Monday, November 6, 2017

Meal Options From Pantry 'Cause I Hate Shopping

More so than wanting to keep our food and household budget low while eating good and healthy meals and keeping my home and our bodies relatively clean, I really hate shopping. I spent my day off Friday cleaning out a few closets, the refrigerator, freezer, and under sinks to do a light inventory of what we have on hand and see if I can stretch a true shop until next weekend. I did  a Target run, with a firm list, for some personal essentials like conditioner and deodorant, laundry soap, and dog food, but otherwise, we should be good at least another week to two on the home and body side. 

My attention went to the meal options.  Last week we really winged meals; leftover curry, frozen pizza, canned soup with a sandwich, that sort of thing. Our schedules were all so erratic, but we didn't get take out. I couldn't freeze one of the meals as the pan was too big and awkward so Million Dollar Casserole was Thursday night. I cooked the Shrimp Scampi dish from the meal prep night yesterday. I didn't trust how long shrimp would keep in the freezer. It seemed a nice treat for DH as I never cook shrimp. I don't eat shrimp so I just had some steamed vegetables over a bit of the whole wheat spaghetti.There are three other meals frozen, crock pot chicken cacciatore, Italian Sausage stir fry, and spinach, mushroom, pesto lasagna. Other options from what we have on hand include:
  • Ground Turkey Tacos or burritos with rice and beans
  • Hot Hoagies with waffle fries
  • Pork chops and mashed potatoes
  • Tuna noodle hot dish with peas
  • Meatballs and gravy over biscuits with sweet potato wedges
  • Meatballs and sauce, rotini pasta
  • Vegetable noodle soup with egg salad sandwich's
With the frozen three meals, that's ten options-enough to keep me from having to shop in an actual grocery store. On route from Target I stopped a Kwik Trip for milk, another loaf of bread, carrots, an onion, apples, and bananas. Having a C store with actual produce, bakery goods, and a decent dairy section is a terrific resource. I park, shop, pay, and am back on the road in five minutes-no exaggeration. I grabbed a box of cereal at Target for my daughter for those fast sprint mornings. There will be plenty of leftovers and stuff for sandwiches for lunches. I have pancake mix, oatmeal, eggs, and can whip up muffins for breakfasts. What might be on your menus in the coming week?


12 comments:

  1. When my husband travels, we get a little more flexible with the meal planning.

    Tonight - leftover lasagna
    Tuesday - soup & rolls (both from freezer)
    Wednesday - breakfast for dinner
    Thursday - leftover baked chicken & pasta
    Friday - risotto with salami & tomatoes

    I too loathe shopping. Luckily, my husband took care of it on Saturday while I napped (post flight). I woke up to a fridge full of food. ;-)

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    1. Now if my husband would buy practical food to actually make entire meals, I would be grateful.Nice menu above.

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  2. I don't even know what we're eating for tonight's dinner!

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    1. If it was only me, I wouldn't care, but my kid and hubs don't eat well with their schedules, so trying to have some semblance of proper meals keeps some sense of normalcy in our chaos.

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  3. I love it when I can scrounge stuff from the pantry and do no real shopping. I would love to have a little in and out store with fresh produce. I would use it all the time.
    I am trying to stay out of the store except for a limited produce run and maybe Aldi if their butter is on sale this week.

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    1. This C store has been very helpful. When we first got married, there was a tiny grocery store just a four block walk away-noting much, but it helped get me out for a walk when my son was very young, and in a pinch did the job. Even though I live close to one now, it is crowded and under staffed frequently and takes a while topic up the basics as they are spread out all over the store.

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  4. Tonight we've got leftover veggie tagine which I cooked in the SC yesterday. We're also having veggie chilli, fishfingers with home made chips and a baked egg and mixed vegetable loaf [bit like frittata which is baked in the oven. Can't remember what else! Arilx

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    1. Any time I can use the slow cooker, I am happy. I htink I'll throw the Caccitore in for tonight.

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  5. I hate food shopping more than anything! Probably because it means I have to cook whatever I buy and I hate cooking too. lol.

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    1. cooking, I like. Planning and shopping not so much. The menu cooking class was useful for two things!

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  6. Look at you. see how good you are? A true inspiration I tell you.

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