Dig in Your Pantry

As I stared looking into my pantry the other night it dawned on me that it was the place that side dishes and cooking components come to die. Mounds of cream of mushroom soup, chocolate chips, jello, and pasta boxes soar from the shelves, yet there I was looking through it for something to cook. I wonder how many people out there buy something for a recipe and end up letting the item they bought find a eternal home in the back of there pantry. I have tried sorting my shelves several times and it seems like every time I do I just discover more and more stuff that is collecting dust. Thus the do not buy it challenge was born.

Don't Buy it Challenge

The rules to the Don't Buy it Challenge are easy, they are as follows:

1. Make sure you have enough food in the pantry that you can sustain life for a minimum of one week. I do not want to hear about anyone starving.
2. You are allowed to purchase basic food items such as milk, eggs, and meats (spend no more than half of your normal food budget) I spent $50.00 for two weeks and my normal budget is $250 per two weeks.
3. You must plan everything you buy at the store around at least four cooking components you already have in your pantry. No sneaking out the day before you start the challenge and buying up a whole bunch of stuff.
4. Feel free to raid your freezers and refrigerators to asset you in the challenge.

Helpful Hints for Achieving the Don't Buy it Challenge:

- Eat lots of vegetables (canned) by adding them to your normal cooking. Many people have all the components for a shepherds pie such as: corn, green beans or peas, diced carrots, instant mash potatoes, ect or a nice amount of spaghetti sauce components: diced/stewed tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, green olives, ect and just do not realize they have it. By using these canned vegetables as major food components you will be able to shrink down those canned goods that have been sitting in your pantry for a year significantly.  


- Make dessert! I am not a huge fan of baking sweet treats but sometimes I see something on sale or get a craving for dessert and buy up a whole lot of cookie mixes, icings, and bread mixes thinking I will get around to making them one day. I normally do not, so there they sit at the bottom of my pantry waiting to be used. So one of the best ways to use up some of the pantry that has not seen a lot of action in a while is to make dessert. Jellos make awesome treats for children and are super quick to make, cookies and pies are great to give as a just thinking of you gift, and spiced breads and sweet cakes are great to have around the house for those late night cravings.

- Pasta, pasta, pasta.... I have a pretty small family and as a result often times when I buy pasta I only use about half a box. So I put the remaining pasta in a zip lock bag and stick it in my pantry were more often than not it sits alone and without being used. If you have a lot of half used pasta there are remedies for that situation. Cold pastas can be eaten as side dishes or a quick lunch, pre-seasoned pasta bags can have grilled meat added to them or grilled vegetables for a main course, and often a pasta can be substituted for rice in the majority of recipes.

- Add some zing to your normal dishes. Who said you always have to use the same thing when it comes to cooking? A normal baked potato can become and broccoli and cheese potato with the help of a can of broccoli and cheese soup, a piece of steamed chicken can become infused with cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, or even cream of celery for a bit of variety, and a homemade pizza can be amped up with the assistants of some can fruit such as pineapple rounds. Those are just a couple of examples but the varieties and variations are endless. With a bit of creative thinking your pantry can become a plethora of flavorful additives to normal concoctions.



The Reward for the Don't Buy it Challenge



The best thing about the don't buy it challenge is that the reward is self imposed. You save money as a result of cutting your weekly food budget in half thus making you able to buy something for yourself. In addition, you get to experiment in the kitchen which can be a very fun and entertaining experience.

If you choose to accept this challenge please take the time to post below in the comments about some of the things you discovered in your pantry, what you made, and if you would like how much money you saved during this challenge. All feedback is welcomed and encouraged!  




Today's spice is: Sea Salt

Interesting fact about salt is that all salt is sea salt! I just learned this the other day on the Food Network and it blew my mind a little to be honest. So do not fall victim to advertising your basic cylindrical salt is just as good as the expensive gourmet sea salt, the only difference is the price and the packaging.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_salt) Sea salt, salt obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking and cosmetics. It is historically called bay salt^[1] or solar salt. Generally more expensive than table salt, it is commonly used in gourmet cooking and specialty potato chips, particularly the kettle cooked variety (known as hand-cooked in the UK/Europe).

Sea Salt

Depending on the thickness level you like your salt you can buy very coarsely chopped salt or thicker varieties. Some people feel that the thickness level affects the taste but the truth of the matter is with thicker salt grinds you simply get more of a salt intake at once verses a more spread out taste with well chopped salt. In addition, the thicker salt tends to be more visually stimulating. Since people eat with their eyes before with their mouths larger and visually apparent amounts of salt prepare them and let them know they are about to ingest a salty dish, think mall pretzel.