Pantry Challenge

Life As Mom was one of the first blogs that I read on a regular basis. Back them she was Fish Mama. She is funny, creative and the perfect fix for this frugal foodie! Every year she issues a Pantry Challenge. I haven't joined because frankly it scares me. To eat from your pantry? To try and not buy anything? (ok she says you can, but I am ignoring that!) Scary I tell you!

However I looked in my freezer and pantry and realized that I have lots of stuff that needs to be eaten. I didn't even know I had some of it. I think that is even scarier than the challenge!

I started on the first of January. I am just now posting about it. Better late than never, right? I have browsed recipes on Good, Cheap Eats (also ran by Fish Mama) and on Pinterest. I am actually very excited about it. We have lots of fish that I plan on smoking, using this rub, and some deer meat that Brown Bear is going to make into jerky.

We are having turkey potpie tonight, loosely based on this recipe from Crockpot365. Tomorrow are these white chicken enchiladas which are hands down the best I have ever had! To also stay on budget we made several mixes up from here so that breakfast can be made quickly. I plan on trying these muffins too.

Here are the goals for this challenge:

1. Lower our budget. This seems to be a recurring theme with the others that are doing this. I want to realize that I probably have something to make a meal with even if it isn't exactly what I want, thus avoiding a trip to the store, thus avoiding spending money. (lots of thus-es!)

2. Clean out the freezer. This is really my number one goal. It needs it so bad. I have bought more of something because I didn't realize I already had some. I ran out of coffee (which is like a torturous death to my grandma!) because I couldn't find in anything in my chest-style freezer.

3. Use up little bits and pieces of stuff in my pantry. I have so many little packages of this and tiny little bits of that. It needs to go but I can't bring myself to just throw it out!


Are you going to do the pantry challenge? What are your goals? Any good recipes for capers? I have no idea why I have a jar of them!