Pantry Raid? About This Page:

[graygables]

So here's what I'm thinking...my pantry seems to be full, but there's always "nothing to eat". With my new job kicking in, I'll be home to make dinner every evening, so it's time to be creative.

I was thinking we could start a thread (maybe a sticky?) where we can post things we've made just from our food stores to give everyone ideas of what can be done with what's on hand (or a very limited add-on budget). Have that odd can of chick peas or fruit cocktail? Share what you did with it to use it up.

I used to be so good at pantry management, rotation, etc, but I've fallen off and would welcome the ideas.

Anyone else game?

[jjj6689]

I had to do this lastweekend. Sat. we had a chicken pasta casserole-chicken, noodles, 2 cans of mushroom soup (I only had one so I had to make a white sauce, onion, chicken broth and velvetta (we used cheddar instead - no velvetta either)
Last night I made veggie soup - I had a little bit of everything, but not enough of anything by it's self for a side.

[Carousel96]

sounds like something I need to be doing.

[wheatenwalker]

I dont overstock my "pantry" so pretty much whats in there can make a meal.. thats what I am thinking of when I buy stuff.... chick peas? make hummus or veggie burgers.. I dont buy random stuff anymore- 7 years of college tuition ( and 3 years without a raise) has taught me to think before I buy, anything,
Its a good idea for a thread, Dawn, always interested in quick easy meals

[GoofyMom]

One of my favourite things to make when we "don't have any food in the house" is scones. All you need is flour, sugar, salt, milk, baking powder, baking soda and butter.

We got invited to a just-thrown-together last-minute NYE potluck dinner party. I was asked to bring a dessert. But I had nothing suitable to bring. So I made an old-fashioned pudding (the British cake-y type of pudding). It is a sure-thing "hit" and made with everyday pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

SAUCE:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water

PUDDING:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup milk

Directions

Combine all sauce ingredients. Pour into a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish; set aside. For pudding, beat butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and nuts; add alternately with milk to butter mixture. Spoon into baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes.

The batter will float and look very unappetizing, but as it bakes, it takes care of itself. The sauce will thicken up a bit as it cools, but is meant to be runny. If you want a thicker sauce, add a little more flour when you make it.

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Great thread idea!!

[stretch2864]

I've been trying to do this lately as we haven't done major grocery shopping in awhile. I have a Campbell's Soup cookbook which is great for preparing meals out of miscellaneous ingredients. Here is a link to their website where they have many great recipes as well: Recipes – Campbell’s Kitchen

Generally I try to menu plan a month at a time and do one major grocery order from Coborn's Delivers, which is a local grocery delivery company. I find that we spend less on groceries and always have the stuff we need for what I want to make. Every other week or so, we will shop SuperTarget for milk, eggs, and produce--things that wouldn't be fresh if you only bought them once a month. Good luck with your upcoming dinners.

[TinkOhio]

Love the idea of this thread! I've been carrying 21 credit hours for a double major and shudder to think of what my family has been eating in my absence. Way too much fast food and spaghettios! The pantry is pretty full, and I would love to come up with creative ways to eat from it. We might have a chance for a last-minute Easter trip to WDW on the chaep, which provides us with even more incentive to eat off the pantry!

[Danielle Harmon]

We did this one night and it was great...a definite repeat:

1 lb fish (we usually have tilapia or orange roughy in the freezer)
1 packet taco seasoning
2 tbls olive oil
2 jalapenos diced (or you could use canned if you don't have fresh to hand)
1 14 oz can drained pinapple
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 lime
cilantro (dried or fresh)
rice
refried or black beans

mix taco seasoning with olive oil and rub on fish. cook fish in skillet on medium high heat or grill

mix diced jalapenos, pineapple, onion, lime juice and cilantro

cook rice per directions

cook beans per directions


serve fish over rice with beans on the side and pineapple salsa on top of the fish

Voila! this was all stuff in our pantry/veggie crisper/freezer...took about 20 minutes to make...

[Teresa]

I try to use up all of our leftovers, and love when we have steak or roast left!

I have no idea about quantities, or even exactly what I put in, but I usually make a steak or roast stew. If I don't have potatoes, I almost always have frozen veggies, so I'll make soup instead. Yesterday was Pot Roast Stew -

Cut the pot roast up into bite size chunks,
add about 6 cups beef base (always have on hand)
a few chopped onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, garlic, thyme, parsley, bay leaf, whatever other spices seem to work, cook until potatoes are soft, add some corn starch dissolved in cold water, and a bit of sherry or burgandy wine, a splash of Worchershire sauce and a loaf of good, crunchy french bread! DINNER!

[Danielle Harmon]

We'll be doing something similar tomorrow...using left over rotisserie chicken (Tom got a rotisserie for Christmas) veggies, cream of chicken soup and canned biscuits to make chicken pot-pie...

[WDWJAMBA]

Sounds like a great idea. I buy ingredients for a recipe, and then forget about it until I dig in and find a wayward packet of something or other. Then I wonder why I have it...

[ilovedisney247]

I have the most random things sitting in my pantry because I'll buy a bunch of stuff with a meal in mind and then B will use one can for something else and I'm stuck short of ingredients. I have a bunch of recipes that are based on things like beans and canned tomatoes from my days as an underpaid high school teacher. I'd be more than happy to send you my version of the $25 grocery week!

[unewillow]

I like crepes as my "there's no food in the house" go-to meal.

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk (no milk? I use non dairy coffee creamer)
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Mix batter and pour enough into a heated/greased pan to just cover the bottom when the pan is rotated. Cook until it starts to become golden brown, then flip.

I stuff mine with whatever is on hand really...pb&j, cream cheese and veggies, left over chicken, chocolate sauce...lol

[home4us123]

Great thread!!