Week 8 Meals - $21 Grocery Budget Challenge & Pantry Build Update

[@jillgott6567]

You inspired me to do my own food challenge of $35/ week for myself. I was shocked how much food - meat, veg, carbs, grain and even yes ICE CREAM ! I could get for that amount. I even came a few cents shy of $35. I am excited to make my meals this week. Thank you

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@jillgott6567 Awesome job, Jill!

[@tracyq989]

I am learning so much and am so inspired by this challenge you are doing. I appreciate it so much!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

Aww. That's such a kind thing to say, Tracy. Thank you. Happy New Year.

[@melelcur]

Thanks Melanie , I learn so much from your channel ! I am absolutely starving after watching this video , everything looks so good . I can’t wait to see your sourdough bread and also the lemon orzo chicken , as I have that epicure package and want to try it too. Happy New Year 🥳!!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

I still haven't researched the sour dough bread. I am excited about it.

[@yinvision-uk9rf]

Thanks for teaching all us Canadians how to shop frugally, with a plan, and do so with nutrition in mind. You're doing an awesome job 👏

[@adventuresingroceryland]

Thanks for watching. Happy New Year.

[@luckyrobinshomestead]

I made some beautiful broth with the Christmas ham bone last week and then a delicious soup with the last of the ham, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and leeks. I cooked the leeks and onions first in some ham broth and then pureed it, because I don't like the texture of leeks. It gave it a nice thickness. Then I added the rest of the veggies and another onion and more broth, once that was cooked I added in the ham just long enough to warm it up since I didn't want it overcooked. It had lots of herbs in it. It was so good. Still had broth left and froze that along with 3 servings of soup for the future. I did have to throw out 2 zucchini this week, though. I have to get my fridge management under control.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

The soup sounds DELICIOUS. I just love soups. Too bad about the zucchini. Boo. I hate it when I lose something.

[@pjlacey3990]

Happy New Year! I always keep some Minute Rice in the pantry in case I need a quick starch to add to whatever meat I made.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@pjlacey3990 I should have served it with rice. I really enjoyed it but rice would have been a really sensible side for with it. Happy New Year.

[@barbaragilmer9731]

Amazing job on the meals and stock! Happy New Year!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@barbaragilmer9731 Thanks, Barbara. Happy New Year.

[@darleneprice6467]

Yummy yummy. Lobster and muscles. All of your meals looked good (turkey dinner is my very favorite meal). Have a great weekend!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@darleneprice6467 Thanks, Darlene. I think I just might have enjoyed the mussels more than the lobster. Is that crazy. They were so good. Sobeys always has really good mussels. ❤️ Happy New Year.

[@pennynickels5216]

😂😅😊💛 You're amazing Mel! Happy New Year.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@pennynickels5216 Happy New Year.

[@myhillsidegarden3998]

Happy New Year! What a wonderful end/beginning of the year for you and family. All the best, Catherine

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@myhillsidegarden3998 It was a quite a yummy week. A really good start to 2025. ❤️ Happy New Year.

[@katrinaschuster6341]

Wow you are doing Great!! I love your videos! I can hear happiness in your voice and its delightful!! You 2 keep it up!! Happiest of New year to you both

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@katrinaschuster6341 Thanks, Katrina. I'm glad you can hear the happiness in my voice. I am happy! ❤️ Best wishes for a wonderful 2025.

[@michellesmith9662]

Great video!! Happy New Year!! ❤️

[@adventuresingroceryland]

Happy New Year, Michelle.

[@michellesmith9662]

@ thank you!! ❤️

[@barbarawalker3366]

"Have a good new year!" 🎉🍹💙🎆💙🍾🎊

[@adventuresingroceryland]

Thanks, Barbara. Happy New Year.

[@CarolPearse-q3w]

Hey Mel, omg , can you say yum? Another good one in the can, 😂❤

[@adventuresingroceryland]

Lol....it really was a yummy week. Happy New Year, Carol.

[@sandiedrew4086]

Hi Melanie, thanks for this video. Hope you guys had a good holiday. ❤

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@sandiedrew4086 Sandie, we had a fabulous New Year. Wishing you a wonderful 2025.

[@DioneN]

You should cook your pasta separately for soup and just add as needed. It will keep it from getting mushy, especially if you’re reheating it all week.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@DioneN Hmm. I've never done that before. Good idea.

[@pennynickels5216]

Plus, pasta, potatoes and rice become insulin resistant when cooked, cooled and reheated. Yeah!!!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@pennynickels5216 Very interesting.

[@delledonne1]

Happy New Year! Gawddddddd, Lobster and mussels. So good! My husband has been ill since Christmas Day so we've been eating very little this week as far as cooking big meals. I've made chicken soup, beef barley soup, and potato soup, along with soft boiled eggs, jello, tapioca and rice pudding. Anything that would be light on his stomach. Great week for you and your pantry and just so you know, now I'm craving chinese food.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

I'm sorry to hear your husband hasn't been feeling well. Sounds like you've been making some extra delicious meals for him. I love soup. I wanted to wait know the Chinese food but we got a bunch of gift certificates to 3 different local Chinese restaurants. The handsome one convinced me.

[@stephanieinglett8569]

Wow. You have accumulated a lot of food. I am amazed. I love these videos.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@stephanieinglett8569 Thanks, Stephanie. Whereabouts are you watching from?

[@NattyHomeMaker]

Happy New year 🎊🎊 Your meals look really good. You sure stretched that turkey. 😊 Your stock up looks great. I'm still blown away with how much you accumulated. Your off to a great start for 2025

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@NattyHomeMaker Yes, 2025 is starting strong. Whoot. Happy New Year!

[@nicolerice4317]

Your pantry and left overs are growing. Do you have any plans to do a very low spend or no spend pantry clean out at some point?

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@nicolerice4317 No plans for a low spend, no spend yet. We'll keep on with the challenge for awhile longer. Happy New Year.

[@cyclingonplants7444]

Hi Melanie 🤗 LOL at the scurvy comment! ha! I think a lot of us feel like this after all the holiday meal extravaganzas. I have been eating a lot of soup and salads too. Lately I have been cooking the pasta separately and then I add some to the soup if I feel like it. Maybe I will make a pizza this weekend - haven't had one in a while and I did buy some pineapple(already cored) that was on sale for $3.99. You are a good omelette maker Melanie!!! Happy New year 🥰

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@cyclingonplants7444 LOL. I'm feeling the excessive amount of sweets as well. I won't lie. Sigh. The soup was good for us in more ways than one. I feel like pizza as well. ❤️ Happy New Year

[@sandrabryan9106]

In BC this week, I will be shopping for 2 at Safeway, Superstore, No Frills, and Shoppers. At the first 2 stores, I will be redeeming $10 worth of points at each. My cost at Safeway will be $4.51, Superstore .99, No Frills $14.98 Shoppers $3.79 for a total of $24.27. With my purchases and a few pantry/freezer items, I will make (14)dinners: 3 meals of each-shepherds pie, chicken burgers&fries, stir fry&spring rolls. 2 meals of each: stuffed peppers and quiche . 1 dinner will be cheese & veg omelettes with hash browns. I will have enough for at least a week worth of lunches:grilled cheese, soup, leftovers, toasted westerns, egg salad. I have loads of oatmeal, protein drinks & peanut butter for breakfasts for a month. Happy New Year

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@sandrabryan9106 Wow, Sandra. Great planning. I love that!

[@Thatsaritachick]

Yummy lobster!!

[@samanthadodd8112]

Great job. U could probably go a month just on what u have left.

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@@samanthadodd8112 We might be able to. We really still have quite a generous pantry accumulated. Happy New Year, Samantha.

[@NattyHomeMaker]

You gotta eat that Marie Calendar frozen dinner lol. Have you tried it before? I got one off the food truck a while back and we loved it ❤

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@NattyHomeMaker When we got that Marie Callendar dinner they were on sale for $2 and we got 2. We did eat one already and we liked it. I was thinking instead of using it as a main meal that it could be a side for 2 different meals. What do you think.

[@NattyHomeMaker]

@adventuresingroceryland ohh yes defenitly a good idea. Two easy meals for those busy days

[@Smooshes786]

And here I am blaming my guy issues on sitting around too much this last week! 😂 it’s the candy! Edit- GUT issues haha. The guy is fine!

[@adventuresingroceryland]

@Smooshes786 Yes. It's totally the candy. Ha. Oh geez, I showed you the food food I got for Christmas. The chocolate and candy is just ridiculous. You want to know what's still happening. I'm still eating it. Lol. Happy New Year.