https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 10:07:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767915 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:43:08 +0000 looch 2767915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: We do a similar marinade, but it's just soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, chopped garlic, chile and ginger. There are a ton of recipes if you just search online. The recipe I use is from Six Sisters Stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767899 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:59:00 +0000 SweetiePie 2767899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: awesome I'll go to k-town when I'm feeling better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767895 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:49:51 +0000 gingerbebe 2767895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I packed up a lot of our canned/dry goods last night (um, WTF do I have 4 kinds of mustard?!), aside from what I'll need this week and next. The top freezer in our garage fridge is looking pretty decent, although it uncovered more ground beef! I also found a bag of frozen potstickers, so we'll pan fry those up to go with our bulgogi rice bowls and I'll pack some for lunch for the boys too.</p> <p>I think I'm going to have to cook a bunch of ground beef and onions together and freeze them in quart size bags and take them with me to the rental, and then haul them to the new house! Oh well, at least that will prevent the beef, garlic, and onions from going to waste and I know I'll use them eventually. Any unopened bags of frozen veg left at the end of the week we'll take with us too.</p> <p>Last night we finished some leftover Thai curry. We'll bank the leftover basmati rice for our giant wok of fried rice at the end of the week. The kids finished the oatmeal/yogurt pouches for dessert last night and they each got a vanilla sugar wafer as a treat. I think I have about 10 applesauce pouches left in the pouch arena. DH and I polished off 2 open packages of chips (not proud), we have 1 banana left in our current bunch, and DH has been snacking on a lot of our random granola bars lurking in the back of the pantry. </p> <p>We ended up throwing out a frozen tray of chicken wings and a pork loin because they looked sketchy. There's also some weird unidentified things that my mom left at the bottom of the freezer when she visited and those will have to go because I have no idea what those packages mummified in Saran wrap are.</p> <p>I think there's a decent amount of frozen TJ's stuff hidden in the drop freezer, but I think my vegetarian friend will take most of those - his weekly grocery list is basically frozen TJ's food. </p> <p>I found a family size bag of Birdseye chicken veggie pasta, so we'll take that with us to the rental for a meal next week.<br /> We have a canister of Nido powdered milk I use for emergencies and baking, so once the milk runs out for the kids in the next day, we're switching to that for a few days. </p> <p>I have open bags of ground flaxseed and ground chia seed and found some frozen fruit, so we're definitely going to put some smoothies into the rotation! That will use up more of the brown bananas and I can totally use up a lot of the frozen spinach, green beans, and peas that way and the kids will never know. I also found a tub of tofu and some plain yogurt and can throw some of the open maple syrup in there too if we need some extra sweetness.</p> <p>I'm going to hard boil a dozen eggs tonight for some mom snacks this week, as we REALLY have a lot of eggs. I have some celery, open pickle relish, and an open mayo, so I will also make some egg salad and use that for some lunches since I have half a loaf of sandwich bread that needs to go.</p> <p>WHY do I have like 4 different jars of peanut butter that are all like 75% eaten? Ugh. I think I'll be good and transfer all of the PB to one jar and throw the rest away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767891 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:33:56 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2767891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just did this! One of the weird things I made that ended up really good was a kind of Mexican dirty rice type meal. I used lentils instead of beans and cooked it with Mexican spices and tomato paste. Then I served it with salsa, cilantro, and lime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767884 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 10:16:39 +0000 gingerbebe 2767884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: Our agent screwed up our contract (don't get me started - DH and I are both attorneys and we are so so pissed we didn't catch the problem, but hey, that's what we're paying you for!) so we are going to suddenly be homeless for 10 days. Otherwise, we would have just moved the fridges and freezers a mile away and not worried about eating everything down so hard. Now that I have to use it or lose it, I'm getting REAL creative!</p> <p>@SweetiePie: Um, recipe?? Haha. I literally brown ground beef with onions and garlic and add frozen veggies, soy sauce, and this marinade:</p> <p><a href="http://a.co/hV0oiKk" rel="nofollow">http://a.co/hV0oiKk</a></p> <p>P.S. Do NOT buy this from Amazon - the price is insane. I believe World Market sells it online for like half the price, but if you can find a Korean grocer its like a few dollars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767867 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 09:41:29 +0000 SweetiePie 2767867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I want the recipe for Bulgogi ground beef bowls! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767837 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 08:04:12 +0000 LuLu Mom 2767837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow I'm seriously impressed by this list. We are moving into our new house in *hopefully* 5-6 weeks if they stay on track and I've been trying to use up our pantry/frozen food stuff as well. I need to take a better inventory of what we have and get creative, you have a great mind for it! We've got sometime as well but it'd be nice to get a start on it. We have a ton of meat in our freezer but that can easily go with us, I'm more worried about the pasta, can goods, etc. that are heavy to move! Great idea on making/freezing bread I need to do that too to use up our flour/sugar that I have WAY too much of right now! Thanks for the inspiration! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767648 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:30:57 +0000 youboots 2767648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is on my list of things to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767647 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:22:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2767647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah, the condiments are probably all going to have to go. Sob. Just the cost of doing business, I guess. This is at least our longterm home, so I wont have to do this again for a long time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767620 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:55:40 +0000 lamariniere 2767620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's amazing! We just cleaned out the pantry since we are moving. We ate as much as we could and then I gave away two big shopping bags worth of food (unopened/dry pantry staples). We can't take any of it with us, other than a bottle of champagne that we are saving for vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767619 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:54:47 +0000 looch 2767619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: what always kills me are the condiments...I have so many jars of things in my fridge...maple syrup, jam, hoisin sauce, pickles, etc. That's what I can never finish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767616 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:44:15 +0000 looch 2767616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are going on vacation soon and I need to finish what we have for fresh produce and some stuff from the freezer.</p> <p>I need to use up:<br /> a dozen eggs<br /> a pie crust in shell<br /> a pie crust rolled out<br /> a half pizza crust<br /> a box of grape tomatoes<br /> 1 bell pepper<br /> 2 cucumbers<br /> 2 sweet potatoes<br /> an apple<br /> bunch of grapes<br /> 2 gallons of milk<br /> 6 hot dogs<br /> 2-4 potatoes<br /> package of tortellini<br /> 2 servings of tofu<br /> random odds and ends of frozen fruit</p> <p>My freezer is a hot mess, I have no idea what's in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767613 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:36:26 +0000 LemonJack 2767613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Impressive! I've been trying to do this in our freezer recently too, as it needs to be defrosted, but I haven't been using up as much stuff as I should. You've inspired me to dig around in the freezer and get creative. I'll have to post back later when I've figured out what I'll make.</p> <p>Good luck with the move! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pantryfreezer-challenge#post-2767598 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:16:13 +0000 gingerbebe 2767598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did this a while back, but we're moving in a week and I have to eat down as much as possible in my fridge and freezer, so I thought I would start a thread for anyone looking for pantry/freezer meal ideas!</p> <p>I have a kitchen fridge, a garage fridge, and a drop freezer - all of which have to be cleaned out and defrosted by Monday, August 21st! We are going to be displaced in a VRBO for about a week before we can move into our new house so I can take some of the food with me, but not much. So the goal is to eat up as much of the freezer as possible, cook double and freeze our meals from this week to take to the rental for easy meals NEXT week, and buy as little fresh stuff as possible!</p> <p>Over the weekend we ate/used up:</p> <p>- Finished 2 boxes of cereal<br /> - Finished the yogurt<br /> - Ate 2 frozen tubs of soup<br /> - Dinner party with friends - used up a bag of frozen spinach and cheese raviolis, half a bag of frozen mushrooms, some frozen spinach, a jar of pasta sauce, a bag of meatballs, and a frozen baguette.</p> <p>This week's meal plan:</p> <p>- Bulgogi ground beef bowls. This will use up 1lb frozen ground beef, 1/2 bag of frozen peas and carrots, the rest of the frozen mushrooms, frozen broccoli, shredded carrots in the crisper, and some onion and garlic. Also the remaining green onions in our garden. Serve with steamed rice. Will freeze half of this to take with us to the rental.</p> <p>- Taco night. Will use up 1lb of ground beef, a package of tortillas, an open bag of shredded cheese, the rest of the lettuce, tomatoes from the garden, and an open jar of salsa. Spanish rice will use up some open tomato sauce, a frozen tub of chicken broth, and the rest of the frozen peas and carrots. Will add a can of beans (and any frozen corn if I have any open) to the taco meat to bulk it up. Also have a bag of chips in the pantry. Freeze half the meat and rice to take to rental.</p> <p>- Breakfast for dinner night. Will make big omelets to use up the tons of eggs we have. Will add turkey sausage, Canadian bacon, any leftover mushrooms, frozen baby spinach, and onions to the mix. Top with any remaining shredded cheese and salsa from taco night. Frozen waffles or French toast on the side with the open jar of maple syrup on the side.</p> <p>- Fried rice. Take all the leftover meat (right now chicken sausage, hot dogs, Canadian bacon, deli turkey meat) and any remaining open bags of frozen veg and eggs and all the leftover rice from the rice cooker and make into a massive pot of fried rice. Freeze half and take to the rental.</p> <p>- Indian night. We'll invite friends over for a last hurrah dinner party next weekend. (They'll be helping us watch the kids while we finish trying to pack up). I'll make a few different curries. If I have any frozen chicken left, I'll make a tikka masala. I'll make a vegetarian bean curry using any remaining canned beans, a bag of frozen peas, a bag of frozen green beans, the last of the onions and potatoes, some canned tomatoes, and coconut milk/cream. I'll make another using the last of the frozen spinach and a bag of frozen collard greens I have and an open bag of mozzarella cheese and sour cream - like a weird saag paneer/creamed spinach type deal. Make a pot of steamed basmati rice and use the rest of the frozen naan. Use the remaining plain yogurt and the last cucumber growing on the vine as we speak for some raita. Send any leftovers home with our friends.</p> <p>- Make 1 pot of short grained Asian rice and 1 pot of basmati rice and freeze to take to the rental.</p> <p>The kids should eat most of this stuff but in case they don't want it, we have:</p> <p>- Chicken nuggets<br /> - Corn dogs<br /> - Hot pockets<br /> - Frozen chicken pita sandwiches</p> <p>Breakfast will be:</p> <p>- Frozen waffles<br /> - Yogurt pouches<br /> - Banana bread. Will use up the 2 gallon bags of frozen brown bananas I have. Will use up all the flour, a lot of sugar, many eggs, and 1-2lbs of butter in the freezer. Should yield like 6-8 loaves of bread at least. Will eat for breakfast this week, give some to the neighbors and realtor as parting gifts, and will freeze some to take to the rental.<br /> - The rest of the open cereal (I think we have 2 half-eaten boxes?)</p> <p>Adult lunches:</p> <p>- Leftover Japanese curry from last week<br /> - Leftover pizza from last week<br /> - Leftover Italian beef sandwiches<br /> - Will cook a frozen corned beef in the Instant Pot for sandwiches<br /> - Remaining frozen tubs of soup (2 left!)</p> <p>Lunches for the kids will be:</p> <p>- Uncrustables<br /> - Lunchables (ham or pepperoni, string cheese, crackers)<br /> - Peanut butter crackers with sliced hot dogs (weird I know)<br /> - Leftover spaghetti and meatballs<br /> - Rest of the baby carrots<br /> - Watermelon<br /> - Strawberries<br /> - Grapes<br /> - Applesauce pouches<br /> - Some juice coolers once the milk runs out</p> <p>Mom and Dad need to:<br /> - Finish the beer<br /> - Finish up the open coffee/creamer<br /> - Finish the remaining pop in the fridge<br /> - Make a bag of any frozen vegetarian stuff (frozen pizzas, veggie burgers, etc) and take them over to our friend who is vegetarian and eats a lot of convenience foods.<br /> - Ask friends if they want any of our frozen or unopened pantry goods and have them take as much as they want.\</p> <p>Snacks will be:<br /> - Hummus and carrots<br /> - Guac/salsa and chips<br /> - Any remaining fresh fruit<br /> - Open bag of goldfish crackers<br /> - Rice cakes<br /> - Popcorn<br /> - Cereal<br /> - Puffs<br /> - Fruit snacks<br /> - Bars<br /> - Banana bread</p> <p>Desserts:</p> <p>- Boys will get an ice cream cone after dinner this week to use up any ice cream and open bag of cones. We also have an open package of cookies to use up.</p> <p>Will add more things as I think of them! </p>