Using It Up Week

   

Yikes, these pans blackened in the ridges. 
An old picture of a couple versions
of  homemade pizza. 

  I'd rather not do a regular grocery shop until the holiday weekend is over. After the splurging at both the farmers market and strawberry patch (and I intend to pick again this week) I want to be more intentional with the rest of my shopping. I'll need a few things for the party at my sister's and contribution to the meals at the lake though. I'll only go up for about 1/2 day Saturday and be on cat duty otherwise but will be there for at least a meal. Even for these events, I don't need a lot as some ingredients are on hand. 

     Friday's my sister's party and I'm planning cherry crisp, apple and carrot slaw salad, and broccoli salad. For the lake, I'll grab a family pack of chicken thighs, make black bean and corn salsa, tortilla chips, a pasta salad, and another cherry crisp. I'll bring muffins too for breakfast as two of my kids will be staying overnight. Essentially I always try and bring a complete meal that would serve at least eight-10 people, though when things are actually served it's more pot luck with a wider variety spread over more than one meal. My kids bring other things like veggies, hummus, snacks, and fruit. To buy items include chicken, broccoli, bacon, craisins, cabbage, maybe a tart apple as I'm not sure what will be left here, sunflower seeds, vegan butter, and tortilla chips. Not too bad, probably about $40-$45. 

    Using up started yesterday with lunch. There were random bits of food; soup, last of a sour dough bread, bits of several cheeses, and my leftovers from the anniversary dinner out. today I'll make a concoction of a dish with orso. It should be good, and there's bound to be lunch leftovers. I'll probably finish up the bread today with Thai chili tuna. Though, I do like to go to a country park for a long walk and have points that expire through the McDonalds app on Monday. Maybe...

Other use it up meals:

• ( You're probably tired of reading this and I'm tired of seeing it) The pork and potatoes are still in the freezer from my brother's funeral. There's buns in the freezer so time to use up in BBQ sandwiches.
• Also, there's so much, I'll season half with taco seasoning for tacos one night
• Homemade pizza with some already cooked sausage, pepperoni, last of spinach, and olives. I found some tomato paste in the freezer, used some in the orso and can make pizza sauce with the rest.
• Breaded chicken thighs, couscous, and whatever vegetable wound up in the bottom of the freezer.
• Mac and cheese and homemade chicken strips
• Penne Bolognese with turkey meatballs

     That'll bring me through the weekend and as there will be leftovers, lunch sorted as well. I'm sure between leftovers and freezer finds (bean soup, chili, and dal all are in there, plus things like egg rolls and mini pizzas), I can forgot regular shopping at least until Tuesday...or I could just keep picking and eating strawberries 😀 until I'm all picked out.