Trying Cheryl's Challenge (In Theory)

      

A random unorganized pantry shelf.

     I'm on a roll blogging thisweek, pure avoidance of housework mode. I am caught up on laundry but thats a pit the only thing I can claim I'm on top of. Cheryl posted a challenge the other day and as I'm a list maker anyway, it got my brain churning. I'm paraphrasing but it was how long could you go without need to go grocery shopping. I think I could easily go two weeks with nothing unique with basics on hand but beyond things will get interesting,  as you start seeing below. Carbohydrates wouldn't be an issue but fruit, veg, and dairy would be lacking pretty quick.

     This is what I came up with as of Tuesday April 7th,  the day of her post. For simplicity I'm repeating after the other if I'd make more than once. This doesn't include leftover nights though leftovers are mostly need for lunches. I've also not added breakfast items like oatmeal cereal and muffins I could make.

  1. Turkey meatloaf, mash steamed carrots
  2. Penne with bolognese
  3. Fried ham broccoli pasta
  4. Ham, pea, cheese pasta salad 
  5. Ham, cheese, spinach quiche
  6. Sausage and dirty rice 
  7. Sausage and dirty rice (2)
  8. Pork loin, sweet potato mixed veg
  9. Pork, rice, and green bean bowls
  10. Chicken tortellini Alfredo soup or pasta
  11. Chicken tortellini Alfredo soup or pasta (2)
  12. Chicken Caesar salad with garlic bread
  13. Tuna hotdish with peas
  14. Tuna hotdish with mixed vegetables 
  15. Bean and ham soup with hot hoagie sandwich
  16. Tuna sandwich with chicken noodle (canned) soup
  17. Grilled cheese and TJ tomato soup
  18. Homemade flat bread with mozzarella and ground Italian sausage
  19. Chana Masala with rice 
  20. Sweet potato, rice,  and black bean burritos
  21. Rice and cheese hotdish with sautéed spinach
     At this point I just have random bits, though still food, that would feed us should the orange want to be dictator mess up the world any further. Those breakfast items would work in a pinch. I'd make a lot of rice bowls, bean/chickpeas soups and pasta dishes and top with any oddities left until the cupboards are depleted. Coffee would be gone and that would hurt. It was an interesting exercise that maybe taught me I should stock more basics like canned goods in all food categories and shelf stable milk. It's a reminder mostly that I'm very fortunate. If things get this bad, many people will really be hurting. Some families and households simply do not have enough resources to have weeks of food in reserve no matter how frugal they might try to live.

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