Eat from the Pantry Challenge

I thought since we've only been in this house 2 months, maybe I wouldn't have enough in my pantry to join this challenge....hahahaha!!! Now that I've taken "stock" of my freezers and pantry, I know how laughable that statement and thought is. I have MORE than enough provisions to join this challenge. Here is a look at and inventory of my pantry.

2 cake mixes
1 box + 5 ind. granola bars
1 box mac & cheese (for emergencies...ha)
4 boxes/bags of pasta
2 pkgs. ramen noodles (YUCK! From a friend and Camden loves them.)
1/2 lb dried pinto beans
2 single serve tunas
1/2 lb. wheat germ
2 lg. cans sp. sauce
1 jar beef gravy (YUCK again, but given to me by a friend who was moving)
3 cans cr. of mushroom soup
1 can cr. of celery soup
1 can cr. of chicken soup
3 cans gr. beans
1 can tom. soup
1 sm. can of mushrooms
1 can tom. sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
5 cans beans
2 cans evaporated milk
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1 can mandarine oranges
1 can tropical mixed fruit
1 can cranberry sauce
1 can bread crumbs
4 boxes crackers
2 boxes chicken broth
1 stovetop mix
1 bag rice
many items for baking (flour, sugars, choc. chips, etc.)

And since I was at my parent's farm in ND this summer I was able to do some canning, so this is what I have left of what we were able to fit in the van when we moved...

6 pints Salsa
4 pints Raspberry Jam
2 pints Pickled Beets
12 pints Stewed Tomatoes

Here are the freezers!! (Keep in mind we bought a 1/4 of a beef from my brother and a sheep from my nephew...so that's where we get all the meat!!)



Big stand-up Freezer:

1 pkg. Pumpkin pancakes
2 bags of bagels (given to us from friends)
2 turkeys (I CAN'T resist buying turkeys when they are sooo cheap at Thanksgiving!!)
1 container random Hotdish...oops, didn't label, so it's a mystery :)
2 containers SUPER HOT CHILLI...accidentally made way too hot chilli awhile back, so I divided up the leftovers into 2 containers to add to future chilli.
3 bags cheese
19 lbs. hamburger
5 pkgs. Lamb
16+ pkgs. Beef
3 pkgs. corn
4 containers Apple sauce (I made from my mom's apple tree!)
1 pkg. Goose (my nephews are big hunters) :)
1 loaf Bread
2 Gal. Bags of Rhubarb (from mom's garden!)

Now the Small Freezer:



2 1/2 pkgs. Coffee
1 bag mixed Veggies
1/2 gallon of shredded Potatoes
4 ind. ice cream bars
1/2 container of Ice Cream
4 ind. Go-Gurts (Camden's popsicles!)
3 containers Ham and Bean Soup
1 container Potato and Corn Chowder
8 Bananas (for banana bread)
3 kinds of Homemade Baby Food Cubes
1 pkg. Flour Tortillas
3 Pie Crusts
2 Boxes Butter
4 Family Servings of Chicken


Whew! There it is! Now I know what I've got to work with for the next month. My plan is to:
1. Spend $40-50 per week on groceries like fruits, veggies, milk, etc., but try to only use what I've got in stored up to cook with.
2. Only go to the grocery store for necessities, or if there is a SUPER good deal.
3. Menu Plan from what I have and try to be creative and not buy "extras" for recipes.

Well, we'll see how I do. If you'd like to join along, check out Money Saving Mom or Life as Mom.