Pantry Challenge 2009...Are You In?

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When the New Year arrives, the first thing that comes to mind is starting new and fresh. Organizing the house, de-cluttering, freshening up. This year we've also got the heavy burden of a struggling economy on our minds. As wives, moms, and caretakers, I think we take it upon ourselves to come up with ways to save our family some dough, and do it in a way that it won't disrupt things too much.

All of these things are on my mind lately. It's time again for a Pantry Challenge! Here's how it works:

-Go to your pantry, cupboard, wherever you keep your food items stored. Include your refrigerator as well. Take a notebook and list all of the main items in the pantry (flour, applesauce, canned goods, evaporated milk, etc.) Now is also a great time to organize everything and throw out any expired items.

-Here's the challenge: you cannot go to the grocery store for any new food items (with the exception of the staples like milk, butter, eggs, and meat) or ingredients until you have used up all of these extras you have sitting in your pantry and fridge!

-The goal: to save money, be thrifty, and clean out the old. To waste LESS.

-How do you do that? You get really creative! Go through your recipe books and find recipes that use those ingredients that you have on hand. Or make one up. Maybe you would normally buy already made dinner rolls...instead, make them. No cereal left for breakfast? Use up that wheat flour and oatmeal and make some healthy breakfast muffins. Don't buy any cookies or boxed snacks..instead make some delicious baked bars or cookies.

-It's awesome how much money you can save, and more so than that, how good you will feel about it. Pantry ingredients can go really far, especially after the holidays when it's been stocked with baking goods. You'll discover some really great new recipes that you may not have tried otherwise.

-When you've gotten down to the bare bones, it's time to go shopping and stock the pantry with new again...it'll be the perfect time to clean everything out and label and organize too. The dollar store has great clear containers and baskets for organizing. New year, fresh start!!

-If you are participating in the challenge, make a post at your blog (or if you are blog-less, post here) about it. You can post a photo of your pantry (if you dare!) and even include a list of your ingredients you need to use up. It'd also be great if you wanted to include some recipes you've made with them or plan to make. Post the link to your blog here and I will make a "board" showing who is participating.

-I'll be listing my ingredients, photos and recipes also. My pantry is needing a makeover.. I can't wait to see yours!

-All of the participants will be entered into a giveaway for a full year subscription to one of my favorite magazines: Better Homes and Gardens, and the winner's pantry photos/recipes will be posted here also. The biggest prize of all will be your clean, organized pantry and those happy family members with full bellies!

-Don't be afraid...go to your pantry right this minute and start this challenge! The recipes can be simple or complex. You decide! Just use those ingredients up before you buy anymore. Even if it's a can of prunes that you thought you'd never touch...there's a recipe out there for those too. I can't wait to see what you come up with...