This month we are going to do our best to eat solely from the foods we have in the house right now. I gave our family this challenge to:1) save money (resolution number 1 isn't going to be cheap) 2) clear out massive stores of pantry stuffs and 3) resist boredom in the cold mid-winter.

I put $100 cash in an envelope for us to use for restaurants and grocery purchases as necessary (I know we'll have to buy milk, for instance) but with careful planning I hope we will feed ourselves from the freezers and pantry shelves nearly all the time. We put up a lot of jarred things this past summer, are well stocked on meat and flour, get two eggs a day, and have a full liquor cabinet. We can do this!

Anyone want to join Pantry Month? I plan on updating each Monday with our meal plan for the week.

I figure planning is key to keeping our meals enjoyable. Here's what we will eat for dinner this week:

Monday - ricotta gnocchi and greens (make pumpkin something during the day for snacking and lunches)

Tuesday - Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and rice

Wednesday - spaghetti, veggie chili, and cheese

Thursday - macaroni and cheese

Friday - baked fish, stuffed squash, and frozen green beans

Saturday - possible trip to Cincinnati or fried chicken, mashed potatoes and frozen peas

Sunday - family dinner, bring bread or other baked good