...Okay, really, I just like to cook whatever I'm craving around 5:30.
Which means, at any given time, our pantry usually looks like this:
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It may seem a little excessive for two people. But I assure you it is all eaten. And no I did not organize my shelves for this picture. Labels-facing-forward is a 24/7, 365 days/year insanity of mine. Straight lines and front-facing labels make me happier than they should.
These are the items you will most likely always find in my pantry, fridge, or freezer:
- Soups (Cream of Chicken, Mushroom, and Celery to be exact)
- Rotel
- Rice a Roni and Pasta Roni for sides
- Pasta (duh)
- Tuna
- Canned Chicken
- A jar of sauce if I don't have any of my homemade one frozen
- Black Beans
- Corn
- Chicken Stock
- Cream Cheese
- Pillsbury french bread (which can double as a last-minute pizza crust or calzone dough)
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese (usually cheddar, sometimes mozzarella)
- Garlic
- Sweet Onions or Shallots
- Parmesan
- Meats: Chicken breast, ground beef, pork tenderloin, tilapia, shrimp
- Broccoli, broccoli, and more broccoli (plus carrots, green beans, and cauliflower)
Most of those items can be used to make as one of these go-to meals:
- Chicken Divan
- Spaghetti
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Beef Stroganoff
- BBQ Chicken Mac or Taco Mac
- Black Bean Burritos
- Ravioli
- Sloppy Joes (I promise they're good! ha)
- Breakfast for dinner (waffles, eggs, and turkey bacon, OR Sausage Cream Cheese Braid)
- Vidalia Onion Chicken Bake (one of Matt's favorites!)
- Fish Tacos
- Pierogies
- Pork Terderloin (Either this crock pot version, or this baked version)
- Pasta with Vodka Sauce (with shrimp or grilled chicken)
- Chicken Broccoli Braid
- Homemade Pizza (BBQ Chicken usually- or occasionally calzones... but the peach one is my fave!)
And when one of those items does not sound appetizing, or when I am running late from work, or when I just don't want to cook (yes, I love cooking, but no, I do not always want to do it)- Papa Johns Pizza (half cheese for me, half pepperoni for Matt) or Publix rotisserie chicken with a side of their steam-in-bag broccoli and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese fills the what-do-I-cook-for-dinner void. Yes. I cook Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. This one or this one to be exact.
So maybe I'll become a meal planner one day, but for now, I'll stick to my overloaded (and over-organized) pantry and fridge so that I can have all kinds of options for what to make. :)
So what works for you? Are you a meal planner or impromptu-cooker? Have any go-to meals I need to add to my rotation?!
Have a great Tuesday!
Meal planner for sure! I shop once a week and plan meals through the weekend. I make it easy by having set meals for certain nights....Thursday is clean out night, Friday is always homemade pizza. I usually plan a Saturday meal with leftovers to have after church on Sunday. And then we do not cook again on Sunday night. It is usually a late lunch so we do snacks that evening. I usually try to plan a Tuesday meal big enough for leftovers on Wednesday. With homeschooling it is a must for me to plan.
ReplyDeleteIf I forget I hope you have a Happy Birthday...tomorrow right? Any big plans?
you're so cute! i'm such an impromptu cooker...i maybe plan a meal a couple times and week and the others, we're either out or i just wing it. poor steve. ;) luckily, he'll eat pretty much anything...he's a piggie. lol. now that fall is here, i'm thinking of starting a meal plan (somewhat) for at least the week. i hope you're having a great day!! xoxoxox
ReplyDeletemaria
You forgot 2 things: garlic and sweet onions. If I know you, I know those are always on hand. :) haha. And love that you called yourself out on the labels facing out. I can confirm that the picture was not posed.
ReplyDeleteI am a recent convert to meal planning an am loving it, we have had no beans on toast or last minute take aways for a couple of months now!
ReplyDeleteOff to look at some of your recipes again, need some new ideas for my menus!
Alison
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