Anyone want to join me on my $100 per week food challenge

[mcmich]

Sue something has to be done.    You can't possibly reach the back. What is  there?  Love it. Mystery cans sitting in he d ark envying those in the front or not!

I have never actually planned for meals more than a day or two ahead unless it is a dinner party and I usually change my mind anyway. What I feel like cooking when  I go shopping  never results in those meals, like your beef cheeks Sue. LOL!  Now they would,be good in a slow cooker or PC.
I wish I had a pantry and cold larder like the MasterChefs.

Gert

I also have masterchef pantry and cold room envy.

Having a no shopping week to make up for the $46 over spend this week. It is averaging out though the week before I spent under $20.

[Halex]

I would love a chiller too, plus the cool room & pantry.

Too hard menu planning for 2  weeks, going to have to menu plan for 1 week & hope I buy what  we need for week 2. Will def be having a few pasta dishes to use up the spaghetti pkts

 

[gertbysea]

Now that I no longer have my extra big fridge as a cold larder I have got to use up all the past Nd rice I had in it befor the wet season starts and the weevils have a holiday on my pantry.

Gert

[Halex]

ES, showed dh your food pic, he said dont get any ideas about storing food there. I said no its OK under the stairs s better, lots more space . I have my 2kgs of oats & 12kgs of flour under the stairs.

Menu plan
Sun. Caneloni & salad
Mon, silverside hash browns & salad, using up cooked silverside in freezer
Tues roast Lamb & veg
Wed sausages, caramelised onions mash & veg
Thurs curry from freezer, nigellas nuggets from freezer for cp
Fri  burgers, salad & chips
Sat, not sure yet

Happy savings

 

Lunches ,soup from freezer & zuchini slice & pre cookd meals
Deserts, lemon dishes

I actually am enjoying the menu olanning for the week, once its done its easy

[gertbysea]

I posted this in uni's thread by mistake but here is my pantry challenge.

Before as in now.


After comes later.

Gert

[gertbysea]

Freezer challenge. Spot the duck. See the cherries.



Gert

[mcmich]

You've definetly inspired me Gert. Am going to through the pantry this week.

[mcmich]

Is that the duck in the top right hand corner?

[Halex]

Gert, everyhting looks so tidy & organised, both in pantry & freezer.

Is your fridge  freezer your  onky freezer?

Duck 2nd pack in from right?

 

[judydawn]

A nice healthy pantry Gert, if you are sick at least DH can find something in there to feed himself with.  I like a well stocked pantry but have stopped having 4 cans of tuna and a dozen tins of tomatoes in mine.

I have been menu planning for the challenge but generally don't bother - just go as my gut guides me which I will return to soon.  I plan a week's meals but generally they take 2 weeks to cook as I push others in and around them    

I am well over this week because of DH's birthday but as I aim for an average of $100 over the whole year in my own personal challenge, I am happy with that.  Bad total of $143.50 this week.

So my 4 week challenge is over and my average for the month was $80 a week.  Will keep doing what I have been for the past 3 years which is watching what I spend, not running to the shop for an item but finding something to substitute it with and generally stretching my housekeeping dollar as far as I can.  It has been nice to share it with others and thanks Hally for motivating everyone to think about where they can cut down on a weekly basis. 

Gert I hope you enjoy that duck when you get around to cooking it  

[gertbysea]

You girls are funny.  The duck is upper right showing with kabana on top and a hunk of porterhouse partially obscuring it.

It is now my only fridge apart from my bar fridge which does not have a freezer. I have a small fridge on the patio for summer but it is off at the moment. Stops the traipsing  with wet suits through the house.

I hope I don't regret selling my wonderful garage side by side fridge.

You call  all that  mess tidy?  HO HO you wanna see my closet?

Gert

[Halex]

LOL, the porterhouse I thought was  the duck. Is everything wrapped in gladwrap then put in zip lock bags.

 

[mcmich]

I might take a photo of my pantry and then show you what it looks like this time next week.
It's not very tidy though.

[gertbysea]

Judy my DH ventures no further than the Vegemite and peanut butter. He would not have a clue how to open a can if it did not have a pull ring. When I go away I think he eats at the pub or buys meat pies on the highway.  I never bother to prepare anything for him as he could not even turn on the microwave.  He does, however make toast and Vegemite, toast and peanut butter ALL THE TIME?

Gert

[judydawn]

Men don't starve if left alone though Gretchen and where they gets their food from, well it just doesn't matter does it?
If they go down the pub, it's pretty cheap to get a counter meal and the bonus is someone to talk to.

My DH does virtually nothing these days but used to be able to pour boiling water into cup-of-soup or heat something in the microwave if I left instructions.  He is at the stage now though where he cannot be left alone to eat.  If he could, he would find himself having to do a lot more whilst I flitted around here, there and everywhere at my leisure.