Friday, October 19

pantry clean-out challenge


OK friends - I'm hosting my first ever pantry clean-out challenge in honor of my happiness at the menu I've created from our surplus. Really, I'm SO excited that I won't have to do major grocery shopping. Or think about what is going to be for dinner. I can hardly stand it.

Here's the challenge:
1. take inventory of the food you have in your pantry (& freezer, too!)
2. plan a menu based on your findings
3. email your pantry-cleanout menu to me (twomuths at gmail dot com) Please put "Clean Out Challenge" in the subject line.
RULES:
1. No fair grocery shopping before making the menu. This is a clean-out-your pantry challenge.
2. It's ok if you have to buy something (produce, dairy, etc) to make your menu work, just be sure to mark it on your menu. I put mine in all caps, then made a list of what I have to buy but you do whatever works for you - make sure you include this in the email, though.
3. It's also ok to repeat items. You can bet our "last til' December" menu has a few repeats.
4. I only did a dinner menu. If you want to do more, that's great, but not required.
5. Just because I'm curious, email me your estimated savings - how much can you save with your "clean out the pantry" menu?

Just for participating, I will send you an e-copy of a recipe book my mom & I put together to give as a gift. Nothing fancy - it's in Word. But who doesn't like new recipes? Then I will select the most impressive menu, post it, and send an extra gift to the winner!

DEADLINE: Friday, October 26, 5:00p EST. You have ONE WEEK!

Be sure to check out more ideas for saving money on this Frugal Friday.

6 comments:

Erin Neiner said...

This is AWESOME!!! Yikes...what a challenge. My pantry would be awoken from the grave if I decide to do this. I was actually JUST thinking about hard coring it and doing this very thing!!! I'll have to see...after tomorrow (Jack's bday party).

ALSO...I am pretty sure you meant "October" for the deadline, right??? You have Sept. I mean, 11 months to do this would be nice, but not very motivating!!! :o)

Jenny said...

Thanks, Erin! Fixed! Hope you can join in on the fun!

Carrie said...

Ok I read your post when you did this and I was like WOW a whole month. Anyway I have cleaned out my pantry (last month) but for a different reason - we have had cockroaches - gross! It has been awful so everything is either in bags now, cans or new - but even the new boxes I have bought of rice, and pasta have bugs. Anyway I think I might have enough in there for two weeks tops.

Carrie said...

This is a great idea, Jenny!! I definitely hope to join in. I did a challenge like this for just myself about a year ago or so, and it was fun to see what I could come up with. Thanks for the inspiration!

Karen said...

H! I just got back from a LONG trip to the grocer's after purging my pantry for 6 or 8 weeks! It was really gratifying and surprisingly easy... I just had to be more creative!

AnneB said...

Great Idea! I love to get creative with my dinner menu! But I will admit that I make a practice of doing the pantry purge quite often...it is the only way to make my $120 for 3 people work! I have come up with some creative ideas...but after this season of Seminary life is over...I look forward to cooking from a cookbook again! I only have 1 day to throw a menu together...but I am going to get started ASAP!!! This is so exciting!