Monday, June 23, 2008

Freezer Inventory and Menu Planning....

I am really lazy when it comes to planning a menu. I don't know why as it not only saves time it also saves money. I love looking at the menu and it tells me what to make, no thinking, but I still struggle with it???

Every now and then I do an inventory of our freezers. We have a chest freezer downstairs and the one on the side of the fridge upstairs. I am forever putting things in the freezer but never taking them out!!!

So today was the day I did my freezer inventory, and here is what I have in them:

DOWNSTAIRS FREEZER

QUANTITY PRODUCT
2 BEEF STEWING MEAT
1 BEEF ROASTS
2 WHOLE CHICKENS
1 1LB GROUND BEEF
6 ANGUS BURGERS
8 SIRLOIN ROASTED GARLIC & ONION BURGERS
1 PIZZA DELUXE
2 MUSHROOM PIZZA
5 CHICKEN BURGERS


2 EUROPE’S BEST POTATOES
1 BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN BUTTER SAUCE
1 MCCAIN OVEN FRIES


1 EUROPE’S BEST MIXED FIELD BERRIES
1 STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

1 LOAVES BREAD
3 6 PACK BAGELS
1 5 PACK WRAPS
16 SLICES GARLIC TEXAS TOAST

1 10 KG FLOUR

UPSTAIRS FREEZER

QUANTITY PRODUCT

4 CHICKEN PIES
1 BAG HAM BONES FOR SOUP
8 QUESADILLAS
3 1LB BACON
1 1LB GROUND BEEF
1 MOCK CRAB
1 PARTIAL BAG BREADED CHICKEN STRIPS

1 PARTIAL BAG CORN
1 PARTIAL BAG PEAS
1 PARTIAL BAG MINI POTATOES

1 BOX POPSICLES
1 EGGO WAFFLES
1 EUROPE’S BEST RASPBERRIES (PARTIAL BAG)
1 BAG RHUBARB
1 EUROPE’S BEST FIELD BERRIES (PARTIAL BAG)
12 BANANA’S

1 TUB GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
9 PIECES GARLIC BREAD TEXAS TOAST
1 TUB FROZEN YOGURT
1 CONTAINER GROUND COFFEE
2 HAMBURGER BUNS
1 BAG TOMATO PUREE BALLS
2 1LB BUTTER
1 BLOCK CHEESE
1 CONTAINER TOMATO SAUCE
2 PITA BREAD
1 ½ BAG HASH BROWNS
3 HOT DOG BUNS
1 CAN FROZEN JUICE
1 BAG MINI PITAS

So as you can see I have quite a lot in them. I then did a menu plan for the week, using up things from the fridge and the freezer. I have taken off the things I will use out of the freezer already from the list.

Sunday: Garden Salad, bread, macaroni salad and pork chops

Monday: Stuffed Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, stuffed with bacon, cheese & onion, with oven fries

Tuesday: Homemade carrot soup, with a half loaf of homemade bread that was in the freezer.

Wednesday: Turkey Kielbasa sausage with cabbage (I will post the recipe later)

Thursday: Chicken Burgers and garden salad

Friday: Angus Burgers, homemade potato salad and homemade coleslaw (I will post the recipe later)

Saturday: Grilled Chicken Breasts with the leftover potato salad and coleslaw.

With this menu plan I am using up some bits and bobs from the freezer and fridge and I won't have to go grocery shopping for the rest of the week, and if I do it will be for either bread or fresh fruit and veggies. It would be great if I could keep my grocery total to under $300 this month!!!!

3 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

As often happens with your blog, you have inspired me to check out my own freezer. We just have the one but it has stuff in there we need to start using. Looking forward to that coleslaw recipe as hubby is always searching for really great coleslaw.

Sonshine said...

great job in taking inventory! I bet that you could go this week and next without doing grocery shopping other than to pick up milk, eggs, fresh fruit and veggies for the week. Now make a game out of it....see how far the supplies can stretch! :) Before you think about going to the store for anything...shop at home and make a menu! Then do your shopping you won't be "feeding" your freezers but getting what *you* need! :)

Once I did my freezer and pantry inventory I found that I only needed to spend like $20-$30 during the next two weeks because there was plenty on hand to use. :)

Gill - That British Woman said...

Denise, the coleslaw recipe should be available probably on Friday.

Sonshine, I am doing exactly what you are suggesting..........

{{{SIGH}}}

Tuesday was a mixed bag type of day. Had the appliance repair guy come again to install another circuit board in the fridge.  When hubby got...