Pantry Living Weeks 1 & 2

I love shopping. I especially enjoy grocery shopping. Success varies by individuals. My success comes with a well-stocked pantry, full bellies, smiling faces, clean floors, clean faces. Week 1 and week 2 are successful.  I've resisted the strong urge to go grocery shopping. My mother heard me say I was bummed I was almost out of vanilla and corn starch (no additional in pantry) and she surprised me with both. Neither have been needed....yet. Giant shout out to my awesome parents who are always lending a hand.

On the other hand I've unexpectedly run through a few items quickly.

• canned beans- I make "Beach Burritos"(recipe included) for our beach days. I knew my supply wouldn't last 3 months but I hoped it would do better than 2 weeks. 
• Italian dressing- an ingredient in "Beach Burritos".....not prepared for all the beach days already.
• popsicles- can I just say HEAT WAVE
• frozen dinner rolls- I haven't decided if these qualify as 'bread' in my exclusion list. But I make the rules so I will say yes, they qualify :)
• spaghetti sauce- truthfully I haven't opened a single jar but my mom did. My uncle passed away last week and to save my mom a trip to the store to prep funeral luncheon food I offered her 3-45oz. jars of sauce. I don't think I'll really count this though cause she will replace them. 
• cereal- I started with 31 unopened boxes of cereal. But with family visiting for my dear uncle's funeral some food has gone quickly. I am now at 25 unopened boxes. 
• toilet paper- it goes quickly when my house is the largest in the area: best place for family cookouts, dinners and get-togethers.

 Overall we're doing fine. Even if I don't make the 11 weeks, I am thrilled to make it 2 weeks. I remind myself I am doing this by choice, I've much to be grateful for.

My pantry after week 2

Beach Burritos Recipe(originally called River Burritos)

• 3 different cans of beans. I like Black, Pinto, and White.
• Italian Dressing- 1/2 a small bottle
• Optional- corn, green chilies, olives, tomatoes (note: these will make the salad require refrigeration and will mean it can't last forever.

Drain and rinse beans. Mix beans and dressing along with any optional ingredients. Serve on a tortilla with a slotted spoon. Roll
and enjoy. Watch out for drips, you don't want to stain your cute swimsuit ;) Also tasty with tortilla chips.

Pantry Living....can I do it?

My awesome hubby is a teacher. Teachers work 10 months of the year with a two month vacation. Sounds like a sweet gig. Unfortunately, summer vacation= no income. This awesome hubby of mine will be working a summer school enrichment program to make up for that, BUT it got me thinking. What if he didn't have work? What if that pay really stops? Or worse? Can I live off my pantry and freezer? Let's give it a go!

So here I am. Thursday was my husband's last day of work. I went to the grocery store for the last big trip of the summer. I did anticipate this so I've been stocking up on cereal, marshmallows, and salad dressing, you know the necessities of life. For the next 11 weeks I hope to prepare 77 days worth of food: 231 meals. It sounds daunting but its worth a shot.

Just some of the grub we'll be enjoying. (the giant box of popcorn is actually full of candles)

I allow myself to buy

1. DAIRY(milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, you get the point.), 
2. BREAD (but I did freeze a few loaves to delay this purchase a bit),
3. EGGS (no chickens allowed in our city, besides, that's not my thing)
4. PRODUCE(I wish I could garden all the fresh fruits and veggies we need but I've already killed the tomato plant I bought.)

Note: I reserve the right to take food from my parents. They are kind like that.

I also have a goal of Cash ONLY for the summer. Except for #1-#3 of my food allowances and for gas.

I'm so excited! Pantry living here I come!