!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 06, 2022, 07:28:24 PM
@Josiecat23503 - I love dried tomaotes, but we have a large jar of sundried tomatoes in the fridge already. I'm hoping to use up some of them tomorrow in a recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 07, 2022, 01:48:25 PM
@okisok that bread sounds amazing.  Excellent job on the substitution.

@fuzzy math I love the condiment centerpiece idea.

@MaybeBabyMustache nice work on the pesto.

It was a weekend of a few substitutions at our house as well.  We went from too many opened bottles of BBQ sauce to not having any at all, so per my suggestion, DH made his own last night to finish the smoked ribs.  It was tastier than any bottled brand I've had, and he said he'll make it in the future.  Now I just need to buy more no sugar added ketchup for said homemade sauce, LOL.  Also, because we are out of said sauce, I put tomato sauce and a few other items on top of the roast currently in the slow cooker.

Other completed things:
-A bottle of brown mustard
-A bag of chips from Halloween
-A bottle of yellow mustard
-Carton of almond milk
-The remaining stick of butter, which has been added to the grocery list
-Bottle of smoked paprika, which is also now on the grocery list
-Package of pepperoni slices
-Bag of flour
-Package of little smokies
-Cottage cheese
-Jar of homemade taco seasoning and I blended up more
-I made fruit bars which used most of the remaining sliced almonds.  I'll make almond lemon bars next weekend to use them up.  This will mean all baking ingredients from last year's holiday baking will be finished.  Just in time for this year.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 07, 2022, 02:12:11 PM
You are crushing it, @MountainGal

I made more inroads with random things:
-Ate the leftover French dip sandwich for lunch
-Last of the giant container of mixed greens, used for today's dinner salad
-Used bones from rotisserie chicken to make broth, which will go into a recipe tonight. Also, chopped all of the chicken & added what I didn't need to the freezer.
-Made pumpkin muffins with the puree, and froze the majority of that.

Our freezer will barely close, so there's still a lot of work to do!

For the week ahead:
-Use up/freeze grilled chicken
-Make pesto chicken dish, and add sundried tomatoes, hopefully emptying out the last of the jar.
-Figure out to do with all of our pomegranate. Our tree ripened all at once, and there are SO. MANY.
-Juice lemons
-Plan menu for next week, taking advantage of freezer items.

In positive news, our pantry looks amazing. Somehow, we've transferred all of those pantry items into the fridge & freezer :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on November 07, 2022, 02:25:54 PM
@MountainGal way to go on your progress!!

@MaybeBabyMustache So cool you have a pomegranate tree! The fruit in our grocery store is so expensive and I love to sprinkle pomegranate on salads in the fall and winter.

Over the weekend I used up the following:
Crushed tortilla chips left in the bottom of the bag to make Grilled Jalapeno Cheddar Meatballs
Used up 3 overripe bananas on the counter and frozen pumpkin to make banana pumpkin muffins
Thawed 2 frozen stuffed bell peppers for dinner one night
This evening I'm using up 2 chicken breasts and breadcrumbs pulled from the freezer for a baked breaded chicken recipe
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 07, 2022, 04:30:54 PM
We do have a pomegranate tree (more like a bush, actually)! Getting the arils out is no small task, but my husband usually processes the fruit.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 08, 2022, 01:21:14 AM
I will make a lentil aubergine salad, adding ingredients that I found in the cupboards that have past their best before date. White aspargus in a tin a few months past bb date. Black quinoa with a bb date in 2018. And I will add some parsley and mint from the freezer, as well as a fresh green plant I foraged this week.

In general, I am not so worried about best before dates for food for dried grains, powders and tins. But it is good to start eating the very old stuff. I also found 2 tins of watercress that are one and 2 years over their bb date. I placed them in a more visible position to be used some time soon.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 08, 2022, 01:31:59 AM

There are a pile of lemons that need to be utilized so I will make a lemon cauliflower dish tomorrow and maybe lemony dal.

Make preserved lemons if you want to spread out the use of tangy, salty lemons.  I make it every year with limes bc I have a lime tree but not a lemon one.  Lemon + salt + time.

I make this too, with lemons. They do become very salty, but can be used.

Lemons can also be frozen. You can grind the skin of a frozen lemon, you jest get very cold hands doing it. And you can thaw them and juice them.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 08, 2022, 12:40:40 PM

There are a pile of lemons that need to be utilized so I will make a lemon cauliflower dish tomorrow and maybe lemony dal.

Make preserved lemons if you want to spread out the use of tangy, salty lemons.  I make it every year with limes bc I have a lime tree but not a lemon one.  Lemon + salt + time.

I make this too, with lemons. They do become very salty, but can be used.

Lemons can also be frozen. You can grind the skin of a frozen lemon, you jest get very cold hands doing it. And you can thaw them and juice them.

great suggestions. I've made preserved lemons before (love them!) but have never tried freezing. thanks for the tips

I made a big pot of celery potato soup and crisped up a few of the greens for the top (the recipe suggested it and it was delicious). The celery was from a local farm and had huge leafy green tops so I found a celery leaf pesto recipe to utilize....have been snacking on it with crackers much like a spread and will freeze half of it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 08, 2022, 12:55:39 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And good job on the pantry.

@GardenBaker, I like what you did with the crushed chips.

Regarding lemons, in the past I've poured the juice into silicone molds and after it's frozen put them into a freezer bag.

Last night's beef roast supper finished a container of leftover guacamole a friend brought to our Halloween party, the bottle of horseradish crema from St. Patrick's Day and another half cup of apple cider vinegar.

DH had the stomach flu late last week and didn't get to the fresh strawberries in his lunch.  Sunday, I tossed them into the freezer so they wouldn't go bad and tonight I'll add them to overnight oats for him.

My lunch salad today consists of the remaining iceberg lettuce and cucumber, and later I'll snack on the rest of the wedge of brie with a handful of blueberries.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 10, 2022, 12:58:51 PM
I'm super curious about your food habits @Linea_Norway . Do you cook similar to others in your country?

Finished off a jar of sourkraut, an asian marinade, some ready cooked grilled chicken breast slices, a 10 lb bag of rice, a package of gluten free mug cakes. I feel like the very hungry caterpillar writing this :D
Let the kids fruit drawer in the fridge dwindle to nearly nothing before buying more. Got a rotten mixed salad bag, going to try to get a refund today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 11, 2022, 01:18:39 PM
@fuzzy math, hope you received a refund.

I'm invited to brunch at a friend's house tomorrow and am going to bake a breakfast casserole and bring mixed fuzzy navel cocktails.  The goal was to choose items using ingredients on hand.  All I need to buy are the tater tots for the casserole.  Everything else I have including orange juice and peach schnapps leftover from our Halloween party.

Tomorrow night I'm going to make a one skillet dish to use more of the ground beef abundance.

Monday's meatless lasagna will utilize the yellow squash and baby spinach resulting in a completely cleared out produce drawer in time for grocery day.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 11, 2022, 01:45:06 PM
@MountainGal - you are really speaking my language, with those brunch cocktails!

We made real progress on the fridge side of things this week:
-I ate the last of the chicken pesto pasta for lunch, days in a row. Done!
-I ate pumpkin muffins for breakfast 2x this week, minimizing what's in the freezer
-We finished off almost all of the grilled chicken, and I froze a small amount remaining.
-My 16 y.o. had the last of a bag of taquitos for lunch today. He serves them with ranch (gag). He finished off the last of a bottle of ranch dressing.

For dinner tonight:
-Using up a frozen pizza (kids)
-Making my husband a cauliflower crust pizza, with the crust from Trader Joes, and really needing to be used up. It will have the bonus of using up tomato sauce & cheese from the fridge. Additionally, we have pepperoni in the freezer that will also get used.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 12, 2022, 06:07:42 AM
I'm super curious about your food habits @Linea_Norway . Do you cook similar to others in your country?
<... >

@fuzzy math

My habits are wholegrain bread (often homemade sourdough) for breakfast and lunch.
Homemade dinners with a lot of vegetables, meat/fish or egg/cheese and rice/pasta/potatoes/wraps. With mostly ingredients from scratch, little preprocessed food.

We try to eat vegetarian several times a week, for environmental reasons, but also because it is easy. We just found out that DH had too little B12 in his body, so we must take care not to eat vegan style dinner. DH was prescribed pills for a period.

We make partly the same food as others in Norway. But we also eat some Dutch traditional food. And Indian, italian, Spanish or Greek food. I also like making Turkish food, inspired by a Norwegian cookbook for Turkish cooking.

I prefer making stews and curries, food that is not meat, potatoes and vegetables served separately.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 13, 2022, 08:17:05 AM
We are ever so slowly making progress with all of the food in our freezer. Here's what we've been up to:
-Finished off most of the pizza for dinner, although I had two small slices in between a million sporting events.
-Remembered that we had "fancy" cheese in the fridge, so served that as a happy hour on Friday, along with crackers I found in the back of the pantry. Ate a bit more of the cheese as a snack yesterday, along with an apple. It's almost gone, although I'll miss it, as it's delicious & a new to me variety.
-Defrosted hamburger patties & buns from the freezer, and my husband grilled those last night.
-I took out chicken & naan bread today to defrost, and I will make chicken shawarma.

I have a giant bag of yeast in the fridge, and I think I'll try to make homemade foccacia bread today. We shall see how it goes. My husband is going to make a tzatziki sauce, out of yogurt we have lingering in the fridge, to go with the shawarma.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 14, 2022, 08:40:05 AM
I'm super curious about your food habits @Linea_Norway . Do you cook similar to others in your country?
<... >

@fuzzy math

My habits are wholegrain bread (often homemade sourdough) for breakfast and lunch.
Homemade dinners with a lot of vegetables, meat/fish or egg/cheese and rice/pasta/potatoes/wraps. With mostly ingredients from scratch, little preprocessed food.

We try to eat vegetarian several times a week, for environmental reasons, but also because it is easy. We just found out that DH had too little B12 in his body, so we must take care not to eat vegan style dinner. DH was prescribed pills for a period.

We make partly the same food as others in Norway. But we also eat some Dutch traditional food. And Indian, italian, Spanish or Greek food. I also like making Turkish food, inspired by a Norwegian cookbook for Turkish cooking.

I prefer making stews and curries, food that is not meat, potatoes and vegetables served separately.

Thanks for taking the time to respond! Do you do more home preservation and foraging than others do? I'm always impressed when you list what you've caught, foraged or preserved.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 14, 2022, 08:48:15 AM
I rescued a ton of Panera leftovers and some produce from entering the landfills. The weekend was spent w the family eating tons of bagels and cookies. About 80% of the Panera rescue went to the free store in town. I have 15 bell peppers to work through.

Recent wins:
- found 2 pork steaks that DS didn't cook when he made family dinner. Cooked them using a hidden in the back of the cupboard southern marinade. It might be my new favorite marinade. Both steaks were eaten.
- Used half a can of lentil soup (past date yikes!) that I've been watching from the cupboard for apparently quite some time. Put some giant hated hot sauce in it.
- cooked some of the rescue bell peppers and onions with a spaghetti squash I'd started cutting on (one of our animals eats this raw as part of his diet - frequently i cut one and let it rot in the fridge)
- fed the kids some leftover penne noodles that were at the "use or toss" point in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 14, 2022, 10:37:07 AM
@fuzzy math - how did you find the Panera leftovers? And, nice work saving some from the landfills! My son worked at the food pantry yesterday, and was dismayed at how much comes to the bank already in moldy condition. I'm going to volunteer on Friday, and one of the goals is to figure out how to increase the optimization of the food, donations & pickup, to hopefully reduce the amount that needs to be tossed. I hate food waste, so this is right up my alley.

Gave away a huge bag of pantry items that we won't eat before they expire, as well as a brand new container of garam masala. I tried one recipe, and it wasn't our jam, so giving it away to someone who can use it, because it was pricey. For the rest of the pantry items, my parents were recently visited, and bought some things that we just won't eat, so I'm glad to give it to someone who will enjoy it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 14, 2022, 03:17:18 PM
Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache!  I also made blueberry muffins for the brunch which used almost all of the leftover fresh blueberries, and a batch of sangria using a bottle of wine we've had for a while and a partial bag of frozen berries.

-Slow cooker brown butter carrots used two pounds (about half) the neighbors gave us.  I'll peel and will probably freeze half and save half for DH's lunches.
-Instead of the skillet dish, Saturday I made pasta with meat sauce which used up a container of angel hair pasta.
-Tonight, I'll make a mini lasagna which will contain leftover meat sauce above and will finish a box of lasagna and bag of baby spinach.
-Last night I baked a cornbread.  There is still a bit more cornmeal left past it's best by date.
-Also, last night I fried breaded artichokes.  We've 1.5 jars left of the latter.
-Made two jars of overnight oats for DH which utilized a small frozen bag of strawberries and the remaining fresh blueberries.

Added:  Saturday I learned while listening to two neighbors talking if your chickens won't eat the leftover Halloween pumpkin, the deer will apparently.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on November 15, 2022, 09:04:26 PM
@Serendip The celery pesto is a great idea! I had a bowl of celery greens go into the compost this week because I didn't use them up. I usually just toss them in the veggie broth bag but pesto sounds like a higher and better use.

I've been making my own baked goods since the prices are so high. A 5 lb. bag of flour is $2.19 at Aldi. I've gotten four loaves of bread, a dozen muffins, and six giant tortillas out of the bag that still isn't empty. That versus $4 for one loaf of bread or 8 tortillas!

I put some leftover almond flour in the last batch of bread and it was delicious. The bag had been opened in the fridge for a few months while my oven was out of commission.

The half bottle of stir fry sauce and half bottle of Greek dressing were used (separately) as marinades for a bag of chicken thighs I got on special. I baked them in the oven and served the stir fry chicken over rice with a few freezer veggies. The Greek chicken was diced and put in the freezer for future salad toppings. DP said the stir fry chicken meal was one of the best I've ever made 0.o

This challenge has gotten me to the point where I felt comfortable restocking the pantry. Now I know what I use and what I don't and can stock up on things that won't go to waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 16, 2022, 11:32:01 AM
-Made foccacia out of yeast that had been in the fridge for quite a while. The teens thoroughly enjoyed it.
-Used up four bags out of the freezer (two bags of orange chicken, one bag of veggie fried rice, and one of edamame). We keep these as backup meal options, but our freezer was so full, I intentionally planned a meal with everything. It really helped open up some space.
-We finished off the last of the grilled burgers
-We will have the rest of the chicken shawarma tonight, which will also finish up the naan bread.

I still need to menu plan for the next couple of weeks, and see what else we can use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 16, 2022, 01:17:41 PM
@okisok and @MaybeBabyMustache, well done on the baking.  You both are on a roll!  (See what I did there heh-heh.)

Last night's cauliflower crust pizza was topped with the remaining homemade pizza sauce I made and froze in September.  For a side, I made another batch of fried artichokes breaded with the rest of the pork rind parmesan blend I made a few weeks ago.  We also had more cooked carrots.

Tonight's salmon will be served with the remaining carrots and sauteed yellow squash and zucchini.  The latter two are the only remaining items in the produce drawer which is fine as we are headed out of town.  Speaking of, because of this, except for blueberries, last night's monthly grocery order didn't include any fresh produce for the first time that I can remember.  Extremely odd not having a full bin.

Today was clean out the office mini fridge day which was Saturday's remaining spaghetti sauce with cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: SunnyDays on November 16, 2022, 02:25:04 PM
I just came back from the grocery store with a new resolve - don't buy anything unnecessary until the cupboards are bare.  The price of groceries has increased a LOT in recent weeks.  $5.00 CAD for a head of ice burg lettuce!  Apparently there's a shortage, so that's all the store had.  $1.00 each for small chicken thighs with skin on.  $7.00 for a 3 pound bag of Gala apples.  So I want to see how far I can get without buying anything that I don't absolutely need.  I'm expecting to make it to Christmas with very minimal purchases. 

Tonight is leftover hamburger/veggie casserole and a salad.  Maybe the same tomorrow if it stretches that far.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on November 17, 2022, 07:38:42 AM
Came home to find that the freezer is getting too frosted to close properly. One big message to clean it out ASAP.
Started immediately and defrosted some BBQ sausages which I will put on a tray bake this evening.
Hope to be able to use up as much as possible so everything left will fit in the small (2nd) freezer so I can defrost the large freezer (hopefully this weekend).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 17, 2022, 08:07:42 AM
I once again had a late meeting, so I threw together a random dinner. But, it did use up some items we needed to get rid of: 1/2 a box of open pasta (one teen diner), a package of ravioli (second teen + myself, & husband had a few bites) + chicken from the freezer (all of us).

Tonight will hopefully use up a bunch of leftovers in the fridge. I also used the last of a really needing to go pepper in the salad. Glad those are all gone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on November 18, 2022, 08:31:20 PM
A co-worker gave me a giant pumpkin that I need to use soon. After stopping in here, I am thinking I will make some pumpkin bread, freeze the rest, and feed the odds and ends to our mule and donkeys.

I have some why-did-I-buy-this-even-on-sale-for-$1.50 chocolate flavored oatmeal packets that I will add to a brownie recipe. Sometimes I mix 1/3 of a fruit flavored packet in with my regular rolled oats, but I am not digging the chocolate flavor. I may also add some underwhelming peanut butter chips to the mix.

I also have a big head of cauliflower to use up, which I will roast. I overheard a produce guy at the grocery store saying there is a cauliflower shortage in my area right now, as well as lettuce.

- Used up the last of some spinach, roma tomatoes, and eggs in a taco pie casserole last weekend, which we just finished as leftovers yesterday.
- Also used up our last frozen cauliflower pizza crust, a partial bottle of leftover pizza sauce, mozzarella, and various other odds and ends for toppings.
- Pupper just had the last of a freezer burned salmon fillet. I cooked it up and re-froze it in portions for her, thawing out a little bit every day. I have at least a couple more freezer burned fillets to do this with.
- Finally tried a frozen Broccoli Beef entree that had been languishing in the freezer for months. I usually don't buy premade frozen meals because the ingredients typically bother my food sensitivities. But this one was actually fairly good for what it was, and no health issues came of it. Winco brand for the win. <3 
- Tonight's work lunch features my last (frozen) cup of potato vegetables soup, which had cleaned out the fridge a couple weeks ago. I was scrounging for something to bring at the last minute today and was happy to find it. My lunch salad also has the last of some bottled dressing.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 19, 2022, 03:03:07 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache I will dumpster dive (dumpster reach?? I don't go in!) on occasion. The produce came from Aldi, I haven't been in ages because the weather was warm. Now that its cold I'll take a peek. The Panera stuff gets left out on a cart on the back side of the store after hours at random intervals. There are a lot of food rescue groups, some I know and I've seen them picking up bags at 8:50 pm to take to some of the local emergency resource places in town. The items go out on the cart if no one claims them at closing time.  They generally have about 3 giant yard bags worth of items that would otherwise go into the garbage every single night. That amount of waste astounds me. There are homeless in the area, I don't know if they're out at night in this awful weather but I'd imagine sometimes they get to it too. The organization I took the leftovers to are in the next town over where they can't feasibly send people out to claim it. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 19, 2022, 04:51:37 PM
Thanks for the details, @fuzzy math . I feel sad they haven't partnered with something like, "Too Good To Go", or another options. People buy end of day bakery leftovers for $5/bag via the app. Quite a few place participate.

-We've eaten pretty much all of the leftovers from previous night dinners
-Picked a bunch more pomegranates, and my husband pulled out the arils
-Found three lemons on the curb (lots of citrus trees in our neighborhood, & they roll into the streets), so will use those in salads (lemon juice + olive oil, for salad dressing)
-Had a random lunch of mashed potatoes & chicken from last night. It was delicious, and cleared some more space
-Making sesame chicken for dinner tonight, which amazingly, uses up sesame seeds that have been lurking in the pantry

I've also defrosted a few easy lunch options, for meals this week, and plan to use a tube of pureed roasted squash (from the garden) to make a squash soup on Wednesday. I'm all about making the most out of our freezer space, to try & free it up a bit more. We've made some progress, but then I noticed that the teens picked up various ice cream bars for "Thanksgiving" (in reality, just an excuse for them to have splurges around ;-)), so the freezer looks pretty stuffed again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 19, 2022, 09:24:06 PM
- Worked through a lot of condiment packets
- Found part of a bagged salad dressing packet that I'd opened, finished it off
- Down to 9 of the 15 free bell peppers
- Made a tray of layered enchiladas and used up some corn tortillas, a can of mark down enchilada sauce, a can of flavored pinto beans, some frozen meat, some peppers I pickled, 2 cheese odds and ends and the rest of the lentils. Enjoyed it heartily
- still working on sliced bread from the Panera haul
- Fed a kid's friend some american cheese in a grilled sandwich (none of my kids will eat that cheese)
- encouraged DD to use up some frozen fruit
- had a tunafish sandwich (the tuna has been languishing in the cupboard)

For Thanksgiving I'm going to try to find uses for a box of corn flake crumbs
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 20, 2022, 05:48:31 AM
@fuzzy math, my mom used cornflake crumbs to stretch the amount of beef for both burgers and meatloaf.  My grandmother used them to bread chicken in a dish we called "nana's fried chicken" which involved rinsing off chicken parts and pressing crushed cornflakes to the skin with onion powder/garlic salt/ground pepper and baking in the oven.  These were family favorites growing up!  Hope one of these ideas helps!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 20, 2022, 02:55:27 PM
I'm super curious about your food habits @Linea_Norway . Do you cook similar to others in your country?
<... >

@fuzzy math

My habits are wholegrain bread (often homemade sourdough) for breakfast and lunch.
Homemade dinners with a lot of vegetables, meat/fish or egg/cheese and rice/pasta/potatoes/wraps. With mostly ingredients from scratch, little preprocessed food.

We try to eat vegetarian several times a week, for environmental reasons, but also because it is easy. We just found out that DH had too little B12 in his body, so we must take care not to eat vegan style dinner. DH was prescribed pills for a period.

We make partly the same food as others in Norway. But we also eat some Dutch traditional food. And Indian, italian, Spanish or Greek food. I also like making Turkish food, inspired by a Norwegian cookbook for Turkish cooking.

I prefer making stews and curries, food that is not meat, potatoes and vegetables served separately.

Thanks for taking the time to respond! Do you do more home preservation and foraging than others do? I'm always impressed when you list what you've caught, foraged or preserved.

@fuzzy math
Yes, I think I forage a lot more than others. I pick almost all the edible mushrooms that I find, all year long. And in spring I also pick edible plants. At the end of summer I forage wild berries. I have started to grow food myself, but only in small quantities. DH likes to fish and at our cabin he is good at catching trout and sometimes other fish. And at sea things like cod. He is also a free diver and sometimes harpoons fish. Or picks up crayfish.

I dry lots of food, mostøy mushrooms and plants, sometimes berries. We freeze a lot. And I also pickle or confite food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 20, 2022, 03:06:43 PM
I bought a few packs of dried tortellini, as an easy campside food, and also as a preparedness food. But unfortunately, the best before date was very soon. I have now eaten one of them, one month past the best before date. I am still alive.

In the past week I have tried to always use up some of the frozen or otherwise preserved foods. Mostly just some frozen plant leaves in a mix of other food. As I have been washing up lots of empty jam jars, I must have finished a lot of homemade jams, or preserved mushrooms in those jars.

Today I made a quiche where I used my own kale which is still growing, despite the cold. I sowed them at the end of summer. The plants are still really small, but they have gotten fresh leaves several times.

The day before we at a salad with our homegrown chicory, growing under a bucket in the living room. The white leaves were quite bitter, but it went well in combination with many other ingredients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 20, 2022, 03:43:19 PM
My parents were visiting recently, and made pork chops for dinner. They froze the leftovers. We're not huge pork chop eaters. Any suggestions on how to best (re) serve them, to give them new life? Any dos & donts for reheating them more generally? We rarely cook with pork.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on November 20, 2022, 04:38:10 PM
@MountainGal , yes, I see what you did there and I approve ;)

DP and I made holiday cookies with the kids over the weekend. The first batch was homemade sugar cookies with a tub of icing that wasn't used for a party earlier this year. We went through all our baking items and only lacked a one item for decorating. We used food coloring, colored sugar, and other toppings we already had. We even used some decor from other holidays and birthdays.
The second batch was from a mix we bought on clearance after xmas last year. I had some treat boxes leftover from a work event so we were able to gift some nicely wrapped. The whole shebang cost about $5 total, to make dozens of cookies and spend hours together mixing, rolling, baking, and of course cleaning up the mess. We put on our silly holiday aprons we already had (one gifted, one thrifted, one homemade), tuned the radio to a holiday station and had a grand time for less than a fast food meal.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: shadesofgreen on November 22, 2022, 12:40:00 PM
@MountainGal , yes, I see what you did there and I approve ;)

DP and I made holiday cookies with the kids over the weekend. The first batch was homemade sugar cookies with a tub of icing that wasn't used for a party earlier this year. We went through all our baking items and only lacked a one item for decorating. We used food coloring, colored sugar, and other toppings we already had. We even used some decor from other holidays and birthdays.
The second batch was from a mix we bought on clearance after xmas last year. I had some treat boxes leftover from a work event so we were able to gift some nicely wrapped. The whole shebang cost about $5 total, to make dozens of cookies and spend hours together mixing, rolling, baking, and of course cleaning up the mess. We put on our silly holiday aprons we already had (one gifted, one thrifted, one homemade), tuned the radio to a holiday station and had a grand time for less than a fast food meal.


That sounds both fun and amazing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 22, 2022, 05:04:26 PM
My parents were visiting recently, and made pork chops for dinner. They froze the leftovers. We're not huge pork chop eaters. Any suggestions on how to best (re) serve them, to give them new life? Any dos & donts for reheating them more generally? We rarely cook with pork.

Do you have a crock pot or pressure cooker? You could always cook it until it falls apart and make it bbq meat
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 22, 2022, 05:12:27 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, you could dice up the pork and make homemade pork fried rice. Budget bytes has a good base recipe.  Fried rice is a good way to use up all sorts of leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 22, 2022, 05:20:03 PM
I should have clarified, the pork chops are already cooked. I may try the fried rice route. Thank you!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 22, 2022, 05:23:59 PM
@Serendip The celery pesto is a great idea! I had a bowl of celery greens go into the compost this week because I didn't use them up. I usually just toss them in the veggie broth bag but pesto sounds like a higher and better use.


this is the recipe which inspired me..https://www.everyday-delicious.com/celery-leaf-pesto/

The leaves were just too beautiful to pass up (a farmer friend grew the celery so I was motivated to use up each bit) :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 22, 2022, 05:27:55 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, FWIW, I make the vegetarian fried rice first (and pull off my serving, since I'm a vegetarian in a house of carnivores), then throw in the already cooked pork/shrimp/chicken/ whatever into the skillet to warm with the sauce and serve.  I have used onions/carrots and peas most of  the time for vegetables, but can throw in snow peas, broccoli, etc as needed.  Hope this helps!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on November 22, 2022, 05:29:27 PM
Just mixed up a few vinegar & honey blends to soak for the next month so I eventually have a nice addition to my sparkling water..

1)Dried elderberry, grapefruit peel and cardamom in one
2)Hops & star anise in the other (I've made this one before and it's delicious...from hops rescued from the community garden)

I have an extensive collection of herbs & spices *my sister is a herbalist*, so am trying to be more diligent to move through them more quickly because they add flavour and interest to even my daily water consumption :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 22, 2022, 05:39:47 PM
Thanks, @Josiecat23503 - super helpful! I will give it a try.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 22, 2022, 09:20:07 PM
I'm facing down a leftover emergency... which is unusual two days BEFORE Thanksgiving ;-)  I knew I was planning on skipping the family holiday and I wanted a low-stress week, so I made a big pot of soup to have throughout the week. I also bought ingredients to make turkey, cheese and avocado sandwiches. I also had extra meat hanging around so I made some meatballs and figured I'd do something with them later. Complicated family stuff happened and I went out to my parents' house to help out with some things and my mom foisted some food on me because they were going out of town and none of us wanted it to be wasted. So now I have a loaf of bread, her leftover spaghetti and meatballs, a bunch of crackers, and some plain cooked pasta. So many carbs. So many meatballs. (The soup is a take-off on Italian wedding soup and has, yes, meatballs.) I turned down her cherry tomatoes because they upset my stomach and they are probably going to rot in her kitchen. Sorry :-(

I am not asking for help so much as requiring witnesses to my struggle! LOL. I live alone. My freezer is already pretty full. I'm a little bummed I'm going to be mowing through tired leftovers on Thursday instead of coming up with a nice dinner for myself as I'd originally planned. But... we Do Not Waste Food In This House so I'll probably be having four-day-old soup and toast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 23, 2022, 03:33:47 AM
Yesterday the only fresh stuff in my fridge were an opened bag of carrot, 3/4 broccili, garlic and homegrown chilipepper, as well as a ham. We also had more than a littlebit yesterdays bread left. So I made a soup of all the veggies, served with diced ham (most of it) amd homemade croutons from the bread. I also added some dried mushrooms and a bit of dried seaweed, both foraged.

Now the fridge is really empty. No veggies, milk or juice left. So I really need to go shopping.

We could have survived for a week or 2, maybe 3 on stuff in the freezer, in case of an emergency.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 23, 2022, 08:27:19 AM
@Dollar Slice - can you find ways to dial the leftovers up into a slightly nicer meal on Thanksgiving? Perhaps panini one of the sandwiches, add some grilled onions & serve it with a nice glass of bubbly? I'd freeze as much as I could. Sometimes just reorganizing my freezer gives me a bit more space, to allow me to then jenga a few more items inside.

Make yourself a fancy french toast? Share with a friend or neighbor, who might appreciate an easy meal, even if it's not fancy?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on November 23, 2022, 08:56:39 PM
@Dollar Slice ...slice those meatballs in half, and pan fry them for a few minutes, add to the bread and make a killer sandwich...add some grilled onions and cheese, or just mayo with a glass of wine...would make a fancy dinner.

Hubby and I decided that we both need to drop some weight. So we are both eating less but thankfully the preteen is in a growth spurt and boy she is eating nonstop.

Tonight's dinner was a pressure cooked beef heart that I found for way cheap. I put it in the pressure cooker with some frozen garden leftovers, some peppers, onion, some fresh sauerkraut, a can of tomato paste, some hot sauce we are trying to finish, a bit of water, and random from the spice cabinet. I made a slaw out of some sad broccoli and a carrot and boy it was good as tacos. The preteen did not like the tortillas but finished off the beef heart.

I still have a full fridge door to work through and the spice cabinet is overfilled.  So I am going to have to find a roast to cook to try to use some of those things up.

I am also learning that as much as I like options...I really do not need 3 or 4 kinds of salt in this house. And the amount of mustard types in my fridge door is absurd.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 24, 2022, 11:35:07 AM
I made an omelet for dinner that included beside fresh ingredients, a jar of homemade kimchi that had been stirring at me from the fridge.
One jar left to go.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 24, 2022, 10:07:46 PM
Update: I was able to find space to freeze the meatballs. I added the extra leftover pasta to my soup (which was actually perfect because the soup only had meat and veg, with no carbs at all). I have eaten turkey/cheese/avocado sandwiches or soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day this week (but I got some extra treats for Thanksgiving, like a chocolate turkey). All I have left is about one sandwich left of deli turkey, some bread, and some apples and carrots in the crisper drawer which will aren't in immediate danger but should be used soonish. If nothing else, it was a pretty inexpensive week of food!

Now off to google and see if there's such thing as a hybrid apple-carrot cake...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trifle on November 25, 2022, 03:29:17 AM
Joining in.  We do this a few times a year, try to eat everything down to almost nothing.  It's a bit harder with a family than alone, so I can use the inspiration. 

Up for today -- I've got two packages of fresh spinach and two zucchinis that absolutely need to be eaten up.  For dinner I'm leaning toward gnocchi with spinach and mixed vegetables from the fridge.   We had a vegetarian Thanksgiving yesterday, so we have quite a few already-cooked veggie things to use up as well. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 25, 2022, 07:59:43 AM
Post Thanksgiving, & our fridge is packed! We have  mostly side dishes, as we don't eat turkey for Thanksgiving, & made steak. It was almost exactly the right amount, with just a few slices left.

I'm thinking of making a butternut squash soup for dinner tonight, using up a bunch of roasted squash from the garden. We'll have to see what else to start serving, to keep the food in rotation.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 25, 2022, 06:14:12 PM
@Dollar Slice - look up morning glory muffins!

They are muffins with grated apple, carrot, raisins and walnuts that are spiced with ginger and are delicious. I make mine w almond flour but there are traditional flour recipes. If you are interested DM me and I will find a link.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 25, 2022, 11:54:00 PM
@Dollar Slice - look up morning glory muffins!

Thanks for the suggestion! I found a couple of recipes but I was missing some of the extra ingredients, so I went with something a bit simpler. I found one where I had everything except coconut, and it only called for a little bit so I just left it out. I altered the recipe a bit so it would be more like a quick bread and less like a cake (hopefully - it's in the oven now!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 26, 2022, 07:08:23 AM
@Dollar Slice - I omit the coconut as my family doesn't care for it (I've been accused of putting shreds of cardboard in their muffins!).  I also sub overripe bananas for the sweet potato....I hope you like it!  This is the recipe I use.

https://www.theroastedroot.net/paleo-morning-glory-muffins/

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 26, 2022, 08:15:41 AM
-Used the last of the loaf of sourdough from Wednesday's dinner to make more goat cheese crostini. (The crostini spread is a Thanksgiving leftover).
-Ate leftovers for lunch
-Made custom leftover dinners for everyone, that used up things from the fridge. I served a taco bake over mashed potatoes for myself & it was delicious.
-Made a double batch of cranberry muffins, to use up some of our leftover fresh cranberries. Didn't have any orange juice, so subbed some sort of mango juice my teen brought home. I also used oat milk in place of the regular milk, as we have lots & lots of oat milk to get through.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on November 27, 2022, 10:56:00 AM
Ended up with all MILs Thanksgiving leftovers. So far I have managed to finish (or pawn off on family members) all of the brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, ambrosia salad (gag). DD made 3 desserts and we still have 2 left (I can't eat either). I also thawed out an allergen free cheesecake and we're finishing that off for brunch.
Working on the smoked turkey by adding bbq sauce. At this point we have tons of mashed sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce that will be my responsibility.
DH finished off some leftover Thai mixed with a piece of fried chicken and some asian sauce packets. I thought it looked horrible, but he has a habit of mixing stuff together and enjoying it.
Also finished off some weird chili I had thawed out before Thanksgiving.

Fridge space is being reclaimed!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 27, 2022, 12:57:16 PM
@fuzzy math - I'm with you on that ambrosia salad. Gag.

-Finished off the last of the mashed potatoes, & the remnants of a salad, for brunch.
-Made the teens lunch, which is almost always part of a secret plan for me to get rid of stuff from the fridge or freezer. Used up strawberries from the garden (smoothie), the last of a bag of pizza rolls, and two burritos from the freezer.
-Froze the other half of a pan of chicken alfredo. We were running super late last night, & picked up In & Out. It was a fail. However, I did finish the last of the sparkling wine in the fridge (paired with the In & Out, of course). Dinner of champions ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on November 27, 2022, 07:44:00 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache at least you were able to use up the sparkling wine :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on November 27, 2022, 10:36:35 PM
I used up a sale item frozen spiral ham that had been in the freezer for quite a while. Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year. I knew I would be working that evening, so I didn't get stressed about getting our holiday groceries together on time. But I forgot that we usually have a potluck at work that night. Thanksgiving morning I woke up and realized this in an "oh sh!t!" moment. What could I make in a few hours? Was the local grocery store open? But I try to never shop on major holidays. After a few more "oh sh!t" minutes, I remembered hubby complaining about the big ham taking up space in the freezer. He can no longer eat very salty foods, so it seemed like we would never have a use for it. And that was the day I learned from Professor Google that you don't need to thaw a ham like a turkey to roast it. Fantastic. I also froze the drippings in small portions for future cooking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 28, 2022, 03:50:08 PM
So, we had a freezer mishap which has led to an "Eat all the food in the freezer", top shelf edition. 

The plastic cover over the fan in the freezer got dislodged by a box of fish sticks....which then lodged against the fan on the top shelf preventing it from spinning and keeping that shelf cold.  I discovered this when I was checking my inventory and meal planning.  The food on the top shelf was cold, but no longer frozen solid, and the rest was fine.  To the delight of my DH and DS, the top shelf is where I keep the "junk" food.  So last night we HAD to eat the fish sticks and crinkle cut fries, tonight we HAD to eat hot dogs and knishes.   I did draw the line at pizza rolls.  Those are for Superbowls or NYE only.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 28, 2022, 03:55:50 PM
@Josiecat23503 - ha! See my teen lunch of pizza rolls a few posts ahead of yours. ;-) When I want things out of the freezer, I will make it happen. I did serve them with fruit smoothies, to add some nutritional value.

@okisok - and really, using up that sparkling wine was the most important part!

-Finished the last of the mashed potatoes & stuffing
-Ate a leftover burrito for lunch
-Made the last of a few pieces of chicken for another lunch
-Used not super active yeast (it's been in the fridge for awhile) to make foccacia to go with dinner
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 28, 2022, 06:15:09 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache - seems the joke's on me!  My teen had his dinner date plans fall through, so I got to serve chix nuggets, fries and pizza rolls to two teens tonight.  As will come as no surprise, there were no complaints!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 04, 2022, 04:30:38 PM
One of the teens stopped by a bakery a friend works at, and came home with a ton of baked goods. Of course, it was the day I'd splurged & bought cupcakes. We certainly don't need this many treats! Luckily, one of the treats wasn't a Nanaimo bar, like I originally thought it was. I'd run an extra five miles for one of those.
-Teen had a huge slice of pumpkin bread for breakfast
-I'm making the last of the goat cheese crostini tonight, as an appetizer (and, bribe, for the teens sitting through calculus tutoring)
-I went through the freezer, and tossed a few freezer burned items
-I defrosted enchilada sauce that's been in the freezer forever, and will use it for tomorrow's dinner
-I made a large batch of taco meat. We will have tacos 2x this week, and I'll freeze the rest of the meat
-Served the other teen the last of the Persian cucumbers. We buy them, four packages at a time at Trader Joes. He's been obsessed with cucumbers since he was tiny. But, if they aren't super visible in the fridge, he will forget about them, and they will go bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on December 05, 2022, 09:20:59 AM
Thawing a steak from the freezer for dinner tonight and will cook the last 2 baking potatoes in the pantry to go along with it.
Cooked some dried beans this weekend in the crockpot so we'll have those to go along with several meals this week. Added some diced ham and cooked hamburger meat to the beans for a little extra filler.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 05, 2022, 09:57:30 AM
Oh no Josiebear! I hope you didn't waste the pizza rolls. Did you just refreeze them or did they get dumped?

Fuzzy household has eaten:
 
- mostly the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers that will get eaten - cranberry sauce, some turkey and some cheesy tapioca biscuits (not gonna lie I was a bit anxious I was going to have stomach distress from eating it, but I prevailed!)
- last of a bag of chicken nuggets that was mostly freezer burn ice and loose breading
- the last of an open bag of pre cooked chicken breast slices
- some old buns in the fridge
- more american cheese (due to DS's friend sleeping over again)
- lots of condiment and spice packets that seem to keep appearing no matter how vigilant I am about using them up first
- passed on an open bag of Honeycomb cereal to DS's friend's family. Lots of ppl in that home


My birthday is this week and it gives me the perfect excuse to cook a gluten free cake mix I've had for forever.
I'm also going to pickle some onions today.

Keep up the good fight MMMers!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 05, 2022, 01:27:42 PM
@fuzzy math, don't worry....pizza rolls are very resilient!  None were wasted!!

Tonight is  butter chicken meatballs for the fellas and leftover veggie taco salad for me.

Still eating through a TON of leftovers after the freezer fiasco.  Still to be eaten are homemade black bean burgers, acorn squash pasta sauce and butternut squash pasta bake. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 05, 2022, 01:32:02 PM
-Finished off the last of the goat cheese spread, and baguette (I made goat cheese crostini for appetizers last night). The teens appreciated the snack, after calculus tutoring. Bribes work well at this age. :-)
-Ate soup from the freezer for brunch
-Froze a package of bagels that appeared in the fridge, so they won't go to waste.

I'll make the enchilada chicken rice skillet tonight, which should use up: the defrosted chicken, enchilada sauce, the last of a container of salsa, the last of the shredded cheese, and a few other things. We'll top it with sour cream & fresh tomatoes, and hopefully use up the last of the sour cream container.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 05, 2022, 02:12:05 PM
Was out ill for several weeks resulting in no out of town convention, Thanksgiving at my sisters, or one other planned trip.  Feeling much better now.  Lately:

-Ate many Thanksgiving leftovers DH brought home from my sister's
-Leftover taco meat was used as a taco salad topper
-Leftover beef rib was shredded and made for tasty nachos
-I topped the last Caulipower pizza crust with the rest of the homemade BBQ sauce DH made a few weeks ago, and the remaining package of pepperoni slices
-Blueberries and strawberries went into coconut milk smoothies along with a few handfuls of baby spinach
-The remaining bag of baby spinach was sauteed and served under sole

This week's suppers will feature a slow cooker rump roast topped with more of the creamy horseradish we need to use, and a slow cooker meatloaf and oven-baked Frito pie which will each contain 1.5 pounds of locally raised ground beef.

Am pleased to announce food waste included just one head of Romaine lettuce we didn't get to last month.  I bought a bit of fresh produce via grocery pickup when I felt better last week and am doing a good job at incorporating it into meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 09, 2022, 01:09:00 AM
Yesterday DH fried prawn crackers (those sheets that swell up in hot oil). They must have been in the cupboard for 10 years or so and be way past best before date. Now the pack is finished.

Edit:
I will today made a dish with dried limes. I finally have a use for some of those dried limes I bought ages ago. This is the second time the ingredient is used.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 09, 2022, 08:41:02 AM
Glad you're feeling better, @MountainGal!

I'm trying to go through our freezer, and use up one random ingredient per week. Last week was easy, as I made a recipe that used up enchilada sauce. I need to decide on an ingredient for this week. I'm thinking of the frozen spinach. Maybe I'll make a spinach dip?

-Froze the remaining taco meat, so we can have it again for another dinner
-Froze 1/2 of the enchilada skillet
-We'll eat the remaining fridge leftovers for dinner tonight

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 09, 2022, 03:08:35 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache.

I finished off a remaining pint of frozen custard and bag of gluten free crackers.  (Not in the same sitting.) :)

Speaking of freezer leftovers, DH and I each had a slice of leftover stuffed crust pizza I'd put in the freezer in October.  DH was pleasantly surprised as he didn't know leftover pizza could be a thing in our house LOL.

A bag of Romaine mix yielded 5 side salads.

Yesterday's meatloaf yielded two servings last night, and another three for upcoming lunches.

The remaining jar of artichokes was drained and bagged up for DH's lunches, and jar of green olives for mine.

Speaking of lunches, today is clean out the mini fridge day featuring leftover rump roast, cucumber slices, and strawberries. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 09, 2022, 08:09:20 PM
Finished a jar of strawberry 'jam' that was really just runny fruit puree by using it in pb&rfp. Lesson learned and won't buy that brand again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on December 10, 2022, 11:23:50 AM
Yesterday DH fried prawn crackers (those sheets that swell up in hot oil). They must have been in the cupboard for 10 years or so and be way past best before date. Now the pack is finished.

Edit:
I will today made a dish with dried limes. I finally have a use for some of those dried limes I bought ages ago. This is the second time the ingredient is used.

The mention of dried limes sent me down that rabbit hole.  My lime "bush" is loaded with limes. I'm using them as fast as I can, but am losing that battle.  I still have frozen margaritas from last year lol.  I've got 2 quart jars of preserved limes in my fridge plus juice in the freezer.  Now I'm off to dry some in my food dehydrator.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on December 10, 2022, 08:33:23 PM
All Thanksgiving leftovers were eaten and none had to be frozen, hooray! (We celebrated much later this year due to work.)

Much of the meal incorporated things from the freezer (pecans from last year, pie crusts, pineapple for the sweet potato bake, Rhode's frozen rolls from last year) as well as canned goods that I already had.

Several salad dressing containers were finally used up, as well as a bag of Craisens that had been around a long time.

I made a huge batch of roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower since they were on the edge after not using them for Thanksgiving. I'm eating those up for work lunches this week.

I also finally hacked into the big pumpkin gifted to me a month or so ago and roasted it. We made seasoned pumpkin seeds, two pumpkin pies, and pumpkin bread, plus I still have some slabs of roasted pumpkin for lunches. Pupper has also been enjoying the leftover pumpkin. I'm guessing it wasn't a Jack O' Lantern variety, since it tastes great and has a smooth consistency.





Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 11, 2022, 07:31:19 PM
@Catbert - you just need to have a little party, to clear out those margaritas. ;-)

I made spinach dip this weekend, which cleared out my second freezer "hard to use" item for December. First was enchilada sauce. My goal is to get rid of 5 items. DS16 y.o crushed the spinach dip, so I have maybe two tbsp left in the fridge. He was a big fan.

I made pulled pork for dinner tonight, which used up the last of some whole grain mustard, as well as a bunch of other fridge condiments. I used the last of a baguette, to make DS15 his favorite appetizer- goat cheese crostini.

I need to decide on the last 3 freezer "hard to use" items for December. More to come!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 12, 2022, 07:23:36 AM
Christmas plans are final, so I can start the pre-holiday cleaning, since we will not hosting any Christmas or New Year parties at our house. So I just need to have breakfast/lunch options ready and the items that I will bring to parties. I will try to incorporate pantry-items in there as much as possible.

We had 2 family gatherings at our house the last couple of weekends and the fridge is overflowing with leftovers. I think I should plan a few WFH days to finish the leftovers at lunchtime.
The pantry if overflowing as well, since I stocked up for these gathering and had loads of extra's just in case some more people would come over......
Anyway, time to plan around the inventory we have.......

Plan for this week:
During the day (breakfast/lunch/snacks): finish the homemade apple pie (which took care of some apples which nobody seemed to like), chocolate pie, and leftover Indonesian dishes including prawn crackers (yes...... hot lunches!). I already managed to put a piece of apple pie in my DS's lunchbox today. He did not complain!

Dinner:
Monday: cauliflower, potatoes and sausage
Tuesday: brussels sprouts, baked potatoes and meatloaf
Wednesday: pasta
Thursday: tortilla's with ground beef, bell peppers and unions
Friday: leftover day........
Weekend: mostly out of the house, so no plans. Otherwise more leftovers which are in the fridge/freezer. There is always soup and/or grilled cheese as a last resort!

First thing tonight will be a reality check on the fridge, since it is way overstocked! So plans might change later in the week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 12, 2022, 08:48:57 AM
I go on vacation next week. I am using what I have on hand. Last night I made dinner using canned sardines, a can of tomato paste, a bit of garlic, onion and red pepper and warmed it through and then ate it with rice and topped with a bit of green onion.

This is my new fav meal. It was so darn good.

I am learning through this eat all of the food in my house project. I no longer am willing to keep loads of food in our house. It just is not needed. I can make really good meals with very limited ingredients. This will just make our life so much simpler. And I am all for it.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: lentil on December 12, 2022, 04:50:17 PM
I found five(!) bags of frozen peas in my chest freezer last month. All I can think is that this is left over from some kind of early pandemic frozen veggie stock-up, obviously done at a moment when we forgot how rarely we throw peas into anything. Or maybe I just put "frozen peas" on my shopping list one time and forgot to take it off again?

Anyway, a half cup of frozen peas will get used up tonight, along with some of the innumerable dried pulses that lurk in my pantry. I'm baking lentil fritters, which uses up a half cup each of masoor dal & chana dal, plus various spices, an onion, a jalapeño, and the aforementioned peas.

Got inspired to make a yogurt sauce to dip them in, which also uses up some of the free food I picked up last week. Yogurt, scallions, horseradish, juice of one lime, various spices. I tasted it just now and it's...pretty limy. Kind of hoping the flavors meld a little better after resting in the fridge for a couple of hours, but I think the problem may actually be that it's a fat-free yogurt (i.e. not enough fats to balance out the acids). Hmm.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 12, 2022, 05:07:59 PM
Oh, @lentil , that would kill me. I'm not a fan, and also think i have one lonely bag in my freezer, that I can't figure out how to use up:

So far:
-Ate a single serving container of leftover chicken curry (freezer) for lunch today
-Had a couple of slices for a holiday bread that failed, when taking it out of the pan
-One kid ate a chicken patty & the last of the spinach dip for breakfast this morning. Odd combo, but I don't judge anyone who will eat leftovers

I have a "get five random items out of my freezer) goal for December. I've chosen the third item tonight - it's some sort of green onion pancake flat bread that was a choice from a teen. I'll heat that up to go with some grilled chicken tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on December 12, 2022, 08:32:42 PM
Maybebabymustache. Frozen peas make a fantastic pesto. Make just like you would pesto but sub the basil for the peas. My preteen eats it up with a spoon. Good on toast with a poached egg, or in pasta. Or top grilled chicken.

I have a bag of frozen peas in my freezer I may just do this for dinner tmrw. Thanks for the inspo. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 13, 2022, 01:13:18 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, my favorite ways to use up frozen peas are in shephard's pie, fried rice, or creamy pasta.  My mom used to put them in homemade chicken pot pie, but I prefer carrots and potato.  Hopefully one of these ideas works!!

This week I made split pea soup and carrot ginger soup to use up a glut of carrots (also made spicy pickled carrots, which are great on a charcuterie board/cocktail hour).  This helped kill a girlfriend's 10lb bag of carrots ordered by mistake and cleared out a package of split peas. 

Tonight DH is having flatbread pizza to use up an opened jar of pizza sauce and a package of mozzerella cheese....I am not anticipating any complaints....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on December 13, 2022, 07:20:36 PM

This week I made split pea soup and carrot ginger soup to use up a glut of carrots (also made spicy pickled carrots, which are great on a charcuterie board/cocktail hour).  This helped kill a girlfriend's 10lb bag of carrots ordered by mistake and cleared out a package of split peas. 

I just spent the afternoon trying to deal with a similarity huge bag of carrots @Josiecat23503 :)

Made a ginger carrot soup, carrot lox (for bagels), blanched some carrots for freezing, and a double batch of baked carrot cake oatmeal. And still...more carrots!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 14, 2022, 07:58:46 AM
Thanks for all of the suggestions on peas! I have a few fried rice ideas I'll try out soon, and I don't mind peas in that type of recipe.

-Used up a couple of the dim sum like pancakes on Monday, and they were tasty. Still have a few to go.
-Made pulled pork on Sunday, and liked the flavor, but it was a little runny, even with multiple draining attempts. For the second dinner, broiled it for a few minutes, and really liked it. I followed the same process for crockpot carnitas, so it worked great.
-Used a bagged salad that I wasn't going to finish in time, in place of coleslaw, using up extra dressing. It went great with the pulled pork.
-Defrosted a lasagna (my dad made it, when he was here), to have for a late dinner tonight
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 14, 2022, 10:20:43 AM
Finished a serving of split pea soup for lunch.

Dinner tonight is leftover London Broil for DH, leftover butternut squash pasta bake for me and leftover chicken parm for the lad.  Will steam some broccoli and clear out 3 tupperware containers from the fridge!

Going out of town in a week, so excited to see the freezer open up as we eat it down!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 14, 2022, 11:33:14 AM
So far, so good:
- apple pie and chocolate pie will be finished tonight with a nice cup of tea
- DD was home for lunch today and happily finished a leftover noodle dish
- My lunch was leftover rice with chicken curry and eggs. Delicious and 1 lunch serving left for tomorrow!
- Just 1 leftover portion from pasta dinner tonight, which DS already claimed as lunch for Friday (I just love it when teens claim leftovers...... 1 item less to think about)!

Items to be used up: leftover piece of cheese, leftover piece of sausage (I might sneak in a few pieces into a lunchbox for DS as school snack.....) and loads of other snack items. I already gave DS some chips when he got home, but there is still more in various bags/containers. But I also have two teens in the house...... I do not think the snacks will make it after the weekend!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 14, 2022, 03:38:48 PM
Am a bit late to the game, but party at the @Catbert residence!

A neighbor gifted us some nice-looking carrots which I'll glaze and roast in the oven tonight.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 15, 2022, 07:10:39 PM
Well I wouldn't say its been the best week at my home, we had 2 birthday meals out (all leftovers eaten!) and did one of those home delivery cook your meals services (70% cash back on Rakuten for Cyber Monday). The last of the delivery meals was cooked tonight and overall it was a really enjoyable experience. We'd never pay full price at ~$8-10 per serving regularly but maybe after a period of inactivity they'll send me another worthwhile deal.

DH bought some eggs for Thanksgiving (weird since we have chickens) and then left them on the counter overnight. I hard boiled them, ate a couple then got afraid of getting ill so I've been feeding a half an egg per day to my dogs, who think eggs are the craziest thing ever on the planet. So its not really a fail. I did have a HUGE FAIL though... I cooked the last of some markdown ground turkey, made taco meat of it using my expensive taco seasoning, then put it in the tupperware cabinet instead of the fridge. DH found it 2 days later. I was very sad.

The only real other highlights I have are that some things got "used up" as in cooked, determined to be gross and tossed in the trash. Better to try and toss than have it sitting in my pantry forever. The fridge is looking hollow again which means I can dig deep and get back to my normal routine of using scraps of this and that to make masterpieces :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 16, 2022, 10:05:26 AM
Our weekend plans changed, so most of the meals we will have at home instead of in restaurants/at friends house. Time to eat a lot of things from the fridge / freezer / pantry!
We will start tonight with some snacks. We had an early dinner, so I think some teens will be hungry (again) around 9..... time for a monkey platter of cheese, sausage, cucumber and tomatoes. This will already use up a few fridge items!



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 18, 2022, 09:39:02 AM
@fuzzy math - which food service did you try? I'll keep an eye out for an offer, if you thought it was worth it (at the heavily discounted price).

We've continued to do well at eating leftovers, although I noticed my husband didn't finish off a few small pieces of chicken, & I had to toss that. It hurts to throw out meat, and we would have frozen it, had I noticed.

-Continued to eat failed holiday bread (it didn't come out of the pan successfully, but the taste is great) for snacks
-Ate another dim sum style green onion pancake for lunch yesterday
-Made my teen taquitos for dinner on Friday, and he was so thrilled. Got a package out of the freezer
-Used up the rest of a small chunk of goat cheese rolled in cranberries, for our "appetizer" style dinner on Friday
-Defrosted a container of soup, which I will have for lunch today

We're heading out of town on Thursday, so we've kept the weekend cooking pretty light, in anticipation of not wanting too many leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 18, 2022, 08:39:00 PM
Made a delicious soup with some frozen leftover chicken, an open container of chicken broth, some green beans, a handful of leftover cooked potatoes, and a slice of bacon. It needed some noodles, so we broke up some spaghetti noodles from the pandemic hoard. It was all scraps or pantry items and fed three of us with a serving leftover for lunch tomorrow. It was DP's idea and was a triumph of frugality. All it took was a rummage through the freezer, some spices, and some creativity.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on December 19, 2022, 07:53:18 AM
Baked some delicious zucchini muffins using up frozen shredded zucchini from the freezer, a single serve container of apple sauce and half the juice from half a lemon I had just zested for another recipe.

I went through the pantry and had to throw out some stale snacks. A good reminder to only buy what we're certain we're going to eat from now on.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 19, 2022, 08:24:34 AM
Saturday was a good day with lots of bits and bites finished: piece of cheese, piece of sausage, some veggies with humus, a container of soup from freezer and 2 burgers from freezer and various chips-leftovers.
Sunday was not too bad. No new leftovers created.
Today was a new start of the week. I checked our cupboard/freezer/fridge and managed to get to a menu which will not require any additional shopping other than my regular grocery delivery on Thursday, which will then have everything for Christmas. No last-minute food shopping here!

Dinners are quite fixed for the rest of the week and Christmas. Breakfast and lunches will require some creativity, but will be OK for finishing various bits and pieces.
2 cucumbers, a few apples, some tomatoes and half a cabbage are still lingering and need to be used up before the weekend.
Other than that, I just need to make sure that this week everyone is eating the deli-meat which is in the fridge and is not buying any new snacks, but using up what we already have.

DS has a food-donation-charity on Friday. Good timing to go through our pantry and see what suitable items are in there that are not expected to be used soon in our household (but are ofcourse well before their due-dates!).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 19, 2022, 02:54:41 PM
Trying to use up a lot of fridge items, before we head out of town on Thursday.
-Defrosted chicken enchiladas, for dinner tonight. My parents made these when they were visiting, and they've been sitting in our freezer for a long time.
-Made cranberry muffins, and used up: fresh cranberries & sauce (Thanksgiving) & the last of a tub of yogurt. All three needed to be used or tossed, so it was great to get them out of the fridge. I didn't have orange zest, so I subbed for some orange juice. I also need to use up oat milk, so used that in place of dairy milk.
-I finished off leftover dinner items from Saturday's dinner (orange chicken & rice) for my "brunch".
-My husband will have the last of the salmon tonight

We will need to finish up the rest of the grilled burgers, so that will be dinner tomorrow. I'll have mine over the last of a bagged salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 19, 2022, 04:07:06 PM
@fuzzy math - which food service did you try? I'll keep an eye out for an offer, if you thought it was worth it (at the heavily discounted price).

We've continued to do well at eating leftovers, although I noticed my husband didn't finish off a few small pieces of chicken, & I had to toss that. It hurts to throw out meat, and we would have frozen it, had I noticed.

-Continued to eat failed holiday bread (it didn't come out of the pan successfully, but the taste is great) for snacks
-Ate another dim sum style green onion pancake for lunch yesterday
-Made my teen taquitos for dinner on Friday, and he was so thrilled. Got a package out of the freezer
-Used up the rest of a small chunk of goat cheese rolled in cranberries, for our "appetizer" style dinner on Friday
-Defrosted a container of soup, which I will have for lunch today

We're heading out of town on Thursday, so we've kept the weekend cooking pretty light, in anticipation of not wanting too many leftovers.

Sounds like a yummy week!

We did Green Chef. They're organic and have keto / paleo which is all GF (which I need)... lots of super flavorful choices. We had a truffled pork chop in mushroom gravy that I swear must have had MSG or crack in it (although they're hopefully too natural to use MSG). They quote $110 for 2 servings with 4 days meals in a week full price. Some code we had from my MIL got us down to $51 and then I got $36 cash back from Rakuten so $16-17 for 4 meals is a good deal! I have a code somewhere if you end up wanting it. Without the cash back being insanely high (have seen 20-40% back since) we wouldn't have ever ordered.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 19, 2022, 06:05:03 PM
Oh! Forgot to update with recent wins:

- Finished off a marinade bottle on some chicken (my sauce purchasing ban remains in effect)
- Finished off some homemade pickled pepper jelly from DS's friend's family
- FINALLY finished off the last of the american cheese slices on DS's friends that I swear kept multiplying that were leftovers from an Oct camping trip
- Combined 2 jars of cinnamon - another container gone from the cabinet!
- Sauteed some really sad scraggly broccoli
- Made buttery garlic bread from frozen leftover Panera sourdough bread
- Working on some cranberry chicken sausages that were on markdown at Aldi. 25% of the way done
- Made baked beans completely from scratch - used a bunch of molasses, worstershire sauce, finished off a jar of crystallized off honey and some other seasoning goodies making it. Helped to heat the house for the ~6 hours it cooked (its getting very cold here!)

Recent fails:
- let 2 pints of bella mushrooms get gross
- used a salad dressing packet on some salad, wondered why it was weird, then discovered it was best by 2021  :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 20, 2022, 11:45:27 AM
Made another batch of freezer soup. Used up cooked chicken I had marinated that came out weird-tasting. Almost everything was from the freezer, including some veggie broth homemade from scraps. I used some potatoes from a 10 lb bag that was a great deal at Aldi and one can of cheap veggies from the pantry. Onions, peppers, broth, all from the freezer. Got two bags and two jars out of the freezer and two containers out of the fridge. I tossed in some half and half, reserving only enough for DP to use in his coffee the rest of the week. It tends to go bad before we can finish it, so I'm focusing on freezing or using it in place of milk in recipes.

I shuffled some things around in the freezer and made some plans for the items in there. I think I can go the rest of the week without grocery shopping. At least I can get very minimal items in a quick run if necessary.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 20, 2022, 02:53:41 PM
@fuzzy math, thank you so much for the crystalized honey idea!  I'll be sure and add ours to the next batch of beans.

Last Friday's monthly grocery order filled the remaining space in the garage freezer, and part of the deep freezer.  And based on that and the lack of storage containers, it is time to start focusing again on frozen leftovers.  I am hoping for light Q1 grocery orders as financially that is my slower time of year so leftovers will be ideal.

Happy holidays, everyone.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 21, 2022, 06:19:28 AM
Was looking in the cupboard for something to ease my sweet tooth..... Found cookies with a best before date of early December. Just tested and they are still OK, so I'm sacrificing myself in eating them.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 21, 2022, 08:34:50 AM
Thanks for info, @fuzzy math

We are heading out of town tomorrow, and our fridge is looking great. I'm pleased with our progress. We've been eating a lot of previously prepped meals from the freezer, and made big inroads into the fridge/freezer inventory, finishing up the following
-Two more hamburger buns
-A bag of brussels sprouts
-The chicken enchiladas

As for today, we will eat:
-I'll have a piece of chicken for lunch
-My husband will have the last of the burger patties. I need to find something to go with this for him.
-I'll serve the last of the cucumbers to my teen
-We need to finish off all of the salad ingredients
-Two diners will eat enchilada rice (freezer)
-My teen will eat pasta, likely with meatballs (freezer)

That will leave us in awesome shape for tomorrow. In fact, no clue what I'll be eating for lunch tomorrow. Cup o Noodle, from the teen's stash? ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on December 22, 2022, 03:16:34 AM
While looking through the pantry for items to donate to the Food-bank at the food-donation-charity at DS school tomorrow, I found a can of soup that was just at the date. My lunch for today just revealed itself!
Wins so far this week:
- the guinea pig is happy with the leftover cabbage leaves
- the indonesian spiced cake is gone
- 2 kiwis just got eaten, only 4-5 to go
- deli-meat is almost gone

Items to work on in the next couple of days:
- 2 cucumbers
- 2-3 servings of cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 serving of humus
- 4-5 kiwis
- 2-3 apples
- 1/2 bag of salted almonds
- 1/2 bag of prawn crackers
- 1 jar of marmelade
- 1/2 jar of salsa
- some olives
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on December 23, 2022, 11:56:31 PM
I had this big chuck roast in the freezer that my mom had given me a while back - she had ordered one three-pound chuck roast in a grocery delivery and instead they delivered three chuck roasts. She gave me one to take home since they had about ten pounds of it, and I just stuck it in the freezer, where it has been languishing. So this week there were some good sales on frozen foods that I actually wanted and I decided it was time I get that 3+ lbs of chuck roast out of the freezer... it's been thawing all week and I cooked it tonight.

Super bad timing that I threw my back out Wednesday night, LOL, after it was pretty well thawed but before I had a chance to cook it. I couldn't make it yesterday as I'd planned. Luckily it eased up a lot today and I was able to do it, and the Instant Pot makes it a lot easier (I could not have lifted a Dutch oven). So I've got a big batch of lovely beef stew with four kinds of vegetables that I can eat all weekend while it's freezing outside. And I freed up a lot of space for some things I am excited to eat instead of stuff I'm annoyed to find every time I open the freezer...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on December 24, 2022, 10:47:17 AM
I'm tasked with bringing dessert for Christmas.  I don't like any of the traditional pies (e.g., pumpkin) so I don't make 'em.  I'm making 9 pear tarts using a lone puff pastry sheet from the freezer and pears I got as a present.  The bread pudding will use up some stale bread.  I may make a bourbon sauce since I have bourbon but don't drink it.  I'm also making a chocolate pecan pie that doesn't up anything I want to get rid of.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 25, 2022, 10:22:53 AM
Things are out of control at this house. So much food has been bought and is being cooked.

Also the fridge in the garage (where is been - 6 to 20) froze all my fridge food. UGH
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 25, 2022, 09:23:19 PM
When I went through the freezer to find items for the chicken soup, I found some frozen pureed pumpkin. I thawed it out and used 3/4 of a cup in a pumpkin muffin recipe and put the remainder in some cake mix cookies. The muffins used up the last of a bag of flour that wasn't used to make bread bowls for the chicken soup.

DP and I devoured the chicken soup in the bread bowls because it was SO GOOD. Then he took the cookies to a holiday gathering. We are still working on the pumpkin muffins for snacks and breakfasts. I did not do a big grocery shop this week, just grabbed a few items to fill in where we needed them (like more flour).

I got home from holiday travels with zero leftovers to worry about using up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 27, 2022, 07:27:43 PM
Continuing to fight the good fight! MIL (who is super weird about food and imposing) left us a bunch of weird items at our house so somehow we have MORE food despite not having been to the store in a few days. A lot of it is stuff I can't eat so I'll be slowly pawning it off on everyone else

- Cooked 2 bags of coleslaw mix with some onion, an open carton of chicken broth and some tom yum soup paste. Mixed a single serving of leftover chinese takeout rice into a bowl with this soup
- Convinced DH to finish off some beef stew he'd made almost a week ago
- Ate only a responsible amount of holiday chocolate
- Located some chicken gizzards that DH had bought, boiled and given up on. Fed a few to the dogs, the rest are now going to be part of their meal portions for the next few days
- Finished off the last of the sale raspberries
- Had a ripe avocado, DH had a ripe avocado
- Tried to feed DS some left over mac n cheese. He said no, so its off to the chickens
- Convinsed other DS to cook some pork he'd asked us to buy a couple days ago
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on December 27, 2022, 07:45:29 PM
@fuzzy math "responsible amount of holiday chocolate" ha ha ha! I love it! I've eaten a highly irresponsible amount
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on December 28, 2022, 04:27:42 PM
As this thread was started a long time ago, I'm not certain how the goal has evolved over the years, but it seems like the right place to post about a January 2023 pantry and freezer challenge, especially since my goal is to get completely through the outside chest freezer as well as the miscellaneous items in the house freezer.  "January" is just an easy guideline but I will keep going until we get to a place where we truly need to start restocking.  I expect our grocery purchases to be eggs, butter, and fresh produce.  I also never let myself get below about 25# of all-purpose and 25# of wheat berries, just because they aren't always in stock when I want them, but I don't expect to buy any in January.

To get a head start, this week I defrosted a piece of beef top round for London Broil (ate that last night), a leg of lamb (for Thursday), a spiral ham (for Friday), and the remaining 4# of ground beef we had (this will be used in fried ground beef tacos for our traditional NYE meal).  With our London Broil last night we had side dishes of mashed potatoes (from the freezer), rice (leftover in fridge), half a sweet potato (leftover in fridge), sautéed zucchini (leftover in fridge), and a green salad (we have lots of salad makings because of a cancelled Christmas Eve lunch).  I also had my youngest use some leftover rice and a leftover Polish sausage to make fried rice yesterday for lunch.

Lunch today used up the last sourdough roll and the last of a sourdough loaf, as well as several pieces of a whole wheat loaf.  My oldest prefers the sourdough, but I made it clear that I won't defrost another loaf of sourdough until the whole wheat is gone.  If I can come up with a lunch for tomorrow that doesn't require bread, I'll mix sourdough tonight and bake tomorrow.  Those loaves of sourdough in the freezer are like gold when something happens to disrupt regular baking.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 28, 2022, 05:24:49 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I love sourdough, and am so envious that you successfully make it. Yum!

We are back from our trip to see my parents, and heading skiing on Friday, so we don't want to buy too much.
-I had cup o noodle for lunch yesterday, because we were really out of options
-I scrounged together enough for a simple dinner (gyozos & some sort of breaded chicken), that got us all fed last night. We also picked up produce, so there's salad fixings now as well.
-I've eaten an irresponsible amount of holiday cookies. Luckily, the teens have discovered them, so they will be gone quickly.
-I had leftover chicken from last night over a brunch salad today.
-I made two large containers of pureed pumpkin (free, from the grocery store, after Halloween) from the freezer into soup. My husband will have some tonight, and the rest is in the freezer, in lunch sized containers.
I prepped spaghetti & meatballs, for our ski trip. I combined 1/2 an open container of marinara sauce with a container of homemade tomato sauce (freezer) from our garden tomatoes. That's now in the freezer, ready to go for our trip.
-
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on December 28, 2022, 07:50:49 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I love sourdough, and am so envious that you successfully make it. Yum!

@MaybeBabyMustache  I make a soft sourdough sandwich loaf, which is a lot more foolproof than freeform artisan boules, and is also far more usable for sandwiches and toast, with a longer shelf (or breadbox) life.

I love when I can scrounge together a dinner and get everyone fed, especially when they don't even realize that I did.  We've been strong on our anti-food waste campaign for years now.  And I also prep meals to take with us whenever we travel.  We drove to Colorado in October to see our oldest race, and I prepared and packed all of the food we would need, both for us and to feed him (he traveled with his team).  We didn't eat out at all, not even when we were on the road.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trifle on December 29, 2022, 04:40:15 AM
Awesome job @K_in_the_kitchen!  We try to do that too when we're traveling.  It's a huge money saver.

My eat-it-up project for tonight is going to be a big greek pasta salad which will use up some veggies that need to go, some feta cheese that's been lurking in the fridge, and some canned olives that DD brought home from work.

We have a couple more cans of those olives to use up in the weeks to come.  I could make one of them disappear into a big veggie lasagna I bet.   
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on December 29, 2022, 10:25:31 AM
Our eat-it-up project for today is going to be a quiche.  I have 8 dozen eggs in the refrigerator, and while eggs last a long time they do need to be eaten.  I also have a package of frozen pie crusts that we didn't use for holiday pies.  I was thinking I didn't have much to put in the quiche, but remembered an opened package of diced prosciutto, and there is some thinly sliced onion from yesterday's stromboli.  We're low on fresh vegetables, but there is a head of cabbage, and I could sauté some of that for the quiche, or make a cabbage salad to eat alongside it.

@Trifele Your post reminded me that we have feta cheese lurking in the fridge as well -- I'll put some in the quiche, along with some chopped kalamata olives.

I didn't mix sourdough last night, so I'm choosing between pulling a loaf from the freezer or baking yeasted bread loaves. I always have the pantry items for bread, and I could use the dough to make New England Style hot dog buns as well, which makes it easier to get through the many packages of grass-fed Polish sausages out in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 29, 2022, 11:59:39 AM
My freezer progress is going well enough that I can see a lot more of the items, vs having them in a precarious tower that inevitably topples over, as soon as I want something from it. I'm also making good progress on my goal of turning freezer ingredients, into things we can actually use (e.g. pureed pumpkin into pumpkin soup, bananas into muffins, etc).

-Finished off the last of some frozen fruit in a smoothie for DS15
-Defrosted chicken fajita leftovers for dinner tonight. There isn't quite enough to feed everyone, so I'll make taquitos (freezer) for DS16, and I'll use the last of homemade coleslaw dressing to finish off a bagged salad. My husband loves coleslaw, so while it's not particularly well themed with fajitas, I think everyone will be happy.
-Ate the last of the gyozos for breakfast, when I got home from my workout
-Will finish off the pasta for lunch, with some sort of fruit or veggie

Our fridge is also looking pretty clear, ahead of our ski trip.

@K_in_the_kitchen - that's super impressive that you bring the food for yourself, but also your son! Well done. What kind of team is he on? We're heading out on a ski trip tomorrow, and the first few days will be in a condo, and we'll bring our food (breakfast/dinners), but we will eat lunch on the slopes. For the last few nights, we'll be in a hotel, as I have to work during the day while the boys/my husband work & I needed a more reliable wifi. It comes with free breakfast, but we will be splurging and eating out for dinners.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Serendip on December 29, 2022, 02:59:33 PM
Came home to a somewhat empty fridge so we defrosted chili for dinner yesterday--Love having soup in the freezer!

Today I put a lentil/potato/carrot stew in the crock-pot (new recipe so hopefully it is tasty, added a bit of buckwheat to use it up) and roasted the last 2 squash from my farmer friend for a squash coconut soup.

I also had a few carrots that needed eating so I made baked carrot oatmeal which can be breakfast for the next few days.

Have a few apple languishing in a crisper so will stew those with spices to eat up with yogurt..

Would love to have an eating down the pantry/freezer month in January but my SO isn't on board. Perhaps I'll try to do it and he can buy groceries for the nights that he is cooking if he wants :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 30, 2022, 12:45:33 PM
I set aside some fridge space dedicated for leftovers, condiments and other items we need to utilize so they don't get forgotten or lost.  Referencing my last post about the ample stock, January's grocery, paper (TP) and miscellaneous (mouthwash and makeup) budget is $150.  (Pats self on back.)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on December 30, 2022, 08:45:11 PM

@K_in_the_kitchen - that's super impressive that you bring the food for yourself, but also your son! Well done. What kind of team is he on? We're heading out on a ski trip tomorrow, and the first few days will be in a condo, and we'll bring our food (breakfast/dinners), but we will eat lunch on the slopes. For the last few nights, we'll be in a hotel, as I have to work during the day while the boys/my husband work & I needed a more reliable wifi. It comes with free breakfast, but we will be splurging and eating out for dinners.
@MaybeBabyMustache My son is on a collegiate varsity cycling team and we were at mountain bike national championships.  He hates the food they make for the team on trips, so I planned to feed him every meal even though he needed to sleep in the room his team provided.  Even though we traveled in the camper van, we rented a VRBO condo (ski resort) because of the weather and also so our son would have a place to hang out and to wash his bike.  It was a good thing I took all the food, because the team had a refrigerator failure in one of their rented condos and lost tons of food, so they were scrambling to get bad food from the only resort restaurant that was open.

It sounds like you have a great balance of bringing food, eating the free breakfast, and splurging a little bit!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on December 30, 2022, 08:56:35 PM
Yesterday I turned 6 overripe bananas into 24 muffins.  I convinced one kid to eat some leftover beef and mashed potatoes, and had the other kid eat the leftovers from our burrito bowls theater night, which I had mixed together in one container (shredded chicken, Mayacoba beans, and peppers & onions).

Today I cooked a leg of lamb that came the freezer, and now I have to figure out using the rest of it.  It was cooked medium rare and I'm tempted to make a lamb stew with some of it and a shepherd's pie with the rest.  I turned the pan drippings into gravy so that meal is most of the way made.  But we can't eat all of that right now, so I'll probably freeze the meat after I cut it, and do something else with it in a week or so.  I served the lamb with mashed potatoes from the freezer and I made a pot of pasta for my oldest since he doesn't like lamb.  My husband made another green salad as we continue to work through the lettuce we bought for our cancelled Christmas Eve lunch.

I did bake bread and New England style hot dog buns yesterday.  We ate 5 buns and I froze the rest, and also froze one loaf of bread.  I also froze most of the banana muffins.  I do want to eat all of the food in the house and especially to get through what we have in the freezers, but it always feels like a step forward and a step back.  I think maybe I won't buy bananas in January, as it seems like they aren't getting eaten since people prefer a hot breakfast.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on December 31, 2022, 05:40:01 AM
Since the end of the summer, there was a large bag of blueberries in the freezer, taking up space in the meat drawer. Originally they were picked for making wine and therefore not cleaned very well. When you make wine, you filter out leaves and stems, as well as skins. But yesterday I cleaned the berries batch by batch until I had a pan full. I made jam from it, 5 and a half jars. The jars are cooked properly afterwards, so they don't need to store in a fridge, but we have more space in the fridges than in the closets. Therefore they stand there anyway.

I still had 3 jars of blueberry jam left from the previous time I made some. Blueberry jam is an article I seldom buy because it is more expensive than strawberry jam. And I tend to buy the cheapest that I like to eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trifle on December 31, 2022, 07:05:41 AM
Yesterday morning I used three overripe bananas to make banana bread.  For dinner I used up all our flour and yeast on a double batch of pizza crust, topped with the last of our olives, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 02, 2023, 05:52:59 PM
We made fried tacos for NYE (tradition) using the last 4# of ground beef from the freezer.  I also made a potato filling for a vegetarian guest using a can of chiles from the pantry, a 1# bag of diced potatoes from the freezer, half an onion from the crisper drawer, and some seasonings.  We worked through the leftover tacos yesterday and today.

I had some sourdough discard I'd saved in the refrigerator, so in the wee hours of New Year's Day I mixed up a sourdough sponge and used that to make waffles for breakfast when we woke up on New Year's Day.  There is still some discard in there, and I need to feed my starter because I didn't bake with it this week, so I'll add to the discard.  I never discard my discard, lol.  Most of the time I don't have discard sitting around because I either bake weekly or let my starter go dormant.

The ham bone from yesterday is simmering with some scrap vegetables to make stock.  We ate leftover ham today, then I cut up the rest, leaving one full serving for my oldest to have for lunch tomorrow, and bagging enough for two pots of soup and two quiches (I froze the ham for one soup and the quiches).  I also cut up the leftover lamb from Friday, and froze enough for two stews and a shepherd's pie, and also froze the leftover gravy.  While hunting around in the refrigerator I spotted the leftover beef taco filling, so I tossed that in the freezer too.

I ate leftover sourdough waffles for breakfast.  My dad gifted us an Omaha Steaks box, so now we have more frozen food to get through.  We ate the filets on Christmas and will eat the chicken breasts tonight.  There is leftover pasta that needs to be eaten tonight, so my son will eat that, and there is some ravioli I defrosted that needs to be cooked, so DH and I will eat that.  My youngest will eat leftover rice.  I'll steam some broccoli from the refrigerator (and I'll prep all of the broccoli so it lasts longer).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 03, 2023, 03:27:24 AM
Covid hit our house on NY-eve, so we've been living off the fridge/freezer/cupboard stock for the past few days (today I managed to get groceries delivered, so now we're good for the rest of the week).

Wins:
- cucumber and tomatoes made it out of the fridge as snacks together with 1/2 jar of humus
- most NY snacks are gone now
- large box of tomato soup made it out of the freezer as new years day dinner
- finished the sweet potatoes with some meat from freezer yesterday

Still to be finished:
- 2 apples
- 2 kiwis
- a few cherry tomatoes
- Leftover Christmas-raisin-almond-bread
- 1/2 jar of guacamole
- 1/2 jar of marmelade
- 3 waffles
- leftover Christmas chocolates.........
- loads of gingerbread cookies.........

With the full family at home doing the COVID-quarantine-exercise, I'm hoping to go through more snacks and leftovers this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 03, 2023, 03:31:31 PM
I went through the pantry today, organizing so we can be sure to be eating the food we already have.  I decided to return several things to Costco -- we'd bought multiples of holiday treats and didn't really like some of them, so we are taking back the unopened items.

I finished my meal plan for January and made the February meal plan as well.  These aren't fully fleshed out, but I do know what type of meal I'll be making each day and have assigned cuts of meat and other freezer items like broth and vegetables.  Looking at the plan for the next 10 days I decided we won't need any groceries at all.  I'm only allowing fresh produce, eggs, and dairy this month, plus any staples we run out of like olive oil.  So far I know I'll need to buy maple syrup, and we might run out of marinara (I don't make it because I'm allergic to tomatoes), but those aren't needed this week.

We ate the last of a loaf of bread at breakfast, and took out a loaf I'd frozen.  We used that loaf for lunches today and will also eat it for breakfast and lunch tomorrow (I'll bake tomorrow but those loaves won't be ready until evening).  That leaves two sourdough loaves in the freezer, which is plenty for an emergency stash.

Used the rest of the sourdough discard, feeding it like regular starter last night.  I mixed focaccia dough this morning to bake for dinner tonight, will use more of it in dough for soft sourdough loaves, and will turn whatever is leftover into an overnight sponge for pancakes.  Then I will be back to just having my regular starter.  I don't make nearly as much bread or other sourdough items when my oldest is away at university.

I froze 6 cups of ham stock to use in a soup later this month.

My youngest made fried rice for lunch using leftover rice, a leftover Polish sausage, and an egg (must eat gluten free so no bread).  We're now down to the only leftover meat in the fridge being the diced ham I'll be using in soup tonight.

Last night I fed the 6 day old leftover London Broil to the senior dog and the chihuahua (just a tiny bit for him).  We just didn't get to it and today would have been a full week since I made it, and no one wanted to risk getting sick.  The dogs were fine.  This is my last resort option for leftovers.

Also last night, I ate an apple after dinner.  My picky kids start to think the fruit has been in the refrigerator "too long" and stop eating it.  The apple was neither shriveled nor bruised.  Since we have most of a 25# bag of cara cara oranges, I may come up with something to do with the apples in the refrigerator.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 04, 2023, 10:12:45 AM

@K_in_the_kitchen - that's super impressive that you bring the food for yourself, but also your son! Well done. What kind of team is he on? We're heading out on a ski trip tomorrow, and the first few days will be in a condo, and we'll bring our food (breakfast/dinners), but we will eat lunch on the slopes. For the last few nights, we'll be in a hotel, as I have to work during the day while the boys/my husband work & I needed a more reliable wifi. It comes with free breakfast, but we will be splurging and eating out for dinners.
@MaybeBabyMustache My son is on a collegiate varsity cycling team and we were at mountain bike national championships.  He hates the food they make for the team on trips, so I planned to feed him every meal even though he needed to sleep in the room his team provided.  Even though we traveled in the camper van, we rented a VRBO condo (ski resort) because of the weather and also so our son would have a place to hang out and to wash his bike.  It was a good thing I took all the food, because the team had a refrigerator failure in one of their rented condos and lost tons of food, so they were scrambling to get bad food from the only resort restaurant that was open.

It sounds like you have a great balance of bringing food, eating the free breakfast, and splurging a little bit!

@K_in_the_kitchen - so interesting! My son absolutely loves mountain biking, and one of his college requests is that it be near mountain biking & skiing. My dad still mountain bikes at 70, and I had no idea that there were collegiate level teams. Thanks for sharing!

And, definitely sounds like bringing your own food makes a ton of sense!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 04, 2023, 10:39:35 AM
Yesterday I made a dish that used up 4 bags with greens and 1 bag with skinless lemon from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 04, 2023, 12:45:25 PM
So the sourdough focaccia I made was a flop.  I should have trusted my intuition that the dough didn't have enough salt, but the blogger has a huge following and I rationalized it by reminding myself that focaccia also has salt liberally sprinkled over the top.  But salt on top can't disguise a bland bread.  We ate it with dinner, but I knew no one was going to want to eat it again.  So today I pulverized it into crumbs using the Vitamix, then toasted the bread crumbs before freezing them.  I ended up with 2 quarts of bread crumbs for meatballs, meatloaf, topping casseroles, breading chicken, etc.

I'm finally through the excess sourdough starter/discard and as a bonus have a nice stash of waffles in the freezer.

It'll be leftover soup for lunch, served with yeasted rolls I pulled from the freezer (I found a random bag with three rolls).  Dinner is cabbage and bacon because the cabbage needs to be eaten soon, served with baked potatoes because the potatoes are just starting to get tiny sprouts.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 05, 2023, 07:21:39 PM
Ate sourdough pancakes from the freezer.  Made stromboli for lunch because my oldest heads back to university on Saturday and I want to get through the dairy free pesto and cheese we bought for when he is here.  All of the grated vegan mozzarella is now gone, and he has one slice of vegan cheddar to have on a sandwich tomorrow.  He isn't going to get through the pesto, but DH doesn't mind finishing it off.  I made chocolate syrup from ingredients I had on hand so he can work through the carton of oat milk in the fridge (as hot chocolate). He also won't finish the dairy free margarine, but I looked it up and the manufacturer says we can freeze it without affecting texture.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on January 08, 2023, 08:26:11 PM
Used one more bottle of the beer we didn't like in bread. I used up some of the wheat flour that's going to expire this month. We baked it in a cast iron Dutch oven in the fireplace since we already had a fire going. One more bottle of blah beer turned into something delicious and edible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 09, 2023, 12:20:34 PM
I've been looking even more closely at what's in the fridge & freezer, to ensure we're using up things, not just pulling out the easiest/preferred option:
-Relocated protein bars to a more accessible location, as they are expiring soon. I eat 1/2 of one for breakfast, if I'm doing a hard workout. Seeing them in the fridge is making it easier to remember they are there. 1.5/5 gone.
-Defrosted a couple of grilled chicken sausages, so I'd remember to use them in the protein for my salads. Bonus points, bought a much less expensive mixed green container, vs "bagged salad" (they come with dressing, croutons, etc). I've been using the mixed greens with all of the remnants of previous bagged salads, and cleaning out those items. Also, used a bit of Christmas cheese, diced up, on my salads.
-Made chicken curry, using some of the carrots I'd purchased as snacks, as well as the last of the potatoes we purchased for mashed potatoes (Thanksgiving). I caught the potatoes just in time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 09, 2023, 02:38:36 PM
Getting very detailed with freezer leftovers.

-Friday's takeout taco salad yielded two meals.  I brought the extra dressing to the office to eat with leftover pizza (below)
-Caulipower brand crust pizza was topped with leftover BBQ beef from the freezer
-For snacks and TV sports watching, we've been cooking up frozen appetizers leftover from the holiday season including bacon wrapped jalapenos, crab Rangoon, perogies and breaded shrimp
-DH made homemade biscuits which finished a bag of flour and gravy to use a bag of green chilis
-Cornbread used the remaining cornmeal, bag of almond flour and 1.5 cups pork rinds which were crushed into "cracklin's"
-Leftover locally grown carrots from the freezer were glazed in butter and brown sugar
-Tonight will be November's leftover lasagna
-Wednesday's chicken breading will include two sad bagels zapped in the food processor along with pork rinds and parmesan cheese
-Thursday will be leftover ham from the freezer warmed up with some of the many preserves that need to be consumed
-I'm out of my favored alcohol so I've been consuming odds and ends from various social gatherings
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 09, 2023, 03:34:07 PM
We're still working through food we already have and haven't bought perishables at all since 12/30.  Here's what we've eaten since the 5th:

Breakfasts: sourdough pancakes from freezer, sourdough waffles from freezer, banana muffins from freezer, eggs and sourdough toast.  With the shortages and high price of eggs, I'm glad we have these freezer items.  I need to ask DH to slow down on the fresh eggs until I can get more at a good price.

Lunches/dinners: finished a ham chowder that we added some leftover cabbage and bacon to so we would have enough for two people and use the cabbage leftovers, ate this with some of the Omaha steaks side dishes from a Christmas gift, had patty melts (gifted Omaha Steaks hamburger patties from freezer + sourdough bread + cheddar cheese + caramelized onions from freezer) served with corn from the freezer, had Polish sausages from freezer served on homemade buns from freezer, along with broccoli, leftover saffron rice, and the rest of some leftover beans, ate leftovers from Thai takeout twice (meal the college kid wanted before heading back to university).  Tonight I'll reheat a stromboli  I froze in November.

Net grocery spend so far in January is $31, on pantry items from Costco (I had returned $28 worth of unused Christmas goodies which is why I'm calculating a net spend).  We actually haven't opened any of those items.  All of our meals so far in January have been made from food we already had in the house pre 2023.

Reorganized the chest freezer and freezer portion of the refrigerator to get a better grasp on what we have and need to use.

Failures: had the last of a tub of sour cream go moldy and tossed two small bags of frozen diced chicken and a small bag of frozen diced ham found deep in the freezer when I reorganized it -- they were quite old and freezer burned.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on January 09, 2023, 08:21:28 PM
Yesterday's dinner was a leftover/pantry triumph. I had a half can of roasted tomatoes with green chilis and deeply discounted sweet potatoes. I peeled and diced the potatoes and dumped them in a pan with the tomatoes, the last of some frozen poblanos, and a can of black beans. Cumin and paprika and chili powder rounded it out into a delicious semi-stew. It made three meals.

One of them was lunch for today. Breakfast was a free Ibotta yogurt and the very last pumpkin chocolate chip muffin that had been hanging out forgotten in the fridge.

Tonight was wild game from deep in the freezer wrapped and roasted in freezer sale bacon. I made a sauce with fridge door ingredients (soy sauce, spicy mustard, garlic) and pantry staples (honey, brown sugar). It was loosely based on an internet recipe but I substituted with wild abandon. There were some wrinkly pre-Thanksgiving potatoes that I peeled and par-boiled, then finished in the oven with the game and sauce. Delicious! I rounded it off with the last hunk of beer bread liberally slathered with butter. It made two more packed lunches, this time with some clearance French bread I pulled out of the freezer.

I now have lunches for the rest of the week including tomorrow's provided lunch at work. The yogurt was the only grocery item I've bought in two weeks and I only picked it up because it was a freebie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 10, 2023, 05:27:40 AM
Did the first grocery run of the year. The cupboard is still overflowing, but fridge and freezer are OK.
Wins this week:
- Teens were still at home, so they used up a lot of holiday related candy, treats and other items. Holiday chocolates are almost gone, they started on the almond/gingerbread cookies now.
- 1 box of homemade frozen chicken broth made it out of the freezer
- pre-baked breads were baked and eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with the chicken broth)
- Last of the potatoes were cooked and eaten (leftovers were baked the next day and eaten as well)
- made pizza on Sunday, using up a load of stuff we already had. Only had to buy some mushrooms, olives and mozzarella cheese. Used up all kind of deli-meat on the pizza. Have not heard any complaints!

Had to throw away some milk and some guacamole. Note to self that guacamole is not a favorite in this house. Milk is always a problem, since DD can suddenly decide that she either wants or does not want milk......(*insert big sigh and eyeroll for teenagers*).

Next items to be used up:
- a few mushrooms (will be tonight with a batch of green beans)
- olive slices (leftover from the Sunday pizza)
- my mother gave me a lot of teabags in a flavour (mainly ginger-y) she does not like, so I'm slowly using these.
- 2-3 servings of humus
- all cookies and candies from the cupboard. But not by me..... I need to lose a few pounds!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 10, 2023, 04:11:25 PM
Breakfast was banana muffins from the freezer.  Lunch today was Indian spiced potatoes and peas.  The potatoes were starting to sprout (I'll use the rest tomorrow for mashed potatoes).  I used half an onion from the fridge, two cut lemon wedges from the fridge, and half a can of chiles I'd frozen after using the first half.  Peas and ginger were from the freezer too, but I'll replace those once we finish them.  Spices and oil from the pantry.  We ate it with the last of the saffron rice from last Friday.

I cooked the last of the basmati rice in the bucket (about .8 of a rice cooker cup) in case we didn't have enough saffron rice, but we did, so now the plain rice is in the refrigerator and I can refill the bucket with the 20# bag of rice I have up on the pantry shelf.

DH and I bought stroopwafels from Costco in November, but didn't love them (I even took back the box we didn't open). We are slowly working our way through them now before they get too stale -- they aren't really packaged air tight.

I noticed 3 avocados in the crisper drawer, so I'm going to suggest avocado toast for supper, as the loaf of sourdough was baked last week and there is a lone tomato sitting on the counter.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 11, 2023, 02:30:08 AM

DH and I bought stroopwafels from Costco in November, but didn't love them (I even took back the box we didn't open). We are slowly working our way through them now before they get too stale -- they aren't really packaged air tight.


AARRRGHH..... as a proud inhabitant of stroopwafel-country, this cannot be true. Best thing is to heat them slightly (the typical Dutch way is to place the stroopwafel on top of a steaming hot mug of coffee or tea for 5 minutes). I invite you to come to the Netherlands and I will let you taste the best stroopwafel! Freshly baked from a street vendor, they are to die for!

OK, enough said...... If you leave them in the cupboard since November, they can be stale......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 11, 2023, 11:23:24 AM

DH and I bought stroopwafels from Costco in November, but didn't love them (I even took back the box we didn't open). We are slowly working our way through them now before they get too stale -- they aren't really packaged air tight.


AARRRGHH..... as a proud inhabitant of stroopwafel-country, this cannot be true. Best thing is to heat them slightly (the typical Dutch way is to place the stroopwafel on top of a steaming hot mug of coffee or tea for 5 minutes). I invite you to come to the Netherlands and I will let you taste the best stroopwafel! Freshly baked from a street vendor, they are to die for!

OK, enough said...... If you leave them in the cupboard since November, they can be stale......

I wanted to love them, and I bet they are fantastic freshly made.  I mean, cookie + caramel is one of my favorite combinations.  But these stroopwafels get soggy when placed over the mug.  But now that you mention fresh baked, I'm sundering if these might be better if heated slightly in a skillet.  The reviews on Costco are high overall but the reviews from people who have had real stroopwafels say these are awful.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 11, 2023, 11:44:40 AM
Breakfast was waffles I made and froze.  I have lamb stock simmering and will make a leftover lamb stew for our main meal with cubed leg of lamb I froze after we had it as a roast, plus the stock and some carrots and celery.  I'm making mashed potatoes with the rest of the sprouting potatoes and a package of cream cheese we have in the refrigerator, and we'll have steamed broccoli since that is the veggie we most need to get through (bought 12/30, cleaned and prepped 1/6, and we've been working our way through it since then).

My youngest doesn't like potatoes in stew, so I don't make it that way.  We almost always have stewed meat served with mashed or baked potatoes.  I actually take out some meat before I thicken the gravy, because neither kid likes gravy.

I'll end up needing to freeze lamb stock and several bags of mashed potatoes.  I have one more bag of cubed leftover lamb in the freezer, as well as one of minced lamb for shepherd's pie.  I also have an uncooked leg of lamb.  This stock is from bones leftover from a few lamb chop meals, and I'm hoping to get enough stock to use with the frozen cooked lamb and the uncooked lamb as well.  I'm going to pull off some stock to use in the stew, then top it up again with water and simmer all day and overnight, as there were a lot of bones, which is necessary for a good gel.  Research shows that ACV doesn't pull out much in the way of additional minerals, so I skip that, preferring the taste of the broth without it.

Food waste: I bought colored cookie icing for St. Nicholas cookies in December, and used it again on our Three King's Cake, but I'm tossing the rest of it.  I'm not sure I'd consider it food waste exactly, because I'm not sure I consider it food, but it is calories we are throwing away instead of eating.  The icing is full of artificial colors and flavors, titanium dioxide, various preservatives, and "genetically engineered" ingredients.  Colored sugar for the cake has far fewer questionable ingredients, and I learned my lesson with the St. Nicholas cookies and won't try to ice them again, since they turn out far better if simply dusted with powdered sugar -- the details of the cookie mold get lost with the icing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 11, 2023, 12:53:04 PM
Before we went on vacation for Christmas. I had so little in my fridge that I was so dang proud of myself. I had mustard, hot sauce and 1/2 of a red cabbage and that is about it. So little that once we got home I had to go to the store instantly. My pantry was pretty darn empty. What I learned is we pretty much do not have 'that' much extra in this house. I still have work to do to use up some the seasonings that have been in the spice area for a while, and I really still need to focus on using up the canning I did this year. I did all of that and my grocery bill is still stupid high. So to counter that this winter I am focusing on lots of soups and homemade bread.

Tonight we are having Red Lentil soup with homemade Italian focaccia bread which allowed me to use some of the jar of home dried basil from my garden this last year.

I am really getting to the point where I just want what we need for the week in the house and not much more than that. I am tired of shopping for the food, and over all managing it. I am thriving for simple and I must do the work to get to that goal. I want to eat darn well and not have to deal with much extra. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 12, 2023, 12:20:32 AM
Today will be burrito-day..... and finishing off chicken from the freezer, some canned veggies from the cupboard and some heavy cream, fresh veggies and cheese from the fridge! Good meal to clear off various items!

Tomorrow morning the groceries will be delivered. Great timing, because the meat supply from the freezer is gone (good thing) and all diary products are almost gone as well.

Next point of focus is my drawer with various herbs and spices and flours. Need to check and clean that out. I already saw a box of pancake mix and a package of pizza-flour that are close to best before date. Need to incorporate that in the meals!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on January 12, 2023, 10:57:15 AM
@seemsright I envy your plan and empty fridge! Simple. Awesome. No fuss, no muss, no waste. :)

The Ysera household has been making progress, especially over the holidays. Weather kept me from shopping, and then I delayed shopping a few times so we would dig in more to what we have.

- Four trout from the freezer fried or baked. The last leftover one was make into dip for crackers for New Years.
- Two more salmon filets eaten, one by humans, one by canine.
- All pie crusts from the freezer made delicious holiday pies.
- All cruciferous vegetables (including a massive amount of kale) were cooked, eaten, or made into salad.
- A bag of potatoes was turned into home fries over many evenings.
- Underwhelming spinach dip from the deli was rehabbed with better ingredients and eaten.
- Underwhelming hummus was also rehabbed and eaten.
- Excess eggs were used in baked goods.
- A large bowl of leftover rice was stir fried with eggs and veggies for several meals.

Tonight I am hoping to make banana oat waffles for breakfast-for-dinner, since I found a few frozen bananas in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 12, 2023, 11:16:16 AM
We typically cook on weekends, and eat leftovers during the week. We start to run out by Thursday, where we often eat freezer meals & then start the cycle again on Friday.
-Froze the remaining chicken curry, in lunch sized containers.
-Froze the leftover taco meat
-I'm planning to make orange chicken & fried rice tonight, and I'll use some of the corn (freezer) that is on my "get it out of the freezer" January list in the fried rice. I don't love frozen corn kernels, so I won't use a ton, and it will take awhile to get through it all.

My husband & the kids are planning to ski this weekend, so I'll be on my own. I'm planning to deep clean the house & meal prep!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 12, 2023, 11:54:31 AM
I am really getting to the point where I just want what we need for the week in the house and not much more than that. I am tired of shopping for the food, and over all managing it. I am thriving for simple and I must do the work to get to that goal. I want to eat darn well and not have to deal with much extra.

@seemsright I'm also searching for this level of simplicity.  I won't stop buying in bulk because some of what I buy I can't get locally, but I'm planning to have fewer bulk buckets over time.  These buckets aren't what take so much management; for me it's the cans, jars, boxes, and bags in the pantry.  I don't want to have to shop weekly, but every other week seems doable.  It's going to take us a long time to get through the food in the house and refine it to what we eat on a regular basis without significant extra -- possibly the first half of 2023.

I've opened my eyes to the reality of chasing every recipe that catches my fancy -- sure I'll make the recipe a time or two, and we'll enjoy it, but then I'll go back to cooking our favorites and have some obscure ingredient cluttering up the fridge or pantry.  While I enjoy the challenge I've given myself right now, to use what we have and not buy anything except truly needed perishables and fresh produce, I can already feel the fatigue creeping in on the days I feel tired.

Today's main meal is ham and broccoli quiche, using some leftover ham bits I froze and three pieces of steamed broccoli leftover from yesterday's main meal, chopped small, with feta as the cheese as we need to get through that.  Supper will be leftover lamb stew served with some frozen Omaha Steaks au gratin potatoes we received in a gift.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 12, 2023, 12:20:03 PM
I am really getting to the point where I just want what we need for the week in the house and not much more than that. I am tired of shopping for the food, and over all managing it. I am thriving for simple and I must do the work to get to that goal. I want to eat darn well and not have to deal with much extra.

@seemsright I'm also searching for this level of simplicity.  I won't stop buying in bulk because some of what I buy I can't get locally, but I'm planning to have fewer bulk buckets over time.  These buckets aren't what take so much management; for me it's the cans, jars, boxes, and bags in the pantry.  I don't want to have to shop weekly, but every other week seems doable.  It's going to take us a long time to get through the food in the house and refine it to what we eat on a regular basis without significant extra -- possibly the first half of 2023.

I've opened my eyes to the reality of chasing every recipe that catches my fancy -- sure I'll make the recipe a time or two, and we'll enjoy it, but then I'll go back to cooking our favorites and have some obscure ingredient cluttering up the fridge or pantry.  While I enjoy the challenge I've given myself right now, to use what we have and not buy anything except truly needed perishables and fresh produce, I can already feel the fatigue creeping in on the days I feel tired.

Today's main meal is ham and broccoli quiche, using some leftover ham bits I froze and three pieces of steamed broccoli leftover from yesterday's main meal, chopped small.  Supper will be leftover lamb stew served with some frozen Omaha Steaks au gratin potatoes we received in a gift.

To get to the level of simplicity it does require accepting quite simple food. A pot of rice, some roasted salmon and a bag of frozen veggies, is a meal in this house. I think I am past the whole create fancy meals. Sure every once in a blue moon, but I really just want to enjoy the simple things. It really is a mindset.

I will still be buying oats, rice and basic flour in bulk. the amount we eat of those things just makes since to buy 25# at a time. As my preteen is known to eat a bowl of raw oats, with milk and sugar. I make a lot of bread and rice is my preferred grain to eat for dinners. 

I am not sure what we will have tonight yet, either I will warm up the leftover split pea soup I made the other night, or I will make some rice and put stir fry veggies on top and call it a night. My preteen has dance tonight and I just want to drink tea and go to bed early.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 12, 2023, 02:40:24 PM
I am really getting to the point where I just want what we need for the week in the house and not much more than that. I am tired of shopping for the food, and over all managing it. I am thriving for simple and I must do the work to get to that goal. I want to eat darn well and not have to deal with much extra.

@seemsright I'm also searching for this level of simplicity.  I won't stop buying in bulk because some of what I buy I can't get locally, but I'm planning to have fewer bulk buckets over time.  These buckets aren't what take so much management; for me it's the cans, jars, boxes, and bags in the pantry.  I don't want to have to shop weekly, but every other week seems doable.  It's going to take us a long time to get through the food in the house and refine it to what we eat on a regular basis without significant extra -- possibly the first half of 2023.

I've opened my eyes to the reality of chasing every recipe that catches my fancy -- sure I'll make the recipe a time or two, and we'll enjoy it, but then I'll go back to cooking our favorites and have some obscure ingredient cluttering up the fridge or pantry.  While I enjoy the challenge I've given myself right now, to use what we have and not buy anything except truly needed perishables and fresh produce, I can already feel the fatigue creeping in on the days I feel tired.

Today's main meal is ham and broccoli quiche, using some leftover ham bits I froze and three pieces of steamed broccoli leftover from yesterday's main meal, chopped small.  Supper will be leftover lamb stew served with some frozen Omaha Steaks au gratin potatoes we received in a gift.

To get to the level of simplicity it does require accepting quite simple food. A pot of rice, some roasted salmon and a bag of frozen veggies, is a meal in this house. I think I am past the whole create fancy meals. Sure every once in a blue moon, but I really just want to enjoy the simple things. It really is a mindset.

I will still be buying oats, rice and basic flour in bulk. the amount we eat of those things just makes since to buy 25# at a time. As my preteen is known to eat a bowl of raw oats, with milk and sugar. I make a lot of bread and rice is my preferred grain to eat for dinners. 

I am not sure what we will have tonight yet, either I will warm up the leftover split pea soup I made the other night, or I will make some rice and put stir fry veggies on top and call it a night. My preteen has dance tonight and I just want to drink tea and go to bed early.

I'll continue to buy flour, wheat berries, and rice in the big bags (20 - 50# depending on the grain), and oats in 5-10# bags.  But once I get through the heirloom grains I have I'm going to simplify it down to just all purpose flour (organic without any additives like malted barley) and hard white wheat berries.  I do need to try soaking and flaking the einkorn and soft wheat berries.  I might continue to buy popping corn in 25# bags since we also grind it to use as porridge.  But I want to buy legumes like beans and lentils as we need them rather than in bulk, as we don't eat them like we used to.

I prefer fresh vegetables to frozen, but do have some frozen bags of a good roasted peppers and onions mix.  I keep frozen person hand for Indian spiced potatoes, and frozen corn because it's a great quick carb to fill everyone up (we'll do a weekend meal of grilled steak, frozen corn, and a simple salad). I usually buy 2-4  vegetables in larger quantities, clean and prep them, store with paper towels, and then eat them over and over again for 2 weeks.  This time around it's been broccoli and zucchini, but I also buy cabbage pretty often.  I always keep carrots, celery, and onions on hand, and the carrots can be a side vegetable as well.

I prefer potatoes (white or sweet) to rice, but we do eat rice several times a week.  Come hot weather we eat more rice because potatoes sprout so quickly when the house is warm.

I do love to cook, but more and more I'm exhausted by the shopping and food inventory management.  That the main reason I joined this challenge, so I can get through the inventory of food we have and then mindfully curate a simpler pantry and freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 12, 2023, 03:18:11 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache, my favorite use for frozen corn is mixed with black beans and rice and taco seasoning and then used for filler in burritos!  As the only vegetarian in my house, I often make this blend, then add meat for the fellas.  Frozen corn is also good added into corn bread...or browned and added to grits for shrimp and grits for those of us in the south!!!

Tonight's dinner is oven roasted potatoes to use up the mini yukon golds now starting to sprout.  Serving with with a veg cobb salad for me and steak for the fellas.  The leftover taters will be panfried with onions and a fried egg tomorrow for brunch.  YUM!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 12, 2023, 03:53:21 PM
Thanks, @Josiecat23503 - I think my problem is that I bought the frozen corn for some recipe I don't remember, but actually don't like it in basically any dish. I'm trying to "disguise" it, for the most part.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 12, 2023, 05:20:16 PM
Thanks, @Josiecat23503 - I think my problem is that I bought the frozen corn for some recipe I don't remember, but actually don't like it in basically any dish. I'm trying to "disguise" it, for the most part.
How much do you have to get through?  I'm trying to think of what dish you might have bought it for.  Corn chowder?  Maybe corn/avocado/mango salsa?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 13, 2023, 09:17:44 AM
Elote (Mexican style street corn) is my go to "gotta eat up corn" recipe and I really try to avoid corn (especially whole corn) as it is. Just use mayo, some Tajin seasoning and crumbly white cheese. Its so decadently junky.

Fuzzy house:

- Used up some more condiments and packets
- Cooked a boxed legume risotto, struggling to get through it and giving myself permission to donate the other box of it
- Cooked an Aldi Chicken marsala base jar (that's been sitting in the cupboard for way too long) for the first time. OMG THIS STUFF IS CRACK. To my not fancy self it tastes like the Cheesecake Factory version of this dish. I added a bunch of fresh mushrooms, onion and garlic to it.
- DD used up some cake flour
- DS finished up some apple juice that's been hogging fridge space
- Stretched some rice leftovers through multiple meals
- Used up the last of 2 open corn tortillas that had been hidden at the bottom of the fridge deli drawer
- Fed some really gnarly cheap pepperoni to the dogs
- DH is working through some weird almond milk creamers we were given
- In general I've been mid week meal planning more - we have lunch meat to eat up and tonight is going to be grilled sandwiches


While I'm not working, I've also been focusing on looking through grocery ads and buying sale items. Ended up with a lot of sale chicken and steak at the beginning of the week. I'm being judicious in cooking it and serving the leftovers the next day. We just did multiple grocery runs (including a sams club run that always means larger volumes of singular items coming into the kitchen) and I'm a bit overwhelmed at the volume of things we need to eat up again.

There are 5 people in my home. I struggle with "how much is enough food to keep?" for the crew. I'm GF and have to eat low carb, DD is mostly vegetarian, DH is my leftovers champion and my 2 DS eat like monsters. We have 2 big fridges and no actual pantry in the kitchen - so everything is overflowing from 3 separate 2-door cupboards. I'd say we have roughly 3-4 weeks of food stored up at any time - not that we'd have all the items to accompany them into making meals (probably would run out of milk, fresh veggies, butter etc to fulfill those recipes). Overall we spend about $800 a month on food for 5 because I buy a lot of sale, markdown and short dated items... and that includes buying toilet paper and dog food. I still feel like what we spend is normal / low / good but I'm often overwhelmed by all the foods we have. If I try to keep less than that the family gets the impression that mom is being cheap and dad will take them out to buy full priced garbage (cereal and chips!!!) just to refill those spaces.

How many weeks of food do you have stored at your home?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 13, 2023, 10:23:39 AM
@fuzzy math; we probably have months of food, like in a survival situation we could make it...but like you would quickly run out of eggs/milk/produce.  I have a pretty vast store of dried beans, rice, pasta and canned goods built up over the pandemic and then maintained.  I am currently working my way through the oldest stuff and being more selective about what to replace, but having a stocked pantry makes DH feel safe.  And my marriage is my most valuable asset.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on January 13, 2023, 06:04:41 PM

- Cooked an Aldi Chicken marsala base jar (that's been sitting in the cupboard for way too long) for the first time. OMG THIS STUFF IS CRACK. To my not fancy self it tastes like the Cheesecake Factory version of this dish.

I love their jarred 'supposedly Indian' sauces! Yeah, it's not authentic but it's still yummy. It is perfect for using up veggie bits and bobs, especially freezer cleanout veggies that might not be great otherwise.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 13, 2023, 07:20:54 PM
Elote (Mexican style street corn) is my go to "gotta eat up corn" recipe and I really try to avoid corn (especially whole corn) as it is. Just use mayo, some Tajin seasoning and crumbly white cheese. Its so decadently junky.

Fuzzy house:

- Used up some more condiments and packets
- Cooked a boxed legume risotto, struggling to get through it and giving myself permission to donate the other box of it
- Cooked an Aldi Chicken marsala base jar (that's been sitting in the cupboard for way too long) for the first time. OMG THIS STUFF IS CRACK. To my not fancy self it tastes like the Cheesecake Factory version of this dish. I added a bunch of fresh mushrooms, onion and garlic to it.
- DD used up some cake flour
- DS finished up some apple juice that's been hogging fridge space
- Stretched some rice leftovers through multiple meals
- Used up the last of 2 open corn tortillas that had been hidden at the bottom of the fridge deli drawer
- Fed some really gnarly cheap pepperoni to the dogs
- DH is working through some weird almond milk creamers we were given
- In general I've been mid week meal planning more - we have lunch meat to eat up and tonight is going to be grilled sandwiches


While I'm not working, I've also been focusing on looking through grocery ads and buying sale items. Ended up with a lot of sale chicken and steak at the beginning of the week. I'm being judicious in cooking it and serving the leftovers the next day. We just did multiple grocery runs (including a sams club run that always means larger volumes of singular items coming into the kitchen) and I'm a bit overwhelmed at the volume of things we need to eat up again.

There are 5 people in my home. I struggle with "how much is enough food to keep?" for the crew. I'm GF and have to eat low carb, DD is mostly vegetarian, DH is my leftovers champion and my 2 DS eat like monsters. We have 2 big fridges and no actual pantry in the kitchen - so everything is overflowing from 3 separate 2-door cupboards. I'd say we have roughly 3-4 weeks of food stored up at any time - not that we'd have all the items to accompany them into making meals (probably would run out of milk, fresh veggies, butter etc to fulfill those recipes). Overall we spend about $800 a month on food for 5 because I buy a lot of sale, markdown and short dated items... and that includes buying toilet paper and dog food. I still feel like what we spend is normal / low / good but I'm often overwhelmed by all the foods we have. If I try to keep less than that the family gets the impression that mom is being cheap and dad will take them out to buy full priced garbage (cereal and chips!!!) just to refill those spaces.

How many weeks of food do you have stored at your home?

We spend $800 a month on food for 2 adults and a preteen.

I am trying to get to the point where I only buy what we need and not much else. I keep rice, oats and flour in bulk. And know how to cook things from scratch. My favorite things is to make a meal out of what seems like nothing.

I am not sure how long I could feed us as we eat a ton of produce, I could go maybe 10 days because I keep some frozen veggies in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trifle on January 14, 2023, 03:21:40 AM
We are similar to @seemsright^.  We spend $800 a month for two adults and two teenagers, and eat a lot of fresh food.  We don't have a lot of food on hand at any given time, and no bulk items.  Probably only about 7-10 days of food. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2023, 04:03:02 PM
Thanks, @Josiecat23503 - I think my problem is that I bought the frozen corn for some recipe I don't remember, but actually don't like it in basically any dish. I'm trying to "disguise" it, for the most part.
How much do you have to get through?  I'm trying to think of what dish you might have bought it for.  Corn chowder?  Maybe corn/avocado/mango salsa?

I'm pretty sure it was taco soup, which I love, but no one else in my house will eat. I'm using it for fried rice, but just a little at a time. I do like the idea of including it in a salsa - I may try that as well!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 14, 2023, 04:06:48 PM
We spend about $750 for two adults & two active teens. However, everyone in the family gets free lunch during the week (adults at work, kids at school). The kids don't actually take advantage of it, and skip lunch a lot, but it's there when they need or want it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 14, 2023, 08:28:34 PM
We've been averaging $650 per month since August, when I started a new budget file after mine had something weird happen that I couldn't fix.  Most of the time that is for 3 adults, plus having the other young adult child home for a month at the holidays, and some extra spending for holiday meals and treats.  Goal for January is $200 as I am deep into a pantry and freezer challenge.

Breakfast: DH ate the last leftover piece of quiche with sourdough toast, and I ate 2 eggs with sourdough toast.

Lunch: I made grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade sourdough; I put a sliced tomato into DH's sandwich as I bought 3# of tomatoes and didn't really think about how many that is.

Supper: I made a soup with ham stock from the freezer, leftover ham, a zucchini that needed to get used ASAP, carrots, a package of tortelloni I'd defrosted that we didn't get to because yesterday was busy, a small amount of half and half, and sprinkled with parmesan.  I served the soup with the last two mini baguettes from the Omaha Steaks gift we received. Kid #2 made a different meal and used up the rest of an opened package of diced prosciutto.  For dessert DH is finishing off the Omaha Steaks apple blossoms and I'm eating the last piece of a celebratory cake.

Snacks: DH is working his way through a large bag of oranges, and I ate another stroopwafel.

Food loss: today I tossed a jar of homemade macadamia cream that my son didn't get through before he went back to university, and a small amount of peppers and onions leftover from 1/6 that we added to several meals but didn't quite finish.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Ysera on January 15, 2023, 11:46:27 AM
- A personal size watermelon was eaten up. I bought it before the holidays and forgot about it in the fridge. The inside was still great, although the outside had gotten soft, making me think it wouldn't be.
- More kale roasted and eaten.
- All freezer bananas were used up making banana waffles.

Next up is some ground turkey that I just defrosted. I also have some frozen hash brown shreds to use up. I may combine them into some sort of casserole tonight (since I'm really awful at making good hash browns.😐)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 15, 2023, 01:25:32 PM
I went through our freezer yesterday, and discovered we had 20+ bananas. My husband has a terrible habit of buying a bunch at Costco, giving the kids 3-4 during the week for breakfast, and then the rest sit on the counter until I eventually freeze them. I did refuse to buy bananas today out of principle. ;-) This morning I peeled & pureed all of the bananas, and now need to decide what to do with them. I'm thinking I'll make a few batches of muffins, but freeze the rest in bags, which will take a lot less room than full bananas. The muffins will go into the freezer, but in an easy to consume form.

Other things:
-Ate the rest of the orange chicken & (extra corn-y) fried rice for lunch.
-Made split pea & ham soup, white bean rosemary soup & French bread yesterday. I kept out one portion of each soup & froze all of the rest.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 15, 2023, 04:27:09 PM
I went through our freezer yesterday, and discovered we had 20+ bananas. My husband has a terrible habit of buying a bunch at Costco, giving the kids 3-4 during the week for breakfast, and then the rest sit on the counter until I eventually freeze them. I did refuse to buy bananas today out of principle. ;-) This morning I peeled & pureed all of the bananas, and now need to decide what to do with them. I'm thinking I'll make a few batches of muffins, but freeze the rest in bags, which will take a lot less room than full bananas. The muffins will go into the freezer, but in an easy to consume form.

Other things:
-Ate the rest of the orange chicken & (extra corn-y) fried rice for lunch.
-Made split pea & ham soup, white bean rosemary soup & French bread yesterday. I kept out one portion of each soup & froze all of the rest.
20 bananas is a lot!  Like you, if we had that many uneaten bananas I would also refuse to buy them anymore.

I've stopped freezing bananas because they weren't getting used quickly and after a few months in the freezer they looked pretty bad.  Back in our smoothie eating days I couldn't freeze enough bananas, but we gave up the expensive smoothie habit.  Now I make muffins with overripe bananas and freeze those, and that works better because a frozen muffin is grab and go -- nothing else needs to be done with it.  I bought a bunch of bananas from Sam's Club this week and there is a risk that DH and I won't get through them all before they are too far gone, but at least with the cold weather they ripen less quickly and we both are willing to eat them with some spots, unlike my oldest (who honestly prefers most fruit underripe).  But by the end of the week I might be making muffins.

Other things:
:: ate homemade frozen waffles for breakfast
:: ate leftover soup for lunch
:: slow cooking a pork butt from the freezer, will serve with leftover Indian potatoes, with a side of zucchini, which we really need to start getting though (plus rice for the young adult)
:: DH ate oranges for a snack
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 15, 2023, 04:34:41 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I have one smoothie drinker at my house (both teens will drink them in the summer), but my double sport athlete will often come home between games & a smoothie is a good option for healthy & filling, but not so filling you can't play in your next game, match, what have you. I often add diced banana to whatever other frozen fruit we have on hand - currently mangoes & blueberries.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 15, 2023, 06:01:05 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I have one smoothie drinker at my house (both teens will drink them in the summer), but my double sport athlete will often come home between games & a smoothie is a good option for healthy & filling, but not so filling you can't play in your next game, match, what have you. I often add diced banana to whatever other frozen fruit we have on hand - currently mangoes & blueberries.
Yep, for us the smoothies were a major thing during high schools with both kids in competitive cycling.  They would have them for breakfast (DH would make them and have one as well, and they were all drinking 32 ounce smoothies) and then also on race days and sometimes after training.  With my oldest being dairy allergic, we were using hemp and flax seed to make them creamy and add healthy fats plus some protein.  They were sweetened with dates.  And then of course there was all of the fruit needed, and DH always added berries.  I did the math back in 2016 and we were spending $300 a month on smoothie ingredients.  That was with buying all of the frozen fruit, hemp seed, and dates at good prices from Costco.  We were eating plant based at the time so the smoothies were an excellent way to have high nutrition breakfasts.  I didn't begrudge it then, but in 2018 we focused more on FIRE, and my youngest stopped competing.  It seemed like a good time to rethink everything, especially since we weren't eating plant based any longer.

If they could eat smoothies made with a banana, some homemade yogurt, and some frozen fruit, it would be far more economical.

My oldest still competes both in collegiate and national races, and trains 18-20 hours per week, but he lives at university, and is out of the habit of having smoothies on a regular basis.  When he's home he sometimes makes protein recovery smoothies, but they aren't part of his regular meals.  He's just as happy with peanut butter on homemade whole wheat bread, which along with a banana is a great meal for 1.5 - 2 hours before a race.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 16, 2023, 09:04:53 AM
Now I really got to a point where the pantry is overflowing...... there is stuff on my countertop that should be in the pantry-closet.
The fridge and freezer are OK-ish, but that pantry...... I need to try to get people in my household to eat loads of snacks and other food items before they get bad and I need to get my shopping habits in control. I'm way too much focussed on good deals, but we first need to finish what's already there.

Wins this weekend:
2 wrinkled apples made it into an apple-cake. Together with butter, eggs and some all-purpose flour from the pantry it was a treat without cost!
Burrito-night was good. A few canned vegetables from the pantry made it in there.
Made a big pan of chicken soup. Froze enough for 2 more meals.
1 Box of breakfast sprinkles was finished.

Tonight I will try and organise the pantry to really get an overview of the items in there and need to plan how to finish them........ wish me luck.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on January 16, 2023, 10:25:52 AM
Making some definite progress last week and today in this department:

Ate a lingering acai bowl in the freezer for breakfast one day last week.
Last night we pulled out some frozen mozzarella sticks for an appetizer.
Today I pulled out 2 frozen hamburger buns and some Wagyu frozen ground beef from a year ago for burgers tonight. Received free sliced cheese from some leftover work catering, so that'll be used on burgers tonight as well.
 
I did add a bit to the freezer this week, but it kept some refrigerated food from becoming wasted. Froze some salsa in individual portions and sliced a bell pepper and froze for future fajitas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 16, 2023, 11:55:06 AM
I did a bunch of meal prep this weekend, as my husband & kids were out of town skiing. I made four dozen muffins (banana to use up the infinite amount of frozen bananas) & blueberry, to use up some super cheap yogurt I bought. I also added the rest of the pureed bananas back to the freezer, but they are in a clearly labeled ziplock, and took up very little space. They are ready for future muffins.

Today I prepped six pounds of chicken:
-Three pounds to make chicken fajitas. I made my own spice mix, and added the peppers & onions. 1/2 stayed out for two dinners this week, and the other 1/2 went into the freezer
-Three pounds to make chicken shawarma. Similarly, I made my own spice mix, and added the onions required for roasting. 1/2 stayed out for two dinners this week, and the other 1/2 went into the freezer.

I'm feeling pretty accomplished, but our freezer is packed! It's a good thing, as we are stocked with lots of soup, muffins & prepped meals. But, we need to be good about working through what's in there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on January 16, 2023, 03:05:31 PM
Hope everyone is well.

The past week or so:
-Overnight oats used the remaining bit of a jar of jam and leftover strawberries
-A pan of baked oatmeal squares used a gifted small jar of homemade raspberry jam
-Smoothies used the remaining bag of mixed berries, a tad more crystalized honey, and a few cubes lemon juice frozen last fall
-Thawed out two slices of anniversary cake from last August
-Suppers the next few weeks will feature leftover taco casserole, enchiladas, and the remaining Caulipower pizza crust
-We consumed more frozen appetizers and a tube of cinnamon rolls leftover from the holiday season
-For an upcoming social event I'll use what is on hand including making a homemade popcorn/yogurt pretzel/caramel bit recipe I didn't get to during the holidays, cupcakes from scratch, and artichoke dip with crackers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 16, 2023, 08:27:24 PM
I am working on the following: an old non dairy ice cream that DH has abandoned, some lentil noodles (I have way too many GF noodles), some markdown salad dressings. Ate half of a single serving microwave rice and put the rest in with the last portion of Chicken marsala that will be tomorrow's lunch.

DH's food accomplishments: eating weird corn flakes, finished the legume risotto. Has been eating all the bagged salad fixins I don't like (dried corn, quinoa and pepitas etc)

Kids food accomplishments: alfredo and homemade alfredo gone. Kid's friends ate some homemade mac n cheese.

Items abandoned: some markdown Christmas tea that smells like wet socks. Going to the free store.



Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 17, 2023, 06:12:26 AM
Wins yesterday and today:
- last slices of apple-cake got eaten
- found 6 more packages of ramen noodles (I already bought 5 new ones...., so the total amount came to 11 in the pantry). Teen #1 is working on finishing the old ones first!
- made a nice lunch-omelet with some leftover mushrooms, a few slices of bacon, a small onion and a few eggs.
- Teen #2 took 2 snack items with him to school, finishing off 2 packages!
- convinced the two teens to have some lingering cereal for breakfast
- started to eat the icecream popsicles which are left from summer as a desert. Still a few to go!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 17, 2023, 05:48:41 PM
Successes from the last couple of days:

::Finished all of the ham tortelloni soup, for the final meal of it we each had half a bowl along with fresh whole wheat rolls and a piece of Tillamook cheese.  It was a low on broth so I added a little water to heat it up, and then to make up for the loss of flavor tossed in some parmesan cheese -- it was delicious!

::Shallow fried the remainder of a (huge) package of corn tortillas leftover from NYE so they could be used without falling apart, used some for tacos with leftover pulled pork and the rest are ready to heat and eat (hopefully with more leftover pork)

:: Froze 2 quarts of lamb broth after I changed the meal plan and pushed shepherd's pie to another week

:: Realized college student #1 left a not quite finished jar of cookie butter in the pantry, spread it on a stroopwafel which was a big improvement, still have a little left in the jar

:: DH and I finished the stroopwafels

:: Eating down the freezer stash of homemade muffins, waffles, and pancakes

:: DH ate more oranges from the 25# bag

:: DH and I each ate a locally handmade candy cane leftover from the holidays, still have a few left

:: Made 3 more of the Omaha Steaks beef patties, now only 2 to go

::  Had 5 avocados go unexpectedly soft two days after we bought them, used 2 of them to make guacamole to top tacos --  should probably serve tacos for supper again tonight as this batch of avocados also had several brown spots

:: Got through all of the zucchini I bought in late December, with the final one being turned into zucchini bread this afternoon.  We'll eat one over the next several days and freeze the other one

:: Working on eating some cereal college kid #2 wanted and then didn't eat -- I don't like it for breakfast but it's an okay snack

:: Served hot chocolate to college kid #2 made with homemade chocolate syrup and part of an opened carton of half and half, both of which I want to get through but don't actually want to consume myself -- will continue to do this until it is all gone, because said kid won't bother to make it, but will drink it if I make it

LOSS: had to toss half a carton of oat milk that college kid #1 didn't finish before heading back to school -- I managed to get some of it consumed by DH but I can't have it which made it hard to work into any meals

*****

While we've always had a strong desire not to waste food, choosing to do a major pantry/freezer challenge has really brought to my attention how much food we have stored away, mostly in the freezers.  Honestly, I haven't really gotten into the pantry much so far in January, other than for the basics like seasonings, baking ingredients, sweeteners, grains, oil, cocoa powder, etc.  So far this month I've also only defrosted one piece of meat that I bought -- the rest has been stuff already cooked or meat from the Omaha Steaks gift box we received in December.  Looking at the freezer inventory, I'm going to challenge myself not to buy any meat for the months of January thru June.  I'm going to keep the perishable food budget below $200 per month until college kid #1 comes home, with an additional $150 per month specifically for restocking pantry basics.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 17, 2023, 07:53:53 PM
- Made DH the absolute garbagey-est of the leftover meals for lunch and he ate it. Got 2 tupperwares out of the fridge
- DH, DS and DD each ate a spicy chicken patty from the freezer. This is huge they've all been sneering at them
- Last of the freezer buns gone too
- Used up at least 10 ketchup packets while making potato wedges. DS nearly finished off a steak sauce with the wedges
- Soaking some great northern beans to make chili tomorrow
- Found a spice container to donate
- Ate part of an ancient half cucumber
- Still working on the dreaded giant Tapatio hot sauce. There are 180 servings in it!!! :o
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2023, 07:13:28 AM
-Finished off the container of ham & split pea soup in the fridge, plus a piece of homemade bread
-DH made the rest of the bread into garlic bread for DS15's dinner
-We ate the rest of the chicken shawarma for dinner last night
-I used part of a bag of mixed greens for salad last night. It was intended for my lunches, but I forgot about it. I'm hoping I can still save it by using the rest tonight.
-We have chicken fajitas in the fridge, prepped, marinated & ready to go for dinner tonight. I need to defrost some taco meat for DS15, as he's not a fajita fan.
-The teens have been eating the Uncrustables, which we bought for skiing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 18, 2023, 09:06:29 AM
As a Dutchy, I had to look up what Uncrustables were....... good thing to have them gone!

Wins today:
- Teen #1 took cereal AGAIN (since she had to do a quick breakfast, this is her go-to option).
- Lunch was some leftover slices of bread (from freezer) and leftover salad and some instant-soup (Yep, another pantry item!)
- Working on 2 kg of tangerines and 1 kg of snack-tomatoes as snacks
- Teen #1 finished a few leftover nachos as a snack
- Tonight will be pasta-night because of soccer training. Pasta and tomato-sauce from pantry!
- Teen #2 decided that a tortilla with peanut butter is the best breakfast.......OK, it takes care of the leftover tortillas!

My countertop is starting to look organised without the leftovers. Next up is the pantry...... Tomorrow and Friday the teens are having lunch at home. Great way of getting any leftovers out.
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 18, 2023, 09:39:30 AM
I am delaying going to the grocery store. I do not want to go till Friday or Sat.

Tonight I am making some tacos that should use up the 1/8 of a cabbage that has been in my fridge forever I like to make a slaw to eat on top of my tacos, I will slice up the jicama I have and mix with lime juice using a lime that needs to be used. And finish off the tortillas.

I will use the leftover salad mix to make my smoothie this afternoon, this will also help me use up some of the oranges that look to be on their last legs.

And I will figure out what the food plan is for tmrw once I know what needs to be used.


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2023, 10:27:43 AM
@Dutch Comfort - they are only an option (for us) for skiing, because the kids will eat them, even if they've been squished in a pocket. I've tried to make just regular PB&J sandwiches, but they prefer the Uncrustables. Gag.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 18, 2023, 12:28:22 PM


Tonight I am making some tacos that should use up the 1/8 of a cabbage that has been in my fridge forever I like to make a slaw to eat on top of my tacos, I will slice up the jicama I have and mix with lime juice using a lime that needs to be used. And finish off the tortillas.



Do you just use lime juice on the slaw or is the lime juice for the jicama? I'm always looking for a good slaw dressing!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 18, 2023, 01:19:08 PM


Tonight I am making some tacos that should use up the 1/8 of a cabbage that has been in my fridge forever I like to make a slaw to eat on top of my tacos, I will slice up the jicama I have and mix with lime juice using a lime that needs to be used. And finish off the tortillas.



Do you just use lime juice on the slaw or is the lime juice for the jicama? I'm always looking for a good slaw dressing!

I am going to use the lime juice on the jicama. My slaw dressing varies depending on what I have in the fridge and and how much my preteen is complaining how long dinner is taking. But I will take some mayo, add some hot sauce and then some sorta acid, and some sorta sugar and some sorta salt. Sometimes that is smoked salt and maple syrup Or sometimes some chipotle and honey or sometimes that is adobo and molasses. sometimes the acid is lemon juice, sometimes lime juice, or many different types of vinegar, Orange juice works really well too.

My slaws are never the same. But my preteen will eat them and I make them at least once a week. As tacos are one of the quick dinners I make and I make them when DD has activity's and I need dinner fast. I also make slaws to use up all of the random bits of leftover veggies I have. Sometimes it is broccoli that needs to be used and I just chop it small and call it slaw. Sometimes it is cabbage and carrots, with parsley. Sometimes it is just carrots.

I really like slaws to add texture to meals. When I have textures I find the meal way more satisfying. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 18, 2023, 02:12:16 PM
Thanks for sharing! I've put mayo and Thai sweet chili sauce on mine... Orange sounds really nice.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 18, 2023, 02:41:32 PM
My slaw dressing varies depending on what I have in the fridge and and how much my preteen is complaining how long dinner is taking. But I will take some mayo, add some hot sauce and then some sorta acid, and some sorta sugar and some sorta salt. Sometimes that is smoked salt and maple syrup Or sometimes some chipotle and honey or sometimes that is adobo and molasses. sometimes the acid is lemon juice, sometimes lime juice, or many different types of vinegar, Orange juice works really well too.
I really like slaws to add texture to meals. When I have textures I find the meal way more satisfying.
I do the same thing to make dressing for slaw, mayo (store-bought or homemade), acid, sweetener, salt.  My favorite is lemon juice and maple syrup, but I'll switch it up to make things interesting.

And now I'm inspired to make cabbage slaw to have with our sandwiches tonight at supper, which will use some of the shredded coleslaw mix I bought.

As for the rest of today, For breakfast I finished off half a serving of frozen sourdough pancakes and half a serving of frozen sourdough waffles, and DH finished the frozen muffins.  We are now down to 8 frozen waffles and then that bin will be empty.  Lunch for everyone was "fix a plate of leftovers because I'm not cooking until we eat some of the food I've already cooked", which resulted in some of the rice and pork being eaten, along with a potato taco filling I made last night for a vegetarian guest, and some shredded zucchini I cooked a few days ago.

We're having guests after supper this evening, so I'm going to make popcorn and bake cookies.  I have way too many chocolate chips and don't like to bake cookies for two of us (college kid #2 can't have gluten), and I have lots and lots of popping corn.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Weisass on January 18, 2023, 02:43:14 PM
I’ve been enjoying using items in my freezer this week… so far, we are having corned beef in the crockpot, and leftover pozole from a big supper back in late November. Both were super easy, delicious, and already there to be enjoyed…. A win!

Next week I’m gonna pull out some of the lamb that is lingering at the bottom of the freezer… I can’t wait.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 20, 2023, 12:49:34 AM
Because of snow, our groceries will not be delivered today. So excellent timing to get through the pantry and freezer and put together a meal. No fresh veggies in my fridge (that was on the shopping list from the delivery company), so we will go with canned veggies instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 21, 2023, 02:00:45 PM
Thursday I made stromboli to finish off a package of antipasti meats; we ate one and have one in the fridge for tomorrow.  Lunch that day was leftovers.  Friday I reheated a soup I'd frozen and served that with thick slices of toasted homemade bread.  I had rolls in the freezer but the current loaf of bread really needs to be eaten.

After getting most of the frozen muffins, pancakes, and waffles eaten, I made sourdough pancakes again today and refilled the freezer bin.  It's all because I hate wasting sourdough "discard" and had to feed the sourdough starters yesterday (mine plus one I've been getting ready for a friend).  So I fed the discard from both starters to make overnight pancake batter, but it made far more than we would eat at one meal.  Usually I would divide my one starter, feed half to put back in the fridge and feed the other half for baking sourdough bread, but I baked whole wheat yeasted bread on Monday.  I also have three loaves of bread in the freezer, so I don't need to bake for awhile.  Really I need to get this starter to my friend so I can neglect my starter like I used to -- I don't mine letting mine develop hooch, but want to give her a super healthy starter.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 21, 2023, 02:06:15 PM
Thursday I made stromboli to finish off a package of antipasti meats; we ate one and have one in the fridge for tomorrow.  Lunch that day was leftovers.  Friday I reheated a soup I'd frozen and served that with thick slices of toasted homemade bread.  I had rolls in the freezer but the current loaf of bread really needs to be eaten.

After getting most of the frozen muffins, pancakes, and waffles eaten, I made sourdough pancakes again today and refilled the freezer bin.  It's all because I hate wasting sourdough "discard" and had to feed the sourdough starters yesterday (mine plus one I've been getting ready for a friend).  So I fed the discard from both starters to make overnight pancake batter, but it made far more than we would eat at one meal.  Usually I would divide my one starter, feed half to put back in the fridge and feed the other half for baking sourdough bread, but I baked whole wheat yeasted bread on Monday.  I also have three loaves of bread in the freezer, so I don't need to bake for awhile.  Really I need to get this starter to my friend so I can neglect my starter like I used to -- I don't mine letting mine develop hooch, but want to give her a super healthy starter.

I have tried to take care of sourdough starter many times. I am terrible at it. I never can get it in my head that it is another task to take care of. My solution to that is to make bread dough the night before I want to make bread and let it ferment in the fridge over night.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Trifle on January 22, 2023, 07:10:45 AM
Last night I made a veggie pot pie that came out delicious and used up:

     -- a can of baby potatoes I got for free from the thrift store where I volunteer;
     -- mushrooms from the fridge that needed to go
     -- frozen mixed veg from the freezer
     -- a package of vegan/tofu "chicken" nuggets that I got super cheap at Grocery Outlet
     -- the rest of some shortening that had been in the fridge for a long time (to make the pie crust)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 23, 2023, 04:29:55 AM
Week is starting and the pantry will be my main point of focus. This weekend we did a grocery run and fortunately, the amount added to the overflowing pantry was limited. Now I have to plan to eat it down to acceptable levels. I already gave some snacks to the teens for school, so first things are out.
DS was eating cereal this morning, so the cereal stash is really getting a dent into it.
This weekend wins:

- some snack sausages and some crisps were used as appetizers on Saturday
- I took a large piece of beef from the freezer and prepped a nice stew (using herbs and condiments which were in my fridge/pantry) which will take care of 2 dinners (today and tomorrow) and maybe some leftovers
- finished a bottle of worchestershire sauce which was in my pantry forever. Will only buy a new one when I need it (I mostly use it in salads during summer, so not needed now).
- DD is really helping eating the fruits and salads which are available.
- DS finished the last pasta-leftover.
- used the last slices of bacon in a meatloaf on Sunday (with no leftovers, so it was a good one!)
- sacrified myself to start eating down the chocolate-cream truffles (Belgium delicacy)........so good!

Have read a blog on minimalism and focus, and their first tip was to focus on 1 thing (not 10, like I'm used to....). So I decided to focus on the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 23, 2023, 10:32:49 AM
I have tried to take care of sourdough starter many times. I am terrible at it. I never can get it in my head that it is another task to take care of. My solution to that is to make bread dough the night before I want to make bread and let it ferment in the fridge over night.
I don't mind neglecting my starter for months at a time (I think I let it go a full year once).  But I have this starter for a friend and really don't want to give her a starter covered in hooch.

I'm also a fan of overnight bulk fermentation on the counter if the house is cold, or the refrigerator -- I think it makes for much better bread!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 23, 2023, 10:44:23 AM
Ate leftover stromboli for lunch yesterday.  For dinner I did a large piece of top round (from the freezer) sous vide, then seared it and sliced it London Broil style.  I've found that I don't love top round, so I'm glad there is only one piece left in the freezer.  The beef fed 4 people, with enough leftovers for a taco filling on Tuesday and for college kid #2 to eat for a couple of days.  College kid #2 doesn't like marinades so I had only dry brined the beef with salt, but that last piece of top round is going to get marinated even if DH and I are the only ones to eat it.  Served the beef with the last of some baby potatoes that had just started to sprout (only a few of them and I flicked the sprouts off), broccoli from the fridge, and a salad DH made with romaine we've been working on for a full month.  He included carrots, tomatoes, and what he cold salvage of an avocado that had a huge bruised side that I didn't see when I grabbed a bag at Costco.

Breakfast today was sourdough pancakes from the freezer.  Lunch was an amazing chicken and wild rice soup to use up some leftover chicken, chicken broth from the freezer, basic veggies (carrots, celery, onion), a bag of diced sweet potatoes from the freezer (last minute and incredibly delicious addition), some of the wild rice I bought for Christmas Eve lunch but didn't use because of the Covid cancellation, and part of a leftover carton of half and half.  Seriously it was just a wow kind of soup, and I can hardly wait to see how it is tomorrow.

Food waste: 1/3 of a container of vegan pesto we bought for college kid #1.  He ate it on pasta, on pizza, and in stromboli, but a little went a long way.  I can't eat it, and DH used it a few times but couldn't get through it all before it spoiled.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 23, 2023, 12:39:39 PM
-Brought home leftovers from date night, and had that for lunch on Sunday
-Ate kid dinner leftovers on another day
-Defrosted ham & split pea soup, and having that for lunch today
-Organized the pantry, tossed a few (VERY) expired items, and cleaned it up so it's easier to see everything
-Tonight will be leftover spaghetti & meatballs. I'd originally planned to make a new dinner, but forgot that ground beef at the store. So, spaghetti & meatballs it is. Oh well, it will ensure nothing gets wasted. If there's not quite enough, I have naan bread in the fridge, and can make the boys grilled cheese on naan to go with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on January 23, 2023, 02:54:14 PM
- Threw out some hamburger buns found lingering in the pantry that expired 12/9/22. Also threw out a bag of stale almonds.
- Ate Wednesday's work lunch on Sunday since I called in sick Wednesday and didn't feel like eating it.
- Baked a casserole on Thursday and ate leftovers on Friday and Saturday. Will take the rest for work lunches this week.
- DH brought home a lot of catering from a work function; this week we'll be eating that so it doesn't get thrown out. I cringe at food waste even if I didn't pay for it myself. Plus side of this, I don't have to cook and can just microwave most of it. Maybe add a side here or there, but that's all. Easy week.
- Freezing food from the fridge that will go bad before we consume it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 23, 2023, 09:00:55 PM
- cooked some soup base (broth, carrots, cabbage, onion) with some liquid bullion
- cooked a ton of barley and am having DH work his way through it (I put some in the soup base for his lunch today)
- found some forgotten chicken thighs in the fridge, diced the meat and added tons of hot sauce and some cream cheese for a buffalo baked dip
- opened a box of GF baking flour that I've been hoarding for a couple years. Made cookies
- its going to snow tomorrow and instead of going to the store DD and I made the decision to bake

Failure:
- found some chili in the garage fridge that I made last week. Its do or die time, I bet I'll end up freezing most of it
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 24, 2023, 05:51:26 AM
Wins yesterday and today so far:
- chocolate-cream truffles are gone (I got some help from DH and DD.....otherwise it would not be good for my health....)
- more snacks went with DS and DD to school
- finished the last two buns with some garlic cream cheese that was leftover from a recipe and a few slices of ham as an easy lunch
- DD is working her way through the stash of instant soup as an addition to her lunch

DD got a 100% score on one of her tests today, so she gets to decide what's for dinner on one of the next days (that is our incentive for both teens: 100% score = decide what's for dinner for 1 day). Hope she will pick an easy one for me.....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 25, 2023, 03:09:40 PM
- bought more chicken and cooked it in (another long term hoarded pouch of) lemongrass basil sauce. Delicious!
- ate said chicken with the rest of a rice noodle package
- made DH some different asian noodles (that had been bought for DD who rejected them) for his portion
- made DH some chili with the leftover barley in it
- DS ate some mashed potatoes I made a couple days ago
- made keto peanut butter cookies and used up a natural peanut butter and a bunch of coconut sugar. Liked them enough that it'll be a definite repeat!!
- found a slightly cracked egg in the chicken coop and instead of tossing it I hard boiled it for the dogs
- DH is starting to eat through frozen portions of a giant batch of soup he made. YAY!
- DD is making some bread from a neat recipe I randomly ran into.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 25, 2023, 04:43:07 PM
Made Indian spiced potatoes for Monday's dinner, using potatoes, onion, cabbage mix, various spices, a can of green chiles, frozen peas, and frozen ginger. Served with basmati rice.

Made gluten free cookies for college kid #2 using a box cake mix nearing expiration date and M&Ms left over from Halloween.

College kid #2 made fried rice with leftover rice, leftover top round, and eggs, and ate it for breakfast Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ate leftover chicken and wild rice soup for lunch yesterday, froze the rest in 2 cup portions so now we have 3 ready to go single servings.

Made taco dinner using leftover top round that I diced and seasoned, leftover basmati rice I cooked with some oil and seasonings, peppers and onions from the freezer, avocados from the pantry, cabbage mix from the fridge, and the usual perishables of salsa, tortillas, and cheese.  DH also cut a tomato for his tacos since we have a lot to get through.

Made cookie dough with pantry staples and various open bag additions: milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, caramel bits.  Now have 36 cookie dough pucks frozen for later baking.

Ate leftover Indian spiced potatoes for lunch Wednesday.

Wednesday dinner is salmon from the freezer (leftover from Epiphany party), mashed potatoes (making 5# and freezing extra), broccoli (I bought the big Costco bag so we've been eating a lot of broccoli), and a cabbage salad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 26, 2023, 02:01:42 PM
Got through a lot of food today!

For breakfast DH ate the last two pieces (ends) of homemade bread and I ate another bowl of the cereal college kid #2 decided not to eat.

Lunch saw many leftovers eaten.  Between the three of us we ate: 2 leftover fried corn tortillas, leftover Mexican rice, leftover beef, a small jar of beans from the freezer, leftover peppers and onions, leftover roasted potatoes, a serving of leftover basmati rice, some salsa, and two eggs.  We are now down to only having leftover rice (from Wednesday) and leftover Indian potatoes (from Monday).

I froze leftover mashed potatoes in 2 cup cubes and vacuum sealed them this morning.  I reorganized the inside freezer and found three chicken carcasses.  I now have one carcass simmering with some frozen chicken necks and a bag of vegetables scraps from the crisper drawer (onion, celery).  I pulled out some cooked lamb, lamb broth, and some older mashed potatoes, and will make Shepherd's pie this weekend, enough for a meal to eat and a couple of servings to freeze.  My goal is to have a freezer full of broth and ready to eat meals rather than bits and pieces that still have to be made into something else.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 26, 2023, 02:12:36 PM
Shepards pie sounds so yummy K !

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 28, 2023, 02:46:29 PM
Friday I finished the dreaded cereal, while DH ate pancakes from the freezer.  We had corn tortilla quesadillas for lunch, with avocado, and for dinner I cooked a pot of beans to eat with leftover rice, and I also made popcorn because college kid #2 called home and was making popcorn, and it sounded good.  After dinner we broke open a package of shortbread cookies leftover from the holidays.

I ate waffles from the freezer this morning, which has shown me that I really don't like having so many sweet breakfast options, so I'm going to cut back on double and triple batching and simplify our breakfasts.  Most mornings I'd rather have an egg or two with toast.  There is a place for these kind of easy breakfasts, but muffins are easier and quicker than pancakes and waffles.  I forgot to thaw a loaf of bread, so we ate corn tortilla quesadillas with avocado again, and DH had a serving of leftover beans.

Fail: I found a bag of limes in the refrigerator that were too far gone to use.  The weird thing is they were in a bin with a bag of lemons purchased at the same time that are still fine.  I checked and these were purchased 11/21, in preparation for the Covid cancelled Thanksgiving.  Note to self: we don't use limes all that often, don't buy them in bulk again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 28, 2023, 03:59:25 PM
-Ate leftovers from dinner last night for lunch today
-Made the kids corn dogs, that I found buried in the freezer. Added fruit smoothies & cut up veggies to go with, because it wasn't an exactly balanced meal
-Cleaned out the fridge. Minimal waste (tiny portion of rice, and a bit of tomato sauce), & everything is cleaned up & ready to go for the week ahead.
-Froze a package of bagels that my husband bought (he purchased a two pack, and we can only go through one per week)

For dinner tonight, we will finish off the leftover kebabs, rice & yogurt/cucumber sauce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 28, 2023, 07:07:37 PM
- Cooked a chicken tikka masala boxed kit that's been lingering. Ate most of it.
- Finished off the lemongrass chicken thighs
- Ate a Kind bar at the movie theatre, didn't buy food there.
- Portioned out ketchup packets onto plates (since the kids always just reach for the bottle of ketchup and we have too many packets)
- Have had fresh cranberries in the fridge since Thanksgiving or Christmas, can't remember... made cranberry orange GF muffins with an almond flour bag, loved them so much that the next day I made cranberry lemon muffins with the remainder of the cranberries and the almond flour. 2 items gone!

FAIL
- DH ate some (meant for exercising) glucose gummies that were found in a storage bin in the garage. They were almost frozen and his crown came off :o  ... I even told him not to eat them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on January 29, 2023, 04:58:23 PM
That reminds me, I have two bags of frozen cranberries that I want to use. I have a tacky palate that only likes the jellied cylindrical type so I won't be using them for sauce.

Today I finished the last of the chorizo/crockpot black beans/jasmine rice concoction. I've been topping it with block of cheddar I got a good deal on at Sams and froze, stuffed inside tortillas also from Sam's. I will probably use the last half of the chorizo in another iteration as it was so good.

Found a bunch of celery from Christmas? maybe? I had wrapped it in foil so most of it is still good enough to use for eating the rest of the hummus.

Butternut squash were 25c a pound at Aldi last week so I got one and still haven't found the right recipe. I could always use it like sweet potatoes with the chorizo and black beans.



 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 29, 2023, 08:19:22 PM
@okisok - I love butternut squash soup, which is really easy to make.

-We finished off the rice, kebabs & yogurt sauce for dinner last night
-I made sure the teens had apples & pears from the fruit drawer with lunch
-I bought a large package of ground beef at Costco yesterday, and made taco meat out of 1/2 of it. The rest went into the freezer. With the taco meat, we'll have enough for 4 dinners - one tonight, one another night this week, two dinner portions in the freezer.
-My 15 y.o. finished off the rest of the mini cucumbers.

My two teens biggest food obsessions: chocolate milk & mini cucumbers. There are worse things in the world than this, and they are both healthy & active kids. I attempted to find chocolate milk on a super sale at Safeway (I got a digital coupon for it), but they were out when I got there. But of course.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 30, 2023, 01:05:25 PM
That reminds me, I have two bags of frozen cranberries that I want to use. I have a tacky palate that only likes the jellied cylindrical
I guess I have a "tacky" palate too, lol!  I absolutely cannot eat make myself eat cranberry sauce that has texture, but did recently realize I will eat Craisins in a salad or trail mix.  I looked up recipes and you could make DIY craisins.  Or you can make your own jellied cranberry sauce -- it looks super easy, with nothing fancy required.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Roadrunner53 on January 31, 2023, 03:32:11 AM
Just bought 5 lbs of onions from Costco and they are quite large. I also had some onions from a while back from Costco that were starting to look like they better be used up. So, I took all the older ones, about 7, and sliced them up. I ended up with a lot of onions! I used my 6-quart Crockpot and threw them in there with a stick of butter on low. It filled the CP halfway full, then, I left them cooking overnight. Just checked them and they are almost done. When I woke up, they were on the warm setting, so I cranked it back up to low for a few more hours. Later on, when they are cooled, I will put them in some quart sized Ziplock's and freeze for later use. I also used a Crockpot liner, so clean up will be a breeze!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 31, 2023, 01:40:08 PM
-Ate a container of split pea soup from the freezer
-Dinner last night was pulled pork (freezer) + buns (freezer) & coleslaw. I made the dressing out of things we had on hand, and we have just a little bit of pulled pork left. One more container out of the freezer!
-Dinner tonight is chicken fajitas, also from the freezer. We will have it with cheese, tortillas & tomatoes. Hopefully finishing up the last of a package of tortillas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on January 31, 2023, 02:43:24 PM
This last weekend I took a frozen pork roast, put it on foil then cleaned out the fridge door, dumped all of the bits and bobs on this roast, then wrapped it tightly with foil then put it in my crock pot and cooked it on low till the next night.

This was so dang good. We ate it as pulled pork sandwiches the first night, then I made tacos with it last night and tonight I think we will eat it with some rice. And I think I will get one more night out of it for tmrw I am not sure if I will just make pulled pork sandwiches or not again.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on January 31, 2023, 03:00:16 PM
All you pulled pork people are making me grumpy, there was a really good sale on pork shoulder here and I was going to make some, but when I went to the store they didn't have it. I didn't have the energy to go back again today and it's the last day of the sale, so no pulled pork for me this week :-(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 31, 2023, 03:12:03 PM
This last weekend I took a frozen pork roast, put it on foil then cleaned out the fridge door, dumped all of the bits and bobs on this roast, then wrapped it tightly with foil then put it in my crock pot and cooked it on low till the next night.

This was so dang good. We ate it as pulled pork sandwiches the first night, then I made tacos with it last night and tonight I think we will eat it with some rice. And I think I will get one more night out of it for tmrw I am not sure if I will just make pulled pork sandwiches or not again.

If you have coleslaw fixings, I love it over coleslaw. We make the coleslaw keto friendly, which makes the dressing ingredients super easy: mayo, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, ground onions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 31, 2023, 03:19:17 PM

If you have coleslaw fixings, I love it over coleslaw. We make the coleslaw keto friendly, which makes the dressing ingredients super easy: mayo, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, ground onions.
This sounds like a delicious combo!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 31, 2023, 04:12:36 PM
We're still plugging along with the challenge.  We've mainly eaten from the pantry and freezer in January, with $215 spent on perishables (even though some are long lasting perishables, like butter, cream cheese, regular cheese, etc.). although that is misleading as half of that was spent last night on perishables for February.  Unfortunately, Costco didn't have eggs, so we'll have to make do with the 3 dozen we have.

We got through a pot of beans and a pot of chicken noodle soup, but ended up missing a serving of Indian spiced potatoes, which was sad.  Our current loaf of homemade bread is from the freezer.  I ate leftover chicken for lunch.  Leftover rice was eaten on a regular basis.

Working on some pantry foods, we made homemade pasta with the semolina flour I bought a couple of months ago for that express purpose.

I dug through the freezer to find a thick NY steak to use in our tacos tonight.  I purchased two of these steaks from ButcherBox last year and the first one was awful in terms of being tough and full of gristle, so I have this one in an Instant Pot sous vide bath in the hopes of tenderizing it.  I'm defrosting the last jar of cooked beans to have with the tacos, and we also have a ripe avocado that needs to be eaten.

I'm not planning to post in this thread in February, I will be posting in the February Pantry Challenge thread instead.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 01, 2023, 01:08:36 AM
I was doing my grocery list for the weekly grocery delivery and for the first time had problems to fill it to the required amount for free delivery (TP to the rescue!). I did some good planning and the current plan really eats down more from the pantry and fridge this week:
Today: pasta night, ground beef from freezer
Tomorrow: tortilla's, more ground beef, bell peppers and onions
Friday: baked potatoes, meat from freezer, all leftover veggies from fridge (carrots, brocolli etc)
Saturday: pancakes and bacon for dinner (found a box of pancake mix in the pantry which needs to go)
Sunday: homemade pizza for dinner (found pizza-flour in the pantry which is 1 month over its due date, but still looks/smells good)

Teens are doing their thing eating snacks and other items from pantry. I told them I'm not buying new till it is all finished!

Edited: today already had a few wins: I finished the last bit of leftover pasta and used some chocolate butter cream instead of Nutella on my bagel to cure my sweet tooth. Both items are now gone, making more room in the fridge! DD finished the last few potato chips which were lingering on the countertop, so happy to have that gone as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 01, 2023, 12:02:11 PM
had yogurt and blueberries for brunch, DH had cream of wheat and DS had cinnamon toast and last piece of a leftover stromboli.
Dinner tonight is chopped salad to use up some greens, tomatos, avocado and will add hardboiled egg and chopped fried chicken for the fellas!
Tomorrow is creamy harissa pasta with shrimp to use up some old harissa and a pound of shrimp which has been languishing in freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 01, 2023, 12:21:14 PM
@Dutch Comfort - I love that you had the visible win of not having enough immediate purchases to fill your grocery order. That's progress!

-Last night's dinner was fajitas (freezer), using all of that up, plus the remainder of a tortilla package. Bonus, I was able to reheat the chicken wings, so my husband could finish those off. I find wings really hard to reheat. I brushed water over them, before I put them in the oven. I think that helped.
-Tonight's dinner is tacos, which will use up the prepped taco meat, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, plus a few more tortillas.

We're really crunching through the prepped freezer meals.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on February 01, 2023, 02:14:06 PM
Last week we had the chance to eat some leftover portions from the freezer. The first one I tried to ate was mashed potato with kale and diced bacon. The bacon tasted really bad. So after one spoon, I spit out the rest and threw it away. That was a 2019 portion.

We ate 2 other pirtions from more recent date and those were still good.

Then I found 2 homemade vegetable burgers that I served with a salad and something else. When I took a bit, something in the burger tasted intensly unpleasant. And I ended up not eating mine. DH ate his burger.

We also recently ate a soup from the freezer.

Now we are more or less done with leftover dishes. We only have some sauce portions left. We don't often need sauce in that way. So I am not sure those will be eaten ever.

Nowadays if we have leftover food, we often eat it for lunch the next day. Which then messes up my bread planning.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on February 01, 2023, 02:26:18 PM
This last weekend I took a frozen pork roast, put it on foil then cleaned out the fridge door, dumped all of the bits and bobs on this roast, then wrapped it tightly with foil then put it in my crock pot and cooked it on low till the next night.

This was so dang good. We ate it as pulled pork sandwiches the first night, then I made tacos with it last night and tonight I think we will eat it with some rice. And I think I will get one more night out of it for tmrw I am not sure if I will just make pulled pork sandwiches or not again.

If you have coleslaw fixings, I love it over coleslaw. We make the coleslaw keto friendly, which makes the dressing ingredients super easy: mayo, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, ground onions.

Oh yes. I always have a cabbage in my fridge. I will make coleslaw at least once a week. We love it on tacos and pulled pork sandwiches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 01, 2023, 06:18:01 PM
Wanted something sweet so I used up a cake mix and the last of a bag of chocolate chips. Dinner was nachos with cilantro and cheese to use some bits up before they go bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 02, 2023, 05:06:12 PM
- Finished off a leftover pork steak in the fridge. Ate it with some salad with an applewood dressing packet from a fancy salad bag. Not generally a fan of the dressing, its kind of like a French dressing bbq hybrid but it went well with the smokiness of the pork.
-  Made enchiladas using lentil lasagna noodles instead of corn tortillas. Used a fancy Siete green enchilada sauce jar on it. DH agreed the combo was amazing!
- Ate a shrimp ring from the freezer.
- Packed up a bunch of my GF foods in a grocery bag for when my car is shipped to the new city when I start my job. I'll be living with extended family and no one in my home eats my special food anyway.
- Ate an Aldi cauliflower pizza from the freezer. This is their deli refrigerated style and I buy as many as I can when they're short dated (this one was $5 off an $8 price) and immediately freeze them. We still have about 6 of these pizzas left to get through.
- Have been making lots of tea into iced tea and putting in quart jars in the fridge. Got the leftover tea bags consolidated into one less container.
- Continuing to hard boil the eggs that are cracked from the chicken coop, and feed such eggs to the dogs. Cuts down on dry kibble.
- finished off an ice cream that was "meh"
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 02, 2023, 08:01:03 PM
-Finished off the pulled pork
-Ate the last of a bagged salad with dinner
-Convinced my husband to roast a squash that had been in the fridge forever. A tiny piece of it had gone bad, but we were able to save the rest of it
-Made the last of some breaded chicken for the teen dinner, as well as a couple of apples. They will not eat fresh fruit, but if it's cut in front of them, they will eat it all.
-My husband finished off three small pieces of chicken from the freezer
-We ate a bag of Trader Joes fried rice, kept to round out leftover meals.

I defrosted split pea soup for lunch tomorrow, and need to finish off the second bagged salad.

I need to make a list of things to get rid of for my February challenge - I want to select a few hard to use up freezer & pantry items & come up with a plan for them.

Maybe I'll also make brownies for the teens this weekend, and use up a brownie mix that's appeared from somewhere.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 03, 2023, 01:12:11 AM
Wins yesterday and this morning:
- DS finished the leftover pasta of Wednesday
- I grated some leftover dried out cheese bits to go over the tortilla's yesterday, no complaints and two pieces of cheese gone from the fridge.
- I did not have heavy cream for the tortilla's but found some mozzarella instead. It worked (and again.... no complaints)
- DS ate the last plain tortilla with peanut butter as his easy breakfast this morning (he kind of liked the combo and I'm happy that the lonely tortilla got eaten)
- finished a boxed salad for lunch yesterday

I did not buy any snacks for this weekend, so we need to get to the items that are already available. Teens and DH are munching on some chocolate that they found in the pantry. There is still enough available for them (and I'm trying to keep away from it, since I have to loose a few pounds....).
I'm going to dive into the freezer to see what I can use for lunch today (WFH day).

Edited: lunch was a weird combination of a bowl of onion soup and two slices of banana bread. Both items were already in the freezer for too long, so happy to have them out!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 04, 2023, 08:47:22 AM
-Ate the last of the fried rice & a piece of chicken for lunch
-My husband made sauteed brussel sprouts to go with dinner. The sprouts were purchased by my parents & then added to the freezer when they were here, and didn't use them. This reaffirms our decision that we don't enjoy previously frozen sprouts. Should we have roasted them? We normally quick pan sautee fresh ones, with sesame oil & a variety of spices, and they are delicious. However, that is now one freezer item gone, for my February challenge.
-We had bacon wrapped chicken last night, and I loved it. The other two diners were more "meh" about it, which is disappointing, because they sell it for a pretty inexpensive amount at Costco when on sale, and it's a fantastic pinch meal, and Keto friendly to boot (for my husband).

Today:
-I'm making egg roll in a bowl for dinner, to use up two open bags of coleslaw mix. I'll also add some shaved carrots, to work through those.
-My picky teen won't eat egg roll in a bowl, so I'll make the last of the taco meat into a taco quesadilla for him.

Next freezer item to use up. . . I have a few containers of butternut squash soup, so I'll work on getting those incorporated into a meal somewhere.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 05, 2023, 07:30:39 PM
Made a giant batch of black bean quesadillas to have as quick meals. I didn't measure the homemade black beans and ended up with 16 instead of the 10 the recipe stated, but I am not complaining. I used up a bunch of cilantro before it went bad for the first time in my life--there should be an Adult Merit Badge for that!

While I was prepping veggies anyway, I peeled and cut up the lone cucumber to eat with hummus. Leftover charcuterie went into a lidded container to take to work for lunch instead of the wobbly plastic tray it came in.

I bought a bag of onions at Aldi a few days ago and they looked terrible by the time I went to use them. Instead of tossing the whole bag, I sorted through and cut out the bad spots, managing to salvage about half. I froze most of it and used some fresh in the quesadillas. Very frustrating but not a total loss. I will look very carefully at future Aldi onions.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 06, 2023, 02:46:52 PM
I organized the freezer a bit more this weekend, which was helpful.
-Defrosted a few containers of chicken curry to have for dinner this week
-Defrosted a large batch of prepped chicken shawarma meat, which just needs to be roasted for dinner tonight. Remembered I had naan bread in the freezer, so defrosted that as well to go with dinner.
-My husband bought these freezer "smoothie pouches", which everyone universally hated, and we drink a lot of smoothies at the house. I saw them at the bottom of the freezer, and put them on my February freezer challenge. I managed to remove most of the kale from the mix (I like kale in smoothies, but this was like 4x the amount you can have without it tasting like dirt), added some protein powder & soy milk, and a bit of peanut butter, as I was having it as a meal. Delicious & filling! Bonus, it used one of the overly ripe bananas, as well. My husband is addicted to buying bananas, despite my pleas.

Other February freezer challenge items:
-Butternut squash soup
-Either pork chops or pot roast
-Pulled pork
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 07, 2023, 05:10:57 PM
I managed to remove most of the kale from the mix (I like kale in smoothies, but this was like 4x the amount you can have without it tasting like dirt

Nicely done! I'll pick through things like that too. My DH always thinks I'm crazy.

- Took a cue from MaybeBaby and cooked an acorn squash from the garage fridge that DH was going to let sit there forever
- Found some long forgotten truffle butter and put it in some mashed potatoes
- bought some hamburger buns for the express purpose of feeding the males in this home the last of the spicy chicken patties. 2 down, 4 to go!
- made myself some GF egg rolls from the freezer
- used up the last of a bottle of hot sauce (no not the giant one I'm still struggling with)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 07, 2023, 07:32:33 PM
Used up the last of a bottle of salad dressing. I'm going to quit buying premade dressings and use the recipes I know I like to make my own. I washed out and saved the bottle to make the dressings in.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 07, 2023, 08:44:50 PM
@fuzzy math - hamburger buns are often an important addition in our house too, when I'm trying to get through burger patties or chicken. The teens are much more responsive to leftovers, when they have the 'right"  sides
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 08, 2023, 12:43:05 AM
Wins:
- box of pancake mix was used on Saturday (breakfast for dinner!)
- half bag of rice was cooked and used on Sunday and made leftovers for fried rice for the teens.
- made a salad yesterday with leftovers: salad, bell pepper, pickles, last slices of cooked ham and I started a bottle of bell pepper-vinager which was gifted (but is actually really good for salads!).

Things to work on:
- few hamburger patties in the fridge
- mushrooms in the fridge
- 2 steaks in the fridge
- lots of fruit (tangerines, kiwi's and apples)

DD decided to make a triple-chocolate-oreo-fudge (I do not want to know how many calories are in there) to take to a friends house. This got rid of some pantry items!

We will have guests next weekend, so I need to go through my pantry and see what I can use up to feed them!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 10, 2023, 09:03:37 AM
-Finished both smoothie kits
-Had chicken curry & rice for another dinner, while my husband ate the rest of the egg roll in a bowl
-Finished off the smash burgers for another dinner
-We had the chicken shawarma for one meal, and froze the remaining cooked chicken for another dinner.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 10, 2023, 01:40:53 PM
I leave home in 48 hours to go start my job in another state, so its prime time to finish up all the items only I eat (or only I'd take the time to cook for others)

- Cooked the last family pack of chicken thighs, some in a Rogan Josh sauce, the others in bbq sauce. This alone will be a struggle to get through. I had some last night and DH and I ate some for lunch.
- Served 2 servings of mixed sauteed veggies and white rice with the chicken for lunch
- Eating through some cheddar +gruyere combo that my DD wasn't impressed with
- Unearthed some foods we'd bought during the COVID grocery madness. No foods are in storage bins any more
- DH and DS ate more spicy chicken sandwiches. They used up some restaurant condiments too
-
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 12, 2023, 08:22:46 PM
Rifled through the freezer looking for something for breakfast. I wanted a smoothie but was out of milk and juice. Found some frozen fruit, tossed in a yogurt that had a best-by date of today, some oats, and a few leaves of spinach. It was delicious!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 13, 2023, 03:45:24 PM
I too had a smoothie for breakfast, @okisok . Mine was also delicious, and used up an overripe banana, almond milk (I've given up coffee, so no longer need this in the mornings), some frozen fruit, protein powder, and a small spoonful of peanut butter that needs to be used up.

I'm making a recipe tonight that uses up rotisserie chicken that's been lingering in my freezer, completing my "use up 5 hard to use freezer/pantry items" challenge for February. I'm going to keep going, & see what else we can use up.

Or, maybe my challenge for the rest of the month will be to use up the Superbowl snacks that we have leftover, and ensure that doesn't go to waste.

I also had leftovers from a dinner out, and we've been doing a good job of following our "cook once, eat twice" plan.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 13, 2023, 05:33:51 PM
for dinner tonight we had black bean tacos on corn tortillas, using up corn tortillas and a can of refried black beans which had been in the pantry for longer than I'd care to admit.  Teen also killed off the guac and some chips from the superbowl as well.

Tomorrow's Valentines plan is to make chicken parmesan which will use up some chicken purchased when my brother visited in January, the mozzarella I accidentally bought when I thought it was white american, and some pasta sauce in from the freezer.  Also will make garlic bread from a loaf of French bread I froze when my brother was visiting.  Big big day for my freezer! Happy Valentine's day to ME.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 14, 2023, 03:58:19 AM
Guests are gone, 2nd fridge turned off again (already right after they left, which is a big improvement because usually the 2nd fridge stays on for a week). Now checking leftovers:
- apple pie and a few cakes/cookies (already took some to work yesterday, which was greatly appreciated by coworkers)
- mushrooms
- feta cheese
- other cheese bits
- some triple chocolate fudge
- few unopened bags of potato-chips. They will be worked on by the teens.
- 4-5 bell peppers
- 1 kilo of tangerines

Wins:
- leftover dinner on Sunday after the guests left. We had a large bread and covered half of it with leftover tuna/tomato/onion sauce and half with leftover mozzarella, italian salami and tomato. DS finished the leftover pasta.
- almost finished the whipped cream (last bit will be put on the apple pie tonight)
- opened bags of nuts are almost gone
- finished the last granola from a brand that nobody seemed to like for breakfast with some yoghurt

Menu plan is done for this week and this will work through a lot of fridge items. Teens will be working their way through all snack options.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dicey on February 14, 2023, 07:19:15 AM
I've been working on eating down the ample food stores for months. Yesterday, DH actually noticed. Win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 14, 2023, 07:33:41 AM
I made a chicken fiesta rice dish yesterday, and used a lot of fridge items: leftover cheese/pimento dip & dill dip from the Super Bowl, feta from another dinner, the remnants of a bag of cheese. The meal itself was made using rotisserie chicken, which was on my list of food to get out of the freezer. And, one teen had his rice dish wrapped in a tortilla, using up one of several that need to be eaten.

Tonight we'll be having leftover kebabs & rice, with yogurt sauce, which will use up more fridge leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 17, 2023, 08:26:38 AM
-Finished off the kebabs & rice
-I've given up drinking coffee, so I've been working my way through my decaf tea stash
-We bought Panda Express last night (17 year old DS's birthday request), but we have plenty of leftovers for tonight

I'm working on our ski menu (we'll be gone for 4 nights) & I'm planning to prep the taco meat & spaghetti & meatballs. That will get a bit more out of the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on February 17, 2023, 11:23:03 AM
I've been working on eating down the ample food stores for months. Yesterday, DH actually noticed. Win!

Noticed in a good way?  Or in a "why are we eating such strange meals" way?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dicey on February 17, 2023, 02:35:05 PM
I've been working on eating down the ample food stores for months. Yesterday, DH actually noticed. Win!

Noticed in a good way?  Or in a "why are we eating such strange meals" way?
Actually noticed there was less food in the garage freezer and refrigerator. Yes, there is one of each out there.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Newday on February 17, 2023, 04:51:35 PM
We noticed the kids were going through a LOT of cereal and nothing but cereal and having to keep buying cereal. I made a big batch of granola (with a LOT of good stuff I had in pantry and forgotten...buckwheat flakes, anyone?) and my older one has finished it in a week. :o I am going to keep making more granola, else this kid will keep postponing my FIRE years, just eating cereal.  Also baked some banana bread for after school snacks. (My older kid was eating cereal as after school snack, when we weren't looking!). 

I will be adding some granola making and banana bread weekly, going forward. Maybe some energy bars too..
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 17, 2023, 04:58:51 PM
@Newday - I make protein bars & they are super filling & my teen loves them. I make mine with: protein powder, peanut butter, oats, honey, & chocolate chips.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Newday on February 17, 2023, 05:09:32 PM
@Newday - I make protein bars & they are super filling & my teen loves them. I make mine with: protein powder, peanut butter, oats, honey, & chocolate chips.

That's great... yeah, mine loves them too.. I used to make these before sporadically but fell off the wagon last year which was quite crazy. I guess it's time I start making them again. We can't use protein powder due to multiple allergies, but I'll add it plenty of crushed nuts and seeds and peanut butter. Thanks for reminding me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 19, 2023, 06:43:21 PM
Made some 'healthy oatmeal breakfast cookies' from a Pinterest recipes to use up some steel cut oatmeal we didn't care for. I found a recipe that used exactly the amount left in the canister and some low-sugar pancake syrup that isn't anyone's favorite. My favorite part was chopping up a huge chunk of holiday-themed novelty chocolate that wasn't going to get used in any other way, instead of opening a bag of chocolate chips. It's been lurking in the back of the fridge for over a year because it was an unwieldy size that wasn't handy for snacking. Used a cup of peanut butter from an expired container.

It was a pantry-clean out success and we ate over half of them for breakfast today! We all liked them so I'm Pinning that recipe. If it weren't for this challenge, we probably would've bought donuts for Sunday breakfast instead. We saved a few dollars and a lot of calories.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 20, 2023, 03:12:53 AM
Wins of last week:
- loads of bread got eaten (YAY)
- apple pie and cakes are gone
- grated some cheese bits and used that to make a pizza bread from above abundance of bread
- teens finished the potato-chips, but also opened up new bags....... I think they will eat more this week after school.....
- all but 1 bell pepper got eaten
- tangerines are almost gone (only 3 left)
- used loads of herbs and spices during dinnertime.
- started another box of non-favorite granola
- made asparagus-soup from some broth I had in the freezer. 2 lunch-size leftovers for this week.

- had just a limited amount on my grocery bill this week because of "enough".

Still to be used:
- triple chocolate fudge..... I think the teens forgot them..... will remind them tonight
- feta cheese
- 1 bell pepper
- various canned beans
- bottle of maple syrup (I really need to work out ways to use this)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 20, 2023, 10:56:57 AM
@Dutch Comfort - you could use the maple syrup to make homemade granola.  you could make the granola with flavors you like and even dilute the "less favored" granola by mixing it in with one your homemade one. This is one recipe, but it is very customizable!

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/easy-homemade-granola/#wprm-recipe-container-192433
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 21, 2023, 06:12:44 PM
Made a hot sandwich with some charcuterie left over from Valentines Day and used leftover spaghetti sauce for dipping.
Some of the meat had gone off color and so into the trash.

Finished a bottle of wine.

Finished the celery that's been wrapped in foil in the fridge since before Christmas. A few stalks were yellowed, but most of it was still crisp and green. Used it to finish up the hummus and some street corn dip.

Found a recipe online for a cream cheese spread to make cucumber sandwiches for lunch tomorrow. Then some carrots are all the fresh veggies I have left to use up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on February 22, 2023, 03:27:55 AM
@Dutch Comfort - you could use the maple syrup to make homemade granola.  you could make the granola with flavors you like and even dilute the "less favored" granola by mixing it in with one your homemade one. This is one recipe, but it is very customizable!

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/easy-homemade-granola/#wprm-recipe-container-192433

Inspired by your message, I searched for a nice baked oatmeal recipe which uses the maple syrup (but also uses the almost stale oatmeal that is lingering in the cupboard). That would fit our household more than the granola!

Good week so far:
- triple chocolate fudge is gone
- emptied a jar of gifted marmelade (not replaced)
- mushrooms were thrown in as additional veggies during last nights dinner
- 1 lunch serving of soup already gone, 1 serving for my WFH day today!
- last buns were eaten by DS when he came home from school yesterday
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on February 23, 2023, 06:30:48 PM
Had sliced cucumbers in red wine vinegar as a side with lunch. Then dinner was cucumber sandwiches made with cream cheese and everything but the bagel seasoning. Baby carrots as a side.

It's been so chilly here that smoothies don't sound appealing so I need to just eat the individual yogurts. I'm steadily working my way through the fridge and probably won't buy groceries this week.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 25, 2023, 05:25:43 PM
Folks, there is sizable space showing up in our freezer! This hasn't happened since our kitchen remodel a few years back, where we literally ate every leftover available, to avoid takeout. Now, I did get two boxes of fancy ice cream bars for dirt cheap for the teens (they love those Magnum minis), so those are now in the freezer, but they will disappear as quickly as they are discovered.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 04, 2023, 04:39:22 PM
-Used up pumpkin puree (received for free when the grocery store was cleaning out their Halloween pumpkins, in October) & made two dozen muffins. The puree is out of the freezer, and most of the muffins will go into the freezer, but muffins are a regular staple that gets used up in our house, so it's now in a consumable form.
-Used the last of the jar of blueberry jelly in DS15's smoothie. He didn't notice, and we don't eat sandwiches/keep bread in the house, and no one puts jelly on their bagels. The jelly had been lingering forever.
-I made a small batch of some sort of chicken nuggets for DS15 for lunch today. They were getting freezer burned, but were fine once cooked.
-Defrosted a tiny piece of steak for my husband. Not sure why it was in the freezer, as it's too small for any real meal. He's going to make steak & eggs for himself for breakfast tomorrow. Perfect.


I did toss a container of Trader Joes gingersnap cookies. My kids love gingersnaps, but these were exceptionally heavy on the ginger. I kept meaning to post them on Buy Nothing, but they were stale before I got around to it. Drat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Newday on March 04, 2023, 05:24:51 PM
More granola this time using up tons of sunflower seeds ..I didn’t want to buy almonds just for this .. also added a lot of crushed dates as well .. even the younger child that doesn’t like granola eats it like a snack. I used up all the buckwheat flakes in it as well.

I found some buckwheat groats that I discovered at the back of the cabinet and used half of that, I soaked it in water and ground to a batter and made crepes.

Last of the squash is gone too!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: comicguy on March 07, 2023, 04:05:22 AM
Cooked a homemade chicken pot pie from the freezer for diner last night!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 07, 2023, 06:48:58 AM
Made a grocery list with my pantry-inventory list next to it. It is surprising how little you need for a week when the pantry is still full......

We're good on keeping the fridge nice and clean. Not too much stuff in there that does not get eaten, just some condiments, so this seems to be more or less in control. Freezer is still full (but working on it, no icecream weather.....). Pantry is starting to show a few dents after the half-term school holiday last week when the teens were eating all meals at home. Keeping the countertop clean (and thus having room in the pantry to store stuff) is my challenge and this is getting better by the day!

Wins:
- snacks are getting eaten. Finished some December chocolate things and December gingerbread cookies......
- used some leftover tomato-salsa and some balsamic vinager in the pulled chicken last week. Came out delicious and was approved by the whole family, so will add that to the next round of pulled chicken.
- DD finished the holiday sprinkles in her yoghurt

To work on:
- condiments in the fridge (garlic sauce, BBQ sauce and others)
- 2 jars with leftover salsa-dip
- 1 jar of marmelade of a non-defined fruit (might be blackberry or another berry....)
- 1/2 jar of pesto
- more snacks........ many many more snacks (I definitely need some teen help here)
- oatmeal
- maple syrup
- brown palm sugar that I found in the back of the cupboard
- microwave popcorn (more teen help needed!)
- cheese scraps (will grate these and use it in a tortilla recipe that I planned for this week)
- milk...... I have too much soy and regular milk on hand
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 07, 2023, 04:01:53 PM
Making some headway here....

Finished off:
potato corn chowder from the freezer
canned tuna
goat cheese
pumpkin seeds

Made progress on:
lavash wraps
risotto
lentils
protein shake stockpile

goals for this week:
eat package of curried squash (got as a freebie from store...I have my doubts so it's been on the shelf a while, but tomorrow I'm going to bite the bullet and try it)
work on granola stash
make SOMETHING with coconut flour
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 15, 2023, 03:44:03 PM
made some progress:

ate the rice packet in the back of the pantry as part of a stir fry with tempeh, tofu, mushrooms, broccoli and carrots
ate the curried squash
ate some of the granola and muesli
made a coconut flour pizza crust (which only uses a 1/3 of a cup, but still progress!)

Have meal planned out at least the next 7-10 days to continue to utilize pantry stores and incorporate fresh produce

How's everyone else doing?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on March 17, 2023, 09:00:53 AM
We have a bad habit of putting bread in to toast, forgetting about it, then finding it hours later when rock hard.  I usually make the old slices into breadcrumbs, but I just discovered milk-toast!  Put the old toast (can and has been weeks old) in a shallow bowl, put on a spoon full of sugar, a pat of butter (optional), and a shake of cinnamon or nutmeg. Cover with milk, and nuke for a minute in the microwave. What you get is something like eggless french toast or bread pudding... very mild and comforting. A good food for people not feeling well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 17, 2023, 09:12:01 AM
My husband bought a huge package of pepperoni at Costco a while back. It's been in the freezer forever. I use it to doctor up his cauliflower crust pizza. We're making some progress there, but again, it's a huge package. And, was a very head scratching purchase to start with.

I used up the last of the frozen breakfast sandwiches, purchased for a hungry teen, but didn't like that it was low carb.

We managed to use all of the bananas before they had to go into the freezer of doom.

Picked up a bunch of citrus fruits from neighbors (we had a huge storm, and the trees lost their fruit), so those need to be eaten, and/or juiced for future salad dressing. I also now have 10 avocados, thanks to neighbors, and need to ripen them slowly & ensure DH eats those.

I also want to use up the last of a jam jar this weekend. Most likely, in a teen smoothie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on March 18, 2023, 11:17:23 AM
We have a bad habit of putting bread in to toast, forgetting about it, then finding it hours later when rock hard.  I usually make the old slices into breadcrumbs, but I just discovered milk-toast!  Put the old toast (can and has been weeks old) in a shallow bowl, put on a spoon full of sugar, a pat of butter (optional), and a shake of cinnamon or nutmeg. Cover with milk, and nuke for a minute in the microwave. What you get is something like eggless french toast or bread pudding... very mild and comforting. A good food for people not feeling well.

You're bring back happy memories.  My mom used to do that with cold toast long before microwaves were a thing.  Just heated up the milk on the stove.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 18, 2023, 11:20:48 AM
My preteen just woke up after 15 hours of sleep, so far this morning, she has ate a breakfast sandwich, a bowl of cereal, and now is eating the last pear.

I think today alone she will make progress in the food eat down.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 18, 2023, 12:10:45 PM
@seemsright - when the mood strikes them, my 16 & 17 y.o boys can clean out the pantry in a day or so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 18, 2023, 12:57:55 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache My preteen has always through eating was inconvenient. But this growth spurt is getting to both of us. Spring Break is right around the corner, so I am sure she will make massive progress in eating down the pantry.

I could not imagine 2 teen boys. Your grocery bill must be sky high.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 18, 2023, 02:05:28 PM
@seemsright - both of my kids play year round sports, so they go through A LOT of food. We work hard to keep the grocery bill at $900/month, and my husband also has a food allergy, so eats a mostly Keto diet (not cheap).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 18, 2023, 04:19:30 PM
Over the past few days:

-Used chocolate/sea salt oatmeal packets (picked up on BN, because the giver didn't like the flavors) in a protein bar recipe. I make the recipe regularly, and didn't have enough oatmeal for the full batch. I don't know if the rest of the ingredients masked the flavor, or I would have liked it either way, but I thought it tasted fine. Multiple people commented into the BN post that they tried it & didn't like it, so I was a little worried it would have a really off putting flavor.
-Used more jam in a smoothie for DS16
-Made myself a sandwich with the bread, meat & cheese that I picked up for DS17. We so rarely have this stuff, it feels like a treat.
-Used leftover fruit in my smoothie
-Finished off a jar of agave we've had in the pantry for close to forever. Used it for the protein bars (above). I typically use honey, but wanted to get the agave container out of the pantry
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 19, 2023, 06:27:57 PM
-I used up some really ancient carrots, and coleslaw dressing we had in the fridge, combined with some cabbage for coleslaw.
-I ate 1/2 of a protein bar for breakfast. I'm trying to get rid of them before they expire, and one of the reasons I don't regularly eat them is that they have 300 calories (a lot), so I decided not to be a fool, and just have half of it at a time. Perfect.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 19, 2023, 07:58:25 PM
Found a recipe for brown sugar pancake syrup to make syrup when I need it instead of buying a whole bottle. I really only use it for a breakfast oatmeal recipe. Now I have a full jar of the syrup to use up, but I know how to reduce the recipe in future. And I didn't have to go to the store just for a bottle of syrup.

Used a 25c butternut squash, homemade black beans, a can of tomatoes, and some spices to make a goulash sort of thing for lunches this week. Cleaned out the freezer broth bag and made veggie broth to cook rice in to go with goulash. That 25c butternut squash went a loooong way. DP pointed out that I am happier making dishes with a cheap squash than getting dressed up and going to a gala, and he's right!

Squash out of pantry, veggie freezer bag completely empty, and I did not buy an frozen meals for work lunches. Sometimes that's all I have the bandwidth for and that's ok. This weekend I had the time and energy to make lunches so I did.

Embarrassing fail--I found some flavored extracts in the pantry that had expired YEARS ago. I come from a family that never threw those things out and I didn't even realize they HAD expiration dates. I rarely bake any more and I prefer to use natural flavorings instead of extracts now. They went down the sink and the bottles went into recycling.

Expired cornstarch went into the compost and the can went to recycling. Cornstarch is one of the things I need to buy in small amounts at a time from the bulk bins. I never use up a full container before it's expiration date.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Newday on March 19, 2023, 10:28:31 PM
Finished the 2 boxes of spinach that was sitting in the fridge for more than 2 weeks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 20, 2023, 06:21:07 AM
Had guests over on Saturday for dinner. Cooked on Friday night and Saturday morning with a nice full table of Indonesian-style dishes as a result. Now I have some leftovers, which we already almost finished on Sunday, just a couple of servings left which I will take as lunch during the week.

Wins:
- 1 pizza crust got eaten on Sunday, using up a few slices of ham, a few slices of italian sausage and half a jar of black olives
- coconut pie used up half a bag of shredded coconut
- butter-cookies used up a stick of butter
- Indonesian-style dishes used a lot of herbs and spices, all from the pantry!

Challenges this week:
- 2 mango's
- 5 bananas
- oatmeal
- dried abricots
- still that syrup and brown sugar..... (I think oatmeal-banana-breakfast muffins are the answer here.....)
- more condiments (although a few were finished while meal prepping and during meals in the last couple of days)
- the microwave popcorn is still there..., teens mainly munched on the snacks, so this is the next one on the list before I buy new snacks!
- salsa-dip, pesto and marmelade is also still in the fridge....
- 1/2 jar of humus

And I have 1 head of cabbage that I need to use, although not huge cabbage fans here. What can I do to get this eaten?????
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 20, 2023, 07:24:44 AM
@Dutch Comfort - for cabbage, I typically make coleslaw, or egg roll in a bowl. Both are easy recipes. You could also shred it, and just add it in to salads, as a mix with lettuce & other veggies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 20, 2023, 09:27:33 AM
@Dutch Comfort
Cabbage can be cooked so many ways. It is delicious sliced up with olive oil and salt roasted at 425 till it looks done. Time will depend on how much you are cooking on the sheet
We eat a ton of cabbage made into a slaw eaten on tacos. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 20, 2023, 01:58:28 PM
-Finished the other half of the protein bar (they are all now gone!)
-Ate leftover pizza for lunch
-Had a small "super food" cookie that showed up out of nowhere & was in our pantry

Kids are making progress on ice cream cake (16th birthday celebration).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: okisok on March 22, 2023, 07:16:48 PM
Used up all the strawberries before they went bad. Put the tops in the freezer on a baking sheet, then tossed them into the frozen fruit bag for smoothies.

Bagged up some items from the pantry to take to a friend who's having a difficult time financially.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Fresh Bread on March 22, 2023, 07:19:21 PM
Used up all the strawberries before they went bad. Put the tops in the freezer on a baking sheet, then tossed them into the frozen fruit bag for smoothies.

Bagged up some items from the pantry to take to a friend who's having a difficult time financially.

Oh are the green leafy bits edible? Good to know if so.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Poundwise on March 22, 2023, 07:55:34 PM
@Dutch Comfort  Try slicing a quarter or half cabbage into thin strings, then sauté until tender with a knob of butter, salt, pepper, and three cloves. This is a very easy and delicious preparation.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 23, 2023, 04:34:52 AM
Finished a loaf of bread from the freezer and a carton of tomato and roasted red pepper soup.

Today's goal is to make "buffalo cauliflower wings" and to eat the pickled carrots and cucumber I made last week. 
And some oven fries.  YUM.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 23, 2023, 07:38:01 AM
-Ate the last of the takeout pizza
-Finished off the curry that didn't turn out very well (I had it for lunches, vs serving it to anyone else)
-Used the last of the bread & deli meat to make a sandwich for DS17
-Used more cheese to make a quesadilla for DS16
-Finished off the last of some lettuce that was starting to turn
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 27, 2023, 11:15:58 AM
-Finished another container of non dairy milk. I stopped drinking coffee, so I've been using this up in smoothies. I have one more container to go.
-The teens finished an entire $.99 loaf of bread from the store. Much of it was eaten on the first day, as a snack. When the bread dried a bit, I made DS17 a sandwich with the rest of it (panini style)
-Used leftover fruit (freezer) in a smoothie.

Tonight I'll be using up more cabbage & carrots in an egg roll in a bowl recipe.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on March 27, 2023, 02:40:32 PM
spent the morning doing some meal prep.

Baked some potatoes we will use them for some breakfast hash this week
made hummus
peeled baby oranges with the hope that the preteen will eat them
made some orange sauce to make grilled chicken tonight
pressed some tofu to make miso soup to have with our chicken tonight
pulled out some frozen mixed veggies to throw into meals this week
put on a pot of pinto beans to eat with tacos this week
made some veggie stock to use for our miso soup tonight

I do not think we will have to go to the store this week.

A pot of rice and we should be good to go. I love it when I can be organized enough to pull this together.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on March 27, 2023, 07:35:59 PM
Successes:

:: Used a jar of peaches in a cobbler
:: Cooked another 1.5 cups of quinoa
:: Making our way through a container of crumbled feta cheese, which has way more than I realized
:: Ate another 1# of frozen diced sweet potatoes -- this has been harder than expected as they aren't well peeled and because of that don't work well in pureed soups, which is what I bought them for
:: got through the half gallon of half and half I bought 2/26 (used the last of it in the cobbler)
:: ate a few of the individual of soups I'd frozen
:: ate muffins and waffles from the freezer
:: DH has been cutting some lackluster apples and putting them into green salads
:: Got through the frozen gluten free cookie dough I made awhile ago
:: Realized we weren't going to eat the bacon or ground beef given to us by our neighbor any time soon and tossed them into the freezer ahead of the use or freeze by dates
:: DH finished the coffee leftover from college kid #1's spring break
:: got through the 3# of lemons I bought in November without any of them going bad

Failures:

:: Lost a bag of coleslaw mix.  To be fair, this is because I also had a cabbage and two heads of lettuce given to me by a neighbor (incorrect grocery delivery) and it was just too much get through.
:: Lost a container of baby spinach, also given to me by the neighbor and promptly forgotten because we don't usually buy and eat spinach -- I should have frozen it for smoothies
:: Lost three overripe bananas I was going to use to make muffins tomorrow because the adolescent puppy stole them off the counter
:: College kid #2 forgot to eat a leftover Polish sausage
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 28, 2023, 04:51:11 AM
Wins in the last week:
- Mango's were eaten as desert
- Banana's were turned into banana-oatmeal-nuts-breakfast muffins. Using up more ingredients that were on hand.
- Have not bought more snacks, so teens are still munching on the snacks in the pantry
- 1/2 jar of humus was eaten as a dip with cucumber

Failures:
- tried an oatmeal-cookie recipe that also used the maple syrup and found that the cookies were just not tasty..... have to try another recipe.....
- some leftovers were not eaten (which is not common in our household), so had to throw them into the organic waste bin.

Challenges:
- dried apricots
- brown sugar (will probably use this in the next batch of oatmeal cookies)
- some ginger that came into my fridge...... DD already requested ginger-cookies, so I might look into this
- condiments......
- those boxes of microwave popcorn........ (*insert big sigh here*)
- the cabbage.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 28, 2023, 06:46:32 PM
Some wins some losses this week on the challenge.  Managed to get a serving of peanut noodles out of freezer and into DS. Ate a serving of lentil vegan Bolognese from the freezer, but I was a bit too heavy handed w the crushed red pepper and it is spicy!! Maybe I can mix in a can of regular crushed tomatoes to dilute it. Or maybe just declare it a loss. Only 1-2 servings left, but I really hate to waste food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on April 07, 2023, 05:22:17 PM
I know we've been quiet on this thread, but I thought I would post how we are (mostly) eating what we already have for our Easter dinner.  Here is the menu:

:: Greek Butterflied Leg of Lamb
:: Greek Tofu
:: Lemon Rice Pilaf
:: Roasted Peppers & Onions
:: Greek Salad
:: Pita Bread
:: Easter / Birthday Cake (yellow cake with caramel icing)
:: Iced Tea
:: Lemonade

We had the lamb in the freezer so I started with that, choosing a Greek marinade.  We have a family member who doesn't eat lamb, so my kid asked if we had any tofu we could make (kid really wants lamb and didn't want me to completely change the main course).  We do have tofu, and need to use it soon anyway.  I always have rice on hand.  The roasted peppers and onions are a frozen blend that we really like.  One reason the Greek theme came up was I have some feta we need to get through, so Greek salad it is.  Pita bread is made from pantry staples.  The cake will be a doctored up gluten free mix slightly past it's best by date, with from scratch icing.  We have tea in the pantry as well as a bottle of organic lemon juice to make lemonade with.

I had to buy the following: lemons (I used the last of mine a couple of weeks ago), garlic (was also out of fresh garlic and didn't want to use powder in the marinade), red onion, parsley, tomatoes, cucumber, a green bell pepper, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, a box of pudding mix (for the cake), and milk.  I spent about $25 but will have lemons, garlic, tomatoes, butter, sugar, and milk leftover.  If I'd been able to buy exactly the amount of each item I needed I would have spent under $10.  Not bad for a holiday meal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on April 10, 2023, 07:11:38 AM
Made Paska for Easter and was able to use almonds and raisins which were getting old in my cupboard.
Used up meats from the freezer and made a few inexpensive but glutenfree side dishes like Quiches without crust one of them with red beets and feta. Also made Portobello mushrooms baked with olive oil, garlic and thyme (from the garden) and egg and was able to use up leftover homemade garlic butter in them.
Made salad dressing from scratch and was able to use up back of the cupboard dried cranberries.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 10, 2023, 08:41:05 AM
@K_in_the_kitchen - your menu sounds fantastic!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on April 12, 2023, 02:47:06 AM
I just love greek food!!!!! It sounds delicious.

We need to get into warp speed eating from the fridge/freezer/pantry, since we will leave for holiday in 2 weeks time!
So, here we go for the menu of this week:

Breakfast / lunches from the pantry/fridge (loads of bread, cereal, granola, milk and yoghurt available, so no excuse). I will not buy anything new!
Dinner:
Tonight: fresh pasta (from fridge) topped with bolognese sauce (ready to go tomato sauce from pantry and ground beef from freezer) and a side salad
Tomorrow: green beans (from fridge), baked potatoes (pantry) and pork from freezer
Friday: chicken (from feezer), rice/couscous/potatoes (pantry) and canned veggies
Saturday: leftover-day! There will be soup from freezer with bread, but also all kind of leftovers will be tabled.....

Sunday: freezer/fridge/pantry check before grocery shopping for only fresh produce!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 14, 2023, 01:54:11 PM
We are leaving on a trip tomorrow, so we need to clear the fridge. So far:
-I had a small amount of chicken leftover from dinner last night, as breakfast
-I'm adding an egg to some leftover fried rice, and having that for lunch
-We will all be eating burgers or the delivery service meals (an experiment, thanks to an almost free offer from work), and/or freezing the rest.

I also had to toss some pasta that was in the back of the fridge, & didn't get eaten.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on April 14, 2023, 06:12:54 PM
I took a peek into the fridge today and realized I need to get going on several things if I want to avoid food waste!

:: I used a package of zucchini for our midday main meal, paring away some areas starting to decay
:: I cooked two small steaks (5 oz.) that have been in the freezer since last summer, eating around some gristle and giving those bits to the dog.  Even DH remarked on the gristle, which is one reason we gave up ButcherBox
:: I cooked another batch of quinoa --the funny thing is that working my way through this jar of quinoa from January 2022 has rekindled a love of quinoa
:: I chopped up the leftover lamb and froze it in small batches for kid #2 to use in fried rice

Looking ahead:
:: there's a quart of milk that needs to be used soon -- I'm thinking of some sort of chowder
:: there's also a cup or so of heavy cream on the verge of souring
:: there's a small amount of shredded coleslaw mix -- I'll probably cook it and serve it with eggs and sweet potato
:: I hard cooked two dozen eggs last Saturday and we haven't gotten through them as quickly as I expected (in part because our Easter guest, who usually takes home eggs, didn't want to this year).  With the dairy, I could make creamed eggs and serve them on toast or biscuits
:: I bought 5# of small potatoes and forgot about them

Losses:
:: half a bunch of green onions
:: a small amount of chopped red onion
:: a pint of broth leftover from making a pot roast that got shoved to the back and forgotten about
:: about 1 cup of cooked rice pilaf
:: 1/4 of a package of smoked wild salmon (this one hurts, but is also a lesson in not buying it if the family isn't going to eat it even though they say they will)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on April 16, 2023, 04:43:49 AM
@K_in_the_kitchen, how about a frittata or baked egg dish?  That's my favorite (tasty) way to use up eggs, milk, potatoes and any other bits of vegetables! 

https://aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/crustless-quiche/

this is a basic recipe I use, but it is endlessly customizable!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on April 17, 2023, 07:58:23 AM
One week to go before our trip. Breakfast and lunches still from fridge/pantry.

Dinners:
- Monday: cauliflower, sausage and potatoes
- Tuesday: more potatoes, green beans and meatloaf
- Wednesday: pasta
- Thursday: hopefully last of the potatoes, spinach, eggs
- Friday: leftovers (or whatever is in the fridge/freezer)
- Saturday: leftovers (or whatever is in the fridge/freezer)

Wins:
- made a large batch of coleslaw yesterday from that large cabbage head I still had around. Also used some mustard for the dressing. Used half of the cabbage and gave half of it to my mother who will use it this week. 1 serving of coleslaw remaining.
- yesterday's pulled chicken used up some condiments (BBQ sauce) from the fridge and fed a party of 8 with leftovers in the freezer for probably 4 servings.
- made apple pie from flour/eggs/butter I had in the pantry (just had to buy the apples). There are leftovers, which will be desert for today/tomorrow.
- DS wanted some pasta after soccer game on Saturday. This used up a leftover of pasta sauce which was in the fridge and 1 serving of special shaped pasta (either Halloween or Christmas) from the pantry.

Hoping for an empty fridge on Sunday when we will leave for a week in Portugal and enjoy the great food there......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Treedream on April 28, 2023, 02:02:59 AM
I spend way too much on groceries and take out in April, so I am gonna try to do better in May.

I have enough in the house for
- pita with shoarma and vegetables x2
- Pasta tomatosauce x2 (pasta sauce needs to be used, or it will get moldy)
- Bami (only need to buy noodles, vegetables need to get eaten, otherwise they go off) x2
- 3 bean curry (need to buy rice)

I really need to eat some vegetables (and I have a ton in the fridge), cause I think I ate pizza 5 days in a row (I was ill this week, but still)

I have enough for breakfast for weekdays till Wednesday, and if I buy some bread I have enough for lunch as well. But I could use some fruit.

So the plan is:
Friday: Bami
Saturday: Pasta with tomatoesauce
Sunday: massive pot of 3 bean curry for leftovers

This should give enough leftovers for Monday and Tuesday and to freeze some.

All I need to buy is:
- rice
- noodles
- fruit
- bread

Besides that, does anyone have any ideas what to do with a random jar of barbeque sauce?


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 28, 2023, 04:55:08 PM
@Treedream - do you have access to a grill? If so, I'd marinate chicken in the barbecue sauce, and then grill it. If I didn't have access to a grill, I'd bake the chicken, and baste additional barbecue sauce on top during grilling.

April was a wild month for us, and that's evident across pretty much every dimension of our lives. But, we're getting back into the action! Today was a really productive day, which felt nice, after a month of minimal productivity. I also used very inexpensive meal plan offers (some sort of arrangement through our work) & we have a lot of food from that.

We currently have too much food available, so:
-I froze the leftover grilled chicken that we won't finish
-Ate orange chicken/fried rice for breakfast
-Had leftover enchilada meatballs & rice for lunch. I have about one more serving of this (food delivery meal) & I may need to freeze it
-We have at least three tacos work of turkey taco fillings, and shells. May need to freeze the fillings. The shells will get used up quickly
-I have, very unusually, both pita bread & sourdough bread in my fridge. I was jet lagged & very hungry when I went to Trader Joes this week. Fed one teen a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner last night
-I wrapped up the last of the Trader Joes chicken salad as a light dinner with crackers & fruit last night, and my husband had the curry version (I didn't really like this) with breakfast this morning. Both are finished
-Teens finished all of the blueberries, and two containers of strawberries. My husband bought two bunches of bananas! These are the bane of my food managing existence. He is really insistent on buying them, at the end of every week, we usually have 3-4 from one bunch. This week, we have at least 10. We have plenty of banana bread in the freezer already ... ;-)
-And, I still have some fried rice that I need to use up. And 1.5 bags of salad. And, all of the salad greens growing in the beds. Plus, I desperately need to trim back all of the herbs, and offer all that we won't use to our neighbors.

Tonight I'll be making a meal delivery dinner of chicken with broccoli & peppers. I thought this delivery service was very meh. However, it cost $19 for a week, and that came with three dinners, serving three people. So, it was really cheap & easy to prepare, which was welcome during my very jet lagged week. We have it again next week, and then it will be canceled.

I also have a ton of Factor dinners in the freezer. Similarly, I purchased a meal delivery service a few weeks ago, and then promptly got sick, and didn't eat much for just over a week. We were heading out of town, so I froze the remainders. Those need to get eaten as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on April 30, 2023, 05:32:49 PM
We made some progress on the food:
-Finished the enchilada meatballs/rice, & froze the rest
-Had turkey tacos for dinner, froze the rest
-Made three grilled cheese sandwiches for hungry teens, and used up almost all of the sourdough bread
-Had to toss the fried rice :-(
-Dinner of chicken & broccoli/peppers was all eaten, no leftovers
-Bagged salad one is complete, and there is about 1/4 of the last bag available.

I made 3 pounds of taco meat today, and froze 2/3 of it. 1/3 of it will be dinner for myself & DS16, and we will have another taco dinner during the week. DS17 & DH are likely stopping for In & Out on their way back from a far away soccer game, with friends.

My husband made a huge dinner of kebabs & rice last night, and one teen was late for a birthday party (skipped dinner) & the other fell asleep before we ate (got up early for soccer, still jetlagged). So, we also have a giant amount of rice & kebabs in the fridge to eat this week. Oh, and the delivery dinners. .. . what have I done?!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Treedream on May 01, 2023, 02:00:53 AM
@Treedream - do you have access to a grill? If so, I'd marinate chicken in the barbecue sauce, and then grill it. If I didn't have access to a grill, I'd bake the chicken, and baste additional barbecue sauce on top during grilling.

I probably should have mentioned I eat plantbased. So I am looking for veg or legumes or other to pair with it. I am thinking roasted cauliflower might work with BBQ sauce?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 01, 2023, 08:17:18 AM
@Treedream - do you have access to a grill? If so, I'd marinate chicken in the barbecue sauce, and then grill it. If I didn't have access to a grill, I'd bake the chicken, and baste additional barbecue sauce on top during grilling.

I probably should have mentioned I eat plantbased. So I am looking for veg or legumes or other to pair with it. I am thinking roasted cauliflower might work with BBQ sauce?

Yeah, I'd go with cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, tofu, or what about halloumi? Use in a baked bean recipe?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 01, 2023, 01:11:42 PM
@Treedream , I also eat plant based and I like this recipe for lentil meatballs which goes with BBQ sauce:

https://veganwithcurves.com/bbq-lentil-balls/

Hope this helps!

Tonight we are having cobb salads with avocado, red onions, tomatos, english cucumbers, bell peppers etc with red lentil patties for me and crispy chicken for the lad.  DH is working through the freezer abundance by making an eye round
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 02, 2023, 07:24:41 AM
Back from a great trip and back to the challenge!
The fridge is in good condition. We emptied it before the trip, so that was good and it is nice and clean now.
The freezer is still quite full. Will work on that this week.
The pantry is getting in shape. The best thing is that DH mentioned yesterday that there was nothing good to snack on in the pantry and I could just reply that he had a choice: eat what's in there or not eat snacks, which is better for his health.....

Challenges:
- Freezer contents: icecream popsicles, spinach, various meat varieties, leftovers
- Pantry: few pasta varieties, microwave popcorn, herbs and spices
- Fridge: some condiments and sauces

Teens are home this week, so they will help on finishing several items for breakfast and lunches (and snacks...... don't forget snacks with teens!).


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 06, 2023, 03:32:27 PM
-Made protein bars for DS17, using up some Trader Joes instant oatmeal packs (sea salt & chocolate variety) that I picked up off of Buy Nothing. Definitely didn't enjoy the flavor on its own, but they are great in protein bars. I have one package left from the box, so I'll add that to my next round of protein bars as well. In related news, I heated up some very crystalized honey, and used that in the bars, and had a tiny bit of leftover Trader Joes spring Easter mix mini chocolates, and dumped that in as well, in lieu of chocolate chips.
-Defrosted bread for garlic bread, vs buying more.
-Convinced DS17 to eat the dill pickle popcorn that's been lingering
-Finished off all of the bananas that were fine to eat, froze the rest. Because, of course, bananas
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 09, 2023, 04:51:38 AM
Wins last week:
- teens managed to get through a lot of food. Unfortunately, still a lot remaining in the pantry.
- had leftover/freezer dinner on Saturday: burgers, soup and a lingering Turkish pizza made its way out of the freezer!
- spinach dish on Friday. Happy teen since it is her favorite.
- did a good grocery run. Only took produce and other fresh items. Rest will come from pantry/freezer

This week we need to go through some fresh products because we will be out next weekend:
- yoghurts
- all kinds of cheese scraps (if not eaten this week, I will grate them and freeze the grated cheese)
- 2 zuchini
- fresh produce (cucumbers / tomatoes / bell peppers / lettuce)

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 09, 2023, 04:59:40 AM
Wow.  I have some work to do on this thread....  The past month or so has been a big restock of the pantry and freezer and I may have overdone it after a very successful eat through the freezer winter.  I also hit some really good sales on bread and meats, so the freezer is stuffed. 

Today I will eat a bagged salad and some produce drawer scragglers and a piece of avocado toast (the hardship!!) for lunch and leftover parmesan polenta with roasted veg for dinner.  DH will eat some of the pork chops and DS will have a sandwich for dinner (which is weirdly one of his favorites---I think because they get hot meals at lunch at his school) which will use up some of the bread and remainder of lunch meats, and have some salad or carrot sticks with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 13, 2023, 06:40:07 AM
made coconut flour cookies to try to work through the stockpile of coconut flour

made peanut noodles to use some of the rice noodles

made homemade kind bars to finish off the almonds and chocolate chips and make a dent in the shredded coconut

slow but steady progress through my dry goods.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 13, 2023, 07:45:41 AM
We ate all of our leftovers this week, which was a nice surprise. We also ate through almost all of the produce, so we'll stock up again today. I have a work trip & leave tomorrow am, so we'll see how my husband & the teens do with not creating waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on May 15, 2023, 12:39:50 PM
Made a loaf of bread to work through a flour and yeast stash. Actually, I made one failed loaf realizing that the yeast I had bought during COVID and stored in the freezer was obviously no longer viable. Threw that out and found some packages of yeast that "expired in Dec 2022," so I used one of those and it was successful. We have an abundance of lunch meat DH brought home for a trip, so we'll pack sandwiches on homemade bread this week to use all of the lunch meat.

I have an abundance of garden produce so I'm trying to come up with the freezer meals to both preserve the harvest and make creating a dinner a little easier using things in the freezer. Tonight I'm going to make a green bean casserole for the freezer using an abundance of fresh green beans. When I'm ready to serve, I'll thaw, bake and then top with the fried onion pieces right before serving.

Now, I need to find a freezer friendly yellow squash recipe; my standard squash casserole contains a lot of dairy so I don't believe it will freeze well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on May 16, 2023, 05:05:18 PM
I learned today that you can make pesto out of frozen basil. I have been trying to figure out what to do with a gallon of frozen basil from last years garden.

My preteen is going to be so dang happy. She loves pasta with pesto and peas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on May 16, 2023, 06:39:02 PM
I'll be jumping back into this, as we found out we have termites and will be tented in 6 weeks.  I hate prepping for tenting (this will be the third time in nearly 30 years, and second time at this house), so the family has been put on alert that we will be eating all of the food in our house to the exclusion of other foods, with the exception of perishables that can't be substituted.  So we start with the frozen and canned fruit and I'll buy fresh fruit once those are gone.  They can all eat calrose rice when we run out of basmati (soon) and complain about it.  There are many many many gallon jars and buckets of bulk grains and legumes we have to eat, as well as a chest freezer full of food.  I imagine this will be more extreme than our February pantry challenge was.

Today we ate a can of Aldi cinnamon rolls as part of breakfast, along with rolled oats with brown sugar for some of us.  We finished the quinoa from 2022 and started the bag I bought right before I found out about the termites.  I also made a quinoa salad which finished off the open jar of kalamata olives and used some of the open artichoke hearts, as well as a salad dressing I made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, and various herbs and spices (all open).  Dinner will involve two tiny steaks from the freezer, and some tater tots.

I will end up having to move or double bag some of our food, but my goal is to reduce it as much as possible.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 16, 2023, 08:22:14 PM
Ugh, @K_in_the_kitchen , I'm so sorry!

I don't have termites, but will happily join you on the pantry challenge!  I have way too many containers of grains and lentils here. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 17, 2023, 03:03:49 AM
Wins:
- yoghurts are all gone. Had the last one as breakfast today with a non-popular leftover of granola (glad this one is out, only 1 box to go...... it was a good deal to try this brand (B1G1), but will not buy it again)
- salad, tomatoes and cucumber were eaten on Thursday, a few bell peppers remaining
- zucchini will be lunch for today. Teen 1 is at home and she loves some zucchini soup as lunch. I will gladly oblige.
- fridge is in good shape (enough, but not too much in it)
- freezer is in good shape (enough, but not too much in it)
- pantry still contains a few challenges

Challenges:
- dried apricots in pantry
- condiments in fridge
- loose leave tea in pantry
- 1 box of non-popular granola in pantry
- canned veggies in pantry (I found out I have too much carrots/green peas, so I need to put these on the menu)
- few pasta varieties that we tried, but are not too happy about, but need to be eaten!

@K_in_the_kitchen , the termites-problem sounds awful.....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 18, 2023, 10:34:23 AM
made homemade Kind bars again, this time with pistachios (finished them off!) since I used up the almonds on last batch.  I also finished off the rolled oats, then bought another huge cannister because we eat them alot.

yesterday finished a packet of tempeh

tonight's dinner is lentil sloppy joes to continue to work my way through the metric ton of lentils we have in stock here and consume a packet of rolls from the freezer that I got on clearance at the grocery last month.

Am also cheating a little on this challenge....giving away several spice blends to neighbors that were sent to us as a gift.  We tried them, but they are not our taste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on May 20, 2023, 10:51:50 AM
I have an abundance of garden produce so I'm trying to come up with the freezer meals to both preserve the harvest and make creating a dinner a little easier using things in the freezer. Tonight I'm going to make a green bean casserole for the freezer using an abundance of fresh green beans. When I'm ready to serve, I'll thaw, bake and then top with the fried onion pieces right before serving.

Now, I need to find a freezer friendly yellow squash recipe; my standard squash casserole contains a lot of dairy so I don't believe it will freeze well.
[Af/quote

I think this would also work with yellow squash.  You might need to initially add some water since I think zucchini is more watery than yellow squash.  Not a "meal" but an easy way to concentrate squash so it takes up less space in the freezer.   After freezing/defrosting I sneak use it on pizza or in pasta, risotto or soup.
https://foodinjars.com/recipe/zucchini-butter/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on May 21, 2023, 09:46:12 AM
I'm back from an international work trip, and had to clean some leftovers out of the fridge. I have no clue what my husband/the kids ate while I was gone, but I'm settling back in & menu planning for the week ahead.

-I ate leftovers from a meal delivery meal (it wasn't that great) over a salad last night.
-I also pawned off a bagel I got for free, onto one of the teens. That wasn't much of a hardship
-I picked up sandwich fixings for easy lunches/meals for the teens, & the loaf of bread is almost gone after one day
-I served the last piece of salmon to my husband, for dinner last night
-I cut a bunch of lettuce from the garden, washed & put it in the salad spinner. It's all prepped & ready for salads this week.

I need to pick up more oatmeal, so I can make protein bars for a teen. It's his favorite pre-soccer snack. Tonight we're having grilled burgers & salad, with a dessert of berries. Yum.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on May 21, 2023, 10:28:35 AM
had a bagel with avocado and tomato for lunch (I know, I know...the hardship...) but it got a bagel out of the freezer.

Dinner tonight is leftover lentil sloppy joes for me (working through a mountain of lentils), roasted sweet potato and roasted Idaho potato with london broil for the fellas.

Tomorrow night is either "mexican lasagne" to use up some of the pinto beans and corn tortillas in the freezer or french onion gnocchi to use up some of the gnocchi in the pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on May 21, 2023, 03:12:22 PM
I used three different small bags of ground wheat to make a double batch of muffins (and used 5 spotty bananas), plus 1/2 C. out of a bag of ground einkorn.  The termite plan involves saving my buckets of hard white wheat berries, einkorn berries, and White Sonora wheat berries, but I do need to eat all the remnants in the freezer that have already been ground.  I also used some of the all purpose flour I have, with the hope to get down to one bucket of flour before we tent.  The muffins also used baking powder, salt, brown sugar, and vanilla extract, which I'd rather use up than have to double bag.

I made potato tacos which used some of the corn tortillas, some of the open avocado oil, and the final 2# of frozen diced potatoes, along with an open but I'll probably have to keep buying onions to get through June.  As a bonus I cut up a leftover chicken breast and my kid ate that in their tacos, and we ate the avocados that had all gone ripe at once.

The tater tots have all been eaten (and I don't plan to buy them again for my youngest).  We made smoothies to get through some of the frozen fruit, dates, and macadamia butter.  We ate a bag of pasta shells.  The guys ate the package of bagels from the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on May 22, 2023, 04:01:06 AM
The (long) weekend used up a few items only:
- 1 can of carrots/peas (3 more to go) with 1 bag of fries from freezer and some chicken from freezer on Friday
- part of the open bag of couscous and 1/2 bag of unpopular pasta made it into salads to go with the BBQ on Saturday.
- 1/2 bag of another unpopular pasta made it into an oven dish on Sunday (oven dish was completely gone, because teen 2 really loved it and took 3 (!) servings)
- all but 1 bell pepper got used in the salads and oven dish
- 1 can of corn was used in the salads as well
- various condiments were used during BBQ and while preparing the oven dish

Fail:
- I missed a package of sliced italian sausage in the fridge which was now way past due date and not smelling well. It went out.

This week challenge:
- finish leftover salads (I'm hoping teen 1 will already polish off her favorite today)
- use 1 zucchini and 1 bell pepper
- finish the fresh fruit (melon, bananas, strawberries, kiwis and a few apples)

And the ones from last time are still valid
- dried apricots in pantry
- condiments in fridge
- loose leave tea in pantry
- 1 box of non-popular granola in pantry
- canned veggies in pantry (I found out I have too much carrots/green peas, so I need to put these on the menu - 3 cans remaining)
- few pasta varieties that we tried, but are not too happy about, but need to be eaten! (found out that pasta salad or oven dish will be the way to go in our household)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on May 26, 2023, 07:10:56 PM
I've been living with extended family and will be moving into my own home in a week. In the meantime I've barely been cooking, someone here cooks and I've been the primary chef in my family for a long time. Excited to get back to more familiar routines with foods.

Recent successes (in a place where leftovers often get tossed before I have a chance to get to them)

- Made salmon cakes with some leftover salmon, froze the remainder for future salmon cakes
- Finished off leftover flank steak
- Finished off some extra strawberries with the last of the cottage cheese
- Ate the last string cheese
- Finished the last of the vanilla ice cream
- Picked through a slightly soggy salad bag and ate all the still good lettuce out of it
- Finished off some weird greek cheese dip from Trader joes (probably won't buy it again)
- Ate the last of the almond crackers
- Used up the last of the nut granola
- Tossed some almond chips that were nasty
- Finished some chocolate that had been lost in the fridge
- Used up the family's rando veggies for a salad


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Freedomin5 on May 27, 2023, 12:38:28 AM
We are leaving for our summer holidays in two weeks. We have been eating down our frozen foods, including frozen dumplings, frozen meats, veggies in our fridge, and nonperishables, since we will be gone for two months.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on May 28, 2023, 03:16:29 PM
:: made broth from a chicken carcass from the freezer, some baby carrots, and a red onion that had been hanging around in the fridge for a month or so
:: ate three frozen 2 C. cubes of mashed potatoes
:: cooked one of the spiral hams from the freezer
:: made a hash with frozen diced sweet potatoes, some cabbage, and half a red onion leftover from making quinoa salad
:: pup was unwell, used 1 C. of frozen chicken broth, a jar of chicken baby food, and a can of pumpkin
:: more smoothies were eaten
:: cooked another 2# of pasta with 2 jars marinara, plus some tortelloni and pesto
:: baked 4 loaves whole wheat bread, using wheat berries, and realized I might get through the bucket before we tent
:: used some brown and red lentils to make soup, which also used some frozen mirepoix
:: offered a bag of frozen green beans to my kid to use as an ice pack for a bad bee sting reaction
:: cooked another 15# or so of calrose rice (I've been cooking 5.25 pounds every 3-4 days, sanitizing with a hydrogen peroxide solution to help make it safe to eat for a longer period of time)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 08, 2023, 04:08:14 AM
Only 4 weeks to go till our camping holiday. Fridge and freezer need to be empty by then. Pantry should be reasonably sized at that time.

Wins:
- unpopular box of granola is nearly finished (only 1 serving left)
- fruit is almost gone (1 melon and 1 kiwi left, will be eaten in the next days)
- only 1 leftover in the fridge, which is already claimed by DS for his saturday lunch
- 1 bag of couscous was finished. Found another bag in the back of the pantry.
- 1 bag of unpopular pasta was finished. About 2-3 to go!
- 1 bottle of unpopular BBQ sauce was finished.
- I only bought fresh items for 2 days this week. Today marks day 4 and we're still good to go!

Need to work on:
- freezer inventory: bread, some meats and icecream popsicles
- fridge inventory: condiments, sauces, yoghurts and sliced meat
- pantry inventory: unpopulars (pasta, couscous, snacks, cookies...... the populars go real quick, but now we really have to work on the unpopulars.....)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 17, 2023, 10:40:41 AM

:: cooked another 15# or so of calrose rice (I've been cooking 5.25 pounds every 3-4 days, sanitizing with a hydrogen peroxide solution to help make it safe to eat for a longer period of time)

I'm curious about this... did something happen to your dry rice? And how are you eating so much of it???
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 17, 2023, 10:50:13 AM
Some wins:

- Hubby ate the other bag of weird almond chips that I hated
- Salvaged a sandwich that one kid refused, dressed it up and grilled it for a different kid to eat
- Used up some older bagged lettuce with some different bagged lettuce condiments
- Finished a different bag of almond crackers
- Ate a leftover porkchop with leftover rice, seasoned it, added the last of some cream cheese and leftover veggies. It was delicious!
- Hubby is working his way through some leftover homemade fried chicken breasts, and used the last of some condiments with them
- using up some frozen lunch meat

Some losses:

- tossed the last of a hummus container, it smelled like wine
- tossed a rotisserie chicken carcass that probably had 10% of the meat left on it. Will reassess my ability to entirely finish one before buying another
- tossed some grilled corn that I'd bought for cheap and was gross even the day we made it
- tossed a bunch of eggs that had gone bad
- kid made fresh bread and it molded within 3 days. Will make sure people are prepared to eat tons of bread before kiddo cooks again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on June 17, 2023, 03:11:11 PM
- tossed a rotisserie chicken carcass that probably had 10% of the meat left on it. Will reassess my ability to entirely finish one before buying another

For future reference, not-quite-finished rotisserie chickens make the best soup stock... :-) 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on June 18, 2023, 11:39:45 AM

:: cooked another 15# or so of calrose rice (I've been cooking 5.25 pounds every 3-4 days, sanitizing with a hydrogen peroxide solution to help make it safe to eat for a longer period of time)

I'm curious about this... did something happen to your dry rice? And how are you eating so much of it???

Cooked rice is a breeding ground for bacillus cereus, and the bacteria can be present even when reheated.  Cyclists have taken to making rice cakes to take on longer rides (usually layer of cooked rice, a layer of something like pb&J, eggs, apples and cinnamon, etc.), so to minimize the risk of food poisoning a sports medicine MD researched using hydrogen peroxide to clean the rice ahead of cooking.  My kid does make the rice cakes, but also likes to make a big vat of rice and eat it for a couple of days, so we clean the rice with peroxide.  In our experience it definitely extends the life of the cooked rice.

As to how we go through so much rice, there are currently 3 young adults in my house full time -- my youngest, my oldest (completive athlete), and an athlete teammate visiting for a month, plus my youngest's partner is here about half the time.  However, I decided that the young adults need to make the rice if they want it, so consumption has backed down and they've been buying a lot of bagels from Aldi.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 19, 2023, 08:10:01 AM
We are going to move to another part of the country, in August or September. There is no good reason to move food that can be bought there in a shop. So from now on we will empty the cupboards before buying new groceries.

Today I got grounded beef from the freezer. I also packed a packet of dried tortellini pasta for our camping trip next weekend.

I did shop milk, orange juice, a pack of feta cheese, a few fresh veggies and bananas. And some bread, as I don't have the capacity now to bake my own bread all the time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 19, 2023, 08:16:53 AM
-Defrosted some barbecued chicken for dinner, when we got home late from a flight yesterday.
-Served that with a bag of fried rice (Trader Joes) & a couple of eggs mixed in
-Used lettuce & cucumber from the garden in our salad
-Defrosted a meal delivery dinner (I only have a few left to finish off) for an in a pinch meal this week

We were able to keep our grocery stop really light this week, as we were out of town this weekend at my nephew's graduation party, and head out of town on Friday for a family wedding.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on June 20, 2023, 02:46:04 AM
Wins:
- unpopular granola is GONE!!!!
- just 1 leftover in the fridge, which will be lunch for me!
- first dent in the found bag of couscous
- 1/2 bag of unpopular pasta was finished
- had a BBQ at my parents house and brought freezer items (some sausages and some burgers). My mum also had freezer items and we managed to have just a few leftovers (pasta-salad / couscous salad, from my pantry items) which my teens will eat this week.
- sliced meat got used on lunch wraps and pizza
- used ground beef from freezer to prepare enough meatballs for 2 dinners (last one tonight)
- made some oatmeal banana muffins this morning. Teens had a 2nd breakfast (after already eating the pasta-salad/couscous salad for 1st breakfast..... (and still skinny as a bone....)).

Losses:
- 1 zucchini
- 1/2 bag of lettuce
- 1/2 banana (other half was used in said muffins)

Challenges:
- less than 3 weeks to go till our holiday...... the great cleanout begins
- freezer: 10 Turkish pizza's are waiting. Bread and some meats are still in. Icecream popsicles are being eaten in a steady pace.
- fridge: pretty good shape! Since teens will be at home for the last two weeks, they will keep the fridge inventory down.
- pantry: OK-ish...... still finding items that need to be used and put them on the menu for this/next week (hello canned veggies......)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 20, 2023, 11:14:36 AM
have put myself on a "no new grains/beans/legumes/pasta/rice" regime as the pantry is STILL full after a year of this challenge.    The major culprit is buying a grain for a recipe and then not using the rest of the box.  ie bought bulgur to make a falafel salad, barley for split pea barley soup, farro for a summer salad, etc.  And then my beloved brother shows love with gifts of food.  So I have 4 x 4lb bags of dried lentils/peas/etc on top of all of this.  so.....

Tonight is pesto pasta salad with mozzarella balls and tomato served with broccoli and zucchini.  That will probably serve us a couple of meals.  Later in the week is leftover lentil sloppy joes (from the freezer) served over bulgur wheat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 21, 2023, 07:34:39 AM
-Ate another meal delivery service dinner (frozen). I did a two week subscription as a trial, and got sick the second week, so froze all of the dinners (10 or 14, in total). They are fantastic in a pinch, but take up a lot of space in the freezer.
-DS 16 ate three garden cucumbers & a large tomato for a snack
-We continue to use up lettuce, basil & peppers from the garden for salads

Focus for the next few days (we're heading out of town to a wedding this weekend):
-Leftover barbecued chicken
-Salmon (my husband will eat this)
-Chicken fajitas
-A few grilled burgers
-Some fresh fruit that needs to be eaten
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 22, 2023, 07:43:20 AM
Yesterday I used up the last chicken filet, a pack of lentils, a pack of diced tomatoes, a pack of coconut milk and several veggies from the freezer, as well as my own fresh veggies from that day.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 22, 2023, 12:13:36 PM
Killed off the tail of a french bread, some garden tomatoes and mini mozz balls and roasted red peppers as a flat bread/pizza for lunch. Yum!

Tonight is breakfast for dinner to use up some frozen shredded potatoes and eggs
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on June 22, 2023, 09:03:25 PM
We are working through lots of pantry/freezer food in preparation for our fumigation.

In addition to what we've eaten (I've been too busy to keep track), today I gave away the following through my Buy Nothing group:

16# white popcorn
25# calrose rice
20# einkorn berries
2 bottles of apple cider vinegar
2 packages of gluten free spaghetti
1 box gluten free mac and cheese
2# raw cashews
3# raw almonds

I consider this a win since we aren't wasting the food.  I'm using the fumigation as an opportunity to simplify my pantry and freezer.  For example, last time I ordered heirloom grains I bought White Sonora for the first time, along with 25# of einkorn.  The White Sonora bakes up like a dream in muffins, as if they weren't 100% whole wheat, and I just wasn't reaching for the einkorn.  Rather than let it languish and take up space in the pantry, I decided to give it away. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 23, 2023, 06:34:56 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I think donations are definitely a win!!! no food waste and supporting your community are a double win actually!

I'm plodding through my pantry-- hard to see progress because dried beans and grains move so slowly.  My bigger problem is I much prefer fresh foods, so I only eat the stored up stuff if I avoid the grocery.  For example, I need to eat some of the beans and rice and pasta, but I'd much rather eat a fresh potato for my carbs.  So....the challenge continues....
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on June 24, 2023, 03:08:55 AM
Yesterday I was alone for dinner. I ate eggplant and bell pepper from the freezer, some fresh tomato, a pack of feta cheese from the fridge and lots of greens from my own pots outside.

This morning I used whole grain flower and 2 eggs to make pancakes. For topping, I will finish up an almost empty box of honey.

This evening I will eat some chicken that I bought with all sorts of stuff from the freezer, probably tinned or frozen beans. For tomorrow night I plan to make a salad from minced carrot and minced celeriac, together with some cream I bought. I'll use saucages or so from the freezer.

On Monday, the last day home before a new trip, we will eat only meat and veggies from the freezer, probably in the form of a curry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on June 24, 2023, 09:25:49 AM
New house foods consumed:

- I ate a yogurt that the kids kept avoiding
- finished off a GF granola
- working through some older farm eggs (and thorougly smell testing each before eating)
- finished my favorite green hot sauce. Not allowed to buy another til I finish the red hot sauce
- the family consumed all the leftovers from a large meal we hosted - pasta, sauce, sausages etc
- ate the last of a bagged salad before it went bad

Old house (DH is currently there) consumed:

- frozen cauliflower pizza
- some steaks
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on June 24, 2023, 10:47:53 AM

I'm plodding through my pantry-- hard to see progress because dried beans and grains move so slowly.  My bigger problem is I much prefer fresh foods, so I only eat the stored up stuff if I avoid the grocery.  For example, I need to eat some of the beans and rice and pasta, but I'd much rather eat a fresh potato for my carbs.  So....the challenge continues....

I have similar struggles here -- I'd rather make a potatoes or sweet potatoes, I'd rather use fresh produce than frozen, etc.  But then we'll get into a busy time, and it makes sense to buy frozen vegetables, only to find that once things calm down I won't go to them.  Stocking up right before pandemic lockdowns (I could see them coming, so we had a week or so before everything went crazy), I came to realize that nothing is going to make us want to eat canned foods on a regular basis.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 24, 2023, 11:14:07 AM
Working my way through some cereal grains.  Have discovered I like it with walnuts and berries so hopefully will continue to work through my stores.  Trying to hybridize my love of fresh stuff and "eating all the food in my pantry".
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on June 26, 2023, 12:24:11 PM
Back from our second traveling weekend in a row. We now have a break for a few weeks. It's been a busy summer so far.

-We got home from the airport late last  night, and had chicken (freezer) & salmon. We have enough salmon for my husband to finish it off for dinner tonight
-We are out of lettuce, so I need to pick garden lettuce today for our dinner
-For lunch, I'll eat the remaining mac & cheese & part of a sandwich
-I need to wash & cut the strawberries that are left in the fridge, and then freeze them for smoothies
-For dinner tonight, I'll finish off a bagged salad, and one of my last two dinner delivery meals.

I made an easy menu plan for the rest of the week, as our teens are with my parents until Thursday. Cooking for two is definitely an adjustment, so I treat it as a good opportunity to clean out the fridge/freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on June 28, 2023, 07:12:14 PM
Today I've been clearing the house of food in preparation for fumigation.  I was able to move everything that was left in the house refrigerator into the van fridge, but didn't have room for all of the frozen items.  I kept the open frozen fruit in the house and we'll have smoothies for breakfast, and then I'll see if I can cram anything else into the van freezer.  I didn't have room for all of my bread, do I'm sending a loaf home with a friend.  Really though, we did really well.  I really wanted the refrigerator and outside freezer empty because I don't want to risk a power outage.

I did lose a 5# bag of peas from the outside freezer -- I went to move it and there was a hole in it, and the peas didn't look so great for having been in the freezer unprotected.  Going forward, I only plan to buy a single bag of peas when I plan to make spiced potatoes.

The pantry was easier because I was able to double bag what we didn't get through in the special bags.  There's nothing like having to put your hands on every single package/jar/can/bin/canister/bucket of food to make you realize how much you have.  There is a double bag just of tea -- boxes and boxes (bought in bulk from Amazon to save money), plus all the bags I had in the organizers, plus tins of loose teas that DH drinks.

I also came face to face with the downsides of storing most of our pantry staples in glass!  The jars don't fit well in the special bags, or at least we didn't have enough bags to try to make it work.  So I decanted every glass jar -- gallons, half gallons, quarts, and pints.  Over the past week I've washed every food jar in my house.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on June 29, 2023, 05:51:01 AM
Slowly working through dry goods...making pasta with a white bean sauce tonight for dinner to eat up some of the pasta bought in the pandemic era.....UGH.

Have implemented a no new grains/flours/dry goods rule in the store.  I am making substitutions to use up my stores.  This week's goal is to finish off the wild rice container.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on July 03, 2023, 12:35:55 AM
Love how y'all are still working through your pantries while I was away from this thread!

I have *finally* finished off the last two cans of peaches bought from Costco during the height of the pandemic. The came in a 4-pack. Seemed like a good idea at the time!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on July 12, 2023, 06:56:30 AM
Help wanted!
Zucchini lovers out there, would you please share a recipe for frozen zucchini noodles?

I bought a whole box of them a couple month ago very cheap thinking we would eat them (we are doing keto).
After trying them the rest just takes up space in our freezer(plus now we have fresh zucchini in the garden). They taste watery and I was looking to possibly make some fritters (has to be keto though).
Did anyone have great success with frozen zucchini or has a keto recipe or an awesome recipe I could convert to keto?
Any help appreciated!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 12, 2023, 07:27:30 AM
@Anette - we've made these low carb fritters before, and they were delicious. https://gimmedelicious.com/low-carb-zucchini-fritters/
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on July 12, 2023, 10:04:16 AM
Help wanted!
Zucchini lovers out there, would you please share a recipe for frozen zucchini noodles?

I bought a whole box of them a couple month ago very cheap thinking we would eat them (we are doing keto).
After trying them the rest just takes up space in our freezer(plus now we have fresh zucchini in the garden). They taste watery and I was looking to possibly make some fritters (has to be keto though).
Did anyone have great success with frozen zucchini or has a keto recipe or an awesome recipe I could convert to keto?
Any help appreciated!

Search for a thai peanut zoodle recipe. Sauteeing them will get some of the moisture out. I generally hate zucchini but can tolerate them in this form because I love thai peanut stuff so much!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on July 12, 2023, 10:11:08 AM
Wins:
- Have been working on some free roast beef from the 4th holiday. looking at the date its going in the freezer ASAP
- swiped a skirt steak and a past its prime veggie tray from the in laws fridge. They're out of town for the next week. Fed the lizard some pepper slices and fed myself and oldest DS the broccoli and skirt steak.
- Niece finished off the frozen bagels and strawberry cream cheese
- all the 8 containers of berries bought on sale were eaten before anything went bad
- found canned ravioli at the dollar store and oldest DS is willing to take that to work. No more $10 lunches!

Losses:
- None. Its been a good week!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 12, 2023, 10:27:34 AM
-Staying on top of the lunch meat, cheese & sandwich bread (these are rare additions to our fridge, as we don't usually keep them on hand), so the teens can bring lunch to work every day.
-Almost finished with five lbs of potato salad from 4th of July (gave some of it away).
-Defrosted taco meat for a dinner, which had the bonus of using up shredded cheese
-Defrosted meatloaf for another dinner, to accompany leftover scalloped potatoes.
-Used garden tomatoes & basil with the last of some fresh basil, to make a caprese salad.

Still have leftover steak (will serve that to my husband), a bit of scalloped potatoes, and some rice & chicken. That should get us through the rest of the week.

Need to stay on top of the berries before they go bad.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 12, 2023, 10:56:27 AM
Yesterday we ate a pack of tortellini with fresh veggies.
Today we ate what was in the house: half the remaing pack of bulgur. Then a salad of lettuce, sugar beans, chard, caraway leaves and chives from my own pots and a few tomatoes from the shop while I wait for my own tomatoes to ripen. And a portion of pork from the freezer.
For later tonight, I will make filo "spring rolls" with banana and chocolate, to finish the pack of filopastry and the bananas.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 13, 2023, 07:26:11 AM
Everyone ate leftovers for dinner, which was quite helpful.
-Finished off the steak. Having to toss steak would make me feel pretty terrible, so glad this is out of the fridge.
-Almost done with the taco meat. Just a tiny bit & a small handful of shredded cheese left.
-We've wrapped up most of the chicken & rice.

Tonight's dinner will feature the remaining chicken & rice, plus meatloaf & mashed potatoes. That should clear out the meal leftovers. My husband has been making the teens fruit bowls for dessert each evening, so we are also on top of all of the fruit.

Normally I'm awash with zucchini this time of the year, but a critter of some sort has pulled every zucchini (small, large, fully grown, blossoms, etc) off of the plants. I'm so irritated! We need to put netting on them, but that's a giant hassle.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 13, 2023, 08:18:22 AM
We are well on our way eating up the meat in the top freezer drawer, which is the only place we store meat. Only 10 portions to go. After a few days vacation, we will have another 3 week left to finish that before we move to another house.

DH says he usually googles on ingredients and recipee and then finds a dish to make from what we have.

After the vacation, I will make use that method to make a dish with pasta that looks like rice. DH thinks it is a stupid product and it is better to eat either rice or pasta. I could also bring it along on the vacation and cook it on the campsite, rather than buying new pasta. I won't buy it again. Unfortunately I bought 2 bags last time and the second one has been staring at me for a year or two, or maybe three. Luckily pasta is a dried product and can be eaten for a long time.

Normally I'm awash with zucchini this time of the year, but a critter of some sort has pulled every zucchini (small, large, fully grown, blossoms, etc) off of the plants. I'm so irritated! We need to put netting on them, but that's a giant hassle.

So annoying. I do think you can get new zucchinis this season, as my are still flowering.
I think one of my two squashes is finally building a female flower. Otherwise it has only produced male flowers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on July 14, 2023, 10:47:04 AM
Post fumigation I had to do a big shop to restock us with fish, chicken, vegetables, and some pantry items.  Living with young adults, I'm finding it difficult to plan the proteins for dinners, as sometimes they say they will be here but change their minds, and sometimes they have extra guests.  Cooking fish or boneless/skinless chicken breast from frozen is working to eliminate food waste, even though the chicken is more expensive than buying whole chickens or fresh chicken on sale.  I double check with the young adults about 90 minutes before we plan to eat, and pull the meat down accordingly.

We're getting through the 15# of potatoes purchased 7/2.  I made a 5# potato salad for the 4th of July that we ate for several days afterward.  We've had baked potatoes twice, and there are about 3.5# left.  Usually potatoes soften and sprout quickly this time of year for us, but we've gotten lucky.  I plan to cook the rest of the potatoes Saturday as a big batch of Batata Bhaji.  I have a bag of sweet potatoes to cook tonight -- I scrub them then cut them in half and cook as much as I can fit in the Instant Pot, then puree the leftovers to have with breakfast.

I finished off some leftover cooked broccoli last night, and DH made a green salad as we bought lots of salad makings and then he fell off on it.  We had that with baked potatoes and chicken cooked from frozen.  I had purchased bell peppers to add to salads, and it turns out he adds the tiniest amount (I'll add half a bell pepper but he says that's too much).  So I've been pulling out the cleaned bell pepper pieces he doesn't put in the salad and setting them in front of my son as a snack.

I froze 12 ripe bananas this week, as it's hot and I'd rather not bake muffins.  They're nice in smoothies.  All of the apples got eaten, as did the 8# box of honey mangoes I bought.  We also finished off the two seedless watermelons I bought 7/1.  This week there wasn't much fruit on sale, so I bought bananas again and we'll eat frozen fruit.

The lesson I learned today is that Sprouts no longer has good produce prices, or at least isn't putting much on a really good sale.  I had wanted to switch back to doing my weekly shopping there unless the regional chain had a good produce sale, and then just hitting Costco once a month.  I'm trying to simplify and not end up at more than one store per week and definitely not go more than one day per week, even if it costs a little more, but those prices weren't just a "little more".
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 14, 2023, 01:33:48 PM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I relate so much to the challenges of feeding teens, & their unpredictable schedules! This is why we frequently have leftovers. Mine are also almost always between events (sports), and depending on the weather, intensity of the workout, overall appetite, etc, they may not want to eat before practice, or after, or prefer a light snack, etc. It makes meal planning really difficult!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on July 14, 2023, 04:49:08 PM
Thank you MaybeBabyMustache and fuzzy math for your suggestions. I shall try them out when DH is back from an Outward Bound experience near the Austrian border. While he is out and about (he is rarely gone by himself) I feel like a teenager home alone. It is hard not to eat all sorts of rubbish while no one is looking
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on July 14, 2023, 10:53:09 PM
- working through some kielbasa that the kids won't eat
- made the last of the scavenged broccoli for the kids
- made sheet pan veggies from a variety of things that have been languishing in the fridge - onion, a sweet potato, rainbow carrots and a purple cauliflower
- finished off a big yogurt with some jarred peaches the kids had abandoned


It feels like most of my existence is just being the bottom feeder among all the picky people in my home. I also do that with mostly empty toothpastes.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on July 14, 2023, 11:05:28 PM
It feels like most of my existence is just being the bottom feeder among all the picky people in my home. I also do that with mostly empty toothpastes.

If you'd prefer a different nickname, we called my dad "the human garbage disposal" when we were kids and picky eaters and he served the same role in the family... ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on July 15, 2023, 09:57:04 AM
It feels like most of my existence is just being the bottom feeder among all the picky people in my home. I also do that with mostly empty toothpastes.

My DH is our "human garbage disposal".  I used to be the one to finish the toothpaste, but at some point I gave everyone their own toothpaste and I don't even brush my teeth in the same room as them.  It used to drive me crazy that DH would want a new tube when I knew I could get 1-2 more weeks out of it, but I had to lay down my sword.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on July 15, 2023, 10:01:47 AM
@K_in_the_kitchen - I relate so much to the challenges of feeding teens, & their unpredictable schedules! This is why we frequently have leftovers. Mine are also almost always between events (sports), and depending on the weather, intensity of the workout, overall appetite, etc, they may not want to eat before practice, or after, or prefer a light snack, etc. It makes meal planning really difficult!

Mine are young adults now, and while I'd rather not be cooking for them every night, we're still providing room and board (one working on undergrad, one taking a gap year before grad school).  I can't abide the mess and stress if they have to feed themselves, and don't want the expense.

They are terrible at eating leftovers, so I really don't want to cook chicken or fish that they won't eat.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 15, 2023, 12:00:10 PM
It feels like most of my existence is just being the bottom feeder among all the picky people in my home. I also do that with mostly empty toothpastes.

My DH is our "human garbage disposal".  I used to be the one to finish the toothpaste, but at some point I gave everyone their own toothpaste and I don't even brush my teeth in the same room as them.  It used to drive me crazy that DH would want a new tube when I knew I could get 1-2 more weeks out of it, but I had to lay down my sword.

I've had to do this sooooo many times. It keeps my marriage alive. ;-) And, not worrying about every dollar spent at Costco (why duplicates?!) is cheaper than a divorce.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: oneday on July 16, 2023, 03:30:25 PM
@fuzzy math your sheet pan veggies sound amazing and not at all like bottom feeder fodder!


Victory, y'all. Brownies used up the last of the cocoa powder and the granulated sugar. So far, they are a hit with the neighbors.

In a month or so I will try to use up the unsweetend baking chocolate. And some of the sweeteners (honey, Stevia, powdered sugar, etc.) Maybe this recipe (https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Chocolate-Pots-de-Creme-1355026) (posting so I can find later).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 17, 2023, 07:04:46 AM
I'm eating a lot less (excellent news) & not snacking (also great), so I'm finding it harder to get through some of the snacks & treats in our pantry. I'm reminding myself that this is the goal, and that after those items are cleared out, I don't have to buy the same items at the same rate.

I made a knock off PF Changs lettuce wrap recipe yesterday, which was great. Had to toss a moldy onion. The recipe largely used pantry ingredients, minus the ground chicken & water chestnuts. I doubled the recipe, so we have enough for a second dinner. I served it with TJs fried rice (freezer) & a cauliflower rice for my husband, who can't have fried rice.

I also prepped & marinaded the chicken shawarma that I'll roast for dinner tonight.

As is typical for us at the start of the week, our fridge is packed. We have: at least two dinners with the chicken, another dinner with the lettuce wraps, leftover hamburgers. Tons of fruit & lots of salad fixings.

I do need to toss a tiny amount of taco meat that I assumed a teen would eat, and then didn't.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 19, 2023, 05:50:36 AM
Yesterday we ate the frozen pizzas that I bought before our vacation. I topped them with home grown tomatoes, basil, bell pepper and chili, pluss parmezan cheese from the fridge and slices of ham that we just bought in Sweden because it was cheaper than at home.

Tonight DH will cook with meat from the freezer and fresh veggies.

Tomorrow I will make a curry with homegrown beans, sugar peas, chards, kale, chili and fresh potatoes, pluss beans and kale from the freezer, as well as a chunk of frozen meat.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on July 19, 2023, 11:34:23 AM
-Used up the old pepperoni in the freezer. It topped a veggie frozen pizza that we also wanted gone. Served with a pepperoni pizza for the teens. Three items, out of the freezer!

I had a work dinner last night, so wasn't able to participate in leftover eating. In fact, I brought home most of my entree, as it was quite large.

Things that still need to be eaten this week:
-Bagged salad
-Berries
-Bananas
-Remaining burgers (use or freeze)
-Chicken shawarma (use or freeze)
-Chicken lettuce wraps + leftover fried rice

We should be able to make our way through most of this the rest of the week, but need to stay on top of it, and adjust what we pull out/put in the freezer based on teen dinner attendance.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 22, 2023, 11:32:58 AM
Today I made pasta with spinach, combined with 2 bags of dried foraged mushrooms, and from the freezer: a foraged plant and 2 homegrown plants. In addition to the leaves of caraway plants in pots outside. I used up a lot of the cheese we had.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on July 23, 2023, 03:28:05 PM
@Anette - we've made these low carb fritters before, and they were delicious. https://gimmedelicious.com/low-carb-zucchini-fritters/

Wanted to thank you again. We had a family get together at our house today for lunch and I needed vegetarian / keto / gluten free options so I made some antipasto, crust less quiche and the zucchini fritters as part of the lunch together with two dips and it worked out great. I will certainly make the fritters again.
Hope everyone had a lovely Sunday
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on July 28, 2023, 02:43:01 PM
made vegan taco lentil/walnut meat to continue to work through the oft-lamented metric shit ton of lentils in my house.  It is delicious and I am now eating it on top of salads.

Last night made white beans pasta pesto and broccoli to work through the dried white beans.  It was ok, but a bit bland.  3-4 servings left.
I also learned that white beans can be frozen in their broth. So I froze (2) 2 cup aliquots to be used in another dish.  Once the pasta is gone, I think I'll make shakshuka one night and then NYT cheesy white bean tomato bake another.

Have instituted a rule that I will make at least one meal a week with either dried lentils or dried beans (I have green lentils, brown lentils, red lentils and beluga lentils and dried white beans, pinto, kidney and black....all from the pandemic  and another with a dried grain (I have TONS of white rice, and moderate amounts of farro, bulgur, barley, wild rice, etc).  It's going to be at least a year until I need to buy any of those again.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on July 31, 2023, 01:23:46 PM
We will be moving homes in 18 days. In preparation we have eaten all but one portions of meat from the freezer. I have baked bread from all halfopen bags of whole grain flowers. There is still some frozen bread left, but that will be eaten before we move. We finished a lot of the frozen veggies. What is left is some stuff we don't want to eat anyway. Maybe it's time to ditch it.

I have also started to harvest a lot of what I am growing in pots outsides. I hope my chillies and bell peppers will get ripe, otherwise we will eat more green ones. I will dry one more batch of green chillies before giving away the plants.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 02, 2023, 08:02:20 AM
@Anette - glad to hear you enjoyed the zucchini fritters!

Our teens are with my parents this week, so we've been eating a bunch from the freezer, combined with garden veggies & steak my husband bought. We were able to thinly slice the steak, and we eat a lot less than teen boys, so we've made the steaks last.

Other things we've eaten:
-Lots of garden strawberries
-Made a Greek salad from garden tomatoes & cucumbers + feta from the fridge
-Used a bag of edamame (freezer) to accompany kebabs from the freezer
-Used a partial bag of potstickers as another side
-I finished off the last of the plums, froze all of the berries for smoothies

We also avoided a trip to the grocery store, and leave on vacation tomorrow, so we've made a huge dent in the freezer & the fridge is looking good!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on August 02, 2023, 09:30:27 AM
Well we managed to get pantry moths again in our new home 1800 miles away from the old pantry moth site. Didn't bring any food so I'm not sure how it happened. Ended up tossing only a few items (including an almond pizza crust kit that once the box was opened revealed a breeding site that could be part of a horror film). I bought a ton of clear plastic pantry organization containers (with universal lids!) and have been transferring items to them. I think its really going to help my kid's bad habits of letting small amounts of cereal languish. Its also super zen peaceful to open the pantry and just see foods instead of brightly colored packaging.

We've been eating out a lot between social events, work freebies, using up credit card food credits and mystery shopping. I've also been playing the hell out of the Safeway/Albertsons summer game and earned about $300 off of grocery purchases. The game ended yesterday and I'm kind of relieved because I was spending a large chunk of time playing and redeeming deals. I bet our grocery spend this month ends up being under $400 because of it.

Today I must strip some chicken drumsticks and remake them into a chicken marsala type thing before they go bad. I bought the drumsticks seasoned and the seasoning is really overwhelming.
Its also do or die day for a couple pasta dishes the fam has made. Going to try to pawn them off one last time (I'm GF can't eat them).

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 03, 2023, 04:10:02 PM
finished off a bag of vegetable dumplings with homemade fried rice.  One bag out of freezer before freezer burned!

Tonight made beefless bulgogi and broccoli with leftover fried rice....pretty good....now I've finished the fried rice but I have two more servings of beefless bulgogi and broccoli...which means I get to finish off the rice noodles in the pantry!!!

It is ridiculous how excited I am to be ridding myself of a package of rice noodles.

DS is out of town for next two weeks, so it's just DH and I.  We are *only* buying meat (for him) and produce for me as we are working through the pantry and freezer.  Keep tuned people!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 06, 2023, 01:49:11 AM
We are now sort of in the middle of a move. We just spent almost a week in the new house house without our stuff. Today driving back to the old house. But unfortunately I left some lettuce in a plastic bag and a self-picked mushroom in the fridge. I hope they haven't walked away when I come back in 11 days.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Zamboni on August 06, 2023, 03:10:46 PM
I'm heading overseas at the beginning of next year for a multi-month work stint. The plan right now is to sublet my place, but this plan also involves eating all the food in my house in the next 6 months.

I keep a full freezer and pretty stocked pantry, which means there's going to be plenty of baking. It began this week with:
regular banana bread, which is almost eaten already
almond flour pumpkin bread

I wonder how long I can go without going to the grocery store? Probably not that long without running out of eggs or fresh veggies, although I have some peppers and tomatoes and eggplants in the garden, so it will be interesting to see how little I can spend on food while still eating well from September-November. August and December are a lost cause with family visiting . . . I'll do my best but they will request specific things.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on August 06, 2023, 05:46:56 PM
Its blackberry season and we are picking about 2-3 quarts of berries a day. So far none of them have made it to the freezer, we keep making things with them or just eating them straight. Yesterday we hosted a bbq and made a blackberry pie. Today might be the time where we have enough that we get some in the freezer for the fall. We also picked up some apples that had fallen off a tree - we shall see if they're edible or not. This week we've got lots of sausages, potato salad, chips, pasta salads and other junky snacks to work through from the party. Game on!

Did not see any pantry moths today, I think we're finally beyond their life cycle.

I bought a giant tub of short dated spinach (marked down to $1 from $5) and the entire thing got eaten. Also finished off the chicken marsala, leftover potatoes, rice, lunchmeat and DH polished off the pasta. Finished off a creamery strawberry milk in a glass jar and got it returned to the grocery store immediately for my $2 bottle deposit back too.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on August 07, 2023, 12:12:35 AM
We are back at the "old" house, 12 days before the move. Yesterday we arrived home on Sunday late afternoon with no shops open. I investigated the cupboards and found a tin of green beans, a tin of bamboo shoots, a tin of water chestnuts and a portion bag of rice. From my own plants outside I forage green bell pepper (they are not ripe yet), some chard and kale. In the fridge I found eggs and a green homegrown chili pepper. So I threw the veggies into the wok with some asian sauces and served with boiled rice and boiled egg.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 13, 2023, 05:31:07 PM
@fuzzy math - sorry to hear about the pantry moths. Hope you've gotten them all now!

@Josiecat23503 - I'm tuned in! We similarly had no kids for 10 days or so & made a lot of progress. How are you doing?

Teens are back home, after spending time with my parents. They crushed all of the fresh food in the house, and we started digging into the berries & tomatoes in the garden. One teen ate 2 lbs of cucumbers in 2 days. My digestive system wouldn't be up for that type of challenge. He also polished off all of the carrots & hummus.

I made protein smoothies multiple times over the past few days. Those use up protein powder (free from Buy Nothing), almond milk (I can't use it in my coffee, as I discovered it bothers my stomach), & lots of berries from the freezer. It's nice to make progress on the freezer, and it's looking a lot better.

While the kids were gone, we ate plenty from the freezer, and made a dent in the entrees (leftovers) as well. Hurrah!

The fridge is now totally replenished, ready for teen athletes. Both play 2 sports, one plays 3. They are always working out, attending practice, or...eating. ;-) If we stay on top of the fresh fruit & veggies, I'll be thrilled.

I need to:
-Pick & dry thyme
-Same with the basil
-pickle some of the jalapenos. The many, many jalapenos
-Ensure we get through the fresh tomatoes
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 14, 2023, 05:14:37 PM
Hey @MaybeBabyMustache ~ *waves from the other coast*

We are doing well with the plan to only buy produce and meat and work through the pantry in the absence of DS.  That said....teenagers eat a good bit, as noted! So the pace has slowed down considerably.  Meals are being prepared which are normally good for one family dinner and a serving or two of lunch are now lasting 3 nights!!!!  DH and I are joking that we need to work on the pantry now because once he goes to college we will never get through it all!!

This week we:
 made the last of the wild rice (3 servings left in the fridge)
 Made sweet and spicy vegan meatballs, using up a bottle of chili sauce, a bottle of jelly and a packet of vegan meatballs from freezer ( 3 servings also left in fridge)
Made a delicious loaf of roasted garlic bread (learned the yeast....which expired 18mo ago.....didn't rise much, so it's more like a ciabatta....but still tasty...so we got rid of 6 cups of flour and a little jar of yeast purchased early in the pandemic.
beans alla vodka (gone) which made use of some of our dried bean stash


I have made a rule that I need to make a dish that uses either dried lentils or dried beans at least once a week.  Last week was the beans alla vodka....this week is lentils....maybe burgers?

Hope everyone is doing well!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 14, 2023, 06:49:06 PM
@Josiecat23503 - no clue how we're going to adjust our meals when the boys are out of the house. When they are gone, meal prep is so easy (we have one super picky eater), and we can actually plan how many people will be dining, and what time we are eating. That's just a dream with people in & out for various events. We typically choose to time our dinners around one kid's schedule. Because, getting everyone together is not an option. So, tonight is DS17's night. We'll have tacos before he heads off to soccer practice. Shortly after he leaves, DS16 will show up from tennis, & he'll eat a delayed version of tacos.

One of the only snacks I buy that's really "teen" friendly, and not something we'd eat is cereal. If we were left with a pantry of that, we'd be in trouble, because I'm not eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 16, 2023, 05:26:00 AM
still two servings of wild rice and sweet and spicy meatballs in fridge....and a zucchini ...

So, tonight's dinner plan is stuffed zucchini with onion, wild rice, crushed tomato etc and will save the meatballs for another day with baked potatoes.  Still amazed at how long it takes to eat through things without a hungry teenager.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on August 17, 2023, 09:23:25 AM
still two servings of wild rice and sweet and spicy meatballs in fridge....and a zucchini ...

So, tonight's dinner plan is stuffed zucchini with onion, wild rice, crushed tomato etc and will save the meatballs for another day with baked potatoes.  Still amazed at how long it takes to eat through things without a hungry teenager.

Oh man, can I come over? That sounds great. Enjoy your meal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 17, 2023, 05:55:32 PM
We continue with our plan (we've been doing this since the boys were maybe 1 & 2, when we discovered we were eating out a ton) of cooking on Friday-Sunday, and making enough for leftovers during the week. This has gotten more complicated, as it's really unpredictable to know who will be at dinner at any given time. Also, some days the boys don't want heavy meals (before practice, etc). As a result, our freezer is regularly stocked with extra dinner entrees. I'm hoping things become more predictable once school starts back up (Monday).

-I froze leftover burger my husband made, as we have way too much food going into the weekend.
-Used the last of one package of bagels for a teen lunch
-Took the other teen to lunch during what was supposed to be senior portraits, but the studio was closed with no notice. Unimpressed. DS17 & I had a lovely catch up, though, so at least there's that. We brought home leftovers, because of course more food.
-Tonight DS16 claims he'll eat with us ahead of practice, so he'll hopefully wrap up the last of the taco meat, the tortillas & the shredded cheese.
-DH & I will eat the rice & grilled chicken.

That sends us into tomorrow with one piece of salmon, and anything still left by the end of the day. Maybe we don't need to cook tomorrow. We've advised everyone that Sunday is mandatory family dinner, and the night before school starts. Still need to figure out what we're making for that.

I seriously need to get on top of the garden produce this weekend.
-Eat strawberries. Because, yum! And, it's not an overwhelming amount
-Pick last of the herbs
-Pickle all peppers
-Figure out what to do with the tomatoes

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 17, 2023, 07:56:37 PM
still two servings of wild rice and sweet and spicy meatballs in fridge....and a zucchini ...

So, tonight's dinner plan is stuffed zucchini with onion, wild rice, crushed tomato etc and will save the meatballs for another day with baked potatoes.  Still amazed at how long it takes to eat through things without a hungry teenager.

Oh man, can I come over? That sounds great. Enjoy your meal!

@draco44 -- it was really tasty! Come on over!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 18, 2023, 07:52:21 PM
-Had rice & chicken for dinner tonight, and froze the leftover chicken
-DH finished off the last of the salmon
-DS16 had a taco quesadilla, using up the rest of the taco meat
-I had a bowl of strawberries & a tomato, both from the garden

Still need to pickle the peppers, and use up as many tomatoes as possible tomorrow. I know we're having steak on Sunday (the teens have both agreed to be home for family dinner, because...steak), and need to figure out a dinner for Saturday. Highly doubt either of the teens will be home, so maybe caprese salad + some sort of protein from the freezer (and salad, which we have with every dinner).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 21, 2023, 04:54:16 AM
made stuffed zucchini boats (again) but this time used up wild rice and sweet and spicy meatballs in the mix.  Totally a hit.  Will remember this as a way to use up ingredients during the "zucchini is on massive sale" season of the summer.

This week I am focusing on condiments/bits and bobs of sauces, pastes etc languishing in the door of my fridge.  So, tonight is general tso's cauliflower which will use up some bits of sauces. 

I think later in the week we will have pasta and I will use up the bits of tomato paste and possibly harissa.....may need to be a spicy cream sauce.

How are you all doing?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Monocle Money Mouth on August 21, 2023, 06:25:53 AM
In an effort to use up a half gallon of buttermilk and sticks of butter I had leftover, I ate a LOT of pancakes this week.

I also tried substituting regular milk with buttermilk in our cornbread recipe. That actually worked really well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: StarBright on August 21, 2023, 06:33:34 AM
I started eating my pantry and freezer down about a month before we went on an extended vacation.

Good Thing! We had a power outage when we were gone and the surge shut off the outlet that my chest freezer was plugged into.

We came home and smelled something faintly gross. There was one rotten rack of ribs in the freezer and two bags of rotted green beans. I can't imagine what it would have been like if we hadn't made the effort to eat everything down before we left.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 21, 2023, 07:34:44 AM
School will start this week (YEAH!!!!) and tonight I will check the fridge and freezer for all items that need to be used this week. My fridge is a mess at the moment, so I'm looking forward to have a better overview of everything that I have on hand.
Freezer is stuffed, but needs defrosting, so this will be my main challenge for the next weeks.
Started this morning with some yoghurt from the fridge, walnuts and line-seed from the pantry.
First start: LEFTOVERS!!!!!


Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 21, 2023, 08:00:53 AM
@StarBright - that sucks about your freezer! But, so much better than it could have been. I'm sure that was a relief.

-I pickled all of the jalapenos, so all of the mini bowls are out of my fridge.
-I also made a big caprese salad yesterday, & used up a lot of fresh tomatoes. Our basil was kind of sad looking, due to the heat, but that got used as well.

Today is the first day of school, so traditional pizza delivery. Otherwise, we have plenty of leftovers in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 22, 2023, 02:39:01 AM
Had to ditch a few leftovers (some pulled chicken which was not smelling OK anymore, some coleslaw (also not smelling good) and some homemade tzaziki (same ugly smell)) which feels like a fail...... but it frees up space in the fridge.
DS finished the leftover pasta-salad yesterday, so that was a win.
This morning I made some banana pancakes from 1 lonely brown banana, an egg and some flour I had on hand.

Today we have to finish the leftover Tabouleh that DD made during the weekend. This is an excellent lunch dish!

More checks on the fridge contents are needed before it will be in good shape......

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 24, 2023, 05:29:20 AM
have cannelini beans in the instapot.  Going to make Shakshuka tonight and will have leftover beans to use up the rest of the week.  But, this got a package of dried beans out of the pantry!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on August 24, 2023, 10:09:41 AM
I just cut up all kind of veggies from the fridge, scrambled a few eggs, toss in some leftover ham and mix with fried rice and Indonesian spices. Teens will not complain about this for dinner (served with shrimp and cassave chips, fried unions and spicy peanuts). All from the contents of fridge and pantry! There will probably be leftovers, but with two hungry teens I do not think the leftovers will last very long……
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 26, 2023, 08:57:17 AM
Made coconut flour protein balls this morning. Taste like cookie dough!! And used up 1/3c of coconut flour and some protein powder. Yum!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Anette on August 29, 2023, 05:08:14 PM
Made coconut flour protein balls this morning. Taste like cookie dough!! And used up 1/3c of coconut flour and some protein powder. Yum!!

Would you please share your recipe?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on August 30, 2023, 07:29:53 AM
@Anette, sure thing!

Mix:
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup peanut butter
4T milk (dairy or nondairy- whatever you prefer)
3T choc chips
1T honey
1/2 cup protein powder (I used French vanilla)

mix ingredients together then roll into balls - I get about 12 and calculate them to be about 135 calories and 7g of protein each.  I keep them in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on August 31, 2023, 07:06:08 PM
Oof, it's been a journey. I got COVID, and isolated from everyone else in my house, so there was a lot of delivery happening. We never do that, but there are just moments when it saves you. I'm now feeling marginally better (still masking, to keep the teens from hopefully getting it), and trying to use up what we have:

-I found an open container of fresh mozzarella slices. I had 1/2 a bagel with fresh mozzarella, garden tomatoes & salt & pepper for both lunch & dinner. YUM. I also made that as a side for DS17. We have a few slices of cheese left, but the gnarly squirrels cleared off all of our tomatoes over the past few days, so I'll need to get creative.
-DS17 also finished off all of the garden tomatoes
-I froze plums that I received from a neighbor, but wasn't going to eat before I left last weekend
-I made a breakfast wrap, using the last egg, a tiny amount of shredded cheese someone left in a bowl, & a tortilla.

Over the weekend, I need to make applesauce out of the large bag of apples I picked up off Buy Nothing. And, make a menu plan, because we've now gone 10 days without one, and I'm getting twitchy without one.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 01, 2023, 03:25:59 AM
Good week where a lot of bits and pieces from the fridge were eaten, so it looks way better now:

Wins:
- all veggies are gone (except for some tomatoes and cucumbers, but these are a stash in this house and get eaten all the time)
- shredded a small piece of cheese on the tortilla's yesterday
- used up the heavy cream in said tortilla's instead of sour cream
- teens are back to school, digging in on the to-go snacks which free up some space in the pantry
- made a cake last weekend with everything I had on hand and it turned out delicious!

Fails:
- a few last bites of the fried rice needed to be tossed
- found a leftover box with some beans in it...... were not smelling right, so out it went

Challenge for next week:
- start meal planning again (I feel you @MaybeBabyMustache, I'm nowhere without a meal plan.....)
- use bread from freezer, since I have about 4 loafs in, which is way too much! Grilled cheese sandwiches for the win!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on September 01, 2023, 03:56:26 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache, UGH. I hope you feel better soon! 

Still plugging along here.... made a thai curry last night which consumed 2 cans of coconut milk and some rice and am bringing soup and homemade bread to a dear friend's mother who just had surgery (so using more flour and other ingredients).

With the storms this week, the temperature dropped into the 70s and it felt like fall.  Which meant all I wanted to do was cook!! Luckily for my waistline, the temp goes back up to 90s this weekend and I'll be back to lighter fare.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 08, 2023, 01:04:23 AM
It was a good week! Usually I have a grocery delivery on Thursday, but decided to postpone it for a week, since the fridge/freezer/pantry still had enough. And it worked! We still came up with good meals. Maybe not the preferred ones, but the meals were nutricious and healthy and we used up a lot of items.

Wins:
- home made lasagna used up a pack of burger patties (instead of ground beef, but it worked...... I didn't need to put any salt in the tomato sauce), a box of tomato sauce that I got for free, leftover cheeses (some mozzarella and some grated cheese) and various colors of bell peppers. Leftover lasagna was another meal for DS after soccer training and one lunch serving for me.
- DD craved a vegetarian spinach dish when she returned from school camp, which used spinach from freezer, potatoes from pantry and a few eggs.
- Made a huge salad from all kind of leftover veggies yesterday before I had to go to a school meeting. Healthy and delicious...... Teens and DH had a pasta dish from pantry/freezer items.
- tonight will be French fries from freezer, some meat from freezer and a cucumber/celery/tomato salad.
- 1st loaf of bread is almost gone..... 3 to go!

Fails:
- Made tabouleh on Sunday, but forgot the leftovers..... Needed to toss it on Wednesday because it tasted weird.....

Challenges:
- FREEZER!!!!!!! 3 loafs of bread and loads of frozen meat.
- My dad gave me a large bag of freshly picked pears. Need to eat those and/or use it in a cake. Baking might be a nice project for this evening.....

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on September 08, 2023, 03:13:54 AM
Strong work, @Dutch Comfort !  I have this recipe in my file for when it gets a bit cooler, but maybe it will work for some of your pears:
https://thehomepage.co.uk/skye-mcalpines-tagliatelle-with-gorgonzola-pear-and-walnut/.  If you try it, please let me know if you like it!

Little bits of progress here:
  Made a caesar salad last night for the fellas and turned some hot dog buns I'd stuck in the freezer after a cookout into croutons.  They were so good!!
   Made a batch of barley and have been using it as a base for grain bowls with roasted veg for lunches.  Also used IP to make some cannelini beans which are also in there.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 08, 2023, 09:00:45 AM
Okay, I made a huge double batch of applesauce over the weekend, using up the enormous bag of apples I got off of Buy Nothing. I turned that into two dozen apple sauce muffins.

I also pulled a bunch of overly ripe bananas out of the freezer, and used those to make two dozen banana muffins. All muffins went into the freezer, so I didn't exactly make any freezer space, but I did turn ingredients into easily consumed food, which is a win.

While I did resort to takeout one night over the weekend, I had leftovers for one lunch, and two dinners.

I also made up a huge batch of chicken fajitas, using all of the remaining garden peppers. We've had that for two dinners, and will likely finish off the rest tonight.

I'm flying to Japan on Sunday (work, and I'm really dreading it), so I need to sort out easy meal options for DH & the teens.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on September 12, 2023, 02:29:47 PM
I've been intentionally buying less at the grocery store and seeing what kind of reactions the family has. So far nothing really but its helping the grocery bill for sure. We had gotten in a really bad habit when we lived rurally (and during Covid) of buying more than a week's worth of items. Now I only do it for things on extreme markdown (ie, the 1.97/lb ground turkey I bought yesterday)

Wins:
- Used up some iceberg lettuce DH bought in a salad that I mixed with Good lettuce.
- Used up the leftover vegetables and meat from a family dinner we hosted
- Kids have finished off a bunch of random cereals and freezer bread / english muffins
- Made falafel from an embarrassingly old package, paired with a costco sized tatziki that I've nearly finished on my own (surprisingly healthy - 50 calories for 2 TBSP vs 120 calories for most salad dressings)
- Thawed and finished a cube of ground beef to make room for newer ground beef I bought on sale
- Finished a package of imitation crab before it went bad (i have a habit of forgetting)
- Froze some cheese before it went bad
- kids finished the flour tortillas
- used the last of the coffee we moved to our current home
- mixed some leftover chicken breast with a weird cheese dip that DD made and ate it


Loses:
- I'm going to have to toss some rice noodles, they spike my blood sugar too much. DH is out of town and kids won't eat them
- some free picked blackberries went moldy. The season is really over and much of what is left is questionable.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on September 19, 2023, 08:29:12 PM
Nice work, @fuzzy math - both the using it up & reducing the purchasing.

I've been super tired, after an international work trip, but a few wins here & there:
-Scraped together a very not impressive meal on Friday, when my flight was 5 hours delayed. Found some tomatoes & basil in the garden, added fresh mozzarella that was about to go bad. Served that with breaded chicken from the freezer.
-Helped DS17 with a school project that required a baked good. We had everything for chocolate chip banana bread, so made that, & used up four bananas from the freezer.
-Tonight, I was helping DS17 with college applications, so DH jumped in to help with dinner. Defrosted two packages of thinly sliced steak & hoagie rolls, & added a package of provolone that I bought over the summer. He made delicious Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. The teens were big fans.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 20, 2023, 03:46:08 AM
Pantry is getting in shape, with teens back in school and grabbing snacking items when they are in/out of the house.
Fridge is OK-ish, freezer is still a work in progress.

Wins:
- DD finished a bag of granola, which I got for free to try.
- I'm keeping on top of fruits and veggies, which results in far less waste.
- Cans of beans / carrots / peas / corn are slowly making their way out of the pantry (I had way too many cans....) - burrito's for the win!
- DD finished an old portion of soup which was still in the freezer. Glad to have that one eaten away. Also used up 1/2 bag of croutons in said soup.
- Made a large batch of fried rice. Have about 7 portions of leftover, which will serve as easy dinners when teens go to sports training.

Fails:
- not all pears made it into my cakes/dishes/fruit bowls. Had to toss a few.
- had to toss some soy-milk. Note to self: only buy one liter instead of two.....

Challenges:
- the freezer....... still a lot of bread and meat in there (and the leftover fried rice).

@fuzzy math good job on the groceries! I was used to plan delivery once a week. Now brought it back to once every two weeks, since I do not get to the minimum amount every week. Works wonders for my pantry.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on September 20, 2023, 07:33:45 AM
Used dried black beans to make refried beans and black beans which will become black beans dip for dinner tonight
Made fresh bread for grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade tomato soup last night using up a couple of cans of diced tomatoes and some tomato paste
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on September 25, 2023, 02:21:46 AM
I love the shape of my pantry as it currently is. Just a few things that need attention, but mostly OK.
Fridge is also OK. Full now (grocery run yesterday), but will empty nearing the end of the week when everything will be eaten away.

Wins:
- made a batch of beef stew (meat from freezer) yesterday which will be dinner today and tomorrow.
- used all tomatoes and 2 bell peppers in a salad yesterday
- teens have already eaten 3 portions of the fried rice leftovers which I've frozen. Only 4 left (I expect this week).
- We finished all chocolate from the pantry...... in time for the holidays! No more chocolate will enter the house before the holiday season!
- We have 2 new guinea pigs..... they will take care of veggie-scraps as from now.

Challenges:
- still that bread from freezer.....
- the remaining contents of the freezer (already prepared some spring rolls to go with the fried rice). I also noticed some chicken bones and veggie scraps in there, so I might need to make some chicken broth / chicken soup in the next week or so.
- going through all leftover condiments in the fridge

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 01, 2023, 07:36:46 PM
With this summer being crazy busy my kitchen got out of hand. Also had a huge garden, with a couple friends and one of those friends loves to can things, make things and what not. So my fridge and pantry are full of that stuff too.

It is coming down to I just flat out do not want to manage the inventory. Keeping track of all of the odds and ends is just so much damn effort. I am over it.

So this fall I am going to really pare down.

I have 300# of winter squash in my garage. Making a batch of pumpkin butter this week to share with my garden friends.

Tonight I took some pasta, and some preserved lemons with some sad lemons in the bottom of my fridge added some olive oil, and roasted veggies. And made some of the best lemon pasta I think I have ever had. Will make it again. I also have some preserved limes in my fridge (from the friend who likes to make stuff) That I need to figure out what to do with.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 05, 2023, 04:15:55 AM
Had a good week:

- made pulled chicken from freezer meat for a dinner party last Saturday. No leftovers!
- planned pasta night yesterday but found out we had no ground meat from freezer to go into the pasta sauce. Since I did not want to go grocery shopping, I made a nice other dish instead using up some pork and pie-crust from freezer and bell peppers, onions, cucumbers and salad from fridge.
- DD finished last of frozen berries from freezer in her breakfast this morning

This weekend, I will be out with friends, while DH will have to entertain the teens. Not sure how I will find my freezer and fridge on Sunday......

Wins:
- pulled chicken used up chicken from freezer, can of diced tomatoes and various herbs/spices
- pie crust and pork, both from freezer, were used yesterday
- leftover olives and sliced deli meat was used on a pizza on Sunday, also using up a can of spiced tomato-sauce from pantry
- made a tortilla-pie for dinner last Friday, using up ground meat, can of diced tomatoes, bell peppers, tortilla's and some odd cheese scraps which I grated
- DS made banana pancakes for lunch yesterday, using up the brown bananas

Losses:
- some mustard which was accidently left outside the fridge and became all dried out.....

Challenges:
- going through the loafs of bread from freezer now......
- some milk and buttermilk in fridge need to be used. Might involve some baking.....
- another batch of pears that my father brought me.







Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on October 07, 2023, 11:05:17 AM
seemsright - For preserved limes, try in a gin and tonic instead of a fresh lime wedge.  If I've had a jar for awhile (or the new lime season is starting) I puree what's left along with the salty liquid.  Add a spoonful to lime curd or salad dressing.  Can you tell I like salt?

Traditional use would be in a middle eastern chicken dish.

Dutch Comfort - If you ever have dried out mustard again, use the crusty jar to make an oil and vinegar type dressing.  I always try for one last use of mustard and jam by making salad dressing with the almost completely empty jar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 07, 2023, 01:39:20 PM
I just got back from another trip (this time, 10 days in France to celebrate my sister's 50th, so way more fun than an international work trip), and am trying to spend the weekend getting organized & meal prepping. So far:

-Made lunch for the teens, which means they will eat whatever I put in front of them. Made good progress with the berries & veggies/hummus. Also made naan grilled cheese sandwiches, which are a big hit.
-Made chicken to go with leftover delivery salad yesterday, and turn it into a meal
-Made applesauce muffins, to use up some of the applesauce (somewhere above) that I mentioned making out of a bag of freebie apples & freezing.
-Took 5 freezer bananas out & used them to make chocolate chip banana bread, which was outstanding.
-Had an eclectic breakfast of banana bread + chicken
-Defrosted orzo from the freezer (leftover from a delicious chicken skillet dish) & had that as another lunch this week
-Prepping 5 lbs of ground beef for taco meat. Some will stay out for this week, the rest will be packaged into 1lb portions for the freezer
-I'll also prep 5 lbs of chicken shawarma, for dinners this week, and the rest into the freezer for upcoming dinners
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 09, 2023, 10:31:38 PM
Been a while since I posted, I'm going to try to remember a few week's worth of eating!

 - Used up some freezer buns with some pulled pork for DS
- Ate almost all of the produce we bought a few weekends back at a salvage produce stand - the rest went to the chickens
- Finished off the snacks we brought home from a party - all except some berries and some cheese which I froze
- I made 7 layer bars for that party, used up some older coconut flakes and the last of the chocolate chips
- Had DH finish off all the gluten containing items languishing in the fridge (pasta, some breaded chicken)
- Gave the chickens some oatmeal that DD made and didn't finish.
- Made DS some pancakes using mix that DD abandoned. Getting DD's rejected meals pawned off on others is a full time job
- Hosted a dinner party or 9 (!) using things we had in the house already without buying more. Made bourbon chicken, rice and broccoli
- Froze a portion of apple juice from a big jug so the next time we make bourbon chicken we don't have to buy more.
- Didn't have the needed chicken stock for that same recipe so I substituted a partial cube of vegetable bullion
- I've been drinking a lot of hot tea as the weather has changed. Finally using up some teas that are probably 5 yrs old
- DD has been experimenting with seasonings and lots are finally getting used.
- Have more hamburger buns, going to thaw some beef and make burgers tomorrow.
- DS ate some regular yogurt that no one liked
- I ate some greek yogurt that no one liked with some peaches that had gotten too soft in the fridge
- I started making my own trail mix using bulk bin nuts. Not only is it cheaper but I like everything in it for once and there are no unwanted allergens
- Made DS a grilled sandwich using some old frozen lunchmeat


Proud to say that for our family of 5 (2 adults, 2 teens and a teen sized tween) we're sticking to about $180 a week for groceries. When the money is spent I just stop shopping unless something specific is needed for a recipe DD is making. I try to encourage her to cook, its enjoyable for her and she struggles with having a limited number of foods she likes so any time she wants to make something its a YES.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 10, 2023, 07:18:02 AM
@fuzzy math - impressive work on the shopping/budgeting, and also on the dinner party for 9 with just things around the house. Well done!

-I made a caprese salad for a potluck. I now have a lot of leftover fresh mozzarella, so I need to remember to use that up. It used all of the tomatoes, so I need to pick a few up for the rest of the week.
-The taco meat was a huge hit (I guesstimate on spice level, and don't always get it precisely right), so that used up a large quantity of meat from the portion in the fridge.
-The chicken shawarma was also delicious, although a bit overcooked, so most of that was used up.

I think tonight will be ravioli (with fresh mozzarella) & some chicken sausages I found lingering in the freezer. It would be nice to use all of those up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: seemsright on October 10, 2023, 07:59:36 AM
seemsright - For preserved limes, try in a gin and tonic instead of a fresh lime wedge.  If I've had a jar for awhile (or the new lime season is starting) I puree what's left along with the salty liquid.  Add a spoonful to lime curd or salad dressing.  Can you tell I like salt?

Traditional use would be in a middle eastern chicken dish.

Dutch Comfort - If you ever have dried out mustard again, use the crusty jar to make an oil and vinegar type dressing.  I always try for one last use of mustard and jam by making salad dressing with the almost completely empty jar.


Thanks. so much for the ideas. I am a huge fan of both Gin and Middle east food.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 11, 2023, 02:29:56 PM
Hello everyone!  If my research is correct, I haven't posted here since January.  I've been thinking about you and this thread, however, as I've utilized food for a zero-food waste goal.  :)  Lately:

-I cooked the last of the frozen stuffed potato skins, mini wontons and breaded shrimp as football appetizers
-A remaining wedge of mozzarella was sliced for lunch purposes
-The last of the artichokes were drained for DH's lunch
-The last two neighbor raised eggs and the remaining bag of granulated sugar went into an air fryer baked banana bread
-DH ate the last frozen salmon fillet for supper last night
-I've been utilizing homegrown cherry and "regular size" tomatoes in various ways including as supper sides and topped with parmesan and baked in the air fryer.
-Made salads of two of three heads of romaine.  Much to my chagrin, I didn't get to the third one in time.
-A chicken stir fry used half of a bag of frozen stir fry vegetable mix
-A package of almond flour tortillas has been utilized as breakfast and chicken salad wraps for lunch
-Random snacking finished a small bag of Goldfish crackers, dark chocolate nut clusters, and pork rinds
-We bought locally raised pork and beef and the freezers are full, so I've been focusing on slow cooker roasts and ribs, and air fryer chops.  DH will thaw some of the tougher cuts and grind them into ground beef.

I'm glad I skimmed some of my old posts, as the one about one sheet pan meals refreshed my memory.  Onto next week's supper menus they went.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 11, 2023, 06:39:07 PM
@MountainGal - so glad to see you back! I've thought of you & wondered how your battle against food waste was going. :-)

-Used up a hot dog bun, & most of a bag of grilled chicken sausages & hot dogs last night. It was an eclectic meal, but the teens got fed. Served with fresh berries, which used up the last of the amazing blueberries & raspberries.
-Tonight we will have leftover tacos/taco salads, which will use up more of the taco meat. I'll freeze whatever is leftover.
-Teens are (unsurprisingly) working their way through the ice cream sandwiches ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 16, 2023, 03:57:00 PM
Thanks, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And, yum, I love blueberries!

I picked up groceries since my last post which included fresh produce:
-Yellow squash and zucchini were added with beef sausage for a one sheet pan meal.
-Supper last night included half the asparagus wrapped with bacon, a BBQ chicken Caulipower pizza and mozzarella sticks.  Just one batch of the latter remains.  I ate leftovers today for lunch.
-The remaining half of the large stir fry froze veggies will be cooked with a package of locally raised beef.
-A package of ground beef will go into a cheesy taco skillet tomorrow.  On the side will be canned crab stuffed portobello mushrooms.
-We're having our annual Halloween party and many of the spooktacular cocktails will include liquor we have on hand.

Soon I need to forage to the depths of the freezer drawers to look for hidden items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 16, 2023, 05:12:59 PM
-We used up a giant bunch of bananas to make two loaves of banana bread. One is almost gone (shared 1/2 with a neighbor) & the other is in the freezer.
-Pulled two containers of TJs risotto (one regular, one cauliflower rice) out of the freezer to make dinner on Friday. Served with garlic butter shrimp (also from the freezer)
-Used a couple of hamburger buns (you guessed it, also from the freezer) to go with the burgers DH grilled this weekend. He & I eat the burgers over a salad, but the teens prefer them with buns.
-The chicken sausages are finally gone! I can't remember when they went into the freezer, but it was awhile ago. Glad to see them out of the freezer.
-DH ate a container of butternut squash soup (presumably from last fall/winter) from the freezer

As you can imagine, we've made great progress on our freezer inventory & can see more of what we have in there, which is always a win!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on October 17, 2023, 06:24:41 AM
Teens have their half-term week, so they are in/around the house all day. Positive side: they help eat away all excess in the fridge and pantry.
- made French toast for lunch for DD (using up some stale bread and milk)
- made a nice cake when in-laws were coming over last weekend from items that I had on hand in fridge and pantry. Just a small part remaining (but not for long.....)
- no more leftover pasta when DS is around for lunch......
- dinner is planned till Wednesday, but I try to stretch till Thursday/Friday with what I have on hand to save time/money on grocery shopping.

Dinner for the next days:
- Today: Sprouts with baked potatoes and meat from freezer
- Wednesday: Pasta
- Thursday: Some more baked potatoes from freezer with leftover veggies and/or canned veggies and some chicken from freezer
- On Friday, DD and I will go for a high tea experience, so I doubt we need dinner. Dinner for DS and DH will probable be some burgers from freezer.
- For Saturday, DH requested a tomato soup (made from scratch). I have most items on hand, except for....... tomatoes! But I saw a nice bargain on tomatoes in a near supermarket (less than 1 euro for 1 kilo of tomatoes!) for Friday, so I need to remember to get those and start the soup process (making broth etc.) on Friday. We will probably have leftovers......

Not much got tossed this week, which makes me happy!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 21, 2023, 02:30:30 PM
Well DD finally commented that it looks like we're lacking in food! Experiment lasted 2 months. Her only ask is to get small potatoes however so that's an easy fix. The freezer and pantry are still full btw. It's just the fridge that looks a bit empty.

Used up:

- Some trader Joe's frozen buffalo chicken turnovers living in the freezer far too long
- the last of the sale chobani yogurts
- repurposed some leftover meat from uneaten kid food into dog food
- a spaghetti squash that's been languishing
- the last of a short dated salad tub
- working through some leftover corn from a family dinner
- all forms of garlic in the house (seasoning, fresh and jarred)
- some frozen fruit in smoothies
- finally finished the last of the old trader Joe's falafel mix with the last of some tzatziki sauce
- not a "used up" per say but I googled chicken shwarma recipes and made it for the first time. Easy using just dried spices and it was delicious!

RIP to:

- a moldy purple cauliflower
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 23, 2023, 03:08:56 PM
We are currently eating fish about every 3 days, which is the cod that DH caught right outside the house. We also eat at least an apple a day and we put a whole basket full of apples and pears beside the public path to take for other people. That works.
I ordered a bunch of plastic bottles to fill with apple juice. As they are see through, I suppose we can reuse them next year. I plan to pasteurize them, so that we can keep them for some months.
Every day I eat homemade jam for breakfast and lunch. I still have about 20 pots left. My own is as good as the one from the shop, in my opinion.
We also eat lots of apple cakes from our own apples.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on October 24, 2023, 03:16:29 PM
@fuzzy math sorry to hear about your cauliflower!

@Linea_Norway how kind of you to put out the basket for other folks.

We have a lot of food and snacks leftover from our annual Halloween party:

-We ate the remaining two deviled eggs while I prepared Sunday's breakfast casserole
-I nibbled on leftover beer cheese dip, pretzels, and pepperoni wrapped mozzarella during Sunday football
-Gave a neighbor a box full of leftover casserole, shrimp, popcorn and other goodies
-Sent DH to work with leftover cookies and cupcakes
-Last night I made a Frito pie with the remaining pound of ground beef I'd thawed for "cauldron chili"
-For lunch, I ate leftover shrimp with lunch today and will have the salmon tomorrow
-Leftover chili will either be sent to work with DH tomorrow, or we'll eat it with tonight's salads
-Unopened snacks were stored in the back pantry and will be consumed over the next few holiday months
-And, oh darn, there are a few Jello shots left, LOL
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on October 24, 2023, 04:22:58 PM
@MountainGal sounds like a fun day at your house!

@Linea_Norway ... are you moving back to your old city? I'd be thrilled to come upon a basket of fruit. Hopefully it makes someone's day!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on October 28, 2023, 11:45:53 AM
@Linea_Norway ... are you moving back to your old city? I'd be thrilled to come upon a basket of fruit. Hopefully it makes someone's day!

No, we moved to a whole new part of the country.

The people who pick the apples tell me they are delicious, which they are now. The basket get filled up every day and is empty the next day.

Today we ate left over chicken Maribelle. I drank a glass of homemade wine with it.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on October 28, 2023, 02:02:23 PM
We are back from vacation. My parents stayed with the teens, so there's an odd assortment of things in the fridge. I also went to Trader Joes & stocked up on easy meal options, as we are deep into college applications, I leave for London on Sunday for a work trip, etc.

-DH & I made an easy dinner, mostly out of Trader Joes (but, we avoided takeout, so there's that). Edamame, gyozos, & coconut shrimp (Costco). We had that with salad. It was a quick & easy Friday night dinner.
-I made a very quick dinner on Thursday, to feed everyone before soccer practice. I baked up a bunch of chicken (freezer) + made mac & cheese for the teens. It wasn't exactly a dinner of champions, but everyone ate, and again, our bar right now is avoiding takeout where possible. We are in quite a season.
-For lunch today, I had the tiny amount of leftover mac & cheese, combined with leftover chicken (Thursday dinner) + a salad. Oh, and fresh berries that were actually great.

It's on my to do list to make muffins, protein bars & pickle the remaining peppers that are on the vine. Let's see how motivated I am by the end of the day. For tonight, we're having any easy meal of gyros (prepped meat from Trader Joes) & salad. I think both teens will be out of the house with friend.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on October 28, 2023, 04:24:21 PM
Made spanakopita today with a couple of leftover sheets of phyllo in the freezer from another meal and a bag of fresh spinach and parsley which were on their last legs (and some feta).  Of course, then I had more filling than phyllo, so I beat some eggs and milk together and used the spanakopita filling to make mini quiches in muffin tins.  It all worked out in the end, and now I have breakfast sorted for the next week!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MinouMinou on October 29, 2023, 06:12:26 PM
This weekend I made a big pan of fruit crisp/crumble with fruit I had picked, processed, and frozen in the late summer: apples from our yard and blackberries gleaned in the neighborhood. Mixed the fruit with a little sugar, flour, and cornstarch so the juice will thicken and then layered it like a lasagna with the "crumble" mixture of rolled oats, brown sugar, and butter. Didn't have enough butter left so added some olive oil for extra fat, plus a little salt and crushed walnuts on the top.

Also made a "What's on hand" big pot of minestrone soup. Tomato sauce, a couple of cans of beans, orzo pasta, green beans from the freezer, some distressed zucchini from the crisper drawer, and green tomatoes that were still lingering on the bushes outside. I hesitated with the green tomatoes--they are not tasty on their own but seem fine in a strongly flavored soup or dish. And hopefully still have some nutrients.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 01, 2023, 03:17:31 PM
I love reading about the various way everyone uses homegrown or gleaned food!

@Josiecat23503, that spanakopita sounds delicious!

Because we live rurally and because Halloween was on a school night, children trick-or-treated in our neighborhood last Saturday.  They, plus older siblings and parents made for quite the large group.  Per my request, I was their last stop again this year.  I served the adults leftover Jello shots and cocktails from our party the Saturday prior.  I also assembled trays of crackers, cheese, pepperoni and sliced beef summer sausage for everyone to enjoy.  Also, lately:

-The Halloween party cauldron chili used 4 pounds locally grown beef.
-Football food included the remaining 5 mozzarella sticks from the freezer, breaded shrimp bought on sale and the remaining two homegrown tomato slices with mozzarella slices and an olive oil drizzle.
-A package of chicken thighs was breaded with a pork rind and parmesan breading and air fried.  I served them on top of baby spinach with a half package of breaded okra.
-Last night more party leftovers were served to my 9-year-old neighbor twins after they were finished trick-or-treating in town.  They are growing and can put away food! Last night included an entire half pint of raspberries.  :)
-I ate the remaining chicken thigh with more of the baby spinach for lunch today.
-Tonight's supper will include two flounder fillets purchased at Sam's Club in a 2-pound package several months ago.  I did the same with salmon and have been pleased with both.

The freezer is starting to clear out a bit and the bottom of each basket is almost visible between items.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 08, 2023, 11:00:48 AM
One of DH's coworkers gave him an 18 pack of duck eggs, so that has been this week's focus:

-Monday: Poached eggs served with asparagus, salmon and avocado.
-Tonight:  Breakfast for supper including eggs and sausage links.
-Thursday:  Quiche with locally grown breakfast sausage, cheese and zucchini.
-Saturday:  Leftover quiche.
-Sunday:  Brunch featuring soft boiled eggs and pancakes.  The latter will use an egg or two in the mix, which is a homemade blend of flour, baking soda, baking powder, a bit of sugar and salt.  And I think I'm going to make mimosas.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on November 08, 2023, 04:09:02 PM
I'm joining here to keep myself honest: We're cleaning out BIL's house, and I'm trying not to waste actual food from his kitchen (other than the PB that looked like it had been getting consumed with a spoon: if you live alone, feel free to eat nut butter straight outta the jar, but I'm tossing it in the compost if I'm not fairly sure it's uncontaminated).  Currently looking at all his spices (which are similar to mine, so I think I can just feed them into my current spice supply, but I'm not sure about things like the large jar of beriberi powder), and various staples.  I'm good with the quinoa, bulgar, and rice, but I don't actually like steel-cut oats (I've given most of those half-gallon jars away) and I have no idea what to do with whole teff? Grind it and make injera?

Meanwhile, we should be starting a renovation in our house that will include moving the kitchen in the next 2-4 months, so we need to eat down our own pantry...
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 09, 2023, 01:23:09 PM
@jeninco, injera sounds like a great idea!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2023, 06:35:45 AM
@MountainGal - I always like to hear about your Halloween events, as you really embrace it! This year, Halloween was spent Hail Mary'ing the college applications due on 11/1, so we had...less fun. ;-)

I'm back from another trip, and have no idea what DH & the kids realistically ate while I was gone. DH served leftovers on Friday, while I sat at the table & tried valiantly not to fall asleep. I did put together a menu for the week, which lasted not even a single day before we went off track, as the teen who would enjoy the recipe the most went out for dinner.

Focus for the week:
-Dice & freeze pineapple guava (gifted from neighbor)
-Make chicken enchilada skillet, to use up chicken + other ingredients
-Make Korean beef bowls, to use up defrosted ground beef + excess of cucumbers (you quick pickle for toppings to the bowls)
-Go through fridge & freezer to determine what needs to be used up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 12, 2023, 10:22:46 AM
I was pretty proud of this one... I went to the farmers market for the first time in ages (many days of rain or illness in a row) but didn't have a plan other than apples. They had some really pretty acorn squash, so I got one and then was at home like "what am I going to do with an entire squash for one person?" I ended up cutting it in half, putting some oil and complementary spices on it, roasting for 30m, then throwing this week's leftovers into each half with cheese on top. Voila: two entrees of dressed up leftovers with extra veg. (It was a one pot lightly spicy pasta dish with beans, tomatoes, a bunch of veg, and ground turkey).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 12, 2023, 12:07:35 PM
@Dollar Slice - roasted acorn squash is one of my fall favorites. It's also really good on salad, or just on its own.

As part of my fridge clean out, I ate some of DS17's leftovers (with his permission) from his date on Thursday. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on November 14, 2023, 08:06:53 AM
We have been quietly doing this challenge, but not posting all the details. This weel and last week we used up so many of our pantry staples and frozen foods and basics that it was feeling a bit sparse. I'm doing a big shop today but keeping in mind the few ingredients that I still need to work with:
-frozen chopped rhubarb (will make into a crumble)
-lots of bread ends (used some in meatballs this week - will do more soon)
-smoothie ingredients & banana bread ingredients (ongoing)
-candied cut peels (what was I planning to do with this? in muffins maybe? open to suggestions)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 14, 2023, 09:07:35 AM
making some headway here-- freezer is looking spare, but there is still always food in it!

today I'm eating muesli from the pantry with nuts and dried fruit (also from the pantry) and butternut squash soup (from the freezer) and loaded baked potato for dinner (using some of the frozen veg and cheese).

We were travelling this past week looking at colleges, so minimal grocery shopping, but will need to do some this week to prepare for Thanksgiving.  That said, I plan our meals strategically around big holidays to get lots of meals out of the holiday meal!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 14, 2023, 10:21:39 AM
@Josiecat23503 - fun! Which colleges have you been touring? We don't have any school time off until the holidays, so we're looking at spreading them out, starting in January.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on November 14, 2023, 10:45:29 AM
Finished off the dregs of a hot sauce bottle, a technically expired but still good tiny can of tomato paste, and a bag of shredded kale as part of a beef chili this week. It turned out great!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 14, 2023, 11:07:36 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache - we looked at a couple of small liberal arts schools with a specific program he is interested in-- will send details via DM so as not to totally derail the thread!!

Just finished reorganization of the pantry (because I REALLY know how to party) and have found that I still have too many dry goods.  Will be doing this pantry challenge into 2025, I think!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on November 14, 2023, 01:52:44 PM
Aw, thanks for the Halloween compliment, @MaybeBabyMustache!  Luck to @Josiecat23503 and you with college touring!

@MaybeBabyMustache, I've never worked with pineapple guava.  I looked them up and they look tasty.  @Dollar Slice, not sure if you've ever tried this, but I cook (spaghetti) squash in the microwave.  I halve and seed it and place it cut side down in about an inch of water in a Pyrex pan.  After 10 minutes I rotate them a bit.  I let it cook and then use a fork to shred it into long spaghetti type strands.

Last week's duck egg-based quiche turned out great and I had the last slice for lunch today.  I didn't make Sunday brunch with the eggs because we had just enough to boil for this week's breakfasts/snacks.

-DH and I went for a Sunday drive, and I packed the rest of the Sun Chips, beef summer sausage, crackers, OJ and bottle of sparkling wine leftover from our party.  I sliced up some mozzarella cheese to go with.
-For football snacks I baked another third of a box of bacon wrapped jalapenos, the rest of the breaded shrimp, and a bag of frozen veggies.
-Last night's supper included a package of locally raised ribs, a zucchini, and bag of riced cauliflower.  The zucchini was the last of the fresh produce.
-Last night's after dinner snack included some of the monster bag of popcorn purchased and never opened at Halloween.
-I'll zap the remaining bits of spicy pork rinds with parmesan cheese in the food processor to use as tonight's fish breading.  Canned green beans and breaded okra from the freezer will be on the side.
-Tomorrow I'll make a pan of enchiladas using a pound of locally raised ground beef.  On the side will be rice bought in bulk earlier this year.
-Next week will include a pan of lasagna using another pound of the beef.
-Next Wednesday I'll put a locally raised pork roast in the slow cooker and instead of buying apricots, I'll use up the orange marmalade on hand.  I'll also add some of the horseradish cream sauce I bought for....?
-Next Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US.  I am in charge of pies and I'll make an apple, cherry and pumpkin.  :)
-Need to focus on smoothies using the extra fruit I froze during the summer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 18, 2023, 10:51:16 PM
Made a large pot of Budget Bytes chicken stew, to use up a strange package of baby potatoes that, frankly, I'm not sure how they made their way into our fridge. It also used up some old carrots, and celery I bought for $.29 today.

I love soup, but DH isn't a fan, but he's gone tonight. DS17 will be bringing his girlfriend over for dinner, so at least we'll have a full house of folks.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 20, 2023, 07:44:08 AM
made a batch of spanish rice and pinto beans from the dry goods stash---- old dry beans take FOREVER to cook.  30 min in Instapot and they were still a bit....firm....so they simmmered on the stove for another hour and became palatable.

DS made brownies last night....from a boxed mix that was best by 9/2021.  Everyone still alive. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on November 22, 2023, 06:56:54 PM
I’ve been working on the freezer, and then starting on the pantry. I’m finally down to 20 servings of food, I.e. 10 dinners for me and my Dad. The first problem has been that I end up buying new things, fresh and frozen. The next problem has been that as we whittle down, the healthier protein is used up and I’m left with things like Chinese frozen dinner and pizza. It’s tasty but not something I want to eat daily.

The success this week was using up a 3 year old package of puff pastry in spanakopita. I had the frozen spinach and feta cheese, just added cream cheese. And my Mom ate 3 pieces! She has weird allergies and basically all her food is homemade but even so I wasn’t sure she’d handle the phyllo and feta. I might make the recipe again and throw it in a pie crust.

Also this week: a pound of shrimp, canned salmon, Chinese meal, pizza, frozen broccoli.

Two weeks ago was Diwali and I used it as an excuse to give away 4 pounds shrimp, 2 packaged bacon, 5 boxes pasta, 3 boxes gnocchi. Then we were eating party leftovers and nothing came out of the freezer. Tomorrow for Thanksgiving I’m taking some pickled beets and feta, and expect to come home with the turkey, so nothing else will come out of the freezer this week.

My notes say a bunch of the food was bought on December 10 last year, so I’ve been hoping to finish anything more than six months old by then. The default for vegetables is fresh, I purposely bought less this week but then my Mom was complaining we don’t have anything. I pointed out 2 frozen veg, one acorn squash, a couple fresh zucchini and of course all the spinach in the spanakopita.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on November 23, 2023, 05:45:56 AM
I had a quasi fail last night---


I had 3/4 of a small jar of pesto left over from something I made a few weeks ago.  I was planning to make creamy pesto gnocchi for dinner to use it up and serve with green beans almondine.  As I was gathering the ingredients from the fridge, I managed to drop the pesto, shattering the jar and covering the kitchen floor in oily, glassy, pesto.  So, I cursed a bit, then picked up the mess, mopped the floor and pivotted to a brown butter and parmesan gnocchi with green beans. Still got the jar of pesto and the gnocchi out of the fridge/pantry, but not the way I'd intended!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on November 23, 2023, 07:45:57 AM
@Josiecat23503 - that sucks! I actually made dinner with pesto last night, and spilled a bit, and lamented about the mess, so you have my sympathy!

-Used 1/2 a bag of cranberries (frozen from last year) to make muffins for DH. Bonus points, as they used up yogurt from the fridge.
-Used the second 1/2 of the bag to make cranberry sauce for Thanksgving
-Served leftovers of the chicken pesto pasta last night, and froze the rest
-Finally got my food processor working, and shredded a giant (Costco) piece of Romano cheese. I have arthritis in my wrist, and shredding by hand in particular is not fun. Once I have everything shredded, I set out what we need, and freeze the rest in smaller bags. Makes life easier when we need it for a recipe.
-Made a naan grilled cheese for a teen, ahead of a late night soccer game. The cheese was the individually wrapped "Tillamoo" small pieces, as I wanted to use that up. Made same teen a smoothie after the late game, and used grapes in his smoothie. I froze the grapes last week, as they were no longer crispy, but otherwise fine.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on November 24, 2023, 02:39:22 AM
Working on the freezer inventory here. We're getting towards the point that the contents can be moved to the smaller freezer and the large one can be defrosted.
From freezer the past 2 weeks:
- single serving of mystery soup. Turned out to be homemade tomato soup, so I was not complaining for lunch.
- took out all fish items yesterday (4 small packages with leftover pieces of salmon/cod/undefined white fish) and put it all in the oven. It became a good alternative to fish and chips when I added some baked potatoes.
- pack of chicken tights and all kinds of frozen veggies became a large pan of homemade chicken soup (had to freeze leftovers, so not a complete win).
- pack of beef became a nice stew which lasted for 2 family dinners
- pack of shredded beef turned into a big pan of meatballs, serving 2 family dinners and enough for 2 lunches
- used a lot of bread during lunches, now only around 1.5 loaf remaining

Planned items:
- more meat from freezer tonight and probably the last bag of french fries.
- leftover soup for dinner tomorrow
- grilled burgers for dinner on Sunday, and if the bag of french fries is still there, it will be used.

If it unfolds according to plan, I can defrost the large freezer early next week.

Fridge is in good shape, pantry quite OK.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Linea_Norway on November 24, 2023, 03:51:12 AM
I fermented a bag of beetroots that were on sale (food saving sale). They were still good quality. Instead of storing it in the cupboard/fridge where they could turn old, we just ate them yesterday.

We are also drinking our own apple juice. And still eating our own berry jam from the large amount of pots.

We still have one big crate of apples left downstairs. I made apple gel of some apples that had frozen outside. But I not sure how/when to eat yel. A cookbook suggested as a bread topping, so maybe I'll do that. I have three pots.

We are making a good impact on the freezer drawer with meat and fish. It is good to have some roulation in that drawer. When it is empty, I hope there is some meat on sale. And DH can catch new fish.

Many days, we have a stump of bread left. Normally I would have to make a plan of what to do with it, or throw it in the composting bin with some bad conscience. But now (winter) I give it to the birds who appreciate it, especially the magpies. Small birds are getting sunflower seeds.

I should also make a plan to eat the remaining self-picked mushrooms that are dried in a closet. Most are more than a year old. And some are conserved in oil with vinegar.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on November 24, 2023, 07:38:00 AM
I made apple gel of some apples that had frozen outside. But I not sure how/when to eat yel. A cookbook suggested as a bread topping, so maybe I'll do that. I have three pots.

Do you mean apple jelly, like a clear jam without fruit pieces? Or apple butter, which is usually dark and has spices in it? Just trying to clarify so you might get some suggestions for using it :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Simpli-Fi on December 04, 2023, 08:08:29 PM
I do love to cook, but more and more I'm exhausted by the shopping and food inventory management.  That the main reason I joined this challenge, so I can get through the inventory of food we have and then mindfully curate a simpler pantry and freezer.
I've tried searching and I'm coming up short on finding a simple food inventory system...I don't want to be exhausted trying to maintain a simpler panty/freezer.  Anyone got some links to pointers or mind sharing?  I've skimmed this thread and the sub $200/mo threads...and I'll stay at it.  Maybe the easiest system is to keep less food in the house period.  Its not like we live in the country or actually shop in the store...

With my extra time, I have taken over food duties for our family of 4.  Our food bill has almost doubled since Jan2020 and my kids have horrible "selective" eating habits...which in itself has exhausted me and DW to the point the kitchen is no longer an enjoyable experience.

My plan of attack is to
  STEP 1.  start with this thread and eat everything in the house.  DW is already saying we need to go to the store...and I feel like we could easily eat for another 7 days and still have essentials in case the world goes into lockdown for some reason.

  STEP 2.  while eating randomass meals from whatever is in the house...I'll create a week meal plan and grocery list.

  STEP 3.  research stores in town review some store apps and rebate apps; plot grocery pick ups for best buys

  STEP 4.  Once all the food is eaten, donate the remaining random singe recipe items, and buy enough food for the weekly meal plan

  STEP 5.  Create another week(s) meal plan and list, optimize meals per Best Buy list if needed

  STEP 6.  repeat ad nauseam

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 05, 2023, 04:22:36 AM
I do love to cook, but more and more I'm exhausted by the shopping and food inventory management.  That the main reason I joined this challenge, so I can get through the inventory of food we have and then mindfully curate a simpler pantry and freezer.
I've tried searching and I'm coming up short on finding a simple food inventory system...I don't want to be exhausted trying to maintain a simpler panty/freezer.  Anyone got some links to pointers or mind sharing?  I've skimmed this thread and the sub $200/mo threads...and I'll stay at it.  Maybe the easiest system is to keep less food in the house period.  Its not like we live in the country or actually shop in the store...

With my extra time, I have taken over food duties for our family of 4.  Our food bill has almost doubled since Jan2020 and my kids have horrible "selective" eating habits...which in itself has exhausted me and DW to the point the kitchen is no longer an enjoyable experience.

My plan of attack is to
  STEP 1.  start with this thread and eat everything in the house.  DW is already saying we need to go to the store...and I feel like we could easily eat for another 7 days and still have essentials in case the world goes into lockdown for some reason.

  STEP 2.  while eating randomass meals from whatever is in the house...I'll create a week meal plan and grocery list.

  STEP 3.  research stores in town review some store apps and rebate apps; plot grocery pick ups for best buys

  STEP 4.  Once all the food is eaten, donate the remaining random singe recipe items, and buy enough food for the weekly meal plan

  STEP 5.  Create another week(s) meal plan and list, optimize meals per Best Buy list if needed

  STEP 6.  repeat ad nauseam



We have tried to "gamify" using up all of the groceries by having a "grocery store challenge" occasionally.  The rules of the game are simple: we pick a date (historically this was in the week before travelling) and the goal was to go without returning to a store.  This led to some interesting combinations of food....and a tradition of eating Ramen on Christmas eve....but is great for using up all of the bits and bobs that accumulate.

Other ideas:
Get used to subbing ingredients.  A recipe calls for farro but you have barley left over from a prior recipe...just use the barley.  You have kale left over but the recipe calls for spinach....use the spinach, etc.

Soups, stirfrys, and pastas are GREAT for using up odds and ends.  Almost any vegetable is better with some olive oil and salt and roasted in the oven.  Loaded baked potato bar is a great meal....you can top a potato with butter, cheese, chili, roasted veg, shredded chicken.....anything you can imagine.

Most grocery stores have specials that run weds-tues (at least in my area).  I make a grid of what's on sale at each of the four local stores.  It is seldom worth it to visit more than two, but it helps me to keep a mental price book.  My grocery list/menu is based on what's on sale and what's local. 

Eat your leftovers

If something is on the "need to use it up list" I put it on the counter or front of fridge.  I like my space to be orderly, so when something is out of place, I notice it and it keeps it at the front of my mind until it is consumed.


I hope some of this is helpful.  Best wishes in keeping down the grocery bill and avoiding food waste.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Simpli-Fi on December 05, 2023, 09:12:43 AM
@Josiecat23503 thanks for the reply, I dig the game idea and I’m the same way in the kitchen food should be organized and when something is out of place, drive me (and only me) crazy…so good tip using that as an advantage
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 05, 2023, 01:03:05 PM
@Simpli-Fi - I'm glad it was helpful!  Feel free to DM me if I can be of any assistance!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on December 06, 2023, 01:17:37 PM
@Runrooster, congratulations on the homemade spanakopita!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone.

@Simpli-Fi, your post got me wondering where I'm at with this year's food spending.  According to my spreadsheet, I'm at an average of $448 through October.  That does include my portion of the pig and beef, which we still have an abundance of in both freezers.  It also includes Sam's Club purchases, of which there are still several dozens of canned goods on hand.  (We live rurally with the closest grocery store 15 minutes away.)  I echo what @Josiecat23503 said about substitutions and leftovers.  For instance, I recently discovered drained Rotel is a great substitute for fresh tomatoes which was perfect timing, considering we're going into winter.

Lately:
-A pan of lasagna with homemade sauce made for easy meals during a recent illness.
-During said illness I made a large pot of crack chicken soup which used a package of spaghetti, two cans of chicken, and the last box of chicken broth
-The remaining almond flour tortilla was filled with shredded cheddar and a beef sausage.
-I used the rest of a homemade blend of pumpkin spice in the Thanksgiving pie.
-I slow cooked a beef rib roast yesterday yielding four servings.  DH ate a portion last night with the leftover rice from Friday's takeout.  I made zoodles out of a zucchini.  The remaining servings will be eaten for lunch.
-DH's coworker gave us more duck eggs.  So far, I've used some in a bacon and egg casserole.  Tonight, I'll make a one sheet breakfast bake with the rest of the bacon.  This weekend I'll make Scotch eggs and a Spanish potato omelet.
-Football munchies have included a package of bacon wrapped jalapenos and breaded shrimp.
-The last remnants of a container of Crisco have been stretched to greasing sheet pans several times.
-Using food blogger Molly Yeh's shortcut, I fried refrigerator biscuit dough for Navajo tacos.  Those, plus 1.5 pounds ground beef, a can of refried beans, lettuce, Rotel tomatoes, and black olives made for 6 servings.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 14, 2023, 04:20:33 PM
Apparently I was doing too well at this challenge, so I needed to self sabotage.  I went to Trader Joes (it's about 30min from me, so it's a commitment to go there) and I bought *all the things*.  So now I am fully stocked up again on crackers, cheese, nuts, quickie freezer meals and dips/sauces.

It's not exactly a crisis.  We will eat (and enjoy) all of it.  But it feels like a bit of a sabotage.  That said, if buying brie, cashews and wild rice is my worst sin......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on December 16, 2023, 02:49:13 PM
Things have gotten so out of control here!! I went on part week trips 2 weeks in a row by myself. In that time I wasn't really keeping track of any food and a bunch of weird stuff was wasted, went bad or extra stuff was purchased. It was also my birthday so there were lots of meals out, my best friend got me a cheese subscription and my realtor mailed me a cake (that I can't eat).  I don't know that I have too many wins to post but I'm getting my head back in the game. My fridge and pantry are both super full and disorganized.

Wins:
- working on a chub of chicken lunchmeat
- extra partial loaves of bread used up
- I made ribs before they went bad (finished off a bottle of bbq on them too)
- I returned 2 things to Costco that were gross (mushy moldy apples and some lame deli mac n cheese)

Loses:
- DS severely burnt a pizza and a tray of cheesy bread
- a small bag of imitation crab went rancid while I was on a trip
- lots of grapes went moldy
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 16, 2023, 06:44:45 PM
made sheetpan eggplant parmesan and used up some seasoned breadcrumbs I made for another dish last week

Made caesar salads and used up some bread from the freezer (which I'd made from scratch but didn't rise properly).  Luckily, it was very popular as croutons, so no food waste

continuing to eat my way through the grains- had some homemade muesli for breakfast with blueberries.

so, some small victories!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 17, 2023, 02:38:38 PM
@Josiecat23503 - Trader Joes is just a few minutes from my house, and I also have that problem! I'm thinking of going there this afternoon, in fact :-)

Wins:
-For the first time in I can't possibly remember - there are no bananas in my freezer! Used up the last four today to make banana muffins.
-Making the last of some Bare chicken patties (everyone prefers the strips or nuggets) for lunches. I'll dice them & use them on salads this week.
-I discovered pancake mix in the pantry. No clue where it's from, but made pancakes for the teens. It's the huge Krusteaz bag, so plenty left to use up.
-Finished the entire container of tortilla soup DH bought at Costco. It comes in a two pack, and the second one lasts for at least another month, so I should be able to use that up.
-Finished a bagged salad that was looking a little dingy
-Used up all of a loaf of bread. We don't keep bread at home, and rarely make sandwiches, so I need to really remember when we have it on hand. I made several rounds of grilled cheese sandwiches, which everyone enjoyed.

Still to go:
-Another bagged salad
-An acorn squash
-A giant bag of cranberries that I also need to turn into muffins. I keep the freezer stocked with muffins, and we somehow ran out. I blame my crazy Q4 travel schedule.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on December 21, 2023, 06:03:46 PM
-DS finished up a bag of chicken tenders
-finished a bag of frozen broccoli
-finished the breadcrumbs
-finished the fresh broccoli
-finished the baby red potato
-finished the eggplant
-mixed 4oz of cream cheese (left over from holiday baking) with a few tablespoons of sourcream (leftover from ???) with some green goddess seasoning to make a dip/spread for veg.


to go:
three more servings of cream cheese dip/spread
two more servings of breaded tofu
one more serving of falafel
one idaho potato from the 10lb bag
one onion
some brie
2/3 of an English cucumber, a couple of carrots and some iceberg lettuce

we head to the in laws in a couple of days and my goal is to leave no perishable food behind.  Looks like carmelized onions and brie sandwiches for lunch tomorrow!!!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on December 22, 2023, 07:22:40 AM
We made a ton of progress, and the fridge is looking largely ready to go. I need to sort a few more things out this am, but otherwise, feeling good about the state of our house, ahead of our trip.

When I get back, I need to make 4-6 dozen muffins for the freezer, and use up the applesauce & cranberries in said muffins. It won't exactly be reducing freezer space, but will definitely be useful items vs just an ingredient, so to speak.

So, target list post trip:
-Cranberries
-Applesauce
-Bag of frozen burritos no one would eat. Figure out how to spice them up
-Choose two other sides/entrees when the kids are with my parents to get out of the freezer
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on December 31, 2023, 08:25:41 PM
In the month since I last wrote, I’ve slowly whittled down the freezer food. There’s 3 frozen dinner and a lasagna. There’s been a bunch of holiday meals and leftovers.

 There’s also 5 frozen veg, and 15 cans of veg. Lots of beans.

I also added:
3# chicken
2# beef stew
2-9# spiral sliced ham

So the freezer never really emptied out. But it’s new food.
 I’d like to get to where I’m rotating every 6 months but a year is probably more realistic.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EchoStache on January 01, 2024, 11:25:09 AM
I'm encouraging the family to buy into a "eat all the food in your house month" for January.

I can't think of an easier way than keeping track of how much we spend on food this month.  Family of five adults.

So far, $37 as of January 1 as we needed some perishables such as milk, fruit, etc.

Today, the family was craving pizza.  Our local pizza joint is a pretty good deal..we get two extra large pizzas for under $25.  However, we have two jars of pizza sauce, shredded parmesan and cheddar cheese in the fridge, and pepperoni left over from the holiday party.  Picked up two packs of English muffins for $4.30 to make English muffin pizzas with.

Also, son brought home a pan of pulled pork from his work holiday meal.  Grabbed a pack of hamburger buns so we will have $0.17 pulled pork sandwiches.  :)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 01, 2024, 05:57:20 PM

This week we cleared out:

1 can of soup from pantry

1 box of pasta and 1 jar pasta sauce from pantry

bag of frozen tater tots and chicken nuggets (our "fun" NYE meal)

finished the last of the falafel I made from the freezer

finished the sub rolls and lunch meat

the last few potatoes from the 10lb bag (already replaced with a new 10lb bag---we love potatoes)

finished breaded tofu nuggets from freezer (the last of a batch I made a few weeks ago)

I think that's about it;  meals have been simple and more processed than usual this week as the chief cook (me) came down with Covid, so I have been delegating to the family and eating simple bland stuff and using the opportunity to eat stuff that has been lingering.  Hopefully will be back in action soon, but we have managed to continue to eat at home and avoid delivery.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 02, 2024, 02:13:57 PM
Finally tunneling out of the Xmas eve / Xmas / NYE binge

DH ate some questionably old sauteed chicken
Hard boiled some eggs so they can be eaten on salads / given to the dogs
Gave back some treats that were given to us by family looking to dump sugar at our home
Ate a large amount of cookies and chocolate (ugh)
Kids ate 2 cream pies that had been made for Xmas
Finished a costco sized salad tub

Fails:

Put a cornbread in the garage to cool after a party since the fridge was full. It got forgotten and was invaded by bugs
Threw away some moldy cauliflower
Threw away some crepe filling that could have been eaten, but I was annoyed looking at
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EchoStache on January 02, 2024, 04:40:25 PM
January eat all the food in my house.

Money spent on food:
1/2/2024: $47
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 03, 2024, 03:30:08 AM
In our country it is a Christmas tradition that you employer gives you a box of Christmas goodies, mostly luxury things to be eaten during Christmas. In our household this resulted in 3 large boxes of food, which we really need to incorporate in the meals/snacks. The pantry and fridge are overflowing!

Things out of the Christmas packages:
- received a large pot of pesto. Used some of it, froze the rest for further use.
- gifted a large pot of olives to a friend. We're eating not enough to finish it. He was thrilled.
- brought salted nuts, popcorn, sausage and some cheese to a NYE party. Only some leftovers remain. Hope the teens will eat it during this week.
- DD took the Christmas candy from the boxes to her class Christmas party. Ofcourse (with 30 teens), none left......
- 1/2 bag of nachos still remain. I think this will be snack material for the teens.

Challenges in the fridge/pantry:
- more cheese, crackers and sausage from Christmas boxes
- few condiments (aioli, capers and pickled peppercorns)
- a large sheet of puff pastry
- loads of sliced meat
- several other bits and pieces. It is still too much to take inventory, so I'm taking it one step at a time and try to avoid throwing things away.

Luckily the teens are still at home. I'm trying to feed them as much as possible from the existing stack of goods and avoid grocery runs.
Happy 2024 everyone!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EchoStache on January 07, 2024, 01:02:23 PM
January eat all the food in my house.

Money spent on food:
1/2/2024: $47

January 7th: $153 spent on food so far.  This includes all consumables i.e groceries, eating out, alcohol, coffee, etc.  5 adults.  Doesn't include the three young adults discretionary fast food spending.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 07, 2024, 05:55:45 PM
We've been largely in & out since the 22nd of December, with various travels, mini trips, kids out of town, etc. So, we bought groceries once during that time, and have been trying to contain waste, which led to some interesting meals.

I set a goal for January to use 2 bags of freezer fruit (in smoothies) & 2 cans of green beans. We never eat green beans, despite liking them, so it's my goal to use those as well in dinners.

Remaining to be used over the next few days (before we again leave, this time for a college tour in Arizona):
-The remainder of some soup that I got at Costco, but don't really love. And, it's Costco sized. :-(
-A rotisserie chicken we picked up at Costco. Need to freeze leftovers, as well as the bones for an eventual batch of chicken broth.
-I bought some aspirational veggies & hummus, as I get back into the lighter eating groove, so I need to get through those & avoid food waste
-I have two bagged salads to eat & part of a caesar salad from Costco.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 08, 2024, 01:22:32 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache - have fun on the college tour!!!!  Don't know if you have already found a use for the rotisserie chicken and bagged salad, but DS LOVES a chicken caesar salad wrap.  It's one of his favorites and it looks like you have most of the "ingredients" on hand

In the Josie house, we have:

-finished off the potato latkes from the freezer (yum)
-finished off a bag of dried pinto and a bag of dried kidney beans (working through the pandemic dry goods stash....still....)
-consumed a can of "chicken and stars" soup
-made a vat of chili using the aforementioned beans and a package of ground beef from the freezer

I have also made a dent in the leftover holiday candy.  This is not necessarily a good thing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 08, 2024, 04:00:41 PM

I set a goal for January to use 2 bags of freezer fruit (in smoothies) & 2 cans of green beans. We never eat green beans, despite liking them, so it's my goal to use those as well in dinners.

-The remainder of some soup that I got at Costco, but don't really love. And, it's Costco sized. :-(


Ooh I like the idea of setting tangible eating / finishing goals. Costco soup can be returned if you don't like it. Not sure whether you approach primarily from a cost or a waste / efficiency standpoint.

Made some mega leftover vegetable soup with chicken this weekend. Now there's a lot and I need to eat instead of just cook.
Finished off an old Caesar dressing bottle
Finished off some costco chicken taco kit (minus the tortillas)
Finished off some corn tortillas
Tried to eat and then tossed some plain yogurt
DH finished off some pizza bites that had been languishing in the freezer
Tossed some shredded cheese that stank :(
Finished off a package of baby carrots in a sheet pan veggie dish
Someone finally ate a coffee flavored yogurt that had been forgotten about

Something smells weird in my fridge. I'm avoiding taking out the produce drawers. More food got tossed at the new year than in the prior 6 months. I had also turned the fridge temp higher because my lettuce kept freezing. Temp is back down again now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 08, 2024, 04:40:17 PM
@fuzzy math - the tangible list of things to use up in a month is much more helpful to me than "use up X items". It forces me to be more intentional, & takes some of the guess work out of it, as I've usually already thought of how to use the items, when I put them on the list. Which, is half the battle. :-)

For the Costco soup, I know they'd toss it, so I feel bad about the waste. I've been doctoring it with sriracha, which helps. It's not my favorite, but it's not the worst, either, so I'll just finish it & never buy it again!

We always struggle with food waste over the holidays, mostly because we're in & out of the house so much, & my husband has a bit of a food scarcity thing going on, so buying just exactly what we need, and/or subbing things out as we run low isn't an option he'll really consider.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 08, 2024, 05:03:25 PM
I also like the idea of specific things to use up.  Since I *hate* clutter, especially in my kitchen, I deliberately leave the things that need to be eaten out on the counter.  That way I see them, they irritate me, and I know they have to be eaten in the next few days to stop the irritation. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: EchoStache on January 13, 2024, 06:43:49 AM
January eat all the food in my house.

Money spent on food:
1/2/2024: $47
1/7/2024: $153
1/13/2024: $290(running total)

I think this is not too bad for almost half way through the month for five adults.  This includes groceries, coffee, alcohol, eating out, etc. All consumables.  We still have LOTS of food in the house....I'm not sure we can use all the meat we have before the end of the month. 

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 13, 2024, 10:54:40 AM
Had some mushrooms at the end of their life in the fridge, so I made "creamy mushroom and wild rice soup". Also used up a can of coconut milk. Don't know if this counts as a win, because now I have 5 servings of soup in the fridge....but I successfully converted ingredients to immediately edible food, so I guess that counts!!

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Runrooster on January 14, 2024, 07:49:39 PM
Ack, for once I’m really behind on fresh fruit. I always buy a lot but we move through it. Last week my Mom stopped eating her daily mango, this week my Dad is avoiding fruit due to blood sugar. I also got a great deal on raspberries which I am eating, cantaloupe, pears. Plus apples, mandarins, plums that didn’t soften enough for my Mom to eat. Oh and I have a papaya and some pomegranates which I already seeded. Maybe it’s time to make smoothies for lunch.

I blinked and the once empty feeezer is full. I picked up 2 spiral sliced hams for $5 each. I can eat a ham sandwich every day for a month. Plus 3 pizzas, 2 sourdough bread, 5 boxes of waffles which my Mom does eat daily. I also didn’t finish a frozen lasagna or 3 frozen dinners. Oh and 4 pounds of bacon. I like bacon, but I don’t consider it healthy enough to eat a whole pound at a time. I initially promised myself I could splurge on foods after I cleaned out the freezer. Maybe that will never arrive.

Then my Mom reminded me my sister gave me a bag full of banana flour, gluten free baking, buckwheat flour, and popcorn. I’ve never been much of a baker but maybe I can make crepes.

My mom gifted me with 7 cups of sprouted beans- I made a salad with 4 cups, and used the other three in pad Thai. These aren’t as long as store bought, closer to beans than sprouts. But nutritious and tasty.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 15, 2024, 11:32:56 AM
I also like the idea of specific things to use up.  Since I *hate* clutter, especially in my kitchen, I deliberately leave the things that need to be eaten out on the counter.  That way I see them, they irritate me, and I know they have to be eaten in the next few days to stop the irritation.

This is what I do.  Having something like a can of green beans out reminds me to use it as a side dish or add to a soup, casserole or whatever.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 15, 2024, 11:36:55 AM
last night we had burgers for dinner, so I made homemade buns (using up some yeast and flour)

I also had some celery stalks leftover from making soup, so I diced them finely and made tuna salad using up two cans of tuna from the pantry.

Tonight's dinner? You guessed it: soup and tuna salad sandwiches on the leftover burger buns!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: halftimer on January 15, 2024, 07:50:52 PM
A few tasty meals using scraps here lately
-chickpea frittata with the last of the jalapeno, green onion, and grainy mustard
-cut up an almost forgotten butternut squash and froze half the pieces. The other half was roasted and then I made mushroom risotto with it and subbed a bit of leftover balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar, plus I added the last bit of spinach in the fridge. Turned out very tasty but it will be hard to replicate now that all the supplies are gone
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 16, 2024, 01:22:49 PM
Giant stockpot of chicken and scrap veggie soup gone!
Costco sized hot sauce bottle finally finished (I moved it 1800 miles here in my trunk)
Normal sized hot sauce gone
Working through some thawed italian blend shredded cheese before it goes off
Finished an old salad dressing bottle
DS finished some jalapeno sausages
Asking DH to work on the flour tortillas
Ate the rest of the hardboiled eggs. Promptly boiled some new ones. We have lots of eggs right now.
Put some ugly strawberries and an ugly cutie in DS's smoothie.
Returned a smelly salad bag and brought back another receipt where the cashier had forgotten a markdown sticker. 2.50 back
Thawing out some frozen pulled pork to finish off

I am vowing not to buy any more chicken or salmon (unless on a crazy markdown) until we have reduced the freezer stash.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 17, 2024, 09:19:12 AM
We've been traveling & then I've been sick, so minimal progress. I now have overly ripe bananas again, which are pretty much the bane of my eat all the food existence. :-)

Recently:
-I used up the last of the frozen waffles for teen breakfasts
-Finished the soup I ordered for lunch (I know, ordering soup), and had that for dinner
-Made applesauce muffins, using up the applesauce from the freezer
-DH finished off the salmon lingering in the fridge. Salmon should never linger.

Up next:
-I defrosted ground beef, and plan to make tacos today. I defrosted the large package I bought on super sale, and also found a small bag of ground beef that had been in the freezer for an unknown period of time, so glad to get that out & use it.
-I'll likely make muffins out of the bananas
-I have a bit more of another soup that I'll eat for lunch today
-I need to inventory/clean the rest of the fridge
-Still haven't used up the green beans, as my energy level has been next level low due to being sick
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: draco44 on January 17, 2024, 01:39:45 PM
I had orange juice left over from a brunch I hosted and made homemade orange Jello using the juice, two packets of unflavored gelatin, and a bit of honey.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 17, 2024, 02:58:43 PM
We’re always plugging away at eating all of the food, but I don’t make January a pantry/freezer challenge month because we celebrate all 12 days of Christmas, then Epiphany, and then a spate of family birthdays. We got that done a little early this month (usually not until after the 21st), so I’ll be transitioning to a February challenge instead.  First step will be a full inventory of what we have.

3 of the 5 of us want to return to plant based eating after several omnivorous years. One household member has no intention of giving up animals foods, so I decided they can eat the uncooked fish and meat in the freezer and the rest of us can jump in rather than finishing the animal foods ourselves.  (The final household member eats whatever gets cooked although they prefer not to eat red meat.).

My goal for the next week is to get through the fresh produce I bought last Friday. I prepped it and now we just need to cook annd eat.  There are shaved Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, cabbage, and kale, plus the usual salad makings.  There’s also a box of pears from Sam’s Club I need to get used up.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 18, 2024, 07:52:55 PM
Used up the two cans of green beans, which were on my January "use it up" list. I made them "Thanksgiving style", which at our house means topped with slivered almonds & shaved parmesan.

I also made spaghetti & meatballs + garlic bread, which used up: baguette & meatballs from the freezer, 1/2 a jar of spaghetti sauce (pantry) & a package of pasta (pantry).

To do:
-Still need to use up the overly ripe bananas for muffins or baked oatmeal
-Need to also clean out the fridge
-Make a plan to use up the fancy cheese we bought for NYE & then didn't end up using.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 19, 2024, 05:18:27 PM
Italian blend shredded cheese is gone
Working through thawed pulled pork
Ate a can of sardines that I had labeled as "eat this week" after reading this thread

Bought a lot of produce at a discount market and my goal this week is to get it all eaten.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on January 19, 2024, 06:33:55 PM
finished the tuna salad
made the refrigerated tortellini and arugula into creamy tortellini soup (one serving left)
made some soon-to-go-off potatoes with dinner
finished the last of the avocados

it's cold and crummy here (like most of the US right now) and DH has requested beef stew this weekend.  So that will help to use up some of the less desirable cuts of beef, some potatoes and carrots.  DS is more than happy to finish off the tacos.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 20, 2024, 09:06:38 AM
Friends, I need your creativity.

I have a pound of granulated lemon peel. I bought it online thinking it was lemon zest and I’d use the heck out of it in baking.  It is not lemon zest. I found this description on spice jungle.com

“Lemon peel is dried out and crumbled into this muted, but aromatic granule powder. Fantastic for making homemade lemon pepper, meat rubs, and adding to pickling spice mixes. If you make pizzas at home, skip the cornmeal to slick up the pizza peel with granulated lemon peel to add a pinch of Mediterranean pizzazz.”

I can certainly use in lemon pepper and rubs, but we don’t eat that much meat that would call for it.  Perhaps I’ll just compost most of it. Perhaps I can make up some rubs and give them to friends? (Wish I’d thought I’d this before Christmas) But I don’t want to give away something that I don’t love.  I dunno. It’s open so the food pantry won’t take it.

Is there something else I could do with it?

I tried reconstituting some in boiling water just to see what it would be like. It is very bitter.

I’ll attach some photos.

Full confession. I bought it during the second or third Covid wave, when I got my kitchen aid and was doing a lot of baking. Lemon zest was $5 or more for a small jar at the grocery. This bag was about $7 or $8 online. A great deal! Or so I thought.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 20, 2024, 09:20:15 AM
@PMG - do you participate in Buy Nothing? If so, I'd probably keep as much as you'd use over the course of a year or whatever, and then package up the remainder into single houseshold amounts. This would go over well on my local BN.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 20, 2024, 11:18:28 AM
Could you add the lemon peel granules to tea/herbal blends during brewing?  Would it work in a simple syrup?

Last night I roasted the Brussels sprouts I’d shaved in the food processor, and also made a curry with a head of cauliflower I’d prepped, which also used up some onion and garlic.  Instead of rice, I cooked sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.  DH made a salad, getting through some of the salad makings.

This morning I used the leftover sweet potatoes in muffins.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 20, 2024, 11:20:30 AM
PMG - Could you put a spoonful in rice or veggies for a lemony taste?  Salad dressing?  Tea?   The use in place of cornmeal when making pizza is really throwing me.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 20, 2024, 08:14:52 PM
Made an appetizer tray for football watching, using up:
-An apple
-Pear
-Crackers
-Package of Spanish cheese (one of the NYE packages I've been wanting to use up)
-Pistachios (picked up for free, using CVS coupons)
-Cucumber

I'm not sure why I don't make this a regular thing. It's especially useful, as we rarely know who will be home for dinner, and it really fills out a meal, & is great for using things up.

Also made a grilled cheese for a teen & an unexpected teen guest. I had no sliced or brick cheese, but did I have those small Tillamoo packages (snack sized) & used those for the sandwiches. Bonus lunch guests also polished off some pasta & sauce left in the fridge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 21, 2024, 02:33:33 PM
I'm heading out of town tomorrow (work trip), so progress will come to a halt. My other family members aren't great about staying on top of waste, but I've done what I can:

-Fridge is largely cleaned
-Froze remaining taco meat
-Cut mold off another package of cheese (still sealed, well within use by date - so irritating) & cut some slices to go with my lunch today. It was a delicious sharp cheddar. Served with crackers & an apple. Yum.

Dinner tonight will be Korean beef bowls + rice & quick pickled cucumbers. I need to freeze the remaining ground beef.

I have two other unopened "fancy" cheeses (all leftover from NYE) - brie & parmesan gouda. I've never seen the parmesan gouda, so will need to experiment to see what it goes best with.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 21, 2024, 04:09:54 PM
@PMG  I'd use that on roasted veggies. Broccoli, green beans, asparagus, cauliflower etc. Or do some mixed sheet pan roasted veggies w potatoes and whatever else you got in your fridge. It would probably also go really well on fish.
You could also blend some into some mayo for aoli (with some fresh squeezed lemon) or into some sour cream or yogurt for a dip with garlic and maybe some other herbs like dill?

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: PMG on January 21, 2024, 07:49:54 PM
Thanks for these suggestions of how to use my lemon granules.

Alas, there is not an active buy nothing group.

Also alas, this would not taste good in tea.

I think I’m going to try it on chicken or fish, whichever we do next. And perhaps on roasted veg. We have a mix we really like on roasted veg, but it’s worth a try! 

Then, if we enjoy it we’ll know how much to keep.

I did think of a couple foodie friends who might enjoy some as is, or mixed into a lemon pepper or blend. I don’t want to just push my trash in someone… but ones we do a few more tastes, we’ll see if we can share some. I won’t move it with us though. I’ve got to draw the line for myself. I must do experimenting relatively soon. No more pushing it to the back of the cupboard.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 21, 2024, 08:29:20 PM
I like a good puzzle, @PMG, so I looked up some alternatives. Have you tried making a lemon sauce with it? Some of the commenters suggested that you could make a lemon sauce & use it to top a bundt cake or the like. Do you think that would work? That could up more volume than using it in a rub.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: GardenBaker on January 22, 2024, 12:01:58 PM
I'm jumping back on the bandwagon to try to combat our food waste. I cleaned out some of the pantry this weekend and had to throw out like 6 jars of expired peanut butter (from 2022 and 2021 ish). Also, had to throw out a bunch of stale snacks. When going through my fridge I made an effort to save what I could. I froze some beef stew in individual portions to serve as lunch sometime, froze tamales as we had too many and didn't eat them quickly, and froze some roasted fingerling potatoes. I've never frozen cooked potatoes, but I figure I can just thaw and reheat.

Also, I had some pizza sauce I froze in a silicone cube tray 2 weeks ago. Used a couple of those sauce cubes on a homemade pizza this weekend.

I have a long way to go and I feel like every year I start with good intentions, but with inflation we absolutely have to do better this year.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 22, 2024, 12:38:53 PM
@PMG I think it’s fine to occasionally accept that a food we purchased was wrong and isn’t usable by us, and then add it to the compost.  It’s worth the mental relief to have it out of the pantry and out of your mind.

We took some opened Miyoko’s plant-based cheeses with us to a race yesterday, and ate them for lunch with homemade sourdough crackers and some dried fruit.  I bought one of the cheeses earlier this month on its sell by date, so I’m trying to get it eaten.  Dinner was leftover soup, along with a quickly baked loaf of 100% whole wheat french bread.

Looking in the fridge, the top priorities for the next couple of days are some already prepped bell peppers and broccoli, followed by two bags of coleslaw mix and the usual salad makings.  The coleslaw mix was a mistake, as I bought my usual two bags without thinking about the fact that DH wanted to bring back (near) daily lettuce salads and I’d bought a six pack of romaine hearts.  Before that we had cabbage salads most night and I would also put it in soup.  I’m thinking I’ll need to make cabbage soup, cabbage stir fry, and add some to a curry once I have potatoes again.  This is 4# of coleslaw mix purchased 10 days ago, so I need to get on it.

Oh, there is a big bunch of bananas that’s also 10 days old and now covered in spots, so I need to bake muffins today.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on January 23, 2024, 03:12:09 AM
Somehow I keep finding strange, unusual food in my pantry/fridge/freezer. Some items can be traced back to the Christmas packages, but also some just came in by gifts from relatives.
Anyway, I'm trying to get to certain items:

Wins:
- finished a bottle of hot sauce from fridge
- seem to keep on top of the sliced meat inventory. No surprise items showed up recently.
- opened a bottle of soda. I'm not a soda drinker, only drink about 1 glass a week (at most), so to finish this bottle might take some time
- keep on top of the fresh produce. Nothing strange was found in the last 2 weeks.

Fails:
- opened jar of pesto went bad before I could get to it

Challenges:
- still that sheet of pie-crust. I need to make something with it.
- some fresh fruit needs to be eaten. Planning to make a nice salad which needs an apple for lunch today.
- the freezer is in desperate need of a deep clean. Need to eat it down, but I seem to get to a lot of bargains lately, which I then need to freeze.......
- need to drink a lot of tea (usually not an issue) and use up a couple of bags of loose tea which were gifted to me. I really have to remind myself to start using the loose leaves instead of the prepackaged tea bags.
- I have some grated coconut which is about to go bad. So I'm thinking about a coconut cake for the next weekend.
- Some non-popular rice crackers need to be eaten by the teens (or me (most likely)......).

Still no full inventory taken. I'm still trying the one-at-a-time approach, but still feel like cupboard/fridge/freezer is overflowing.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 27, 2024, 09:51:41 AM
Back from a work trip. Had to throw out the leftover rice that no one ate while I was gone. I'm definitely the food expediter in our family, so we have more food waste when I'm traveling.

Yesterday:

I got home from my flight & I was super tempted to order takeout. Instead, found a can of tuna in the pantry, and made tuna salad. Had that on a sandwich, using up some bread & the last of one package of sliced cheese.

Last night, I baked chicken for dinner, and both teens were unexpectedly home. DH & I had salad with our chicken, and I made quesadillas for the teens. DS16 had a cheddar quesadilla, using up the last of the snack sized cheddar, and a small handful of grated Mexican cheese (end of that bag). DS17 had pepper jack. The quesadillas also used the last of a bag of tortillas.

Focus for the week ahead:
-I planned two dinners for the week that will use up some pantry items: coconut milk & potatoes. (Different dishes). It will be nice to make some pantry progress.
-I also now have quite a bit of leftover chicken. I'll eat that for two lunches, which should use it up.
-I need to cut the rest of the jicama, and add that to DH's salads.
-I have a package of frozen burritos that no one will touch. I'll probably try at least one of those. If they aren't terrible, I'll figure out how to weave them into my meal plan.
-I typically make the teens lunch on weekends, if I'm around. We have a lot of corn dogs & fish sticks. I'll see if I can use those as the basis of their weekend lunches.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Catbert on January 27, 2024, 11:44:35 AM
Dutch Comfort - Pie crust plus fresh fruit has an obvious solution.  Small turnovers if not enough for a full pie.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: K_in_the_kitchen on January 28, 2024, 03:41:31 PM
Wins:
Fail:
Challenges ahead:
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on January 31, 2024, 08:40:19 PM
Ate a glorious cherimoya
Finished a can of refried beans
Roasted and ate a cauliflower, a shallot and a green bell pepper
Finished the last of a pint of heavy cream based ice cream
Thawed some turkey breast for DH and he finished the last of it
Thawed and cooked some mushrooms
Dogs have been eating lots of hard boiled eggs since we have so many
Rescued some trash bound produce during a food bank volunteer shift and fed it to the chickens
Made DS a smoothie out of frozen leftover fruit
Ate some leftover peppered chicken that DD cooked and abandoned
DH and I finished some short dated dip
Kids eating short dated pastries (muffins and half a pie)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 01, 2024, 07:45:53 AM
We've been eating a lot of leftovers, which is always good:

-Finished off the last of the pomegranates, which were absolutely delicious
-Made DS16 a taco quesadilla, using some freezer/pantry ingredients
-DS17 & DH ate more of the rotisserie chicken (so much chicken!) & rice
-I finished the last of the chicken curry that was in the fridge

For tonight, we have more of the Korean beef that didn't turn out that well, and a bit more rice. DS16 has a soccer game tonight, so not sure how we'll handle dinner. I don't need to go, as he won't be playing (injured), so that gives me more time to plan dinner at least.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 03, 2024, 12:20:14 PM
I need to toss the last of a tiny bit of rice no one ate.

-Two more corndogs were eaten (part of the Feb pantry challenge)
-We brought home date night leftovers last night, which DS17 polished off before one container could hit the fridge
-I ate the rest of the leftover baked Greek style veggies for two different meals, by adding eggs. Delicious.
-All fruit was consumed, and we'll shop today to replenish

For dinner tonight, we're having pesto pasta (freezer), which is part of the pantry challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 04, 2024, 01:25:04 PM
-Second container of leftovers was eaten last night
-We're down to six corn dogs eaten (part of the pantry challenge in the separate thread)
-We ended up having pad thai last night, so I ate 1/2 of one container of pesto pasta for lunch today. I'll have the other half tomorrow.

I defrosted cranberries this morning, and will make muffins with those. Cranberries are part of my freezer/pantry challenge.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Chris Pascale on February 04, 2024, 01:55:47 PM
Saw frozen cherries in the freezer. Working on them.

That's all for now.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 08, 2024, 12:57:42 PM
I've started referring to using up leftovers in a combined fashion as "the singularity" and last night's meal qualified for sure:

Leftover taco meat, some queso dip DD had microwaved and abandoned, some previously sauteed peppers and veggies, the last of a salsa jar and some fresh spinach all stirred together. It was like a not quite right Chipotle bowl.

We're currently drowning in eggs. I've offered some to family and they've all turned me down. Who turns down free fresh eggs? Neighbors who would take some are out of town. Dogs are eating 1-2 hardboiled eggs a day. Made a giant fritatta I'll be eating for days and kids had french toast for dinner but it's not making a dent in the oversupply.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: jeninco on February 08, 2024, 01:31:25 PM
Cleaned more stuff out of BIL's house, and am trying to eat down our pantry.
- cooked the lone cup or so of remaining Teff. Dumped in the can of coconut cream (sweetened) and treated it as breakfast porridge for a week.  (I may have added in some canned crushed pineapple to add some produce)
- made several more loaves of pumpkin bread using the Smitten Kitchen recipe. It's quite good, and gets eaten up promptly.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 08, 2024, 02:06:14 PM
@fuzzy math - eggs have a pretty long shelf life, but according to the pioneer woman (social commentaries notwithstanding) they can be frozen:

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a43456544/can-you-freeze-eggs/

Hope this helps!  FWIW, my go tos for too many eggs are to make egg bites, breakfast burritos, shakshuka or fritatta.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 08, 2024, 06:13:36 PM
We've done a super solid job of staying on top of leftovers & fridge supplies here:

-Finished off the last of the pad thai last night, and defrosted chicken curry for everyone else.
-Used the rest of the taco meat to make a taco quesadilla for my picky eater who wouldn't eat curry or pad thai
-The quesadilla also used up tortillas and cheese that have been lingering for a while
-I continue to work on the NYE "fancy" cheese that didn't get eaten on that occasion
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BlueHouse on February 08, 2024, 08:13:45 PM
I live alone.  I've decided I don't need to keep 17 cans of soup in my pantry.  I'm going to limit myself to 2 cans.  So I'm throwing down the gauntlet to get rid of at least 15 of these cans, in order of oldest expiration date (2022) to newest.  I plan to have 1 can of soup every day for as long as I can stand it!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on February 09, 2024, 06:19:07 AM
I'm trying to eat theoughy pantry and freezer. DS has decided to go low carb, so I am the only one staring down the frozen bagels and bag of potatoes in pantry.  Tasty problem to have
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 15, 2024, 07:57:44 PM
I live alone.  I've decided I don't need to keep 17 cans of soup in my pantry.  I'm going to limit myself to 2 cans.  So I'm throwing down the gauntlet to get rid of at least 15 of these cans, in order of oldest expiration date (2022) to newest.  I plan to have 1 can of soup every day for as long as I can stand it!

Status update? Can you stand it?
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on February 15, 2024, 08:13:37 PM
- Finished off some mild-medium burnt parmesan chicken skewers
- Finished off a salad bag, except for the excessive amount of shredded carrots and cabbage in the bag
- Cooked the leftover shredded carrots and cabbage with a leftover half onion and mixed it with some refried beans and queso
- kids used up some chicken breasts from the freezer with an old lime to make fajita chicken
- it was served with old fridge corn tortillas
- markdown chocolate cinnamon rolls tube was cooked this evening

Failures:
- 2 lb tub of strawberries that look quite nice all taste like mold. Beyond the point of being able to return :(
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: BlueHouse on February 17, 2024, 01:28:27 PM
I live alone.  I've decided I don't need to keep 17 cans of soup in my pantry.  I'm going to limit myself to 2 cans.  So I'm throwing down the gauntlet to get rid of at least 15 of these cans, in order of oldest expiration date (2022) to newest.  I plan to have 1 can of soup every day for as long as I can stand it!

Status update? Can you stand it?

Still working my way through it, but it's more like 1 can every 3 days so far.  I'm down to 13 cans.  And still alive despite eating "old" soup. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 17, 2024, 01:55:17 PM
We've been doing a really good job of eating leftovers, & keeping on top of waste.

I did toss old chicken broth & two burgers that were too freezer burned to be saved.

Otherwise:
-Fruit drawer is basically empty (perfect, as we shop on weekends)
-90% of all Superbowl snacks are gone. We have a little bit of chicken buffalo dip left (from TJs - delicious), & one mini cucumber remains
-I defrosted chicken curry for dinner, and had that last night. There's enough left for lunch tomorrow.
-I've been making my way through breakfast sandwiches that someone thought were a great idea (maybe me, frankly, I don't recall) from Costco, but no one else will eat. They are fine. Nothing exciting, but an okay breakfast in a pinch. I think they are all gone. Hurrah.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 18, 2024, 02:14:09 PM
I ordered pick up lunch for today, after a long run (11 miles). I find that I'm hungry for very particular things (salty sandwiches!) after long runs. I had no sandwich fixings at home, as we are heading out to ski tomorrow. Teen comes home from the sandwich place, sandwich for himself, brother & they forgot mine! I was devastated, which was later funny, but not in the moment.

Made myself a breakfast burrito, using up the last slice of pepper jack cheese, and some tortillas we need to use. I didn't have a dinner planned yet either, so defrosted taco meat to keep the theme alive - ground beef tacos or taco salads for dinner tonight.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 21, 2024, 03:17:03 PM
Hi everyone!  I haven't posted in a few months.  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

@MaybeBabyMustache excellent job regarding your long runs!

Because Q1 is a low commission quarter, I've been even more laser focused on using freezer and pantry items.  The shelves and freezers were overflowing during/after the holidays.  I've spent $303 on groceries/HBAs this month but that includes vitamins and some Valentine's Day goodies for the neighbor kiddos.  I budgeted another $40 for next week's fresh produce pickup.

Lately:
~A leftover refrigerator pie crust from Thanksgiving pie baking was used to make chicken pot pie.
~Various cheeses, nuts, frozen appetizers, olives, crackers, etc. served as game snacks, midnight munchies, light suppers, and guest entertaining.
~Cans of different types of beans, a box of broth, two cans each of tomatoes, chilis and chicken made a pot of white chicken chili.
~I made a pan of enchiladas before going out of town early January which I am grateful for because DH and I came home ill and ate the rest for a few days.
~During the illness:  Finished the last of the diet cranberry juice, several tea bags, a few cups of rice and a can of soup.
~I put the rest of last fall's frozen homemade spaghetti sauce in a lasagna to keep in the freezer for the next virus go around.
~I've been making smoothies every so often to use canned coconut milk and berries frozen during season last year.
~Ham hock and beans consisted of a ham hock from the freezer and several cups dried beans.
~In late January we ate the rest of the pork and orange marmalade frozen in November.
~Made my first pozole to use up a beef roast.  The meat turned out tender, we didn't care for the hominy.
~Also made my first chicken cotija street corn skillet using two cans of chicken.
~Monday I made sweet and sour noodles and veggies and added leftover smoked salmon to it.  There is just 1/4 left of the huge bag of mixed veggies in the kitchen freezer.  I'll then address the bag in the garage freezer.
~We ate the rest of the frozen mini wontons as a side of the above.
~I baked two batches of flax seed muffins over the past several weeks.  Some flax seed also went into DH's overnight oats.
~Last year's pork has all been consumed.
~Last night I made my own tartar sauce.
~This weekend I'll make blueberry cheesecake and the crust will consist of crushed leftover gingerbread cookies from Christmas.
~This weekend I'll also bake pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to finish last fall's pumpkin puree.
~Tonight's supper will include beef and tomatoes which were tossed in the freezer before we headed out of town for I don't remember which trip.  I'll serve it on top of sauteed leftover zoodles and the remaining baby spinach.

Because of the holidays, going out of town for an NFL game, being ill for essentially 6 weeks, the Superbowl, and celebrating my birthday for several weeks, my body has asked for a reset.  I've been aiming for at least 4 different vegetable (and berries) servings daily and increasing water consumption. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 24, 2024, 08:21:24 AM
@MountainGal - welcome back! It's nice to see you back on this thread :-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 25, 2024, 06:12:22 PM
-Made a double batch of brownies for the school banquet on Thursday. I'll freeze them this evening, when they are cooled down. I'm pretty happy with myself, as I thought long & hard about ordering mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cake, because I have a VERY long week ahead. Remembered I could freeze them, and took advantage of some time this weekend to get them prepped.
-DH grilled burgers yesterday, and we got creative with the cheese options. I had cheese & crackers today & used the last of the sliced provolone. I forget that provolone is really quite good. I always think of it as bland, but it's tasty with the right pairing.
-Baked up some breaded Bare chicken for lunch today to top my salad. I always make extra, as sure enough, the teens wander into the kitchen as soon as they smell someone else making lunch. ;-)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: marion10 on February 25, 2024, 09:12:00 PM
Cleaned out our chest freezer. I did throw out the remainder of a package of frozen dumplings that I never liked the taste of and some rhubarb that looed pretty freezer burned. Found some frozen shredded zucchini and threw that into some sausage soup I had going in the crock pot. Used some frozen leftover coconut milk to make butter chicken and then the leftover milk and some frozen bananas to make breakfast cookies.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 26, 2024, 05:38:56 PM
-Tossed some hot chocolate packets that I didn't know were in my pantry (I'm guessing my mom bought them when she was here, long ago?) that expired in 2020.
-Made myself lunch from leftovers. DS17 didn't like the dinner I made last night (to be fair, it was pretty meh), so he made himself a bagel & covered his dinner & put it in the fridge. I had that, plus some sliced cheese (one more NYE leftover cheese is almost gone!), with leftover Superbowl crackers & an apple.
-Dinner tonight will be leftover burgers + salad
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on February 27, 2024, 12:00:58 PM
Thank you, @MaybeBabyMustache!  And I'd never heard of Just Bare Breaded Chicken.  Yum!

@marion10, I like what you did with the zucchini.

I didn't get to the pumpkin cookies or cheesecake over the weekend, but I did assemble a lasagna and stuffed pasta noodles and put them in the freezer for future illness down time.  I made a batch of homemade sauce for both, which utilized several cans of different tomatoes and two squirts from a tube of tomato paste.  Also:

~Last week the remaining bag of frozen sweet potato fries were served on the side of a beef roast.  We still have several cuts of the latter.  They are definitely a low and slow item, so if anyone has any slow cooker recipes, I'm all ears.  :)
~I saved the fat from cooking bacon over the weekend for future use.
~Finished the bag of dried blueberries from my Christmas stocking as a cottage cheese topping along with some walnuts.
~A can of low sodium Spam with best buy date of NOW was sliced for lunchmeat purposes.
~Over the past several weeks, I've made my own taco seasoning blend, Italian spice blend, tartar sauce and an interesting Dijon mustard sauce containing mayo, stone ground Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juicer garlic salt and black pepper.  I ate the rest of the latter with the below eggplant fries.
~The remaining pork rind parmesan breading made last month was used last night as a breading for eggplant fries.
~This morning, I cut the rather long beef stick from my stocking into thirds which I'll snack on along with cheese sticks.  One beef stick is one serving apparently, but I don't like to eat that much sodium all at once.
~The mini sour cream cup I brought from a supper out last month will accompany today's lunch tamale.  ;-)
~Several cups of almond flour will be the crust of tonight's John Wayne casserole.  The casserole will contain two cans of Rotel, a can of diced chilis. a can of green beans, and several cups each cheddar and mozzarella.
~Wednesday we'll have the last bag of refrigerated noodles bought for the Chinese New Year, along with sliced portobellos and red Argentine shrimp.  With it will be the remaining 3 frozen eggrolls.
~Thursday we'll have the remaining frozen peel and eat shrimp with salmon.
~Sunday will be a slow cooked English cut roast with fresh sweet potato fries.
~Tonight's goal is to make more overnight oats for DH which will use some frozen strawberries, and flax seed muffins for me.

It's almost time for a Sam's Club restock.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on February 29, 2024, 01:00:51 PM
-The second to the last of the NYE cheese is now used up. Hurrah! That just leaves us with a package of brie. DS18 has just discovered he's a brie fan, so maybe he'll eat some of it.
-I sprinkled the last of some shredded cheddar on eggs this morning, and also used a tortilla & some salsa that's almost gone.

Heading out of town tomorrow, so hopefully the boys in my family will do their part to eat some of the leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dollar Slice on March 02, 2024, 10:33:05 AM
Expiration date question (kinda). I paid for grocery delivery since I'm trying to balance chronic fatigue with being overscheduled this week... I ordered a (pre-chilled, not hot) rotisserie chicken. The one they delivered was cooked on Feb 28 (Wednesday), delivered to me March 2 (Saturday). Obviously I asked for a refund since I don't consider four-day-old cooked/prepared foods acceptable. But do you think it's safe to eat in terms of food waste? I feel really bad wasting that much meat. But also I'm one person and I'm definitely not eating an entire chicken today... so I'm wondering how many days you guys would feel good about eating a whole cooked chicken. Or not.

The other option is just throwing it in the Instant Pot for an extra rich stock.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 05, 2024, 05:52:27 AM
Trying to loose some weight, so cutting back on carbs for myself. This does not help with eating all the food, since I'm now just eating more fresh produce/protein and less items that are in my pantry. I'm just trying to feed the carbs to the teens and keep the produce/protein to myself. Anyway, groceries are much less carb heavy as they used to be and slowly but surely items are being eaten in this house. Freezer is still a work in progress, but I'm seeing some dents in a few drawers...... Fridge is in control. Pantry is still full, but I'm trying to make meals out of pantry items.

Wins:
- Some aioli accompanied baked potatoes last week and is gone now
- 2 Prebaked French breads were eaten on Saturday
- Tossed 2 cans of corn and 1 can of beans in Friday's enchilladas
- Used the last of a bottle of bell-pepper-vinager. Was actually delicious on a tomato-salad.

Challenges:
- Sliced bread from freezer
- Still a lot of half used bottles of various dressings and sauces in the fridge

Had to toss:
- 1 head of salad which I totally forgot about and went mushy
- 1 small serving of pasta which DS forgot to eat after soccer practice

Plan for this week:
- Today: baked potatoes with mushroom / bacon topping, salad and meat from freezer
- Tomorrow: pasta night - pasta from pantry, tomato-sauce from pantry and meat from freezer
- Thursday: meat from freezer, need to head out for fresh produce
- Friday: let's see what fresh produce is left.......
- Saturday: usually our leftover-day (we just eat leftovers/any frozen meals that are available)

@Dollar Slice, I would opt for the Instant pot and create a massive amount of chicken soup/broth and put that in the freezer.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 05, 2024, 09:26:30 PM
Got back from a trip, and made a bit of progress in the fridge:
-Had leftover pizza & a banana for lunch
-Made gyros for dinner, and defrosted some naan to round out the dinner. DS16 had two grilled cheese naans, which just leaves us with two left.

I got laid off last week, so I guess I'll have a bunch of time to start making dinners during the week. Bright side? ;-) We usually just eat leftovers.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 06, 2024, 10:58:39 AM
@MaybeBabyMustache - I'm so sorry to hear about the layoff. 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 06, 2024, 01:35:09 PM
@MaybeBabyMustache I love brie!  Yum.  Sorry about the layoff.

@Dollar Slice, my intuition and Google says four days for rotisserie chicken.

@Dutch Comfort I'm with you on losing weight.  Today I discovered different food plans on Eating Well's website.  I'm a low carber 95% of the time, so I focused on their low carb Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory plans.  It seems the only time I really lose pounds is when I eat seafood and veggies, so it will be a nice fit.

I tried waiting until next week for a fresh produce restock, but we have just a 1/3 bag of baby spinach left in the drawer, so tonight it is.

Since my last post:
~We picked up a rather large Sam's Club order, so we're set for a while in regard to frozen and fresh salmon, lunch meat turkey, frozen shrimp, canned chicken, bacon, sausage, various canned goods, and snacks for DH's lunch.
~I finished the fresh blueberries, so I've been snacking through a bag which was put into the freezer last August.
~Finally baked the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  I didn't have enough chocolate chips on hand, so I smashed 7 or so Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares with a rolling pin and used those.  Perfect!
~I used the remaining half of a large Velveeta block (bought for the Super Bowl) to make queso.
~I'm really getting into turmeric for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and I've made turmeric bars including 2 cups of almond flour and riced cauliflower with a bag of frozen cauliflower.
~Baby spinach made a "bed" for smoked salmon one night and air fryer cod a few days later.
~Tonight, I'll make a few jars of overnight oats for DH which should finish the bag of store brand frozen strawberries.
~Also, tonight if I have time, I'm going to bake omelet muffins from the Eating Well website.
~The only things tossed was about 1/4 of the crack dip (mayo, parm cheese, bacon, etc.) and a small amount of the white cheddar DH bought and didn't get to it in time.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 07, 2024, 07:27:08 PM
-Ate a mini package of chips with my lunch today. There is only one left, from a huge box my son ended up with after a volunteer event. I try to limit chips in the house, so at least the size is very contained.
-Made dinner tonight to use the last of the hamburger buns, some chicken patties (teens), salad (me), shrimp from the freezer (DH). DH has purchased numerous packages of shrimp scampi from Costco. He's the only one who likes them, so I'll continue to serve them to him. ;-)
-Used up 2 cans of coconut milk last night in a delicious dinner (chicken peanut noodles - budget bytes)

I also realized there's a super old bag of cauliflower rice in the freezer, so I've found a recipe to use that up (some sort of cauliflower rice taco bake thing, also from budget bytes)
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 08, 2024, 04:32:56 AM
Yesterday I decided on home-made pizza (flour and yeast are staples here), which used up one package of mozzarella, a few onions, bell-peppers, leftover slices of ham and salami, 1/2 can of olives and some grated cheese (all from fridge) and some tomato-sauce which I had frozen from an earlier pizza-night.
DD came home late from her side-job and finished the last of the Turkish pizza which was in the freezer.
Today will be potatoe-wedges from freezer, chicken from freezer and the last of the veggies from the fridge (I found cucumber and tomatoes, so this will work). DS will have soccer practice and he asked for a leftover of fried rice which is also in the freezer.
During the last couple of days DS started to eat the sliced bread from freezer in his school-sandwiches, so that is perfect timing!
This morning I had one of the greek yoghurts that was lingering in the fridge. Only one left now.....

Let's see what's for lunch today.......
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 08, 2024, 06:09:58 AM
finally finished off a packet of naan from the freezer (part of the February pantry challenge!!)

DS finished a package of pork chops from the freezer

Tonight's menu will be a Tex Mex affair-- going to try to make "high protein queso" using cottage cheese and Rotel....wish me luck.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 08, 2024, 08:13:20 AM
@Josiecat22222 - the queso sounds good. Let us know if it turns out well.

Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 09, 2024, 09:35:38 AM
Used up a bag of pureed bananas + 2 overly ripe bananas from the fruit bowl to make a double batch of banana muffins. One more item out of the freezer!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Josiecat22222 on March 09, 2024, 01:04:48 PM
@Josiecat22222 - the queso sounds good. Let us know if it turns out well.


Ok, so the queso was actually pretty good, but there is a twist.  The basics are blend 1 cup of cottage cheese (I used low fat good culture brand) with 1/4 cup water and 1 cup shredded cheese (1/2 cup at a time) in a high powered blender with taco seasoning to taste...I wound up using most of a packet.  At this point it is thick and creamy and really tasty, but cool or room temp.

Here's where I veered off the recipe...I added a can of Rotel.  Should have stopped at 1/3 cup because it made it a bit too thin, but then I had half a can left over, and this is the "eat all the food in your house" challenge.....soooo....I added it all in.  Then we warmed it which also changed the texture too.  Over all it was good, we have eaten it with carrot sticks/bell pepper as a dip, DH had it drizzled over a pork chop and I put some on a baked sweet potato.  It was good, but I think the best was when it was just the cottage cheese, water, taco seasoning and cheese.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 09, 2024, 01:31:00 PM
Good to know. I just bought cottage cheese, hoping to get details!

-Ate half an apple from yesterday, leftover from a teen's breakfast
-Ate leftover chicken peanut noodles for dinner last night & lunch today, froze the remaining two servings for future lunches
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 10, 2024, 08:39:27 AM
Cleaned our pantry & opted to toss a few expired items (I think mustard lasts for quite a while, but this expired four years ago?) Now we have cleaned up shelves.

-Gave away a can of white peaches (literally no idea how they got into the pantry, and can text isn't in English) on BN, before it expires next month
-Made a cauliflower rice dish last night that used up: remainder of a large bag of cauliflower rice that's been in the freezer forever, the last of a bag of frozen corn (none of us like corn, so I have no idea why we had it in the freezer) & taco meat from the freezer. It made enough for a couple of more meals, and I froze half of it for future dinners.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: Dutch Comfort on March 11, 2024, 06:27:45 AM
Had a good weekend:
- Finally finished that sheet of pie crust and made cheese sticks from it, using some shredded cheese
- Took out 4 burgers from freezer, making dinner for DH and DS
- Took out a box of soup from freezer, making dinner for DD and myself with accompanying cheese sticks
- Finished the last of the greek yoghurts from fridge.

Freezer is really starting to be a little more empty. I can almost start taking inventory, so I can really plan the meals (now I just go with what I see popping up first.....).
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MountainGal on March 11, 2024, 04:37:23 PM
@Josiecat22222 thank you for the queso idea and tips!

@MaybeBabyMustache thank you for reminding me about the Budget Byte website!

-Last Friday I made portobello pizzas using the leftover homemade pizza sauce frozen last August
-Yesterday I baked the omelet muffins I didn't get to last week.  They and a kale frittata used 16 of the 24 pack of neighbor produced eggs
-Last Thursday's smash burgers were eaten that night for supper and for Saturday's lunch
-I added last Thursday's leftover green beans to today's leftover Cornish game hen, zoodles and yellow squash
 
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 11, 2024, 05:32:32 PM
@MountainGal - I'm making another Budget Bytes recipe tonight - oven baked chicken fajitas. They are great.

-Remembered to use fresh mint (it's going wild in our planter) for salads. My husband loves it in his salad (similar to Shirazi salad)
-Ate the leftover chicken patty on top of my lunch salad. Bonus points for using remaining "mix ins" from a previous bagged salad
-Had the last 1/2 slice of cheese on my salad as well, emptying one bag of sliced cheese
-Bought cilantro & sour cream for the taco cauliflower rice bake recipe, and decided to make chicken fajitas tonight to use up more of those ingredients. Cut up an extra avocado for the fajitas as well.

Wiped out the freezer yesterday, as a little bit was uncovered & could be cleaned. Progress!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 13, 2024, 06:07:13 PM
-Had leftover cauliflower taco rice for lunch, used up the last of the shredded cheese, chopped avocado & some sour cream. DH & one teen will have the rest for dinner tonight.
-I'll have the remaining fajita meat for dinner tonight, using up more of the Mexican themed toppings we have on hand.
-I've almost finished off a bag of pistachios that I bought a while ago.

Gave away a small jar of red curry paste (unopened). We have an enormous jar (also unopened), so best to pass this on to someone who can use it before it expires, as we definitely won't get to it.

Menu planned for the week ahead to use up some long lingering pantry items
-Top Ramen - for chicken yakisoba, just the noodles
-lasagna noodles - for lasagna ;-)
-1/3 a bag of french fries from the freezer

I also bought an absolutely enormous head of cabbage today ($.37/lb!), which will also go in the chicken yakisoba. We can also get at least 2 batches of cole slaw out of it, so I need to stay on top of that as well.
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 16, 2024, 07:13:52 PM
Used up a package of Top Ramen from the pantry, and it's been there for years. Feel pretty good about that! Made chicken yakisoba, and made a start using the enormous cabbage I bought on the St. Patrick's Day sales.

I'm also planning to use the lasagna noodles this week as well, which I think largely means our pantry is now in excellent shape!
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: fuzzy math on March 16, 2024, 10:25:36 PM
Back after much chaos and overstocking of items!

- Finished all the lentils in the house
- Finished all the regular oats in the house making apple crisp twice
- Working through ~25 apples saved from becoming pig food (hence all the apple crisp)
- Made leftovers tonight - finished off taco meat for quesadillas for one kid, and a hoagie roll for a meatball sub for another kid
- Reorganized the freezer and brought some high value items to the front so they'll hopefully be consumed
- DD ate the leftover rice
- Trying to keep up with all the fresh eggs
- DH ground some nuts into nut butter
- Some leftover cracker varieties have been finished
Title: Re: Eat All The Food In Your House - Take 2
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on March 17, 2024, 02:05:00 PM
@fuzzy math - I have a kid who loves taco quesadillas, so that's how I always use leftovers when there's not quite enough for a full meal of tacos.

I made a batch of homemade hummus, which used the last two cans of garbanzo beans *right* before they expired, as well as part of a jar of just expired tahini. My entire crew loves homemade hummus & it's easy. May have to pick up more garbanzo beans to use up the remainder of the tahini.

Served four corn dogs for lunch to the teens (not to worry, they also had a huge pile of veggies & hummus, as well as fruit), which leaves me with only three corn dogs remaining out of the bag! They were a part of the February pantry/freezer challenge, but I didn't quite get to them.