Pantry Challenge: Week One’s Results February 15, 2010

The Plan: I decided to start the first official week and eat all the perishables first. This included yogurt, brie, salted cod, tapenade, a cooked steak and some potatoes that were quickly growing into plants in the pantry.

The Plan for Week One.

The Results

Day 1
    Breakfast: “Goulash” (my former coworker named this). Yogurt & Cereal mixture
    Lunch: Peanut Butter and Tropical Fruit Sandwich on Wheat with Hot Blueberry Tea
    Dinner: Steak and California Veggies

Day 2
    Breakfast: Canned Tropical Fruit
    Lunch:  Lettuce Wraps
    Dinner: Lettuce Wraps

*I cheated and went grocery shopping-twice. I wanted some fresh fruits and vegetables and there were none in the house. I stocked up on fresh spinach, apples, lettuce and avocados. Then I spotted almonds on sale, imitation crab for some homemade sushi, balsamic vinaigrette on sale (note to self, plan on cheating more to stock up on the vinegar), my breakfast cereal on sale, pomegranate juice on sale and two types of yummy cheese, not on sale, but yummy.

Day 3
    Breakfast: bacon and eggs
    Lunch: olive garden with a friend
    Dinner:

Day 4
    Breakfast: apple
    Lunch: McDonald’s with a friend
    Dinner: boiled crab legs

Day 5
    Breakfast: Bacon and Eggs
    Lunch: cheese and apples
    Dinner: steak and veggies

Day 6
    Breakfast: apple
    Lunch: rice, cookie, bagel chips
    Dinner: Roasted Veggie Pasta

Day 7
    Breakfast: Eggs
    Lunch: Canned Soup
    Dinner: sushi

I noticed that I tend to snack through the day or do without meals. Why? Because I don’t want to exert the effort to cook the meal. To combat this, I will try the method of freezer cooking so I will always have meals to pull out and warm up with minimal effort. Also, I’ll actually eat something more than an apple!

Ugh, time for plan b!

Pantry Challenge: Week One’s Plan February 8, 2010

The Plan: I decided to start the first official week and eat all the perishables first. This included yogurt, brie, salted cod, tapenade, a cooked steak and some potatoes that were quickly growing into plants in the pantry.

The Plan for Week One.

Day 1
    Breakfast: “Goulash” (my former coworker named this). Yogurt & Cereal mixture
    Lunch: Peanut Butter and Tropical Fruit Sandwich on Wheat with Hot Blueberry Tea
    Dinner: Steak and California Veggies

Day 2
    Breakfast: Goulash
    Lunch:  Leftover Pasta
    Dinner: Captain Duarte’s Salt Cod Cakes

Day 3
    Breakfast: Tropical Strawberry Smoothie
    Lunch: Grilled Turkey Bacon Sandwich
    Dinner: Tomato Brie Bow Tie Pasta

Day 4
    Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls
    Lunch: Canned Soup
    Dinner: Frozen Stir Fry

Day 5
    Breakfast: Bacon and Eggs
    Lunch: Grilled Turkey and Tapenade Sandwich
    Dinner: Baked Chicken and Brie

Day 6
    Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls
    Lunch: Frozen Fried Rice
    Dinner: Roasted Veggie Pasta

Day 7
    Breakfast: Bacon and Eggs
    Lunch: Canned Soup
    Dinner: Seafood Boil (Smoked Sausage, Potatoes, Shrimp, Corn)

My Three Week Eat From the Pantry Challenge February 4, 2010

Last month, the hubby left for a scheduled three-week international business trip. I had some major plans during those three weeks to stay sane and occupied so I wouldn’t miss him. I’m getting around to posting the results of those three weeks, so be patient.

One challenge I posed to myself was to Eat From the Pantry for the entire three weeks. It seemed simple, I only had to feed little old me and use up everything in the pantry and fridge and freezer. I figured I would save a ton of money by using up all the food while poor hubby suffered through expensed meals for three weeks.  Hey, three weeks of no grocery shopping would be hard on me, so I had to make up some rules.

1. Don’t even look at the grocery ads. Yes, you will miss some sales, but ignorance is bliss.
2. Dining out with friends doesn’t count. My friends really rallied around me during that time to make sure that I wouldn’t be lonely. You all know that times with friends usually include eating out.
3. You need to cook for yourself. It’s not fair-nor healthy-to eat cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I would have a plan for each week and then of course follow-up on my plan and the changes (ie dinner with friends, slept through lunch, etc.) Well, here goes! I’m excited to say the least.