Eating from the Freezer for Pantry Meals - Week 2 of Pantry Challenge

[@lauradyer6421]

One of the best things about having a stocked pantry is that you have options when "life happens". Glad everyone seems on the mend. 😊 I have a tip to share... we extend the life of our eggs by coating then in coconut oil before placing them in the fridge. Our eggs last well past the expiration date - once I found some random eggs in the fridge from a purchase 2 months past (I know, how can you forget your eggs? 🤷‍♀️) and they still passed the float test. Who knew?

[@joyfullythriving]

Coconut oil, really?!?! Who knew indeed! Yay for easy hacks like that. Thanks for sharing that tip!

[@Jordan.M.-qb6ky]

I watched a KZbin channel today of someone who lives in Alaska 200 miles from a store. That takes pantry challenge to a whole new level. Kind of motivational if you had to plan that way.

[@joyfullythriving]

Whew. Yes indeed! I can hardly imagine planning that way. 😮

[@tanyadelgado8936]

Snow bound and knee injury. Weve been eating from what we have. Haven't seen much of a dent made in our supplies. Fortunately an extra gallon of milk and a 90 pack of eggs were bought last week. It's a comfort not feeling the need to get out to shop for food.

[@joyfullythriving]

So glad you don't have to go out - especially when you can't! Glad the milk and eggs are holding!

[@shelbylynnwilliams8520]

I am really enjoying this different type of video than your normal videos. I am making progress especially with frozen vegetables from my freezer. I also have been using up potatoes that are getting a little soft. 3 months ago someone posted on our local buy sale trade Facebook group free potatoes. We took a cloth grocery bag & climbed up on their flat bed truck & were blessed with free potatoes.

[@joyfullythriving]

What a blessing indeed! And thanks for the feedback! I have been enjoying the change of video pace for a bit too. 😊

[@journeyofamidwestquilter]

Caleb is so adorable!! All your kids are so sweet. That poppy seed chicken looks delicious!! I am going to add that (along with the enchilada casserole) to our meal rotation! Great video!!

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you! Poppy seed chicken is definitely one of our favorites - for family or for company. It's easy comfort food at its best!

[@kristincole606]

Praise God everyone is on the mend (and the illness was a bit staggered; that always helps!) You have reminded me of baked oatmeal; love it!

[@joyfullythriving]

Yes, indeed! I like when things are staggered - but I also don't mind getting it all over at once, rather than waiting around to see when the next one gets sick! 😂

[@marynienhouse6143]

Your kids are adorable ❤️. Glad you are all feeling better! The challenge is going well. Getting much used up. Hooray!

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you!! 😊

[@roxeanneoneill7287]

Glad everyone is feeling better! Nice that you had plenty of food to get you through while everyone was sick. That's the nice benefit of a stock pile. Thanks for sharing

[@joyfullythriving]

It sure does come in handy during times like this! 👍

[@angiesteuck]

Can I just tell u how refreshing it is to see realistic simple meals. I loved this weeks video so much!

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you! The meals are so simple I feel silly filming them at times but it is an honest view of what we are eating! 😊

[@angiesteuck]

​@@joyfullythrivingawe! Well, I certainly appreciate it. 😊❤

[@Jordan.M.-qb6ky]

Great job this week! Loved seeing the progress in the freezer. Making room for February sales!!

[@joyfullythriving]

Thanks! I do love stocking up on sales! 🥰

[@anitrab8139]

You can freeze mashed potatoes. I put the mashed potatoes into muffin tins and freeze them. Then pop them out and put them into a freezer ziploc bag and then pull out however many I need a d reheat them and add butter or half and half if needed. They taste amazing and it saves times and it saves my potatoes from going bad and tossed away.

[@joyfullythriving]

Yes! So smart, and such a smart idea! Would you believe my kids don't like mashed potatoes? Every other kind of potatoes, yes, but not mashed. Sadly. 😂

[@sallydunbar1683]

Enjoyed seeing your cute kids! Glad they are in the mend.😊 I've made a dent in our kitchen freezer & have transferred food in from the garage! Only had to buy 2 gallons of milk so far! Thanks for the recipes!

[@joyfullythriving]

Wow! Good job! That's great that you have only purchased milk! 🙌

[@ritaslade2989]

You're doing really good using up your pantry foods your meals look delicious 😊 God Bless You

[@joyfullythriving]

Thanks, I’m trying my best!

[@susansutherland7117]

I enjoyed seeing how you used up items from your freezer. I also enjoyed hearing what your priorities are for this week and how you plan to utilize those items. Your kitchen freezer is really showing progress! Thanks for another great video.

[@joyfullythriving]

I'm glad you are enjoying the journey along with me! 🥰

[@natashagrusendorf7200]

One bonus of doing a pantry freezer challenge is when my garage fridge freezer stopped working due to cold temperatures, I had room to move out the contents to other freezers! Stuff I am working through this week: Apples we buy from an Orchard each fall. Using the last of them to make a few batches of apple pie jam that will be used as Christmas gifts this year. A large pork shoulder which will get turned into sweet pork for a largish birthday celebration celebration this week. Also have a beef roast which get used for next Sunday dinner. No strange meals here yet! On the grocery list this week is milk and cilantro (for the Mexican birthday dinner).

[@joyfullythriving]

Sounds like a produce week for us both! Love that you have a clear plan for the week with some delicious meals!

[@geninejames9473]

Great video. Glad everyone is feeling better 😀

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you! We are definitely on the mend! 😊

[@karenm7433]

You did great! I see progress in your freezer for sure

[@joyfullythriving]

Thanks! It definitely feels good to make some headway!

[@ritahamm1893]

Strawberry freezer jam is the bomb!!!!! You can top ice cream with it as well as use for strawberry shortcake and the usual toast and biscuits. Oatmeal is yummy topped with it as is yogurt.

[@joyfullythriving]

Great ideas! Would you believe I have never made freezer jam? 😁 I have always canned it!

[@ritahamm1893]

@ the recipe is on the box of sure gel and it is so easy. You can store in freezer in plastic or glass ball jars.

[@LizWatts-o1o]

I hope you and your family feel better soon. It’s nice to have things available to make meals when you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to run to the store, take care🙂

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you! It sure comes in handy to have a stocked freezer!

[@kristineroehl]

I’m working through our freezers and am seeing progress as well.

[@joyfullythriving]

Good for you! Keep up the great work!

[@lisaolson1345]

Glad everyone is feeling somewhat better.

[@joyfullythriving]

It's a slow virus but thankful it was "just" a fever type sickness this go around! 😁

[@brandierhoades4696]

Oh I haven’t made no bakes in forever! May have to make some of those this week! I’m slowly making space in my freezer. I plan to continue this going forward until I get to a point that I need to replace things.

[@joyfullythriving]

Good for you! So glad to hear you are making space!

[@debbiepowell8172]

I hope everyone is on the mend at your house. Thanks for sharing all your meals.

[@joyfullythriving]

Thank you! We are feeling much better! I am glad you are enjoying seeing our meals, sparse as they were this week!

[@Claire-Rita]

My pantry challenge looks very similar to yours. I was/am intrigued by the challenge but I also don't have a homestead, have never canned anything in my life, and other than some herbs, I've never grown anything else edible (although this is something I am interested in changing, we do have a large backyard, and I can see possibly some planter boxes with some good veggies). What I do have is what I thought was decently stocked freezers and pantry but was curious how long some of these things would last and to find any obvious holes. My goals were to not only find holes in my available food but to try new recipes and reduce my budget by at least half. The jury is still out on the last one :) We are empty nesters who often feed our adult sons and have entertained friends twice so far this month so hopefully I can end the month within my reduced budget, we'll see! Glad your family is on the mend and congratulations for not getting sick yourself!

[@joyfullythriving]

Good job in making the challenge work for you! Are you finding the holes in your pantry? It is an interesting experiment indeed!

[@Claire-Rita]

@@joyfullythriving There are indeed holes! I've stocked up on what we use when there's a good sale, apparently, the same things go on sale often :) My plan is to begin to stock up on other items we use frequently but don't seem to go on sale that often, I see a trip to Aldi in my future, next month of course! It has been nice to see some reductions in the pantry items we had so much of as well as meats in the freezer. I just took out an entire bin in my chest freezer because it was empty!!

[@glennagoss7335]

You have a beautiful family.

[@joyfullythriving]

Aww, that's so kind of you to say!

[@chantal3172]

Glad everyone is feeling better. Just wondering if you ever do just flax eggs in your recipe or half and half? Thank you for sharing with us.

[@joyfullythriving]

Good question! Yes, in the pumpkin muffins I have done all flax eggs and a combo. Both ways work! I think I prefer half and half, if I had to choose. Flax eggs just stretch my eggs a bit further!

[@Ididitonce]

Well, I don't see much progress. Only two of us here. When I take food out of the freezer and add pantry and fridge staples, I always end up with more freezer meals and less space.. lol, that's not terrible, but I have not gained any freezer space. 😅

[@joyfullythriving]

I totally understand. Sometimes it seems like 1 step forward and 2 steps back in making freezer space! 😂 But like you said, not a bad thing to be so well stocked! 😉

[@lorriemagrini492]

Same here!

[@karenm7433]

Same for me!

[@fromthehutt9508]

I am also doing this challenge in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦. I shop much the same as you, my 2024 budget was $620/month for the five of us. For the month of January 2025 my budget is $100. I am noticing some holes in my freezer, after three weeks I am getting through some inventory. The kids haven’t even noticed yet so I must be doing okay. Meals look great ❤

[@joyfullythriving]

Woohoo! If the kids haven't noticed, then you are really doing great! 🙌 It is a great feeling to be working through what we have and saving money too. Here's to a good ending of the month for both of us! ❤️

[@sherrymaus7252]

Coming from Tx how can u have only chips and cheese u dont have to have jalapenas but u need meat and maybe green chilies for the little ones. Love from Texas.

[@joyfullythriving]

Ha! I have Midwestern parents, so this Texan transplant likes salsa with everything, but I am still not a jalapeno gal! My husband, yes!

[@Sandrashideaway]

❤You are doing great! I've used up some things from freezer but need to do more. We've had super cold weather too. 🥶 I work at the high school so school was closed Tuesday-30⁰ temps and I thawed soup portions from freezer. 😊 🥣 💰 Haven't spent a lot this month either tho today I did go to Hyvees 2 day sale for shredded cheese $2.50/lb (I got 8 lbs) I got 2 brown sugar for $1.48 and 2 pasta sauce 99cents and 1 gallon whole milk not on sale $2.66. 😅 still waiting for an egg sale-refuse to pay $5 a dozen. 😂

[@joyfullythriving]

You're doing an amazing job! That's such a great deal on the brown sugar! Our eggs are currently $4.29 but still ridiculously high!