Pantry Challenge Update

Well, last week was a really tough week for us. Monday we moved out of our old house. Tuesday we closed on it...and adjusting to the idea that there is no where for us to go until we can move into the new house has been challenging. I've even had a few run ins with my MIL, with whom I normally get along fine.

We are still doing pretty well on the pantry challenge. We've made a few exceptions (basically we've bought a few items we were entirely out of...) but we've even planned another week's worth of menus.

We've made several desserts with the extensive supply of dessert materials, including German Chocolate Upsidedown Cake for my bible study meeting last Thursday, and some cookies that included oatmeal, peanut butter, raisins, coconut, nuts, and chocolate chips for a Knights of Columbus first degree ceremony on Saturday.

Yesterday:
Lunch - lunch meat sandwiches, 5 cup fruit salad (pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut and sour cream...a cup of everything except the fruit...one can each, with 1 T. reserved pineapple juice.)
Dinner - shepherd's pie (made with leftover stew, and topped with some leftover mashed potatoes and some mashed potatoes made with flakes from the pantry) sliced cheese

Today:
Lunch - Cranberry Pot Roast (used 1 can of cranberry sauce...still 1 to go!) with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (last box)
Dinner - BBQ Pie (hamburger and onion mixed with a large can of baked beans, some BBQ sauce, a topping made with bisquick and cheddar cheese) served with carrots, canned peaches and cheese flavored chips (this meal was brought to you by the color orange!)
Snack - We made this really yummy recipe for an afternoon before piano lessons snack. (used up two cans of pears, I think we only have 1 to go!)

Wednesday:
Lunch - Coconut Chicken Curry (made with the can of coconut milk) and rice (still have a ton of rice to use up!)
Dinner - hamburgers, french fries and tossed salad (no pantry items here...just trying to do something easy while MIL and Eva are at CCD classes!)

Thursday:
Lunch - Szechuan Beef (using up the can of water chestnuts and some peanuts out of the pantry) with rice (we will be eating a lot of rice by the end of the month.)
Dinner - Bahama Mama Pork Chops (using up some pineapple and raisins) baked potatoes and a frozen veggie

Friday:
Lunch - Runza in a Skillet (using up the last can of tomato soup) with cottage cheese and probably something else on the side...
Dinner - Chili (using some of our dried pinto beans, and probably a can of salsa, since we are low on tomato products.)

Saturday:
Lunch - Sausage Pasta (using some of our spaghetti and a jar of kalamata olives in place of the black olives) with a tossed salad.
Dinner - We will be attending a fundraiser for a local crisis pregnancy center, so no cooking (yeah!)

Sunday:
Lunch - Sloppy Joes (using a bunch of different pantry items) and pretzel salad with whatever else I can find, or that MIL brings home after church from the store.
Dinner - Garlic Chicken with Orzo (using up hopefully the whole box of orzo in the pantry)