Do You Shop Your Own Pantry Freezer?

@noni1959 (13035)
United States
July 31, 2022 8:26pm CST
Silly question but I know many who will go to the store often not realizing half of what they bought for recipes was already in their house or they could make a close variation of something that can or will turn out just as delicious if not better. I like to see what I have and what I can make from the items. From there, I decide if the store run is worth my driving or can I do without. This has been saving me money and using up items before they expire. I have stopped buying many canned and package foods opting for fresh but I have a huge prepper stash to go through too. Yesterday, I wanted a bean mix and at first thought I needed to ask someone to go for me (can't be in sunlight for 72 hours since Friday), to get dry beans and brick chili, but realized I had a lot of ingredients for a fast bean mix and it was delicious. I used a can each of kidney, black and roasted diced peppered tomatoes, sautéed up ground turkey, added a 1/2 cup wheat rotini pasta and simmered in just enough jalapeno beef bone broth to cook the pasta. A bit of Mrs. Dash, onion, chili powder and garlic, it was done and delicious. Total time about 25 minutes. Low fat mozzarella cheese on top and a spoon of cream cheese made it extra yummy. If I had Fritos, I would have made a Frito boat. Two of my grandkids were here and ate some with their hot dogs. I had nothing in the house for dessert but I mixed up an evaporated can of milk, got it cold in the freezer, added Ovaltine, powered peanut butter and a squirt of sugar-free vanilla and partially froze. Tasty! Today, I ate leftovers on top of mixed greens with chunky salsa. Do you create meals with foods on hand?
11 people like this
10 responses
@LeaPea2417 (40029)
• Toccoa, Georgia
1 Aug 22
Yes, I do that a lot.
3 people like this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
1 Aug 22
Sometimes mixing up what might seem odd turns into something delicious.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40029)
• Toccoa, Georgia
1 Aug 22
@noni1959 yes it does.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
1 Aug 22
This is very often what I do. I also will cook a large cut of meat and do various things to it to make a variety of meals.
3 people like this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
1 Aug 22
I like to do that too. I've been a bit bored with chicken lately so trying to think of something new.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
1 Aug 22
I would but I do not have a store of things in either place.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Aug 22
@noni1959 Yes you will finish it all off
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
I live in a mini house so it's hard to store things but I've made some space. I'm trying to eat it down now so getting more creative.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
1 Aug 22
I usually decide the menus for the week and I only buy what I need to prepare those menus. I know what I have in my pantry and I do not need to buy. I also have a list of what is inside the freezer (with date I put it there and expiry date). I am pretty organized.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
2 Aug 22
@noni1959 Due to my husband business I traveled a lot with him. It was important to know exactly what I had in the pantry, freezer and refrigerator to avoid problems when we had to be away for a couple of weeks.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
You're very organized. That's a good idea to make a list for the freezer. I should do that and have something to check off when I use it so know to buy more.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
@LadyDuck Such a great idea. I usually know what I have but the last couple months I filled up the cupboards and freezer to avoid shopping and supply demands. I am embarrassed to say I can't say what is in the freezer without looking. I do mark items as I put them in.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382021)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Aug 22
We often 'mix-and-match' to come up with something from the items that we already have. It's surprising sometimes what you find in the back of your cupboard.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
When I go to my son's, he always wants to do a store run and I look at his list then go into his pantry digging. 99.9% of the time he already has several. He said things get too moved around and he hates digging. Since he moved into a huge house and huge pantry, he's a bit better at shopping his own stuff. Making up meals can be fun.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59198)
2 Aug 22
I can always pull a meal together fairly quickly, I don't like going to the store all the time. The more trips you make, the more you spend...I go for big runs occasionally, then just stops for produce until the next big run.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
That's how I've been lately. People will begin sharing their gardens soon and I can freeze some.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
4 Aug 22
@MarieCoyle How nice! I love fresh corn. I'm watching for the nearby farmers selling theirs so I can do the same.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59198)
2 Aug 22
@noni1959 I was gifted nearly 70 ears of fresh sweet corn Saturday. I got it all cleaned and cut off the cobs, blanched, and it's in the freezer in quart sized freezer bags. We love that corn in the winter, I hope to get some more done soon.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
10 Aug 22
Why did you need to be out of the sun for so long? I always check my cupboards and freezers when making a grocery list or new recipe so I don’t buy what I already.
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Aug 22
I have gotten better about this since the pandemic started. Initially I was only going grocery shopping once every 2 weeks . . . so in between those days I had to make it work. You made it work and sounds like it came out delicious!!
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
1 Aug 22
I do that all the time. I love creating soups from leftovers.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Aug 22
I love creating soups that way too. Some come out so delicious without having to add much else.
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
15 Aug 22
I do my best to not waste food.