Becki We've been trying hard not to waste food here. I'm so proud of managing to a) finish off a bunch of leftovers and b) satisfy various picky appetites without having to cook three different meals that I had to post.
Last night we had marinated flank steak. There was some of that left over, but not enough to make an entree. There was also some baby carrots, spinach and mixed greens left from last week's salad ingredients, along with bleu cheese bought for our Valentine's dinner. Last but not least, there was half a bag of corkscrew pasta--again, not enough for an entree for the whole family.
Here's how the meal shook out:
South Beach Dieting Mama: Mixed greens salad with sliced flank steak, bleu cheese and balsamic vinaigrette
Picky Vegetarian-wannabe Girl: Pasta and baby carrots (with some cheese for protein)
Eat-anything-except-most-vegetables growing boy: Sliced flank steak, pasta, and baby carrots
Hard-working Dad: Pasta tossed with sauteed spinach, sliced flank steak, and bleu cheese.
Nobody's dinner is actually all that interesting except for my husband's, but I was still pleased that everyone got a dinner they liked, the fridge got cleaned out, and I didn't have to do any extra work.
about 1 year ago -
YvonneMoss
http://yvonnemoss.blogspot.com/2010/01/cheapest-stain-remover-you-will-ever.html
It might be in your pantry already.
Club Soda is great to keep on hand for emergencies.
Pour some into a clean spray bottle. It doesn't matter
that it will go flat. The beautiful thing about club soda
is that you can use it on silk and other delicate fabrics that would
otherwise leave a ring while removing the stain.
After Christmas, my husband and I went to a wonderful wedding.
We had a great time but his tie and my dress didn't fair as well.
Photos show before and after of both. (I can't seem to figure out
how to load them in the order I want, sorry).
You can see in the photo how saturated the silk tie is and it dried
perfectly clean. Don't be afraid to really wet it. Then just use a
clean cotton cloth to rub and then absorb the wetness.
So there you have it. All clean!
.
You can also use this for carpet stains like coffee, juice and wine.
The key is to not blot first. Just ADD your club soda, use your
fingers or a brush to rub it all around and THEN sop it up. You are
then thinning the stain out before soaking it up. If you blot first,
the stain actually becomes more concentrated and will be harder to
remove. After blotting, leave a towel over the stain to remove all the
moisture. Remove the towel when it is wet. Place down another dry
towel if the carpet is still wet.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0Hv1fdbMuI/AAAAAAAABUk/aE9lpKqeTKI/s1600-h/IMG_0556.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0HvtUKbcdI/AAAAAAAABUc/_vllgc5AqSM/s1600-h/IMG_0384.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0Hvn_dz2xI/AAAAAAAABUU/-OR2FdHWe8E/s1600-h/IMG_0557_2.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0HwkkD663I/AAAAAAAABVE/-AXmjCHCuVY/s1600-h/IMG_0389.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0HwZ3jqQbI/AAAAAAAABU8/WzVzk3GisQ8/s1600-h/IMG_0385.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0HwGzROpcI/AAAAAAAABUs/IF2M2op5mnw/s1600-h/IMG_0393_2.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZFbNAvQC2IY/S0HwQGTkdHI/AAAAAAAABU0/REMYtUfP0Qg/s1600-h/IMG_0391.jpg
over 2 years ago -
Becki Grocery shoppers beware: It's likely that a few of the items in your cart should have been removed from the shelves because they were past the expiration date.
Lab tests reveal some nutritional facts are not always exact. But chances are you won't know that because in most states expiration dates aren't required, and where dating is mandatory it is inconsistent and confusing.
And that's just for the highly perishable items like poultry and dairy products. You may need a guidebook to decipher the expiration code on a can of beans, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no such book exists.
Community volunteers working with the University of Southern California found that the problem is particularly acute in lower income, inner city areas, where they found at least one expired product on every third visit to the market.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/eat-expired-food/story?id=8765766&cid=yahoo_pitchlist
over 2 years ago -
http://karenbc Summer time means cooking outdoors! Here is a easy recipe bringing and indoor meal outside ;) Enjoy and Happy Summer!
http://karenbcookingmadeeasy.blogspot.com
over 2 years ago -
Honey23 If you haven't worn it in a year!!! Get rid of it! If you've had it in your refrigerator for more than 2 weeks, nine times out of 10 you will not ever eat it! get rid of it. Most of the times you'll see some funky plant growing out of it anyways, hey maybe you've just discovered a new scientific cure for some strange disease!!! Take care ladies
over 2 years ago -
Cass by the way I HATE this picture here ;)
over 2 years ago -
Cass Ok, confession time. I ALWAYS wanted a pantry, now I have one but I can't use it because its full of CRAP, granted there are 6 of us in what is technically a 1 bedroom apartment but the Japanese make it work...so I'm hoping you Gals will help me :)
over 2 years ago -
AmberLynn I meant to get on here a while ago and say this, but I've just been so exhausted. I was SO excited to receive my HUGE basket of goodies the other day. It was just about the best "house warming" gift we received. I've even been able to put a lot of the goodies to use with meals I've made since then- including the dessert I'm making tonight (Peach Upside Down cake using a can of peach slices). Thank you SO much!
over 2 years ago -
Deborah A packaged arrived here today. For me. Big too. I opened it and low and behold a giant basket with canned goods and pantry items. The winnings from the Pantry Challenge. So nice, but the nicest thing was the donation to our local food bank in my name. So AWESOME! Thanks!
over 2 years ago -
Emily By Jane Brody of http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/health/03brod.html?ref=health .Now may be a good time to bring back the basics — the nutritious and affordable foods that have been all but forgotten by many affluent families since http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/great_depression_1930s/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier .javascript:pop_me_up2('http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/03/02/health/03brody.ready.html',%20'03brody_ready',%20'width=413,height=600,scrollbars=yes,toolbars=no,resizable=yes') javascript:pop_me_up2('http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/03/02/health/03brody.ready.html',%20'03brody_ready',%20'width=413,height=600,scrollbars=yes,toolbars=no,resizable=yes') Yarek WaszulRelatedhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/health/03brodyrecipes.html?ref=health (March 3, 2009)http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/columns/personalhealth/index.html http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/food-guide-pyramid/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier of stone soup or the cheap fat- and sugar-rich menus of the urban poor. But many people who once gave little thought to dining on steak, http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/lobsters/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier , asparagus, baby spinach or crème brûlée are now having to spend less on just about everything, including food.Those who have lost jobs may be able to turn some of their unwanted spare time toward the grocery and kitchen. Others, like families with two working parents or working single parents, have to carve out time to provide economical, nourishing meals.Not only is it possible, but it can improve the health and reduce the girth of Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status.A Little Effort Goes a Long Way“We need to look at real foods for real people, the foods that got us through the last depression,” said Adam Drewnowski, an epidemiologist at the http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_washington/index.html?inline=nyt-org ’s Center for Public Health Nutrition. “We must avoid the temptation to turn to cheap, empty http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/nutrition/diet-calories/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier — the refined grains, added sugars and added fats that give you the most calories you can get for your food dollar.”Instead, Dr. Drewnowski said, “there are many foods that are affordable and nutrient-rich and not loaded with empty calories.”And eating for good health does not have to mean eating less. “If you have equal portions of foods that are nutrient-dense, you will end up eating fewer calories,” he said. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/health/03brod.html?ref=health )
over 2 years ago -
Brandie Originally Posted by Brandie in Healthy Moms, Healthy FamiliesTonight was a mix and match dinner - I grabbed what I had and put it all together - pasta cooked, then threw in tuna, milk, butter and left-over shredded cheese. I didn't bake it so technically I don't know if it's a casserole, but I cooked the pasta and added the rest as you would for mac n' cheese. Everyone liked it and it was a cheap, quick, easy meal (which was good since I planned dinner a whole 5 minutes before I had to cook! LOL!)
over 2 years ago -
Becki Last night's triumph: I had bought some tofu for a recipe that, on second look, was way too much work. So I found another recipe in the Moosewood cookbook for "Simple Baked Tofu." Basically, you press the tofu for 15 minutes (put it on a plate with another plate on top, weight down the top plate with a heavy book, and drain off the liquid after 15 minutes). Then you cut the tofu into 3/4" cubes and marinate it in 3-4 Tbsp. of soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. oil, and a clove of garlic that's been minced or pressed. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the tofu and marinade in a lightly oiled baking dish and bake it for about a half-hour, tossing occasionally, until lightly chewy. I wilted some spinach that was beginning to wilt on its own and boiled some udon noodles I'd had since forever, and tossed the whole mess together. My husband loved it all, my son loved the tofu and noodles, and Miss Picky didn't get to weigh in because she fell asleep before dinner.
over 2 years ago -
catalystmom so today's creative dish was a green lentil and pasta dish with alfredo.
* Take 2 cups of cooked spiral, tri-colored pasta (cook per instructions, drain, toss in olive oil)
* Take 1 cup of green lentils (green daal) that is soaked overnight and cooked till soften and toss it in with the spiral pasta
* Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup (to taste) of bottled Ragu Alfredo Sauce (or any other brand)
* Add 1 - 2 tsps of each: dry or fresh basil, parsley, garlic, black pepper and then add a touch of salt if needed for extra flavor boost (salt helps other spices blossom in flavor)
Heat all the items above in the microwave in a bowl for about 2-3 more minutes so that all the flavors can infuse and blend into the pasta.
Serve with fresh veggies or other side and you have a protein packed quick lunch or dinner that looks pretty too with the tri-color pasta spirals and on a cold winter day like today the alfredo was the right amount of cheesy richness our family needed after clearing a long drive of snow and playing on the sled. (I took an unexpected Monday mid-day break to enjoy the snow with my toddler and both of us finished this dish quickly at lunch).
P.S. Any pasta will do and any lentil or canned bean would probably be fine too -- the key is to mix pasta, cheese based sauce, lentils or protein to please the taste buds
Kaushika
kaushika@catalysttea.com
over 2 years ago -
catalystmom Hi -- I continued the process this week -- it's actually fun working from the pantry -- thoug hI am going to the store tomorrow to replesh fruits, veggies and milk/eggs/juice supplies.
Some of the quick recipes I tried this week:
* 9 bean soup from a pre-pack of ready mixed beans
* mixed veggies/daal/rice as a casserole dish with yogurt curry as a side
* "rajma" - which is an Indian dish made of kidney beans, spices, tomato, etc.
* simple desserts - cut up fruits, breads and served with a Catalyst Tea Enhancer infused Hershey's Chocolate Syrup dip
* Made pancakes twice for breakfast (banana and chocolate chip for variety)
* Made egg sandwiches from croissants I had frozen and fresh mini omelettes
* Served as a snack a couple of times, veggies with ranch dip
* Made a mixture of nuts and roasted them, spiced them up for a snack item
* Made a plate of lasgna with white beans & spinach and tomato sauce with spices
* Soaked green lentils - cooked till softened. Served them in mashed potatoes and sprinkled on salads for protein addition to meals
It was fun to keep the process going -- can't wait to figure out more recipes this week. Thanks for inspiring the idea - it's added variety to our daily meal routine -- though next week when mom and dad come to town I will let my mother take over the kitchen happily and make her yummy indian veggies dishes for all of us.
kaushika
kaushika@catalysttea.com
over 2 years ago -
AmberLynn I hear you on continuing the challenge! I still haven't had to go shopping yet.
Honestly, though, this is kind of a normal thing for me and my family. When you don't have a large budget, you have to find ways to make do- get creative. Anytime we're about to go to the store, the first thing we always do is check out our pantry and then check out our cookbooks to see what we can make using most -if not all- the items. Its one less thing we'll have to purchase and a lot of times it makes our dinners less boring.
over 2 years ago -
taragl After using up so many ingredients which have been hanging around for far too long, I'm continuing on with the challenge throughout March. I have some turkeys which I picked up for a steal after Thanksgiving, many cans of corn, and lots of random pantry items, like sugar-free white chocolate mousee mix (?).
The easiest thing to get rid of will be the frozen hot dog rolls that I never used up last summer and couldn't bear to throw out. They're going to feed the chickens today!
over 2 years ago -
catalystmom Some more quick recipe ideas that were inspired by the challenge that we enjoyed during the week:
1) Peanut Butter -- good quick snack ideas
* on a celery wedge or slice
* on crackers
* in a mini sandwich for a snack
* on apple slices as a snack
2) Cream Cheese -
* on celery or other veggies as a filling / topping (add black pepper or other savory jam to the cream cheese for a burst of flavor before using with veggies)
* on crackers with jams or olives for sweet and savory quick snacks
3) Frozen Spinach -
* Easy way to turn ordinary tomato can soup gourmet -- throw in a 1/2 cup and spice up with a veggie boullion and some croutons
* Mixed in with lentil dishes to give an earthy new twist to traditional indian curry recipes
* Mixed with ready made spice mix (for soup) and sour cream for a flavorful veggie dip
* As a filling for lasagna - we made a huge tray on Th night that we still enjoy this week by freezing half the tray
* Canned Tomatos -
* Made homemade pizza sauce for pizza made from frozen pastry rolls - simply flavor a 32 oz can with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic to taste -- microwave the canned sauce and spices for 2-3 minutes before using in recipes to infuse the tomato sauce with the intended flavors
* Pasta, Pasta, Pasta -
* we made cold sesame noodles with peanut butter used as a base for an asian noodle side dish
* gave our basic spagetti a litle twist by mixing alfredo sauce with tomato sauce for a "rose' style sauce"
* Made farfalle pasta (that I had forgotten I even had in the pantry) and added frozen peas, butter, spices and the alfredo/tomato sauce mixture above for a fun new pasta main dish
The Falafels were good and I used them to create surrogate "veggie burgers" by using the falafel patty as the "meat" in a low cal flat pita bread round and added in shredded lettuce, ranch, onions, tomato slices and some hummus for flavor.
* Chocolate Syrup (Hershey's in our case)
* makes a great quick fondue dip (especially as I have the added benefit of having my Catalyst Tea Enhancer blends on hand to made gourmet infused flavors for our dips)
* great on everything from waffles to bananas to make everyday a little fun
* made hot cocoa with it by heating milk with about a tablespoon of syrup added in
* ate it straight out of the spoon a couple of times (see what happens when you rediscover some of the secrets of your pantry :) - the hershey syrup was probably best left forgotten my toddler and I had more "dessert" last week than most weeks given my determination to try out new uses for it as I did with many other "ingredients".
We also cooked things like frozen french fries, frozen cheese sticks and other items as sides to some of the meals - especially for my son who loves anything rich and cheesy like any toddler does -- but he did seem to miss his salads and I was excited to see that this week he gobbled up fresh broccoli, carrots and cucumbers dipped in ranch dressing with as much glee as he ate the starchy meals of last week when we tried to avoid the extra run to the grocery store and by end of week it was definitely a canned and frozen adventure.
This week - eating lighter but did stay inspired and pulling more canned items and dried beans and lentils from the pantry. Made a healthy 9 bean soup Monday. Cooked up two more curries and dals this week and fresh pot of rice for the week. Created a mixed frozen veggie rice dish and a yellow curry made from yogurt and chick pea flour. But also bought tons of fresh berries, bannanas, strawberries, apples, oranges, veggies and more and enjoying the crunch of fresh items along with the canned.
Key lessons:
* You can cook creatively using mostly canned and frozen items -- but it more satisfying when you can balance both fresh and pantry ingredients in creating menus and we definitely are using less oil and fat in our cooking this week with the addition of more fresh ingredients.
* Working with canned and frozen items does save time -- took me usually less than 30 minutes to make most meals last week whereas this week it's taking a bit longer for some meals but still lots of easy quick fresh snacks and meals too
* The challenge taught me to appreciate the value of items we already have -- a basic principle that applies well beyond the pantry I think in these times where many families are struggling -- it made me appreciate and want to use what I have and count our blessings as I thought of the canned food drives and organizations that could better use many of the extra items in our cabinets -- so an appointment to the local food bank is in order when I have a moment.
Anyway -- I hope this is helpful and that some of the recipe ideas help you enjoy some new meal ideas made from your pantry as we did last week.
Kaushika
kaushika@catalysttea.com
over 2 years ago -
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Brandie Very, very impressive! I am working on cleaning out all food items from my fridge this week - I hope I can be half as good as you were with this dinner! =)
about 1 year ago