my pantry

Happy New Year! We’ve left the aughts and have entered the terrific tens.

I’m lukewarm on new year’s resolutions, although it is nice to take a moment to re-focus and re-prioritize.

However, I am making a few food/cooking resolutions. Here’s one of mine:

Meal Planning: As life gets busier, eating healthfully and on a budget gets more difficult.

Scenario 1: It’s 5:00, the kids are hungry (i.e., whiny, obnoxious, and irrational), and before I know it I’m making quesadillas or pancakes (again). Neither are bad dinners, but more than once a week? Not great.

Scenario 2: I didn’t realize we’re almost out of milk. I have to drive 45 minutes to the store, so I should pick up other groceries. I make a quick list and do my shopping, yet after a couple days I’m out of dinner ideas again (and we’re back to Scenario 1.) I also end up purchasing items I don’t necessarily need, and spending more than I should.

Sound familiar? (Minus the ridiculously long drive to the grocery store.) I think if I sit down and plan my meals for two weeks blocks, my family will eat better and we will save some cash.

In addition to planning my meals, I decided to make a concerted effort to use up what is in my freezer and pantry, and not let any fresh items in my fridge go to waste.

And now for a very up close and personal reveal–would you like to know what is in my cupboards right now? I took a complete inventory today. It was eye-opening! Here I am thinking I need to run to the store tomorrow, but as you read below, you will see the making of many, many meals.

If you take the time to read the list below and have any great meal ideas, let me know–I’m making plans now. I’d love to hear what you’d make with the bounty below.

Note: I did not include condiments or my pantry and fresh ‘staples’, like eggs, spices, oil, vinegar, flour, etc. I also did not include things that I typically don’t use for dinner (jam, orange juice, cereal, oatmeal, etc.)

PROTEINS
hummus
seitan
tofu
dried cannelini beans
dried black beans
dried chickpeas
sardines
soy crumbles
frozen cod fillets
frozen chicken thighs
frozen ground turkey
frozen pork spareribs

STARCHES
tortillas
barley
bulgur
wheatberries
French lentils
red lentils
millet
wheat bran
taco shells
soba noodles
whole wheat pasta
lasagna noodles
aroborio rice
brown rice
matzo meal

VEGGIES AND FRUIT
marinated artichokes
fresh broccoli
celery
leeks
carrots
avocado
cabbage
kale
butternut squash
garlic
onions
beets
potatoes
sugar pumpkin
various canned tomatoes (crushed, diced, whole peeled, paste)
hominy
hearts of palm
canned green chiles
frozen broccoli
frozen corn
frozen zucchini
frozen green beans
frozen sour cherries
frozen blueberries
frozen rhubarb
oranges and grapefruit
pickles
green olives

OTHER
frozen wonton wrappers
various nuts and seeds
frozen pesto cubes
frozen puff pastry
dried blueberries, cherries, and figs
pasta sauce

Update: I used a few things to make white bean vegetable soup tonight.

Update #2: making some progress! Although I have replenished a few items.