Meal planning

[hamchan]

DH and I just got back from my DD's 8th grade graduation in another state which cost us around 2K, so we're trying to minimize our spending for a little while now. It's just DH and I until June 3rd when DD gets here. I'd like to focus on using what we have too, but we can buy stuff if we need to.

Making this a little more complicated is the fact that our gas line had to be shut off because it was leaking at the valve. They are supposed to repair it this week some time. But for the next few days we need to plan meals that do not need use of the oven or range. For cooking we have a Foreman grill, a crock pot, a rice cooker (with a steamer), and a toaster oven. I also do not have a microwave at either of my workplaces, and when I work at the airport (2-3 days a week) I am limited as far as what I can take through TSA because of the restrictions on liquids.

I just made some apple oatmeal and cranberry muffins with the toaster oven last night and we have enough left for about 4 servings. Aside from those here is everything else we had as of last night:

Grains in pantry:
1/2 loaf potato bread (needs to be used up pretty quickly)
1 box shredded wheat
1/2 canister of old fashioned oats
3 cups steel cut oats
2 cups whole teff grain (very small and kind of crunchy, I usually add a little to oatmeal and baked goods)
3 lb brown rice
5 lb white rice
1 1/2 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
2 half used boxes of crackers
1/2 bag pretzels
2 1/2 lbs spaghetti noodles
2 packets instant oatmeal

Protein in pantry:
3oz can tuna
2 cans vegetarian baked beans
2 cups red lentils
4 cups pintos
2 cups black beans
1 1/2 cups yellow split peas
1 1/2 cups green split peas
1/3 cup cashew butter
16 oz crunchy PB
16 oz creamy PB

Fruits and veggies in pantry:
1 jar beets (about 2 cups)
8 oz diced pears
1 can cherry pie filling
2 cans French cut green beans
2 cans diced tomatoes with basil and oregano
2 cans diced tomatoes plain
1 can tomato sauce
2 cups dried cranberries

Convenience items in pantry:
1 large can cream of chicken and dumpling soup
3 microwavable mac and cheese cups
2 hummus and cracker packs

Other stuff in pantry:
3 cups powdered sugar
1 lb brown sugar
3 cups coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
16 oz lite mayo
3 jars chicken broth powder
2 cups veg oil
12 oz balsamic vinegar
cornstarch
baking soda
baking powder
sausage gravy mix
18 oz olive oil
11 oz apricot preserves
1/2 cup dried onion flakes
lots of seasonings

Beverages:
sugar free drink mix (lots)
instant coffee
tea
cocoa mix

Frozen fruit/veg:
2 cups peaches
2 cups berries and bananas mixed
2 bananas in chunks
1/2 cup lite coconut milk
garlic puree

Frozen protein:
2 cups meatballs
1 1/2 lb tilapia filets
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast
2 packs lunch meat chicken breast
1 1/2 cups cubes of gouda and truffle cheddar mixed together
2/3 lb field roast (vegetarian)
8 chicken apple and gouda sausages

Frozen convenience:
1 Bird's Eye bagged meal with two servings, chicken potato and cheese variety
3 assorted frozen dinners

Fresh produce:
1 head of cauliflower
3 avocados
4 bananas (need to be frozen or used quickly)
3 nectarines
1/2 head lettuce
1 lemon
1/2 cucumber
2 grapefruits
2 nice apples
3 more apples with bruises/ soft spots suitable for baking

Dairy in fridge:
1 cup gorgonzola
pint half and half
quart 2% milk
1 cup shredded cheddar
3 cups grated parmesan
2 slices pepper jack
2 cups shredded cheddar jack
5 wedges of laughing cow cheese spread, chipotle flavor

Protein in fridge:
1 pack of turkey salami
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans

Condiments and sauces:
assorted salad dressings
red and green taco sauce
assorted mustards
honey mustard dip for pretzels
black sesame oil
soy sauce
hoisin sauce
chili garlic sauce
dill relish
worchestershire sauce
sriracha
chocolate syrup
mesquite marinade

Random other fridge things:
non dairy pumpkin pie flavored coffee creamer
1/2 jar pickle slices
small containers of red and white wine for cooking
jalapeno stuffed green olives
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup greek yogurt onion dip with crackers


Today I had two muffins for breakfast, a banana and a sandwich for lunch with turkey salami, avocado, pepper jack and mustard, and for dinner I am grilling a couple of chicken sausages, microwaving a can of baked beans, and making a salad with lettuce, cucumber, gorgonzola cheese and dressing.

Tomorrow I am planning a smoothie for breakfast (frozen bananas, milk, PB, and chocolate syrup), another sandwich for lunch (same as today's), and for dinner I am making red lentils, garbanzo beans, cauliflower, a can of diced tomatoes, and garlic and curry powder in the crock pot.

I should be able to go a little while without buying more groceries, though getting the stove fixed would sure help.

[hamchan]

I made a small cherry apple crisp in the toaster oven last night with half the can of cherry pie filling, two bruised apples, oats, butter, brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon.

Still no repair guys as of 11 am this morning. Looks like I will need a stove free game plan for tomorrow.

I have dinner in the crock pot. I used the head of cauliflower, the rest of the garbanzo beans in the fridge, a cup of red lentils, a can of diced tomatoes, curry, turmeric, garlic, dried onion flakes, ginger, and olive oil. I might make some brown rice to go with if DH wants it.

[riverwed070707]

When I do a pantry clean out, I really like to use allrecipes.com ingredient search. You can list ingredients you want and ones you don't so you can quickly come up with several options for what you have on hand. Have found some really great things I wouldn't have otherwise thought of that way!

[hamchan]

Allrecipes.com is a great resource. I have also found the Food Network show "Chopped" to be valuable, because you get a good feel for how to substitute ingredients, use what you have creatively, and the correct and incorrect way to cook things.

I remembered this morning I have an electric skillet from the 70's. I hardly ever use it, but it will come in handy while I wait on the repairs. I also found a half cup of diced mangoes in light syrup, and a can of sliced water chestnuts in the cupboard. Thinking about using the mangoes in a salsa tomorrow.

[kielson]

Allrecipes.com is a great resource. I have also found the Food Network show "Chopped" to be valuable, because you get a good feel for how to substitute ingredients, use what you have creatively, and the correct and incorrect way to cook things.

I remembered this morning I have an electric skillet from the 70's. I hardly ever use it, but it will come in handy while I wait on the repairs. I also found a half cup of diced mangoes in light syrup, and a can of sliced water chestnuts in the cupboard. Thinking about using the mangoes in a salsa tomorrow.

You can always try also myrecipes.com which got great recipes.

[hamchan]

This morning I made teff porridge in the microwave and added crunchy pb, honey, half and half, and a sliced banana. I will make another Turkey salami and avocado sandwich for lunch at work. I had one of the nectarines yesterday, and will have an apple today.

For dinner tonight I am making black beans with chicken sausage in the crock pot, and will make some rice to go with it. I am also going to make some salsa with a partial can of diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced mangoes, lemon juice, and chili garlic sauce.

I may cave and buy more flour tonight. I want to make jam thumbprint cookies with the apricot jam, but I'll have to bake them six at a time in the toaster oven.