It’s “clean out the refrigerator/freezer/cabinets” week here at Chez Em. I haven’t sworn off grocery shopping by any means, but I’m making a conscious effort to use up the things that have been sitting in the cabinet. Think “Chopped” for the pantry. It’s working really well – I have two cans of sliced beets and four cans of green beans left on the “must go” shelf. The beets will get a pickle, but I’m really not sure what to do with the green beans.
We don’t like canned green beans (the boys don’t like green beans at all – they think they have to pull the bean out of the pod), and I don’t make anything that uses green beans as an ingredient. I briefly considered making green bean casserole – but getting stuck with a gigantic casserole is SO not on the to-do list.
I’m also making a conscious effort to NOT stuff the cabinet *just* because there’s a “really great sale” (on food we don’t really eat). There’s no point to four cans of green beans when we don’t eat canned green beans, no reason to have a dozen cans of green peas when “I don’t LIKE canned peas, Mama. I like FROZEN peas. Canned is too mushy and eew.”
What do you have lurking in your pantry? Are you going to use it or donate it?
On the green bean front, our favorite way to have beans from anywhere, even a can, is… Hmm. I’ve never named the recipe. We just call ‘em green beans cuz this is the only way we eat them. Anyway, dump a can or twenty into a pan (or crockpot if you have time to let them go all night or day — even better then) and then top off the juices with bone and/or meat broth. Add a hefty helping of onions and garlic (or go for the powder versions if your kids haven’t reached the stage where they welcome the textures), salt & pepper, and cayenne powder for just hint of oomph (or more for those of us whole love the heat).
We’re on a few weeks of hitting the pantry hard, too. It’s gonna get interesting…
Diane´s last [type] ..The Goat Crew, Fall 2012
We’re definitely *not* out of the texture woods yet. Honestly, I think I’m just going to donate them – it’s easier on my blood pressure if I do LOL.