January Grocery Trip {Pantry Challenge}

This morning I did my hopefully-one-and-only grocery trip for the month.   I had a list of essentials, mainly meats-- both regular and cold meats.    (Notice the cheap not-so-healthy cold meat?  Some days it's the only thing my six year-old will eat.  Since he has stomach issues, I give in on that one... we have to get something in him so he can take his medicine.  ::sigh::)

My total was $124.75.... but that included things like batteries ($15), shower cleaner ($3), 4 deodorants ($7), a patch for my daughter's pants ($2), etc.   Once I take away all the non-food items, I actually spent just $82 on groceries.   Right now I'm having my doubts that that's enough to get us through the month, but I'm going to do my best!

My goal is for this to be the only big trip I do this month.   I know we'll have to run for milk and fresh produce, and possibly bread, but otherwise, I want to try and just use what's currently in the freezer and pantry. 

Join the Pantry Challenge with Good Cheap Eats in January. You can see my entire list of meals (so far) for the Pantry Challenge HERE.

 

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Pantry Challenge: Menu Plan- week 1

I'm doing the Pantry Challenge with Good Cheap Eats in January.  My goal is to make one big trip to the grocery store this week, and other than that, to only shop for milk and fresh fruit/veggies.

The rest of this week/ meals that I have ingredients on hand to make:

• TUESDAY- New Year's Day:
• pork spare ribs/ sauerkraut in crockpot for my husband
• my potato soup for me
• The kids will probably eat a little of each!
• WEDNESDAY:  
• Meatball Subs (frozen meatballs cooked in crockpot with a jar of spaghetti sauce, eaten on this new-to-me recipe for sub buns)
• Broccoli-Bacon Slaw (modifying this recipe a bit to use up the leftover bag of broccoli slaw I had from New Year's Eve... will leave out nuts/ cranberries)
• THURSDAY:  roast turkey breast, stuffing, green beans
• FRIDAY:  my own "World Famous Chicken Enchiladas" (using leftover turkey instead of chicken) corn, chips and salsa

You can see the entire list of meals that I'm working from for the Pantry Challenge HERE.   If you're doing a Pantry Challege or have a menu plan, leave me a link so I can come and visit!  :)

 

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Pantry Challenge: my Meal List

I'm doing the Pantry Challenge with Good Cheap Eats in January.

My goal: make one big trip to the grocery store, and other than that, only shop for milk and fresh fruit/veggies.

Today I spent a couple of hours going through what I have on hand and browsing recipes to see what all I could put together.   From this list, I made out my grocery list for tomorrow, planning to buy as few ingredients as possible for the month.

Meals for the rest of the month (ingredients on hand):

• Taco Pie (using precooked ground beef I've frozen)
• Macaroni and Cheese with Cocktail Weiners   (kid favorite, using up a leftover bag of cocktail weiners from New Year's Eve)
• Crockpot Chicken & Broccoli over Rice 
• pork spare ribs/ sauerkraut in crockpot
• my potato soup 
• meatball subs (frozen meatballs/ spaghetti sauce/ need to make or buy buns)
• eggs/ bacon/ biscuits
  
• side dish: Broccoli-Bacon Slaw (modifying this recipe a bit to use up the leftover bag of broccoli slaw I had from New Year's Eve... will leave out nuts/ cranberries)
• roast turkey breast (crockpot), stuffing, green beans
•  my own "World Famous Chicken Enchiladas" (using leftover turkey instead of chicken) corn, chips and salsa
• my own Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce over ziti pasta *actually I will need one can of tomato sauce to complete this recipe, but I'll get it on my one allowed shopping trip
• Sweet and Sour Chicken (already frozen- made from this recipe) over steamed rice
• Cottage Pie  (hamburger/ mashed potatoes/ green beans casserole)
• my homemade vegetable soup in the crockpot 
• roast chicken in the crockpot, mashed potatoes, veggie
• chicken and noodles (using leftover chicken)
• homemade pepperoni pizza 
• family favorite: Chicken Spaghetti  (uses canned chicken, Rotel, and sour cream)

Of course each one needs some sides, but that's the basic list I'll be working from.  I'm updating this list through the month, crossing off meals after we have eaten them.

My grocery list includes whatever kinds of meats are on sale/clearance, and from there I'll add more meals.  

 

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New Year Goals

I have, for the last few years, selected a word to focus on for the new year.

Some years it's taken me a while to find my word.  This year, though, there was no soul-searching required: the word LIGHT came to mind, and it fits.

• I want to spread LIGHT and share my faith.
• I want more LIGHT in my house.... which means less stuff.
• I want to stop feeling weighed down by some personal things in my life.

You get the idea.  And yes, "This little light of mine...." IS stuck in my head right now, LOL!


In addition, I want to spend January clearing out the pantry and freezer.  I was doing this on my own anyway, and then I happened to find the January 2013 Pantry Challenge at Good Cheap Eats.   My goal is to only do one big grocery shopping trip in the first week of the month to stock up on meats-- we don't currently have enough on hand to last a month.  I'd like to not shop at all, but that's not realistic.  I also know that we'll need milk and fresh fruit throughout the month... I can't store enough to last that long.   So, obviously, I won't be able to completely avoid shopping, but I am going to be very intentional about using what we have on hand as much as possible.


And finally, just this morning I saw my friend Sarah post her personal book reading goal for the new year.  She inspired me to set my own goal via GoodReads:  150 books this year.   I don't usually keep track of how many books I read, so I'd like to try this year.   I think 150 is totally do-able.

2013 Reading Challenge

Amy has read 0 books toward her goal of 150 books.

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So, there you have it.  For a girl who doesn't really "do" resolutions, I guess I still seem to have made a few.  What are YOU focusing on in the new year?

 

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