Meal Plan Monday - Feb 11

A nasty bout of bronchitis this week really messed with our meal plans and threw me off my game.  Hopefully we are back on track this week as I am feeling a bit better.   

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie, Rice Krispy Treats

Tuesday - All- American Fritatta, Fruit

Wednesday - Crockpot Baked Potatoes

Thursday - Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli, Italian Salad, Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream

Friday - Subway - Nanny's treat

Saturday - leftovers

Sunday - Chicken Cordon Bleu, Whiskey Carrots,  Rice Pilaf

For more menu ideas and recipes visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

A Dinner Party and A Pantry Challenge

Only a crazy person would host a dinner party at the end of a month long pantry challenge.   Well, I guess I must be crazy.  I hosted a dinner party on Friday night for 6 adults and 2 children and I only purchased one single item.  I purchased a jar of marshmallow creme for marshmallow frosting for the cupcakes.  I could have used a vanilla buttercream, but REALLY wanted to try the marshmallow frosting.  While it wasn't a gourmet dinner, it was a wonderful meal. 

On the Menu -

Italian Chicken Soup
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting
Iced Sweet Tea

I also spent a great deal of time on Friday cleaning out the pantry and several cabinets.  We had 15, yes that's right 15 boxes of crackers in our pantry, mostly left from holiday parties.  Some had just one or two sleeeves of crackers in them, so I did some consolidating and got that number down to 10 boxes.  Ridiculous!   I'll be making lots of dips and cheeseballs in the next few weeks to get rid of some of these before they go stale.

Linking to Good Cheap Eats

Meal Plan Monday - Feb. 4

I didn't write a meal plan last week for the first time in a REALLY long time.  We just kind of winged it, which usually doesn't work that well for us, BUT as we were in the last week of our Pantry Challenge, it turned out OK.  I have been in the mindset of use what we have now since Jan. 1st, so I just went to the refrigerator, freezer and pantry and used what we had on hand.  While it wasn't the most exciting week of dinners we have ever had (lots of sandwiches), everyone was fed and no one complained.  As our Pantry Challenge has now come to a close, we are looking forward to some great, new meals.

Saturday - Cajun Roasted Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Roasted Green Beans
Sunday - Shrimp with Remoulade, Crab Cakes, Sweet Potato Fries, l/o Roasted Green Beans, Rice Krispy Treats, Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
Monday - Too many things going on tonight -- picking up Zaxby's
Tuesday - Lasagna Soup
Wednesday - Leftovers - Lasagna Soup or Pork Tenderloin and Mashed Potatoes or Zaxbys Chicken Fingers
Thursday - All-American Fritatta (with l/o italian sausage from Tuesday), Fruit Salad
Friday - Subway Sandwiches - Nanny's treat

As you can see, I'm sticking true to the lessons of the pantry challenge -- using what we have.  In the past I would have let 2 pieces of Italian Sausage languish away in the back of the refrigerator until it was too scary to eat.  Instead, it will become a second meal by throwing it into a fritatta.  Same for the pork.  My family is not into leftovers so much, but if I can turn them into something different it a whole 'nother story.

For more menu ideas, visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

Pantry Meals Round Up

Each January I participate in the Pantry Challenge with Life As Mom's Jessica at Good Cheap Eats.  This allows us to spend less and use more of what we have.  Pantry Meals are an important part of a successful Pantry Challege as well as instrumental in getting dinner on the table during the week all year long.  Pantry meals are those meals you can just throw together based on what you have on hand, eliminating an extra trip to the grocery store.  Each of these can be made either with what I have on hand or substitutions.  Many of my pantry meals are one dish meals that either stand alone or with the addition of a quick salad or bowl of fruit make a complete meal.  All week I've been sharing some recent pantry meal additions -- Veggie Quesadillas, Fried Rice, Cheesy Mexican Rice, and Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage.

Here's a round up of our all time favorite pantry meals.  I can throw each of these together and never get a complaint from a single member of my family. 

Chicken Pot Pie

 

 

Pizza Pasta Casserole

 

 

All-American Frittata

 

 

Chili

 

 

Risotto

 

 

Main Dish Salads

 

 

Tomato Basil Cheese Pasta

 

Linking to

Tidy Mom's I'm Lovin' It

Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up

Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage - Pantry Meal

Pasta dishes make great pantry meals.  Most pasta dishes are very forgiving and substituting ingredients for what you have on hand is a simple fix.  I have many, many pasta dishes my family likes, but one of our favorites is Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage.  It uses so many staples I have on hand all the time -- canned tomatoes, pesto, pasta, parmesan cheese, and sausage.  However, it is easily adaptable.  Don't have italian sausage?  Use breakfast sausage or ground beef or chicken or leave out the meat all together for a meatless option.  I have used every type of pasta imaginable in this recipe.  My one piece of advice is to stay away from spaghetti.  The sauce is thick and just won't hold on thin spaghetti noodles. 

Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage

2 T olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, drained
28 oz. pasta, cooked and drained
6 T pesto
6 T Parmesan cheese
1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and drained
salt, pepper, fresh basil to taste

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Saute garlic for 2 minutes.  Add tomotoes and simmer for 10 minutes.  While tomatoes are cooking, use a potato masher or back of a wooden spoon to break up the larger tomato pieces.

Season tomato sauce with salt and pepper, stir in pesto.  Add Italian sausage and simmer 5 more minutes. 

Pour sauce over hot pasta, mix well.  Top with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. 

Linked to Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Fried Rice - Pantry Meal

Another great pantry meal I like to make is fried rice, using leftover meat and vegetables.  This time used leftover pork.  While I used the traditional peas and carrots in this batch, I've been known to throw in corn or chopped asparagus, even the last of a jar of pimentos went in once.  This is a great way to give leftovers a new flavor profile and make it more appealing to my family.  It is pretty quick too, especially if you use leftover rice instead of cooking and cooling it. 

Fried Rice

1 c long grain white rice, cooked according to package directions.
1 T canola oil
2 eggs, scrambled
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c frozen peas and carrots
3 green onions, sliced -- green and white parts
powdered ginger
salt
soy sauce, low-sodium
leftover meat of your choice (chicken, ground beef, shrimp, pork)

Place hot cooked rice in a bowl.  Toss in the frozen peas and carrots.  Put in the freezer.  Stir every few minutes until rice is cool and sticky.  Your rice must be cold or it will turn to mush when you fry it.  You can also use cold, leftover rice. 

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet on high.  Add green onions and garlic.  Saute for about 2 minutes (it will smell REALLY good). 

Remove rice from freezer, place in wok.  Stir fry for a minute, add soy sauce to your taste.  I use quite a bit, covering most of the rice.  Add powdered ginger, about 1/4 t and salt to taste (if using full sodium soy sauce you won't need salt).  Add in diced leftover meat and chopped scrambled eggs.  Continue to cook until heated through.  Taste and adjust seasonings and soy sauce if necessary. 

Pantry Challege Week 3 Wrap Up

We did very well on our Pantry Challenge this week.  We did have an unscheduled dinner pick up from Wendy's this week because my tutoring session went LONG and I couldn't even begin to cook until after 8:00, so we opted for a quick drive thru meal on Thursday.  However, I had only spent $12.00 on fresh veggies and dairy at the grocery store that week, so even with our $15.00 Wendy's trip we were still WAYYYY under our usual food expenditures. 

I managed to do a bit of freezer cooking this week as well.  We own a small restaurant and when there are extra items that will not be used before the expiration date and are not needed at the Salvation Army soup kitchen, I am the lucky recipient.  My DH brought home 10 pounds of ground beef and 6 white onions.  I quickly turned that into 5 meals of homemade meatballs and 12 half-cup portions of frozen chopped onions.   I also made pancakes and chicken taquitos.   I love that I was able to add to the freezer and still keep up with our pantry challenge. 

My refrigerator is getting bare.  We've used up lots of condiments and made better use of leftovers this month.  My freezer is showing signs of emptimess, which is good as it needs a good defrosting.  You can see what we are eating from the freezer this week on my weekly menu post.  Every meal starts with an item or two from the freezer.  I still need to do a thorough inspection of my pantry.   The kids just kind of throw things in there and I'm not sure what exactly is in there.  That will be this week's project and make next week's meal plan from what I find in there. 

Hope everyone is doing well on their own challenge. 

Linked to Good Cheap Eats.

Veggie Quesadillas - Pantry Meal

Quesadillas are a quick weeknight meal we enjoy on a regular basis.  I can have these on the table in under 30 minutes.  One of our favorite recipes is this one for Vegetable Quesadillas.  One of the great things about this recipe is you can change out the vegetables to suit your tastes or what you have on hand in the refrigerator.  You can also used fresh, frozen or canned vegetables.  This is a true versatile  pantry meal.

 

 

Vegetable Quesadillas

 

1 t olive oil

1 c fresh or frozen corn kernels

1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 c chopped zucchini

4 green onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 T chili powder

1/2 t ground cumin

1/4 t salt

8 (6 inch) tortillas ( I had HUGE ones is the refrigerator, so I made one large quesadilla and cut into wedges)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 c sour cream

1/2 c salsa

 

Mix sour cream and salsa together.  Refrigerate.

 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

 

Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Swirl in olive oil, heat for 1 minute.  Add in vegetables and spices.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender, about 8 minutes.  Remove from heat.

 

Place 4 tortillas on baking sheet.   Top each with 1/4 of the vegetable mixture and 3 T cheese.  Place remaining tortillas on top. 

 

Lightly spray the top of each tortilla with non-stick spray.  Bake until tortillas are golden and cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.  Cut each quesadilla into 4 pieces.  Serve with sour cream/salsa sauce.

 

These reheat well for lunch or leftovers the next day. 

 

Linking up to One Creative Weekend. 

Cheesy Mexican Rice - Pantry Meal

As our 2013 Pantry Challenge winds down, I'm highlighting some of our favorite pantry recipes. Some are old favorites and some are new ones we discovered this month while cleaning out the pantry and freezer.

This is a great pantry meal.  You can substitute any type of protein or leave it out all together.  Don't have Rotel, use tomato sauce and green chiles or chopped jalapenos.  Use any type of cheese you have on hand, cheddar, jack, pepper jack.  This is a very forgiving recipe.  It also makes a lot, so you will have leftovers for another  meal or lunches during the week.  We like to top it with salsa and sour cream. 

Cheesy Mexican Rice

1 T vegetable oil
1 c long grain white rice
1 can (16oz) chicken broth
1/2 - 1 c water
1 can Rotel
1/2 onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t chili powder
small can corn, drained
1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
1 1/2 c shredded colby jack cheese

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Stir in rice; cook and stir until rice is lightly browned and gives off a toasted fragrance -- about 5 minutes. 

Stir in chicken broth, water, Rotel, onion, garlic, salt, cumin and chili powder.  Bring to boil, reduce to low.  Cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add corn, beans and beef.  Cook until heated through.  Top with cheese, heat until cheese is melted. 

Linking up to Pocket Change Gourmet Delicious Dishes

Beauty and Bedlam Tasty Tuesday

Meal Plan Monday - January 21st

Week 4 of the Pantry Challenge.  I'm working through the depths of my freezer this week.  Each year in July I do a HUGE freezer cooking session before we all head back to school.  By January, there are bits and pieces of that session that need to be eaten.  This week my menu focuses on those items.  I have several different marinated chicken breasts, a Mediterranean Whole Chicken, a Pizza Pasta Casserole, beer chili, mac and cheese and broccoli casserole.   I also have buffalo chicken, plain shredded chicken and a bag of hashbrowns. 


Sunday - Wings and Dip while watching the FALCONS!
Monday - Mediterranean Chicken, Mashed Potatoes,  Green Beans
Tuesday - Beer Chili, Mac and Cheese, Veggies and Ranch
Wednesday - Sandwich and Salad Bar
Thursday - Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Salad, Fruit
Friday - Mom, Dad, Patrick and Tommy for dinner ?????? Chocolate Chocolate Kiss Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Saturday - Supper Club - I'm taking a side dish--- still not sure what.

For more menu ideas visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

Meal Planning and A Pantry Challenge

Conducting a successful Pantry Challenge is impossible without meal planning.  If you don't plan to use what you have, you will end up at the grocery store or the drive thru or at a restaurant, blowing your small January grocery budget.  I try to meal plan all the time, but during a Pantry Challenge it is a necessity.

I start out by checking the refrigerator for things that need to be eaten quickly.  Today I found bacon, proscuitto, lettuce, celery, green onion, pesto, smoked sausage, and bagels.  I also checked the freezer and we have an abundance of brats, italian sausage and mac and cheese.  In the pantry I had black eyed peas, plenty of canned tomatoes, hot dog buns and a 1/2 bag of potatoes.  These items will make up the bones of my meal plan. 

Sunday -Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya, Salad
     used - celery, green onion, smoked sausage, proscuitto, black eyed peas and lettuce
Monday - Grilled Brats, Peas and Mashed Potatoes
     used - brats and potatoes
Tuesday - Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage, Salad (recipe coming this week)
     used pesto, italian sausage, lettuce, canned tomatoes
Wednesday - Salad and Sandwich Bar
     used lettuce, bagels
Thursday - Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Salad, Fruit
     used the last of the lettuce
Friday - Subway - Nanny's treat
Saturday - meeting a college friend for dinner

I didn't use the mac and cheese or bacon, so those will start off the list for next week's menu.

Next week I will be featuring a different pantry recipe each day.  Stop by for recipes for

Monday - Mexican Rice
Tuesday - Veggie Quesadillas
Wednesday - Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage
Thursday - Fried Rice
Friday - Links to many pantry recipes

Linking up to Good Cheap Eats' Pantry Challenge. 

Meal Plan Monday - January 13

Still going strong with our Pantry Challenge.  There are many benefits of doing a pantry challenge,  but this week, the biggest was not spending money at the grocery store.  I had some extra cash to do a little clothes shopping from the sales racks.  I have some great new spring outfits (like a $278 Ellen Tracy dress for $12.00!) to begin building my spring wardrobe. 

Next will I will be featuring a different pantry recipe each day.  Stop by and check them out. 

Sunday - Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya 
Monday - Brats, Mashed Potatoes, Peas
Tuesday - Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage, Salad
Wednesday - Sandwich and Salad Bar
Thursday - Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Salad, Fruit
Friday - Subway - Nanny's Treat
Saturday - Out with Friends

For more menu ideas, visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

Pantry Challenge Week 1

The first week of the 2013 Pantry Challenge did not go as well as expected.  My pantry basics needed a replenish after the holidays.  After Christmas Eve Dinner for 15, Christmas Day Dinner for 9, New Years Eve party for 35, New Years Day Dinner for 11, 4 days of houseguests and 5 teenage boys for a sleepover I was out of some essentials -- flour, oil, confectioners sugar, mustard, salt, eggs, chips and salsa (the boys ate 3 bags of chips and 2 jars of salsa as well as 24 cupcakes!)  So a quick trip to the grocery store for those items as well as fresh fruit (my kids are just devouing those adorable and delicious clementimes), salad fixins and milk.

We ate very well this first week off of leftovers from the holidays.   For lunches we finished up Nanny's pimento cheese, chili and hot dogs, leftover enchiladas and nachos.  

Dinners were delicious.  I made Fried Rice and Pioneeer Woman's Italian Chicken Soup, subbing in leftover pork loin from New Years in both (posts coming soon).  We enjoyed dinner with friends on Saturday night, I took creamed corn (from the freezer), Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Appetizer (from the pantry) and Sugar Cookie Bars.

To read more about the Pantry Challenge visit Good Cheap Eats.

Meal Plan Monday - January 7th

This is the second week of the Pantry Challenge.  Last week was all about using up leftovers from the holidays, this week I'm focusing on things getting close to their expiration date, like that 1/2 gallon of milk that expires on Tuesday, potatoes left from New Years, chopped ham and a Spinach Rice Bake that's been in the freezer awhile. 

Sunday - Ham and Potato Soup, Cupcakes
Monday -National Championship Game - Football Food!
Football Dip, Queso and Chips, Fruit and Cheese Tray, Pimento Cheese and Crackers
Tuesday - Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, Spinach Parmesan Rice Bake, Salad
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Taquitos, Layered Salad
Friday - Subway - Nanny's Treat
Saturday - Black Eyed Pea Jambalaya, Salad, Sugar Cookie Bars

For more menu ideas, visit I'm An Organized Junkie. 

2012 Kitchen Goals Wrap Up

I got ahead of myself  and posted my 2013 Kitchen Goals before my 2012 Wrap Up, oh well....

For the past 3 years (2010, 2011, 2012) I have set 12 goals for the kitchen, one for each month of the year.  This is so much easier than setting a bunch of resolutions and trying to accomplish them all at once.   Here's a recap of my successes and failures for the 2012.

Goal 1 - Pantry Challenge - SUCCESS
Did it!  Third year in a row.

Goal 2 - Clean out utensil drawer - SUCCESS
Did it!  And it is still clean and functional

Goal 3 - Limit dining out/take out to 2 - 3 times per month - SUCCESS
We have done really well with this one, so much so it is almonst non-existant.  Now we treat eating out/take out/or delivery as a treat because we want to, not because we have to.

Goal 4 - More veggies in our menu plan- SUCCESS
Much, much better this year, especially with the addition of salads for dinner at least once a week.  I'm still working on the variety of veggies we eat, but our overall intake is much higher.  We have also added a greater variety of fruits to our meals

Goal 5 - Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day- FAIL
This was the 3rd year this has been on my goal list.  I never got around to it, especially with an emphasis on eating better and losing a few pounds, this just didn't seem like a good fit for our family.  I'm dropping this from my kitchen plans

Goal 6 - Better utilization of garden produce -- less waste - FAIL
Our house flooded at the end of May and the entire summer was spent trying to get it repaired and livable again.  The garden fell by the wayside, there just weren't enough hours in the day to deal with contrators and a garden.

Goal 7 - Dehydrate and freeze more - HALF SUCCESS
Since the garden never really got off the ground, there wasn't much to freeze, but I did use the dehydrator to make dried apples several times this fall.  They have become a favorite snack and a great addition to homemade granola.

Goal 8 - Update Family Favorites and Freezer Cookboooks - HALF SUCCESS
Freezer Cookbook is up to date and the Family Favorite Cookbook is almost finished.  I'm just waiting for some pocket sheet protectors to come in and I can add the tabs and cover pages.  It should be a very valuable resource once it is complete.

Goal 9 - Learn to make and freeze cream corn - SUCCESS
My very good friend and I, following my Granny's directions, prepared and froze and entire bushel of corn.  We had 13 quarts of corn between the two of us.  We have certainly decided to invest in a Pampered Chef Corn Cutter for next year!

Goal 10 - Create a list of family favorite salads - SUCCESS
We have added several main dish salads to our menu rotation this year, including Chicken Caesar Salad, Chef Salad, Layered Salad and Revised Southern Cobb Salad

Goal 11 - Eat at the table and not in front of the TV - FAIL
This is just not our style.  We get home late from work, practices, tutoring and we just want to relax and eat.  I don't think we will ever be a eat at the table all the time family

Goal 12 - Let my kids cook more - SUCCESS
We did this alot this year.  Bubba is fully functional at making himself breakfast in the morning and he is also very good about making sandwiches and cereal when he wants a snack - I know that is not really cooking, but he is much more independent in the kitchen and not so dependant on me.  Next step for him is more "real" cooking.  Boo Boo is my constant sous chef and kitchen helper.  She helps me make everything.  She is great at putting things in the crockpot when she gets home from school so it is not over cooked when we all sit down to eat around 8:00.  She will be doing more independent cooking next.

Risotto

We love risotto around here.  It's such a simple dish and it can be tailored to meet your family's tastes, the seasons and whatever might be lurking in your refrigerator.  Most people steer clear of making risotto because they think it it too hard, time consuming, or high in calories.  It truly is neither.  I can have risotto on the table in about 40 minutes, my kind of weeknight meal.  Serve it with leftover chicken, pork or beef to make leftovers not seem like the same meal again.  This version is a light risotto, with only 243 calories and 4.7 g of fat in a 1/2 cup serving.

Basic Risotto

1 t butter
1 t oil oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6 mushrooms, chopeed
1 1/2 c Arborio rice
1/2 c frozen corn kernels (or other frozen vegetable of your choice)
1/2 c white wine
7 - 8 cups reduced fat, low sodium chicken broth, heated
1/2 t dried thyme (or other spice of your choice)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t rubbed sage

Melt butter and olive oil in a 2 qt saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onions and mushrooms, saute for 2 - 3 minutes.  Add rice, saute 1 minute.  Stir in corn and wine; reduce heat to medium, and simmer stirring constantly until wine is reduced by half. 

Add 1/2 c hot broth, and cook, stirring constantly until liquid is absorbed.  Repeat procedure with remaining hot broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until rice is tender.  (Total cooking time is about 35 minutes.) 

Stir in thyme and next 3 ingredients, stirring until blended.  Serve immediately.  8 1/2 c servings.

Linking up to
Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Life As Mom

2013 Kitchen Goals

Year 4 of setting 12 kitchen goals -- one for every month.  I have done some really cool things over the past 3 years.  I learned to make my own hummus and freeze creamed corn just like my Granny.  I have decreased our comsumption of processed foods.  I have cleaned out drawers, pantrys and cabinets.  I added to and increased my garden output and preservation.  I utilized my extensive Southern Living Cookbook collection and created freezer and family favorite cookbooks.   Whew, I get tired of just thinking about it! 

Here are my goals for this year, some are new, some are carryovers from prevous years and some are continutations of goals that have worked in the past.

Goal 1 - Pantry Challenge (4th year)
Goal 2 - Eat Sunday dinner at the kitchen table.
Goal 3 - Add at least one healthy recipe/month to our Family Favorites Cookbook
Goal 4 - Clean out ALL kitchen cabinets -- downsize
Goal 5 - Better use of leftovers - less waste
Goal 6 - Cook ahead on Sunday for the rest of the week
Goal 7 - Use kitchen appliances - if I don't use it, get rid of it
Goal 8 - Kids cook more
Goal 9 - Redesign some of my kitchen cabinets for better space utilization
Goal 10 -  Learn to make 3 more items I would usually buy at the grocery store
Goal 11 - Plan better lunches to take to work

I only have 11 goals this year, but some are pretty intense, like goal 4 -- I have 34 kitchen cabinets and 9 drawers!  However, each goal is designed to make my time in the kitchen more efficient and better for my family.

Linking up to
Tatertots and Jello
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Meal Plan Monday - Jan 1st

I have cooked and cooked and cooked this holiday season.  In addition to my Christmas baking I hosted Christmas Eve dinner for 15, Christmas Day dinner for 8, a New Year's Eve Party for 35 and New Year's Day Dinner for 11.  Whew... I'm tired.  The rest of the week we are cleaning out the refrigerator and eating up all the leftovers.  Next week we will be eating from the pantry. 

Saturday - Chili, Hot Dogs, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Sunday - Beef and Chicken Enchiladas, Yellow Rice, Chips and Salsa
Monday - New Year's Party - lots and lots of appetizers
Tuesday - New Year's Day Dinner - Rosemary Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Collard Greens, Hoppin' John, Cornbread and Cake with Raspberry Filling
Wednesday - Leftover Chili, Hot Dogs, Nachos, Enchiladas
Thursday - Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus
Friday -  Finish off leftovers or Breakfast for Dinner
Saturday - Dinner with friends

Linking up to I'm An Organized Junkie

2013 Pantry Challenge

Since 2010 I have participated in the Pantry Challenge hosted by Jessica at Good Cheap Eats.  It is a fantastic way to eat what we have on hand, use up food before expiration dates hit, get creative in the kitchen and save money.  There are several ways to approach the challenge - Jessica discusses them here.  This is how we do it at our house.

1.  Plan from the pantry/freezer/refrigerator first.
2.  Shop only for fresh food items -- salad fixins, fruit and dairy products

That's it, so simple. 

I'll post weekly updates as well as any great recipes or  meals we discover as we eat through our pantry and freezer this month.

Top 10 Posts of 2012

To wrap up 2012, here are my top 10 posts from the year.  Enjoy!

Lemonade Cupcakes with  Raspberry Buttercream Frosting

Freezer Cooking from the Pantry
 

 

Caramel Puff Corn - AKA Crack Corn

French Dip Sandwiches

2012 Kitchen Goals
 

Chicken Corn and Potato Chowder

 

Cheddar Cheese Ring with Pepper Jelly

 

Apple Picking

 

 

Fleece Poncho

 

Sugar Cookie Bars