Cook with Me | Freezer Clean out/Pantry Challenge | Large Family Budget Meals

[@thecozystitchco]

I would love to see you continue to use stuff up and actually see an almost empty fridge and freezer 😳 That would be awesome! 🎉

[@jillgott6567]

I agree !

[@silviebessassi6000]

Def.woupd love to see you pull ingredients that u even knew u had :D

[@kari-gs4eq]

November is such a good month to stock up because all the good pre Thanksgiving grocery deals.

[@TracieL1234]

Seeing empty fridges/freezers make my anxiety crazy

[@kari-gs4eq]

@@TracieL1234 I understand, I feel like I need to be prepared for weeks of not going to the store, 2020 did quite a number on everyone.

[@amywright2243]

My husband said I think we're good on groceries for a while. Oh ho! Little does he know how long we're going to go without another grocery trip. I'm in meal planning beast mode!

[@h.a.mmorgan1939]

I have 2 freezers and 2 friges with freezers. When you are trying to make a dent in them it can feel impossible. I struggle with that too. First of all they didn't get filled in 1 day it took time give yourself some grace. I like to take everything thing out,defrost,organize and then inventory the contents. I recently did this what a job but know I know what I am working with. Sometimes I have to remind myself that all of this stuff is a blessing.

[@ohitscatto]

top tip for your next batch of bone broth - freeze them into cubes and pop one or two into sauces like chilli, pasta sauce extra, it's a game changer in your sauces, just makes them so rich. Speaking of, I need to get more bones for bone broth (free from my butcher - just a little charity donation)

[@FrugalFitMom]

Great tip!

[@kellyb1419]

I went shopping yesterday... And Christine, you were with me!! Cause before I left home, I looked in my pantry and fridge and freezer... And I made "a list" (lol) AND on top of all that, I ate a snack before leaving, so I didn't shop hungry... When I got home, a thought I had was "I hope Christine would be proud" lol... You are doing great work!! 😉

[@FrugalFitMom]

Great job!

[@brittneysmith4953]

I love that you clean out your freezer, by prepping things for the freezer. You are my people….I do the exact same thing at my house😂

[@ColoradoLady36]

Christine, thank you so much for being a friend. When I watch you, it's like I'm hanging out with a close girlfriend. I love your easygoing attitude towards cooking. You're a blessing.

[@hollycaffeinatednerdgirl940]

For even more flavor and color roast your bones in the oven for an hour or so, it makes it so rich. I do it with raw bones for beef broth and also even roast my chicken bones.(I just keep a bag in the freezer and toss in all the poultry carcasses and bones until I have enough to do a big batch)

[@XayideMLP]

I like to spruce up those canned soups with extra mix ins. For the bean and bacon, I add a tablespoon of bbq sauce, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, some paprika, garlic powder, a bay leaf, pepper and some chopped up deli ham. Makes it taste better than straight from the can.

[@riograndelily8344]

You look like a living doll with your new longer hair style. Very pretty. Just love your content on the videos. Thank you

[@nancyhanes7720]

The two handed egg break!

[@shayathalusaria]

I love your pantry clean out videos. Our household is five adults currently and cooking out of the freezers and pantry has saved us so much money.

[@asimplekindofchaos]

A tip for the plant based mixes. We also do not do plant based and therefore struggle with them. I use milk instead of water, butter instead of oil, and add an egg. “Un” plant base it! Haha

[@robinbrandi4663]

Also i think adding lemon zest would help

[@loriseverns8363]

We been doing freezer clean out I have 3 and all full. So the mystery meat packages are the most fun. Today is a prime rib roast. Tomorrow turkey legs and what thought was chicken actually pork chops.

[@sherilynalexnder897]

Ohhhh, I love podcasts because I have an hour-commute each way every day, so I'll def have to find yours!!!

[@judithrichardson8213]

My family love banana bread. One day I was going to make some and found I had no bananas left, and I had already mixed all the other ingredients together. After a few moments of wondering what to do I got a handful of raisins put them in a little bit of apple juice and put them in the microwave for a few minuets to heat through and plump up. Then I grated ( shredded ) a couple of small eating apples and put the apples and raisins with a little bit of the juice into the mixture and cooked as normal. Result BANANA SURPRISE. My family and a couple of friends loved it even more than the original. After that I would sometimes do the original and sometimes the surprise. Each time I make it, it varies a bit as sometimes I use sultanas, sometimes add a little ground ginger or cinnamon, things like that. I hope you try this Christine, or some of your viewers do, as it is really lovely, either warm or cold with a nice mug of coffee. I hope you and the family all stay safe and well. Much love and respect from South East England. x

[@Lisawhatshersname]

That sounds lovely. I have a box full of bananas in our freezer but now I wish I had an apple, lol

[@udderlylost1178]

As usual Christine, thank you for reminding me to check my freezer and pantry first 😅

[@FrugalFitMom]

Any time!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I've used a large can of crushed tomatoes and cream cheese as substitutes and it's budget friendly and fantastic!

[@labsareperfect]

I’m so glad your doing this! Honestly my favorite content you’ve done in a while!

[@donaleeslack4925]

Mmm my family loves banana bread. They slice it then toast it in the toaster mmmm warm crispy delicious 😋

[@MAllen67]

You can mark your deli lids with masking tape. It makes for easy cleanup and reuse. The trick is stick the masking tape on the lid before it gets anywhere close to the full container. I’ve done it for years. However, “you do you” because I know “you do what you want”. 🤣🤣

[@emilasmith4279]

Idea for banana bread- I toss in some oats and use less flour. I also add some cinnamon. New texture and I think tastes better. I used to make muffins and freeze them. Then microwave a couple before I went to work so I could eat en route (long commute). Just an idea! /For stuffed peppers you can grate up whatever potatoes you have and use in place of rice. I’m not a fan of rice so that was a good option for me. Ps Ibotta has the turkey deal loaded. A bit different this year but still quite a deal. ❤

[@itsmecandicemarie]

I just recently learned you can make strawberry simple syrup from strawberry tops! I'm a big strawberry eater & normally my chickens get the tops. But I made the simple syrup & now I drizzle it over my yogurt bowl, throw it in smoothies, you can pour it over ice cream or cheesecake or even pancakes.

[@hollypepen4012]

You can do that with pineapple trimmings too! My husband just made some this week!

[@robino941]

Great job using stuff up! You're totally inspiring me to use all the food in our pantry this week. 🥞

[@FrugalFitMom]

You got this!

[@JustAllisonM]

Love the idea of going from a stuffed squash to a casserole.

[@anitas5817]

You could mix the not-so-good muffin mix with the good muffin mix and sorta even it out. You can also do things to improve the mix such as add an egg and use milk in place of water. Add some vanilla or almond extract. Etc.

[@lindabudzik9583]

If you have muffin mix that the kids don’t like, I’d add a streusel topping to them. It’s fast, easy, and will really up the flavor of the eh muffins. 👏🏻

[@rebeccasladky1138]

I love goat cheese!

[@shelinejackson3691]

I really need to use my pantry and freezer items and stop going to the store! I could probably feed my family for a year without going to the store! Thanks for the inspiration I’m challenging myself to use what I have and save some money for Christmas shopping

[@an7855]

Don‘t put salt in your broth before cooking! You want the water as saltfree as you can because of the osmotic gradient. Without salt you get more flavour. Salt it After cooking

[@tuckerhoegen4768]

She's not lying about the banana bread. BEST ever!

[@lindagrimmett6564]

Glad to see someone else who doesn’t like Feta! When I did the pasta feta thing I used cream cheese! Very tasty and creamy.

[@alexe8039]

You could can the bone broth to open up some space in the freezer

[@bethanyg153]

I’m clearing out the freezer now too hoping there’s a $1.75 or $1.99/lb for butter around the holidays. Last year I got a years supply but I’m almost out now.

[@FrugalLifeThriftyWife]

I love watching and making pantry cooking videos. Doing so has saved me sooo much money! 🎉

[@SauerPatchGardening]

If you have any onions left you can lay them out or hang them and let them cure,you don't have to use them all right away. Don't wash, just leave them until ready to use. The green will dry out. But the bulb will be just like u buy in the store.

[@kellylynn952]

I would love to see more about how you prep your garden tomatoes for the freezer! 😀 great video as always 👌

[@GlamourNNail]

I spent the last month trying to clean out my meat freezer. I got through about half of it which I feel really good about. I'm working through the bread freezer now. I hit the jackpot for clearance bread several times in a row and had to make myself stop looking at the clearance rack for a while since I literally didn't have room for more. I also got some stuff out of the the smaller garage fridge freezer. It's kind of been a fun challenge.

[@lulamamie8524]

YES 🙌🏻 🎊 I love your new podcast ❤ I have listened to the ones you have put up MULTIPLE times! I love each and every one! BUT the one on “How to parent a forgetful teenager “ I needed in my life 40 years ago 😅 I have shared it with soooo many friends 🎉 Well back in the day we did not have cell phones AND my children would sleep through a very noisy alarm clock 🙃 Plus my sweet southern mother taught me to be the very best southern wife and mother ever. Literally I did everything for my husband and 2 boys 😳 That was the way back then. I would say that in the past 20 years of our 44 year marriage I have made changes that have not gone over well with hubby. I even had a therapist tell me that I could not change the way our relationship started. Well through the ups and downs of our relationship; I will tell you changes in our relationship have been have been difficult but positive at the same time! Hubby now helps around the house! I may have to give him a honey do list, but it is done in probably 2 weeks time 😉🙃🙃🤡 Now what I need is for you to put out a new podcast daily 😂😅

[@briancheshire6815]

Maybe even a frugal fit mom tv show that would be cool

[@rhondag8128]

I use herbs, garlic, cream cheese, mini bow tie and canned diced oven roasted tomatoes and diced chicken breast for my TikTok pasta. It’s yummy.

[@colliecoform6238]

I always roast the bones first, gives the broth a nice flavor. I make a lot of broth in batches and can it, both beef and chicken and a couple of vegetable.

[@yanak7159]

I want to have your problem :D. I can't keep our freezer full, with these food prices. I wish we had those discount stores here. On the banana bread, try adding walnuts and chocolate chips, so good and I make them into muffins. Keep them in the freezer, for when you need to bring a dessert for a get-together.

[@SKGE424]

Also, beef bone broth is best after you have already roasted the bones.

[@kathrynconard2905]

For the “ok” baking mixes sub the oil for butter and add an egg or 2

[@EmsFitVenture]

Maybe you need a freezer organization? Meat in one and more practical use stuff in the fridge in the house? Is it a lot to have some of each in all of them?

[@michellehinson3660]

Freezer clean outs are my favorites!! Such good ideas on meals I never think of. Thanks!

[@YT4Me57]

Smoothies for breakfast every. single. day. until they are used up!

[@melissastutzman601]

I have the same Bosch mixer. Love it!

[@gracecoburn9633]

This is my life every month, would love to see more real stuff like this. I have my usuals that I do when I’m throwing stuff together. Please do another!!

[@karengreen2437]

Thanks for the loaf pans suggestion. We went for our anniversary trip to NC to go hiking but made a side trip to IKEA specifically for these-got some for me and some for our daughter. These will be our new favorite loaf pan!

[@sarah-Omo7688]

Omg! The stuffed pepper/squash casserole! Genius!

[@truthseeker6370]

I absolutely love how you are so darn Real... and hilarious! Goat cheese on the floor, and an 'Oops' and a genuine laugh- ❤ it! This is how cooking Really goes for most of us 🤣... and those bananas from hell are haunting you now 🤣🤣🤣

[@sherilynalexnder897]

My November goal is to clear out as much as possible from my side/side freezer in the kitchen. Apparently, I'm addicted to grocery shopping because the minute there is even a six-inch area of quasi-open space I fill it in less than a week. My YA's are always razzing me because they occasionally hit the grocery store for a couple things like a carton of coffee and there's no place to put it (I don't have a garage fridge, only a 7-cf deep freezer out there). It is time to stop over-spending at the store and get over the 'what if' fears of 'there will be nothing at the stores next week!' and start eating through at least half of all that stuff I have STUFFED in my freezers/fridge. Never mind the pantry, just, no, don't look, it's crazy.

[@cynthiakeller5954]

I thought I was the only thinking like you! I do the exact. I have gone as far as stuffing the spare bedroom. I had the same fears that the shelves will be empty. But the midterms happened and my mind was put at ease. Now don't look under my bed, lol!

[@frogonmytoe2946]

Would love to see what you do with leftover random ends of stale cereal boxes! Rice crispy treats are an easy go to but any other ideas for various types of cereal and mix ins to use things up?

[@ellalella1]

If your mixes are a bit boring perhaps you can try adding more of the flavorings that are already in the box like vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon etc. That will probably take some of the blandness out and if they are dry, try baking them just a little less than what is said. Both might help but no guarrantee.

[@stacyrussell460]

What's hilarious is the Cheeto mac-n-cheese ad during Christine's video 😂. IYKYK.

[@FrugalFitMom]

STOP. barf.

[@lp7931]

The bananas! 🍌 🤣 I, too, have a frozen banana problem.

[@destinyhawkins1155]

Love these freezer/pantry clean out vids!

[@ritaross4087]

I just started following you after your trip to CA. I’ve been binge watching and I just followed your pod cast. Love you, I’m always laughing

[@FrugalFitMom]

Welcome to the shenanigans!

[@Ruth_Rosa]

I loved seeing how you're using up what you have! I need to do more "shelf shopping" 😅

[@vintagechick]

The reason I like you is because you share that the cheese was on the floor and you didn’t have to

[@JulieAnn.]

Banana bread for Christmas gifts!

[@crystalpolice]

Your banana bread recipe is delicious and always a winner in my house!

[@LejlaCikotic]

I love you mix a bunch of ingredients and make something delicious 😋

[@agirly1503]

Lol! Those are my casseroles too ... full! 😀

[@daviannreid7715]

I love ur clearance and discount hauls

[@kari-gs4eq]

I did inventory on my deep freeze today, got 20+ supper ideas I don't have to buy meat for.

[@charlotte_123]

I love these freezer challenge videos 🌸

[@shawnkimadopting]

I really love the music you play in your videos. Do you have a Spotify playlist or any for them? Thanks again for the great video!

[@sandijsmith8295]

You’ve inspired me again! I actually got through everything that needed to be eaten out the fridge plus all those little random things in the freezer and pantry. Tonight’s meal was meh at best, we are happy it’s over.

[@Sassyirishwoman]

Roast your beef bones in the oven low and slow for a while then pressure cook them. So much richer taste that way.

[@valerieszymanski1920]

LOVE the freezer/pantry clean out videos!

[@MaggieShartel]

Throw some mashed bananas in the protein muffin mix and for the blueberry a handful of frozen blueberries. Take those mixes next level 😊

[@ninac.5125]

Already a listener of the podcast!! Love hearing your advice and the topics are great.

[@michaelablack8329]

We doing our own freezer clean out. I have meals planned for the rest of the month of November except the week of thanksgiving for travel but fingers crossed it will be officially cleaned out! 😅

[@brendasbudgetbites]

I made the pasta last week, but used Boursin cheese instead. So good!! (Garlic and Herb flavor)

[@carmarasmussen8118]

I can attest to the banana bread recipe, it's truly life changing. 😋😋

[@rhondavigil795]

Freezer challenge!!!! I enjoy this type of cooking video. Thank you 😊

[@elizabethlocke4048]

Omgosh, you're the second person I've ever heard use that elephant metaphor (is it a metaphor..??). The first time was my husband and I looked at him like he was crazy, lol. He was like, You've never heard someone say that?! Haha, nope! And every time he's said it since then I tell him that I've still never heard anyone else say that and he's just weird. But now I've heard you say it so I guess it must be a thing people say 🤷‍♀️🤣

[@Lisawhatshersname]

Thank you, thank you! I'm feeling fatigued by the weather ( hurricane winds crossing Florida rn) and I am on a low-spend month to save for Chris presents. I NEED these ideas! And a swift kick to get up and cook, lol 😆 thanks!

[@wvnanaskitchenandgarden]

I’m planning on due the fridge, freezer and pantry clean out the first of January! Starting the new year out right

[@doveandolive1153]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that is feeling like I'm not making a dent in my food storage. Declaring a grocery shopping strike (minus essentials 😉) until further notice! ....Walk away from that sale aisle lady 😅speaking to myself here by the way🤣 Clear our videos are some of the best cause they are so satisfying, thanks Christine!

[@FrugalFitMom]

So true!

[@rcsavedbygrace]

Did you pressure cook your soup bones? More flavor with pressure cooking; I do 4 hours, cool, fridge for 24 hrs, skim the fat, jar and put in the freezer in jars. I rarely buy stock. I keep all veggie scraps and mushrooms stems in a freezer bag in the freezer and throw that in instead whole veggies . Keep the chicken carcass after smoking or roasting whole chickens. Very thrifty way to make amazing stock.

[@homestatzfarmher8919]

Do you freeze it in glass jars? I’ve been doing broth and then freezing it in ice cube trays and then taking the cubes out and putting them in baggies. Kinda a pain, but makes it easier to take out portions. I have tons of different sized mason jars so wondered about just using them? Thanks!

[@rcsavedbygrace]

I do freeze in glass jars but I have also done the ice cube trays also. Great when smaller amounts are needed. The trick with jars is having the stock cold and leave enough space at the top.

[@homestatzfarmher8919]

@@rcsavedbygrace thanks so much! I’ll give it a try!! ❤️

[@TerraAcox]

I like to add Chia and/or flaxseed to my banana bread for extra nutrition

[@kourtneyrahn3935]

I have been loving your hair the past few videos! It looks great!

[@deltorres2100]

You did do.,I have been trying the same I have 3 freeze 1 super large and a small one plus fridge freezer ..I to been trying so hard …But when the sales are Great it’s hard ..plus stuff from Garden to cook as well …I still have Tomatoes producing 🌱🌱🥘🥘

[@isobel8788]

Podcast!!!! 🎉👏👍

[@MsLisaBrooks]

Keep going!

[@michelleconcannon7584]

I wish my freezer looked that empty, it's ridiculous. Working on it though! I need room for Christmas cookie dough

[@avivaainbinder9236]

I made the banana bread last week. Very nice! I made them as is and then turned them into a chunky monkey muffins - added Ree's chips and chocolate chips. BIG hit

[@rachellewilson4940]

I've been trying to empty my freezers as well but it seems no matter what I make there's leftovers that get frozen lol. I would love to see you continue using things up :)

[@ruthtingle7219]

I absolutely love your freezer clean out videos, and the what we eat in a week for dinners video, thanks Christine 😊

[@sherrydaugherty6144]

Christine and family have a great day have fun thanks from Oklahoma

[@FrugalFitMom]

Thank you! You too!

[@ashleighosburne5041]

Hi Christine! Love ALL your videos!!! You are hilarious and such a joy to watch! When you do a freezer challenge have you ever considered working through one freezer at a time? to create a really big dent? Asking as a friend 😅

[@aaronhudgens8345]

Loving the hair extensions.

[@butterflyinflight85]

Christine have you tried to use apple sauce or mashed banana in place of oil when making the plant based muffin mix? I find sometimes oil can be a bit much with plant based mixes like that

[@joannaazar7396]

Hey Christine!! I’m definitely going to give the banana bread recipe a try. Everything you make looks so yummy 😋. Lots Of Love. Newark NewJersey. ❤❤❤

[@donnamullins2089]

Keep it up girl. That was a lot of produce and the pasta looked delicious. Don't forget to vote.

[@LisaofHopewell]

That pasta looks delicious!

[@lauraknoop1877]

I'm totally with you...we hate feta and love goat cheese!! Sometimes we feel like we're the only people in that camp. No longer 🤣!!