A Shelf Cooking Challenge
See the full YouTube video HERE. A Shelf Cooking Challenge
Are you ready for a challenge that will save you money? This challenge is all about Shelf Cooking. What is shelf cooking? It’s the concept of creating our meal plan by first looking at what is in our freezer and pantry before going to the store. This month we are going to see how much money we can save! How many meals can you cook without having to go to the grocery store?
Here are the steps we are going to take.
Make a list of all ingredients in your pantry and freezer. Write it ALL down. Even those random things. And maybe even put a star by the items that are close to expiration so you can be sure to use them.
Make a list of recipes you see right off the bat. For example, if I have a jar of marinara, a bag of noodles, and a pound of ground pork or beef, I know I can create spaghetti. What other meals do I see that I can easily make with these ingredients?
Google or search Pinterest with ingredients you have on hand. For those other ingredients that you might not know what to do with, put a few of the ingredients in your search bar and see what populates! You might be surprised at what you find and you might have a new favorite recipe!
Make a meal plan for each week. One of the last steps is to make a meal plan. Start your week with a plan. What meals will you be preparing this week? Don’t forget to add in a leftover day so nothing is wasted (and you give yourself a night off from cooking dinner!)
Purchase as little as possible. The final step is to buy those things that you need to finish off your meals. Remember, we are trying to be creative and use as much from our kitchen and pantry as we can. But some ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, can’t be kept very long. I like to set myself a low budget to really challenge myself!
Here are extra 3 tips for this challenge:
Keep it simple - no need to over complicate it. Dinner is to nourish your body, not to impress anyone or recreate a Michelin Star meal!
Leftovers are your friend! Freeze additional ingredients you have left over such as onions or peppers.
Substitutions - Don’t be boxed in with a recipe. If you don’t have an ingredient on hand, try a substitution. This is a great way to become more comfortable with trusting your gut in the kitchen!
I hope you enjoy this challenge as much as I do! Not only do I clean out my pantry and freezer, but I save a lot of money in the process! I’d love to hear your experience during this challenge!