No More Shopping Trips
Last week I shared my shopping tips and now I’m saying no more shopping trips! I usually stop shopping and ordering takeout during January but I missed it this year.
I opened the freezer a few days ago and decided to start using up what’s in the freezer and pantry before I stock up on anything more. I should have it cleaned out by the end of February. Let’s see how this will go. I already told Alex no more shopping trips until we can see the shelves in the freezer! Luckily I just got ice cream so my sweet tooth is safe for the month!
Monday
Monday I started seeing what I could cook up to start purging the freezer. I fried up the last bag of the summer squash from our garden and used up the container of shrimp from New Years.
I cooked up two Costco steaks with onions and baked potatoes to go with the freezer clean out items. It was a delicious dinner and still way under $3.00 per meal.
Tuesday
Tuesday was salad day! Alexandra made a huge antipasto salad and Lia helped add the almonds and cheese to my salad. Salads don’t look like a meal but they sure are filling.
Wednesday
Yesterday we had a variety of meals for dinner. Lia cooked some spaghetti and she had to make sure it was ready! She drained it all by herself and added to her plate, then added shredded cheese to it. A delcious meal and we emptied a partial box of spaghetti and package of cheese!
When Alex made lasagna a few weeks ago, we froze the extra in meal portion containers so that’s what I had for dinner a few days ago! I had an open jar of sauce in the fridge so Lia topped the lasagna with that and extra cheese. She’s helping to use up what we have on hand too! Rich had a few hamburgers from out stock pile with a baked potato.
Without moving things to see what is hidden in the back shelves, we have plenty of food to last almost a month. We have enough pork chops, steak, salmon, and chicken for 18 meals. Once I got that out of the way, I can see our hidden food!
I get excited when I do the freezer purging because it’s a great way to save money too. No more shopping trips for a month will save money plus empty the freezer and pantry! Of course we’ll still need bread, milk and eggs and as long as Lia doesn’t slip in the chocolate sauce, we’ll be set.
Cookies!
The other thing I used up Sunday was the ricotta cheese! I made a batch of my Italian drop cookies that are made with ricotta cheese and are they delicious! When Lia came home that evening she frosted and decorated them! If you notice the container on the right, that’s from the Costco muffins and it’s perfect to store these cookies in.
But I still had some cheese left over and the expiration date was coming up so I tried something new. I added 3/4 cup each to my silicone burger mold and froze it! Each portion is just what is needed for a batch of cookies! I’m anxious to see how they will turn out with the frozen ricotta cheese.
So what do you think about my latest challenge for no more shopping trips? Do you think I can get the freezer and pantry emptied or at least to a point where we can get it organized so we can restock it by the end of February? I’m going to give it my all! Be sure to check out my update sometime in February!
You and your family are doing a great job working with what you’ve got. I used to be pretty bad at it. The pandemic and my hesitating to go shopping too often helped. If you’re a little creative, there’s always something you can whip up, right? I mean, lasagna! And cookies!!
Actually when Alex makes lasagna she always goes overboard and makes an extra pan to make individual portions for the freezer! It tastes just as good if not better than when she makes it! But yes I like be creative and a challenge so I’ve got this one Tamara!
This is a great share. So many ideas. I am also in the process of using some of the older food items at the bottom of my freezer. I like the idea of no shopping trips until you can see the shelves. Although, I think there are too many yummy foods that I run out of that I end up picking more of to put in the freezer, so I wouldn’t be able to go cold turkey. Interested to hear how the frozen cheese turns out.
Well we will have to buy a few things but the majority will come for our stock. It’s fun to see what I pull out of the freezer and make a new dinner. I’ll let you know about the cheese Lynn!
This is a great idea, and I should probably follow your lead. However, I’m not very creative in the cooking department. But I can give it a try and save a little money. Thanks for the inspiration.
Just pull something from the freezer and turn it into a dinner Elisa! It’s a great way to downsize what you have!
I like this idea and think it’s so smart. I’d like to do this, but, honestly, we just have a tiny freezer right now. But I think for those who have food stored up, it’s smart to not waste things.
Interesting idea!
Laurie,
Ridge Haven Homestead
I don’t know how we accomulate so much freezer food Laurie! It’s probably because when things are on sale I stock pile but then once the freezer is overful, I don’t have a clue what is buried in it! Hoping to post an update the end of February!
Martha, you sure are creative with using your food from the freezer.
I love the photos of Lia with the spaghetti! She sure is a cutie!
Diana
Thanks Diana! I even make a challenge out of planning meals! I’m excited to see what is hidden in the back of the freezer, one shelf is almost empty. Lia loves spaghetti!
Martha, I think food multiplies by itself, in the dark! I love freezer clearouts! We get to be creative. Sometimes I have Eat Weird Stuff Day, using all the little half cup bits from the meals of several days. That’s like today, when breakfast was: 1/2 apple in slices, 2 pieces reheated pizza, an ounce of roasted cashews, and coffee. Lunch was: 1/2 c tomato soup, 1/2 apple in slices, 1/2 c tuna salad, and a beef tamale! Thanks for inspiring me again with your freezer clearout!
Your meals sound delicious Kebba! I love tuna salad and I’ll have to make that for a dinner soon!
It’s always good to use up what you have. It can help you save money too. Enjoy your meals. 🙂
I have only shopped for things like bread and milk Amanda! The freezer is getting emptied.
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