Long time no blog...

well...so this blogging thing really takes more dedication than i realized. 

Perhaps I will change the focus a bit.  After all, this blog, for now, is just supposed to help me stick to my goal of using what I have in the bottomless pantry (and refrigerators and freezers) before I go out and purchase more ingredients/foodstuffs.

New focus...

Will record recipes used and results.  Will record items from pantry that are obscure, weird and just not that easy to use and what I end up doing with them.

To date, I have been shopping twice in September and spent approx. $85.00 each time. 

More to come...

A big day...

Big day today.  A benefit for friends in town and a BIG wedding to cater out of town.  This morning I am going to get some things ready for the benefit and make bread dough before I go to work.  I use the recipes from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francios.  A fabulous book that allows me to create a variety of breads from scratch written by Minnesota authors!  What more can you ask for? 

The best this I do with these recipes is to add kalamata olives (make sure you read the bottle and get the pitted kind - I won't make that mistake twice) to the boule.  My family raves...

These authors have a new book out called Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  My next purchase!

*leftovers last night - soon I will need to get creative...so far this has been a breeze!

Day 2: September 9, 2010

I am helped along in my little project by the fact that I am assistant chef at a catering business/cooking school.  Last night's little event provided Hubby, son and me with luscious leftovers: individual servings of duck breast, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, sauces for each and roasted veggies!  Some fresh tomatoes from the garden will top the meal off beautifully.

I am excited to have my niece and her husband coming from Alabama for a visit next week!  They will stay for seven days - a challenge to my challenge!

Time to plan meals!!

Note:  Last nights meal: leftover chili.  Tonight: leftovers from work.

Day One - September 8, 2010

The decision to share my daily musings with the world wide web did not come easily.  BUT - as a woman in her 40's (early, thank you) who just sent the oldest off to college and who's youngest, and only other, has a driver's license and may become difficult to locate, I am ready for some fun and challenge!  What harm can a little sharing do, huh?

I actually began my personal pantry emptying project on September 1 - but didn't plan as well as I could have and, subsequently, have already failed!  Three frozen pizzas for home and massive amounts of junk food for a night of fun have put me back to square one.

I will give myself a little credit here and note that I have done well the last few days, with help.  Super Guy made pheasant in the crock pot on Monday and I made chili last night.  The chili was delicious with my home-canned tomato/onion/pepper melange and my home-canned "salsa #1 - 2009" which turned out to be very un-salsa-like.  Cornbread with hot peppers (Garden Salsa) fresh from the garden topped off the meal beautifully.