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.
You can't stretch your pantry far when you are out of the basics. Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer, above, it's hard to stretch when you just don't have the basics. We try to at least have a 3 month supply of the basics in the pantry, but with all the holiday cooking and baking, it's looking a bit threadbare. Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for stopping by my blog and visiting!
Blessings!
Susan
http://realfoodrealfrugal.com