A using what you have on hand, stretching (994 views)

I think that we are good with what I have on hand for the next week, I may need help after then! I did eat my last green salad last night, and we only have a few fresh veggies left in the fridge, but I did stock up on frozen and canned so using that will be our next step.

Bad rime to move into a townhouse... my raised beds at our former house are all ready to be planted....and all of the big planters that I could have used for growing some lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc. are still at that house, 300 miles away and the state has checkpoints going in to discourage non-residents.... 😑 not that I want to go there now, anyway...

We used up some of the "oops" plantains by sauteeing in butter until tender-they were super good. I used the last package of chile base from my freezer to make a great pot of chili which yielded our dinner plus two freezer portions. For lunch we had two packages of the Chapagetti Korean noodles I stocked up on a couple of weeks ago. I may have gone a little heavy on dried Asian noodles and soups on my last visit to our Asiatown because I have a whole shelf in the closet dedicated to them, but they are easy and really good. Monday means using up the broccoli and starting on the fresh mushrooms so maybe teriyaki chicken with broccoli and mushrooms. Tuesday will be last of the corned beef with turnips & carrots from the freezer with the last of the cabbage in the veggie drawer.

I had some kale that needed to be used and a bunch of eggs. I frequently make quiche-like things with hash brown crusts. When I went to find the hash browns in the freezer, I found an opened bag of Alexia fries. So instead of opening a new bag of hash browns, I cooked the fries and put them in the pie plate as a bottom crust. Also used half of a ham steak and some smoked cheddar. It was a tasty dinner and will be a few lunches.

I have some potatoes that are starting to develop eyes so I asked DH what potato dish he wanted so tonight we are having roast beef, scalloped potatoes, and roasted brussels sprouts. (I would have picked mashed potatoes.)

I'm doing the same thing --- trying to best use what I have on hand and just working with it. Tonight I had some roasted veggies, tossed with the last of some orzo, topped with feta and balsamic.

All your meals sound great. And Erin,I completely agree --- spaghetti sauce can make a meal.

To change things up, I bought a package of ground beef (1 lb) --- I might use 1/2 of it for one of my favorite CL recipes, Black Bean Salsa Chili or maybe make a meatloaf or meatballs. I haven't cooked with ground beef (or any red meat for that matter) in at least a few years, other than for that chili (yes I think its that good and so easy and freezes great), but I was just in the mood for something different.

I still can't find flour so made a banana bread recipe that used up three super ripe bananas, some old fashioned oats sitting in my cabinet for awhile etc. No flour needed!

Goulash was a staple growing up. We never called it American goulash though - we didn’t know there was any other kind.

This Thursday's dinner will be a good example of creative cooking to use what you have. DH wants to make his fav Shrimp Creole recipe which is fine except we don't have celery; I go to Aldi's once a week and they only sell celery (if they have any!) in a 2-pack which means a lot of waste or a lot of effort on my part to find ways to use it. So he's going to adapt his basic recipe by using crushed tomatoes instead of diced, double bell peppers in lieu of celery, and add smoked sausage and okra from the freezer. May end up a little on the gumbo side flavor wise but that's all good. Now I can use the freezer space formerly dedicated to the okra to grab a pkg of ground lamb from Aldi on Thursday, if they have it. And the smoked sausage he doesn't use will find a place in a stovetop frittata Saturday morning, with more bell peppers and onions. Along side will be the last of the naan from the freezer and maybe some steamed baby potatoes with butter. All of which will let me freeze 4 servings of baby lima beans with ham I made last night.

{{Applecrisp}} Hugs to you....hang in there! I have been having good days and bad as well here. Not my eating (I am not much of a stress eater....usually just the opposite!)...just having some mentally challenging days. This whole thing really started getting to me late last week and I had a few rough days last week. I went to the store for the first time in a bit and it was so depressing. I think that really triggered it. Shopping is scary and no fun anymore! Baking bread over the weekend helped take my mind off things and I am doing better now but this is hard on all, young/old and medical/non-medical etc.... Just keep reminding yourself.....we will all get through this together! Take care!

Karen

Me, too, applecrisp. Still exercising, but I had to buy bigger pants last week Too much time in front of the computer and too much sugar. I know we'll make it though. <3