Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Pantry Challenge

I'm going to participate, in my own half-ass way, in the Pantry Challenge that MoneySavingMom and FishMama are hosting. My rule is that at least once a week, we'll use up some food item that has been lurking around. Such as:

- a few nights ago I made Veggie Sloppy Joes with some TVP we've been keeping in the cupboard. I can't remember when we bought it, so I'm sure it's time to be used up.
- I also made this recipe from Smitten Kitchen that used up a bag of dried red beans and some Jasmine rice. Both also with an unknown month of purchase.

Other items I want to make use of:
- a jar of mung beans that we bought for sprouting. We always lose steam and forget to rinse the sprouts, and they rot. if we stay on top of it, it's a good wintertime food source.
- lots of rice (brown and jasmine) and canned beans.
- quinoa. It's been around awhile. I might need more than 10 fingers to count how long.
- cranberries- 2 bags. I wanted to try my hand at canning this summer, but couldn't seem to act on it while the Farmer's Market was going. Act II= cranberry sauce!
- about 8 bags of rice flour. Bought on close-out back when I thought I had a gluten problem.
- 3 half-full cans of powdered cocoa. They disappear and we keep buying more.
- 1.5 bags of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- 4-5 boxes of Red Mill cous-cous with flax seed. Bought on closeout.
- 2-3 cans of pumpkin.
- Several lbs of chicken in various forms in the fridge.

This isn't everything in the pantry, but it's all the stuff I'm tired of looking at.

4 comments:

Susan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan said...

Oops . . .

I just posted a couple quinoa and couscous recipes on my blog! (In case you need some inspiration!) : )

http://alessprocessedlife.blogspot.com

Karina said...

Sarcozona posted a quinoa casserole recipe a while back (I made it and liked it a lot): http://sarcozona.org/2009/11/23/the-best-recipe-ever/

Also, here is a recipe to help you use up the cocoa powder. This chocolate cake is SO easy and delicious. And if need a vegan or lactose-free dessert this is perfect, but it's got broad appeal.

Mix-in-the-pan Chocolate Cake
Mix dry ingredients in a cake tin or bread pan.

1 ½ C of whole wheat flour
½ C sugar
¼ C cocoa
¼ t salt
1 t baking soda

Then add and mix

1 C water
1/3 C oil
3 T vinegar
1t vanilla extract

Stir well. Bake at 350° F (180° C) for 30-40 minutes.

Also nice with coconut. Multiplying the recipe works well.

S. said...

Thanks guys! And because I like introducing people... Susan (science journalist)..Karina (ecologist)...Karina...Susan.