60 day freezer/pantry challenge (menu help wanted)

**Palooka** · 07-10-2011, 12:19 AM

Oh man, Nature's Pantry just does that to a person. It sucks you in.

I'd say you got a way cheap!

**chevy_chick95** · 07-10-2011, 09:06 AM

I will join you! we have 36 days until the next payday... well there are paydays between there, but the money goes elsewhere..

36-roast
35- spaghetti
34- shepherd pie
33- tuna melts
32- chx noodle soup
31- grilled pizza
30- breakfast
29- lasagna noodle wraps
28- grilled pizza
27- steak and potatoes
26- brown sugar meatloaf
25- chicken nachos
24-clam chowder
23- bowtie pasta and sausage
22- roast
21- breakfast
20- lasagna
19- chili dogs
18- grilled pizza
17- steak and potatoes
16- breakfast
15- tuna melts
14- egg sandwiches
13- steak and potatoes
12- bbq chicken
11- clam chowder
10- goulash
9- breakfast
8- lasagna noodle wraps
7- roast
6- bacon, green beans and potatoes
5- grilled pizza
4- chili and corn bread
3- pork stew- find recipe
2- egg sandwiches
1- waffles

eeww.. that took me forever to come up with that list. It is boring, a lot of repitition but it does fill out the 36 days.. so i'm happy. Now the challenge... just to stick to the menu..

**chevy_chick95** · 07-13-2011, 04:04 PM

I guess it was actually 37 days. we are to day 34 and doing well. tonight is tuna melts.

i need to make bread and mayo. never made mayo so this should be interesting!

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-16-2011, 01:11 PM

Week 4 went well. We stuck to the menu plan, except for bumping one meal to next week. I only had to make one midweek run to the grocery store for items I forgot last week, but I stayed under budget. I spent $33.82 this week, plus $10 I allowed myself to spend at the Trader Joe's opening on Friday.

Week 5 menu July 17-23

home made pizza
turkey wraps, salad
-out-
sloppy joes, veg/salad
chicken kebabs, rice, veg
stuffed pork loin, veg
leftover night

I forsee problems sticking to my $40 a week by the end of the month as I am running low on certain condiments and cooking oil.

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-22-2011, 04:08 PM

Week 5 went well. We stayed on the menu plan and I did not need to run out for a lot of extra stuff. I made one trip for milk and bread midweek.

Shopping for week 6 (vegetables, bread, dairy, HBA) came to $46.85. A little over because tuna was on sale and I could not resist two nice steaks.

week 6 menu July 24-30

coconut chicken, broccoli
ham, salad, cauliflower
? with potatoes
chili dogs, salad
tomato soup, turkey sandwich
hoisin chicken, rice, veg
pot roast

**chevy_chick95** · 07-24-2011, 08:52 PM

made it through this week. I made an impromptu trip to my mothers last week so the other half didn't stick to the menu plan but I think we are still fine.

Lunches are lean but we still have food. only 22 more days to go.

**sinopa27** · 07-25-2011, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by Maine Girl

This morning i made a veggie soup with what i had on hand

1 box of chicken stock
1 can of fire roasted tomatoes
Celery Flakes
Parsley Flakes
Sea salt
black pepper
1 onion diced
a bunch of baby carrots diced
two red potatoes diced
1 can of cut green beans

Hope this helps

I am going to make this soup tomorrow. simple and I bet yummy

**Suprise** · 07-26-2011, 01:56 PM

Wow that's great ladies. I haven't signed in in such a long time and my food budget has almost dubbled. I'm gonna join you for a little while. I'm thinking until september 1. I'll give myself a budget of 80.00. If I can make it on 80.00 then I'll reduce it some more. With the garden that is starting to produce it should help.

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-28-2011, 05:45 PM

I did not make my budget again this week. I spent 50.71 at the grocery store (part of the problem was I lost it when I saw the meat mark downs and spent 10.75 on beef we don't *need*). I also made a special trip to the asian grocery to stock up on pantry items and spent $15 or $20 (can't find the receipt). At least I was able to avoid Whole Foods!

We are on plan for week 6. I have no plan for week 7, July 31-Aug 6. We will be on vacation and only eating at home for 3 days so I will wing it.

**chevy_chick95** · 07-28-2011, 11:20 PM

way to go! you are doing great!

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-09-2011, 06:30 PM

Week 8: spent $47.63 at Trader Joes, on yogurt (DH says store brands are too sweet now) vegetables, and 9 frozen items I wanted to try.

menu:

cube steak, tomato and cucumber salad
smoked chicken, sweet potato fries, broccoli
chicken, spinach and apple salad
beef stir fry, rice, green and yellow squash
bbq wings, baked beans, broccoli
baked cod, vegetable

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-14-2011, 12:54 PM

Week 9, spent 31.39 on groceries, on track so far, but I did not get many vegetables so I will probably have to go back for something this week.

Menu plan: (short this week, as we are out 2 nights)

corned beef sandwiches
chicken, veg
chili dogs, veg
trout, veg
leftover corned beef

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-22-2011, 03:04 PM

Ok, technically my challenge ended last week, but I am going to keep going. I am seeing results, namely the back of my freezer. Not doing as well as I had hoped keeping the cost of food down, while still eating according to our dietary plan, but it is lower overall.

Groceries for this week cost $47 and then I had to go back last night and get olive oil ($8). And I am still only buying vegetables, dairy, bread and a few dry/canned items as needed.

Week 10 (Aug 21-27) menu plan:

sweet and sour pork and broccoli
ham and egg pita sandwiches, tomato salad
brats, salad
stir fry & dumplings, broccoli
spaghetti & meatballs, salad
fish, veg
? leftovers?

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-29-2011, 11:03 AM

Groceries this week: $75.18

I bought vegetables, bread, milk, eggs, rice and sweetener for DH, and splurged on $7 worth of tuna steak.

Week 11 menu: (Aug 28- Sept 3)

fish, cauliflower, potatoes
short ribs, carrots, rice
kielbasa, potatoes, veg
grilled tuna, salad
falafel pita pockets
chicken, veg