Pantry Challenge Week 2

So far we're doing pretty great on the pantry challenge! I am enjoying trying to make meals from what is here in the house. Tonight I made orange chicken with homemade orange sauce (see below for recipe) all with things I had on hand. I also made homemade Greek yogurt yesterday/last night, so we will have that for breakfast and snacks this week.

I have to admit, I'm pretty lucky with this challenge because the kiddos go to eat with their dad on Tues and sometimes Thurs and this is his weekend, so the kids aren't here for those meals. Also we had a family reunion this weekend, so most of our meals were eaten at Poppa and Nona's house.

Because of this, our challenge hasn't seemed too "challenging" just yet (knock on wood, right?). We've also been blessed by some "gifts" this week. I just ran out of shampoo on Monday and I was afraid I would have to buckle and buy new shampoo. We went to my mom's to swim and she handed me a bag of "stuff" and said that she was cleaning out some cabinets and found some things I might like. Of course, there was a huge bottle of shampoo and a bunch of samples of shampoo and conditioner, so I should be set for the remainder of the challenge! That's God's amazing timing and knowing what I needed and when I needed it. Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory." Even something as trite as shampoo can be supplied!

Here is the menu for this week:

Monday-
B-Toast(from homemade bread) and Eggs/Pancakes (from the freezer)
L-Meatball Sliders (freezer) and homemade slider rolls, chips, homemade pickles, peaches (Homemade Mango Popsicles for dessert)
D-Orange Chicken (Chicken Tenders from freezer), Stir Fry Veggies, Brown Rice, Grapes

Tuesday-
B-Toast/Greek Yogurt and Fruit
L-Fish and Chips, Fruit
D-Out with Dad

Wednesday-
B-French Toast (using homemade bread) and Grapes
L-Homemade Chicken and Noodles, Fruit
D-Honey Orange Pork Tenderloin, Fingerling Potatoes, Carrots

Thursday-
B-Cereal
L-Beef and Rice/Fruit
D-dad

Friday-Sunday

Sunday Dinner-
Homemade Spaghetti o's/Veggie Sticks, Garlic Bread Sticks

Spent on Groceries Last week: ZERO
Exemptions I foresee this week: Maybe peaches at the farm stand


Orange Sauce for Orange Chicken

1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 tablespoons of ketchup
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
garlic powder*
ground ginger*
*according to your taste
2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon of orange zest
Cornstarch

Heat all over low heat until all ingredients have mixed well. Add cornstarch to thicken. Pour over chicken (tenders or grilled), veggies, and rice!
2 tablespoons of soy sauc

Pantry Challenge

Has anyone ever done a pantry/freezer challenge before? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Didn't think so. Me either! So, why not try with me! Come on-It'll be fun!!!

A pantry/freezer challenge can have many different rules and lots of reasons behind it. Here are my rules and my reasons!!

Rules:

I will not shop for any groceries for 32 days! I will use whatever is in my pantry, sitting on my shelves right now or in my freezer to feed us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from July 22 until August 24th. I may take leftovers from anyone and everyone! This also means I will have to supply the first week of school lunches from my pantry/freezer.

Reasons:

My reasons are pretty simple. I basically want to try and save money. I am one of those people that loves to grocery shop and I love to cook even more, so I like to spend a lot of money on food! I think I can be a better steward with my money if I use up some of the things I have rather than running to store on a whim for one or two ingredients (because you never walk out with the one thing you came in for, right?)

What does this mean?

This means we will probably be eating a lot more meatless meals. I didn't "prep" for this challenge, meaning I didn't just go to the grocery store yesterday and spend a ton of money to get us through the next few weeks. I did go to the store, but I spent about 30 bucks and purchased food for the twinkies' birthday party, so there isn't any of that food left over!

I have some meat in my freezer from my last big shopping trip, so I'm just going to have to make do with that! We have two dozen eggs in the fridge, so those might be a source of our protein when we run out of meat.

This also means that I'm going to have to get creative and really think outside the box towards the end of the challenge.

Exceptions:

I am allowing myself the following exceptions to the grocery store rule:

-We have a family reunion coming up and I do not have the goods necessary to make what I am planning on bringing
-TOILET PAPER!!! I noticed that our supply is getting low, so I will need to get that item!

Here's This week's menu

Monday:
B-cinnamon toast from homemade bread (kids were with their dad)
L-pizza (kid's choice birthday lunch)
D-leftover pizza from lunch, homemade pickles, mangoes

Tuesday:
B-Leftover hash browns and blueberry muffins, mangoes
L-homemade refried beans and cheese, tortilla chips, peaches
D-lasagna, homemade garlic bread, salad, blackberry crumble

Wednesday:
B-homemade yogurt with peaches and toast from homemade bread
L-lasagna leftovers
D-dinner with Dad

Thursday:
B-eggs with sausage and hash brown casserole (freezer)
L-corn dog muffins (freezer), pirate popcorn, strawberries
D-dinner with Poppa and Nona

Weekend-Friday through Sunday Breakfast-Family Reunion weekend

Sunday dinner-
Pintos, Cornbread, Mashed Potatoes

Can't wait to report back to tell you how it's going!