Pantry Challenge Update & Meal Plan - Week 2

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 Last week I introduced a pantry challenge with multiple goals, including trying to stay within a $100 grocery budget for the month. This past weekend I did some cleaning and organizing, and am excited with the progress we've made already.

My Pantry Challenge Goals Update

Reduce Dry Pantry Goods 
This past week I cleaned and organized the skinny white shelf, which is the "working" piece of my pantry. This is where I keep open containers of flour, sugar, baking ingredients, coffee, etc. I was able to consolidate some packages, and composted a couple snack items that we had tried and never liked that had gone stale. I also took a box of tea into the office to share that was not to my taste.

On the tea front, I rotated all of my tea to put all the open boxes out where they are accessible. Most of the tea I enjoy are holiday limited editions, so I do have a small back stock of those that I like to keep.

As part of our meals this week, we used up: two boxes of taco shells, two open bags of tortillas, two open boxes of pasta, multiple oatmeal packets, a can of enchilada sauce, an open jar of apple butter, potatoes, an open jar of pesto, plus the last of the buttermilk and some milk that had started to sour.


Repurpose Freezer Space
This week, surprise - our new fridge arrived. It was ordered months ago so this was a very exciting update! The weather was nicely cooperative with us, allowing us to store most of the food (mostly condiments) in the garage for a day while the new fridge got to sit and acclimate to house temperatures before being turned on. We did have a couple days notice before it arrived, so we ate as much of the fresh items as we could so that the transition would be minimal.

This fridge freezer is a bit larger than the old one, and has a slightly different layout. Hopefully this will be the fresh started needed to keep this freezer a "working" freezer that is not over-stuffed.

Our old fridge is going to stay in the garage. Super excited for the extra storage for drinks, ice packs, and garden produce during the summer. The goal is not to fill this one as we will be sharing it!

The Old Fridge, Packed Up & Cleaned

Keep the Top Level of the Chest Freezer Clear
I did pop two packets of tortillas down into the chest freezer, so not much progress was made there, though I did pull out three chicken breasts, half a bag of shrimp, broccoli cheese sausages, and steak tips to use in meals.

Spend only $100 on Groceries
So far we have spent $75 on groceries this month. $10 of which was accidently spent on organic blackberries. Blackberries were on sale for $1.50, but someone had put the wrong ones on the display and I didn't notice the over charge until I got home. Ugh!

I plan to pick up a few more fresh items this week - which I hope will carry us through the end of the month.

What We Ate This Past Week and a Half...

Breakfasts
Egg, pepper, and onion quesadillas
Oatmeal with apple butter and blueberries
Chocolate chip muffins
Granola Bars w/ Peanut butter

Lunches
Chicken Fajita Enchiladas
Leftover Cabbage Soup
Planned leftovers consisting of steak, mac and cheese, peas
Zuppa Toscana inspired soup
Misc leftovers eaten when working from home - chicken, rice, shrimp, leftover pizza.

Over the weekend we also ate out at Portland Pie to use a $10 off coupon.

Dinners
Mac and cheese with shrimp or steak w/ salad
Tacos with watermelon 
Creamy beef and shells with broccoli and green beans
Quesadillas with salad
Green beans, broccoli, and side salads 
Corn Bread
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Zucchini
Creamy Kielbasa Pasta










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