First time at a walk through pantry!

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by. If you enjoyed my ramblings please like and subscribe so we can hang out again!
Today is a bit wordy. WARNING! I do a little about us and let those who might be new know a little about us. Today I visited a local church that does a “shop” style pantry. I have not visited anything like this before so come with me on a new adventure full of amazing blessings!!
If this is your first time, my name is Laura and I am always wearing my frugal pants! We are a family of 4 with one coming in April. We have too many pets to count who often make an appearance in some way.
On this channel you will find food pantry hauls, cook with me videos, organizing and food prep. I am beyond awkward and ramble a little too much but hope this is your style and you keep coming by!

[@VerleanHurd]

You don't have to explain. You and your husband manage your household the way you like. Forget the haters. God bless. Theres nothing wrong with you and your husband going out to eat for your bday without your kids. You cant take care of your kids. If you don't take care of your kids mom.❤

[@user-hm6ri8ww3q]

“ Seniors whiteout cars did not make it, the program aims for people with transportation. Therefore 1348 families with cars did benefit from the program, 32,755 families did not because of transportation issues

[@user-oe6wq7pu8d]

Dad ALWAYS took mom out for his birthday ( Jan) ♥ valentines ( feb) and moms birthday ( may) and their anniversary (june) . We KNEW as little kids KIDS DONT GO TO THESE GROWN UP DINNERS. ( got to spend quality time at grandma's! )

[@betterlivingonabudget]

I just found your channel today when this video popped into my feed. When I was a young mom I utilized WIC and it was such a blessing - no way could i have fed my son and myself without it - and I was working two jobs at the time). You are so thoughtful to worry about not taking too much food at the drives, but I recommend taking at least one of every item offered for all members of your family that are able to eat them, and more on the 'unlimited' produce. Youd would be shocked to learn how much of that food will hit the dumpster at the end of the food drive. So many people aren't willing to cook, don't like veggies, don't have the facilities to cook, etc. Especially the produce that is about to go too ripe - take as much as you know your family will eat/has ability to store/use within a month. Do not waste a minute feeling guilty about stocking your fridge/pantry if it's being offered - especially if you're not the first one in the door. It is going to the dumpster if isn't given away, and that is beyond sad. Living on a very tight budget is hard, and every bit of food makes the difference between going hungry and being able to save a bit of money back to build an emergency fund which we ALL need. Blessings to you and your family.

[@FrugalPants]

They upped the fresh produce nearly 6 times the old amount. It's such a blessing because we would be very bummed to not have as.much fresh produce!

[@susan_elizabeth]

Hi, I'm new around here. Thank you for explaining how the food pantry in your state works. I know nothing about this except that I donate to a couple of local pantries. I LOVE that you can shop! That's a great way of doing it and I think it is a kinder approach to the folks that utilize the service. I love that it helps maintain the dignity of the family. This inflation is ridiculous and more families than ever have food insecurities. Bless you, Friend.

[@anniegoodrich6210]

I am so glad that you and your husband decided for you to stay home. The best job you'll ever have. I am a senior and the local food pantry helps me alot. I will be watching more of your blogs.

[@sandrasprings4174]

That’s a awesome food bank lots of meat our food banks are not that plentiful we get maybe one meat item and peanut butter vegetables in a can and what ever they have but you are blessed with all that wonderful food

[@FrugalPants]

Sometimes it's like that here too. This was definitely crazy!

[@ryantracy116]

Too long get on with food.😮

[@juanitataylor6947]

When you feed the chickens you're getting eggs so it really is you're eating themGod blessing

[@user-mu5mr4vw7n]

Im a veteran and i use to use the food bank for about 5 years and then i got qualified for food stamps and i still occasionally use our food bank,

[@margueritecorbett883]

I don't know if you'll even see this, but I'm new and going back through some of your older videos... Anywho if get cottage cheese again or Greek yogurt that you don't want to eat as is you can use them in different recipes. Noone in my house or that we know likes Greek yogurt, however if you add 1.5 cups of any flavor of Yogurt or cottage cheese with 4 eggs, 1 tbls of baking powder and 1 cup of flour (dash of milk or water for yogurt to get to my fav consistency) You can make high protein pancakes! I get about 25 pancakes from this one batch! If you get unflavored yogurt its even better, look up 2 ingredient bread and you can make an amazing flat bread! I add lots of garlic and onion powders as well as herbs.

[@FrugalPants]

Thank you! I am trying to find the time to do a big batch of breakfast, since that is when we struggle here the most. The pancakes would be a great addition! Thank you!

[@margueritecorbett883]

@@FrugalPants Your welcome! I forgot for the cottage cheese you can use it as is, but I like it better if you blend it up to get rid of the chunks. We got a full case of cottage cheese with added pineapple, I like cottage cheese but not sweet, and no one else likes cottage cheese at all. But when I used the last 3 cups to make a batch my daughter asked if we could buy more!

[@juanitataylor6947]

I use that dip for egg salad and deviled eggs

[@juanitataylor6947]

It gives you a piece of mind

[@jennifermunn6898]

That is a great haul❤🎉so glad your back!! And no I had no idea you were 40😮😮 you definitely don’t look it, I thought like maybe 28, I am 46 myself so wow you look great lady!!!❤

[@FrugalPants]

Hopefully it's because I look like I'm in my 20's not because I act that way 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you very much!

[@maepixie1372]

I live in a house that does not like frosting. If you want a quick desert without much work you can take a yellow or white cake mix and add a cup or 2 of the nut and fruit mix to it. Can also turn it into muffins if you want an easy snack to grab. The hazel nuts i like in cookies, use a basic chocolate chip recipe but instead of semi sweet chips add white chocolate chips and some dried cherry or cranberries.

[@marymilligan5819]

Girl don't feel badly its there for help

[@craftedbykittens]

ok at least locally stores donate their extra produce to food banks dayily so if you decide to take extra produce it is not taking away from others. i know thats why you worried about taking more then you needed

[@FrugalPants]

Yes, definitely don't want to take from someone else but also don't want more than we can use and have it go bad.

[@rettpanda6203]

Don't feel bad about grabbing ice cream, etc...sometimes that stuff will go in the trash if it doesn't get picked up. And besides...you have been a working couple for many years adding to our economy. You have earned your right to a food pantry haul with the good things.

[@user-hx1ct3qt9o]

I'm new here, enjoy watching you but I can't help but think some comments must have truly hurt you. I'm so sorry for the scrutiny of idiots! Please don't give them power by taking your precious time ( and ours) to justify anything! We are all perfectly imperfect, we all make choices, our own choices! You do you Girl! Do it boldly! Food banks are amazing, they serve many purposes for many people. They need people to use them to keep functioning and to reduce food waste! Glad you are getting blessed by them and I hope comments start blessing you too! You have a lovely family and you are doing a great job!

[@FrugalPants]

Thank you and welcome! I know there could have been a lot nastier things said and I am a bit of a sensitive one, but also have lived a life where people have not always been so kind about my chunky-ness or gaped teeth, or whatever the heck mean kids wanted to say. It has taken a lifetime to learn I am not those things, well I am chunky, but to love my self even so!

[@janicerhoades8851]

You received a great blessing.

[@heleeneverson8256]

Hi 👋 from 🇿🇦. Newbie here. You don't have to explaine to anyone why you do what you do until they have walked in you shoes. I am also only breadwinner due to husbands epilepsy and it's tough. Keep up you chin no one has the right to make you feel inferior ❤

[@FrugalPants]

Welcome!! Thank you!!

[@melindaridinger3008]

Hey Laura! I have a tip for you. I make chocolate chip cookies and add the dried fruit and nut mix to the batter. Everyone loves them.

[@FrugalPants]

Oooh good idea! And my oldest loves a sweet.

[@marykaymorley8551]

You can put cottage cheese in a blender and use in place of sour cream on baked potatoes or for dips.

[@maryraybon2305]

You can take the hazelnuts and grind them up like you would peanuts for hazelnut butter. I have done peanuts before with little salt in blender and made peanut butter, so I know it can be done with hazelnuts too. :) You were able to get a lot of great items. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@nicolaforrest6384]

You can make all kinds of nut milks and your own Nutella with the nuts.

[@meeganjae72]

You can make homemade cream of soups. Chop mushrooms, cook onion and mushrooms in butter, add flour, cook add broth and then milk. You can freeze portions. Can also freeze before adding milk, then thin with milk once thawed. Can also make cream of chicken too.

[@FrugalPants]

Thank you! I knew there had to be a way I just haven't researched it. There is just something about this grayish thing plopping out of the can that makes me not a huge fan. I'd much rather make it!

[@Rebecca-zp4gm]

Please to talk to the people at the food bank as they could have food for chickens like produce thats damaged, mushy etc. mama Baird and weeping willow homestead get food for the hens. Don’t worry about it.

[@monkeeblue]

Drain the cottage cheese in a fine sieve over a bowl, maybe an hour, then mix it with grated mozzarella and a little parmesan. Mix it with a fork and break it up well and it will be really close to ricotta filling for your lasagna.

[@user-xd3xv3vi7l]

I thought you were in your twenties

[@FrugalPants]

Phew, the not having time for skincare and washing my face with whatever soap I can grab is working! 🤣🤣

[@renegaderese]

Hi! I’ve been seeing recipes to make dip and salad dressing by adding spices to cottage cheese and blending it. 😊

[@FrugalPants]

Oh great idea! Blended I don't think I would hate it. It's those chunks that get me.

[@marilynbeebe8249]

I used to work at a food bank the leftover produce goes to the zoo take what you can and freeeze or dehydrate them

[@justnina8023]

Hi Laurie.

[@goofygirl1311]

That is a lot of food! I'm guessing you would pay at least $300, maybe closer to $400 for that haul. I recently spent $155 at the grocery store and got a package of ground turkey, a pack with 3 chicken breasts, some fresh vegetables, 6 bananas, a pack of 6 apples, shredded cheese, a pack of 4 cans of tuna, carbonated seltzer walker, 2 single serving cups of cottage cheese, a 12 pack of club soda and a few other little things. We've donated many cans of food to food pantries and participated in quite a few food drives over the years but haven't actually volunteered in one. This was an interesting video to watch!

[@FrugalPants]

It's so crazy how expensive groceries have gotten. We all had a stomach bug and I ran to the store for the normal sick foods applesauce/bananas/sprite I could not believe that soda was $8!

[@goofygirl1311]

@@FrugalPants I know. You can run into the store and spend $30 and have very little to show for it.

[@haroldcoffin2976]

I but cottage cheese in lazana

[@pvgranny12]

The canned ground pork is excellent in tamale pie and I like to use the canned beef with ramen noodles topped with fresh tomatos and cilantro and onions.

[@FrugalPants]

I canned some ground beef earlier this year and decided I don't love the taste (the roasts didn't get that taste) so I will try this with that as well!

[@auntrowdy7392]

Run the cottage cheese through your blender and it will be more like a ricotta texture. That might help you with the texture issue.

[@FrugalPants]

Oh thank you!

[@rickyandtheothers5835]

Do you ever get pet food at your food bank? 😊

[@FrugalPants]

I have gotten wet cat food one time. My dogs eat raw because my Danes have very sensitive stomachs, and the ONLY food that didn't give them constant diarrhea was Orijen, which is $100 for 24 pounds. I would need multiple bags a week. We have to be super on it for finding cheap meat for them, so I shop the discount sections at the Asain Mart, buy whole animals from local farms. For example, a mama sheep had to be put down after giving birth. She had a prolapse uterus. We got her and my husband learned how to butcher that night. For $100, it was a month or more worth of food for them. We also live by the largest Costco and often can get chicken drumsticks for $0.40 a pound. $20 for 2 weeks of chicken for them. We will also get the extras from the family who hunt. My husband is going to go hunting for the first time to have meat for a while. One benefit of butchering our selves is that no part of the animal gets wasted, and we are able to honor and be grateful to them for giving their life for our pups. It comes out much cheaper to feed raw than kibble. But a heck of a lot more work!

[@regularmompantrylife2587]

You do not look 40. I'm 46 and you look wayyyy wayyyy younger than me. I think anyone who has negative comments needs to keep them to themselves. Inflation has hit us all HARD. This food, much of which would go in the trash if no one took it is helping stretch many family budgets. Even the commodity foods are often food the government buys to save it from waste.

[@FrugalPants]

Almost 40! I have 2 years to hang onto that 3!! It is really hard out there, even ramen has increased a crazy amount.

[@regularmompantrylife2587]

@@FrugalPants I just heard someone else say Ramen had gone up. I haven't bought any in a couple of years since my 20-year moved out. If Ramen is going up you know things are BAD!

[@samanthashaw8329]

i dont like cottage cheese thing is texture for me too but i do like whipped cottage cheese occasionally thars nice with the fruity jam preserves or bit of cherry pie filling

[@FrugalPants]

How do you whip it?

[@samanthashaw8329]

i guess with a mixer but i buy kroger brand whipped cottage cheese @@FrugalPants

[@samanthashaw8329]

its almost the consistency of creamed cheese smoother than ricotta

[@jackiegromacki686]

You can use cottage cheese in broccoli cornbread.

[@FrugalPants]

Oh, I am intrigued by this!

[@angelam4258]

put cottage cheese in a blender and make it like sour cream some stores are already selling it like that but it costs more so I make my own

[@makaylavandergrift7447]

To my knowledge, the food pantries that I've been to, they don't require qualification, if you need food, it's okay, but I guess every state is different

[@FrugalPants]

The mobile ones have never asked anything other than family size. This one asked for proof of residency and had a chart for income requirements. They also wanted birth certificates/ proof of immunization for all the kids. However, they didn't ask for proof of those last two.

[@margaretwilliams3137]

Make Nutella with hazelnut

[@FrugalPants]

Love this! Never made any kind of nut butter so I asked the oldest if she wanted to do it with me for a extra school project this week. We are excited to try

[@joanacker917]

Please don’t feel like you have to justify your choice to be a stay at home mom. That is a job in itself. And it’s nobody’s business but you and your husbands. What choices you make about that. Thanks for a great informative video.

[@JaneLake-sl9xl]

Everybody need help id go to food pantry id worked but sometime i dont away have money for food

[@vickyblock9574]

Why is the dog sitting in and facing the corner?

[@FrugalPants]

She's just sitting in a chair being a silly dog

[@carolparker2392]

Who do you think pays for wic

[@FrugalPants]

Taxpayers, like my husband, who has clocked in 24 hours for the week, and it's only Monday. Taxpayers, like my husband, who still has to work 7am-5pm (10 hours) every day until Friday...and maybe even more. I know who pays. Which is why I am so thankful that not only does my family, but every other working family, help each other all have basic needs. 💜💜💜

[@tammyfrace3295]

​@@FrugalPants❤❤

[@sharoncontini3284]

My family pays a lot of taxes. I have never minded helping children and working families. When I am at the store and the associate says WIC doesn't cover an item I step up and pay it myself. It's called being a decent human being with compassion.

[@carolparker2392]

Maybe, Maybe more along to something other than rambling.

[@darlenebalvin7086]

Omg you talk away to much

[@FrugalPants]

💜💜💜

[@ahorrandoconjessica4630]

you talk too much

[@FrugalPants]

Yep, I sure do.

[@user-mu5mr4vw7n]

Im a veteran and i use to use the food bank for about 5 years and then i got qualified for food stamps and i still occasionally use our food bank,