What is the Pantry Challenge? The Pantry Challenge is challenging yourself to use the ingredients you have at home from the pantry, fridge, and freezer without going to the store to buy an additional items.

There are many times during the year this challenge comes in handy such as the week before payday when funds are low, inclement weather like a snowstorm or torrential rain when you don’t want to head outdoors, or now, for example–two weeks before Pesach (Passover).

If you are in the circles of folk preparing for Pesach, you know the goal is to rid the home of chometz (leavened food).  Since many people don’t like to waste food, at least speaking for myself, a pre-Pesach challenge is in order.

How do you do you a pantry challenge?

1. Access what food items you have to use up.
2. Meal plan. Figure out how to incorporate these foods into a meal or side-dish.
3. Get creative and find recipes on-line of  “What can I make with leftover ABC and XYZ?”
4. If you find you have too much of a staple like rice or pasta, donate closed packages to a local food pantry or charity.  In Ramat Bet Shemesh a community organization called Lemaan Achai is one such organization that accepts food donations. https://www.lemaanachai.org/en/

Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night) I accepted the Pre-Pesach Pantry Challenge on myself and made:

• my famed avocado banana smoothie (famed within my household, that is)–leftover avocado, bananas, honey, and cocoa powder
• orange soup — sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions
• buckwheat
• popcorn
• carrot apple smoothie — carrots and apples

Items still to be used up before we finish turning of the kitchen for Pesach:

• quinoa
• dates
• chia seeds
• oatmeal
• Shabbos leftovers (chicken, rice, potatoes)
• cornflakes

I predict there will be a date-oatmeal-raisin-coconut ball or bar treat, a chicken pot pie, more popcorn, and chia seed pudding on the menu this week. Also tuna-grain-egg patties are popular with the kids.  I have planned what I want to use, but on which day(s) I make everything will depend on my energy level and motivation. Note: Most fruits and vegetables and even quinoa are kosher for Pesach, but I had need to use these items up and included them in my challenge.

For easy recipes and creative food combinations, you may enjoy reading the The Pantry Challenge, The Pantry Challenge 2, and The Pantry Challenge 3.

Thanks for reading.

Karen, The Klutter Koach. Home Organizing Solutions in R/BS

March 18, 2018